Guanahacabibes peninsula

Geographical location

The Guanahacabibes Peninsula Peninsula is the westernmost landscape of Cuba. She starts away at La Fe, about 95 km from Pinar del Río. It has an area of ​​1200 km ² and is sparsely populated. It is very flat country, without significant elevations. The whole area consists of young limestone formations that have been strongly shaped by tropical karst. There are many caves and sinkholes.

The northern coast of the peninsula consists mainly of mangrove forests while the southern coastline of sandy beaches and coral reefs is lined. The vegetation away from the coast is a dry forest, with seasonal green woody plants ( shrubs and low trees mostly ). Areas that have been deforested savannas. Rainfall seep immediately ( Karst ), thus is out of extensive farming without farming possible. The area is very rich in species, especially the 172 species of birds are remarkable, including parrots, owls and the smallest bird in the world, the bee hummingbird (or bee hummingbird, Mellisuga helenae ).

Noteworthy are the endangered sea turtles that use the beaches of the peninsula to lay their eggs.

To protect the rich flora and fauna of the peninsula in 1987 declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Protection measures are not correct, despite strict controls on entry into the area, but the threat to nature is not of the few tourists.

There is a crocodile farm ( with the endemic species of Cuba or diamond crocodile ( Crocodylus rhombifer ) ), which can be visited.

For beach and diving tourism, there is a hotel complex.