CIENAGA DE ZAPATA
The municipality which bears this name covers a large territory on the southern end of the provincia de Matanzas and includes Parque Montemar (previously named Parque Nacional Ciénaga de Zapata (70,277 ha), Gran Parque natural de Montemar (70 km of caves), and the fauna reserves of Santo Tomas and La Salina, the latter with a marsh populated by some 165 species of migrant and endemic birds. Villages and towns include La Boca (with its crocodile farm), Guama, Playa Larga / El Caleton and of course, Playa Girón.

Just north of the area, lies its access junction, a barrio built around the once busy sugar mill, Australia and across the national highway (Autopista nacional), the quiet and mosquito-less town of Jaguey Grande (pop. 57,000).

The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve also bears the name Ciénaga de Zapata. It covers 628,171 hectares and its fauna includes 160 species of birds, 31 types of reptiles and 12 varieties of mammals. Lest we forget the bats which nightly swallow some of the (what must be) billions of mosquitoes buzzing over the swampland, one bordering the road between Australia and Playa Larga ; ) Fear having to change a flat tire at 2 a.m. : your body will be the freshest Zapata all-you-can-bite buffet !

On the bay, the mosquitos (called jejenes hay-hay-ness) are present like clockwork at sunset, every second day, when the wind blows from the south.

Last but not least, this area is famous because of its bay of Pigs, the Bahia de Cochinos where a CIA-sponsored invasion by Cuban exiles was promptly thwarted in 1961.

MAPS & LINKS

Tourist & Road Maps of the Peninsula

Large map of the Peninsula

Map of region to Cienfuegos

Map of Matanzas province

Twice-daily Viazul to Entronque (turnoff) de Jaguey

5-day Wunderground weather forecast

Daily exchange rates

All that's natural in Matanzas province

DISTANCES from Playa Larga/Caleton Australia & main highway, 29 Caleta Buena, 36 Cárdenas, 114 Cienfuegos, 99 Jaguey Grande, 28 La Boca/Guama, 11 La Habana, 178 Matanzas, 150 Playa Giron, 32 Trinidad, 171 Varadero, 185

OUTDOORS
Cycling, trekking, horseback riding, sailing, cave exploration, bird watching, scuba diving, in the bay or in caves.

VISIT
Conjunto Esculturico (Sculpture park at Laguna de Tesoro), Criadero de Cocodrilos, home for some 8,000 crocodiles (Boca de Guama), Finca Fiesta Campesina and local museum of the dismantled sugar mill, both in Australia, Museo de la Comandancia (Cuban HQ during Bay of Pigs invasion), in Boca de Guama) Museo de Playa Girón (Playa Giron) : exhibits of some of the arms used in fighting off the invasion attempt; biographies of 156 Cubans who died defending the sovereignty of their country. The first military defeat of the USA, an everlasting chip on the shoulder of the warmongering Empire of Evil Bushit.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
V = suggested by webbies, owners and travellers. Check by phone or in person. Children 16 and under may share parents' bedroom at no charge — only if there is an additional bed available. Mention the age of your children when making the reservation.

Suggestions and comments
webmaster @cubacasas.net

The long beach in Playa Larga is located in the Caleton burrough © sogestour •|• Buick and chicas from Belgica © sogestour

Click : Park map •|• Road map

Caleta Buena diving © sogestour •|• Aldea Taina in Guama

Estacion Ecologica © David Barbour •|• Typical dive site

EXCURSIONS
• Bird watching in the swamps of Zapata with Angel Martinez or his brother Orestes El Chino, the doyen of guides. Tel. (45) 98-7354 or 91-5539. Rate : 10cuc per person for half-day. E-mail : chino @ zapata.atenas.inf.cu • Observe birds and crocos at Boca de Guama (Info 98-2979, 98-4131) • Navigate or walk between the 12 small islands of Laguna (Lake) del Tesoro and its park (Taino casas and statues of Cuban aboriginals) the Aldea Taina in Guama • Admire some 10,000 pink flamingos at Laguna de la Salina • Hike with a guide in the woods of Corral de Santo Tomás (Info 98-7249 oR 7128) • Scuba dive in the tectonic fault at Cueva de Los Peces or at Caleta Buena from the center at Villa Playa Larga (Info 98-7225)

The contra-revolucionarios were parachuted on April 17, 1961 over the Bay of Pigs backed by the CIA and the US Navy during John F. Kennedy's presidency. Its air and sea support decimated by Cubans, the group of mercenaries were overpowered by soldiers and civilian volunteers within 72 hours. More than 200 died in the battle. Some 1,290 were emprisoned during one year and returned to Florida in exchange for food and medication. The so-called Miami gusanos (creepy-crawly worms) and the CIA-funded terrorist organization Alpha 66 have still not gotten over it.

|• Stamps from 1965, Victoria de Giron and 1966, the Houston in flames.

SEE.KNOW.DO

• Bird watching with Angel Martinez or his brother Orestes El Chino, the doyen of guides. Tel. (45) 98-7354 or 91-5539. 10cuc pp half-day. chino @zapata.atenas.inf.cu

• Scuba diving with Felix, master of his water domain with over 3.000 dives; has met Commandant Cousteau; knows every single site on the tip of his fins. Tel. (45) 99-7131

• Scuba diving with Lazaro, one of the area's foremost divers. Outings for 25cuc/hour Tel. (45) 98-7308 or (45) 98-7143

• Fly fishing - Lazaro Viñota works for the Parque national de Cienaga de Zapata and is an official fly fishing guide (Snook, Tarpon, Bonefish, Black Bass). pnacionalcz @enet.cu) Tel. (45) 91-3555

• CITMA's Estacion Ecologica in Palpite once offered free board to travelers to help research bats, birds, batrachians, crocodiles and all. Tel (45) 98-7119

Voleibol Terry Fox in Caleton © sogestour

Click photos to open page,
read description and see more pictures.

See Playa Larga casas in sequence.

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SEE.KNOW.DO
• Hotel Cubanacan Playa Giron (45) 98-4110, 287 rooms, for its bar, food and scuba diving centre (14 dive sites). Link here.

• Museo Municipal Playa Giron (45) 98-4122

DISTANCES
Caleta Buena, 4
Playa Larga/Caleton, 32
Cienfuegos, 131 (81 via Covadonga and Real Campiña)
La Habana, 210
Trans-island highway, 61

RESTAURANTS
Casa del Mar, El Pirata, Victoria; Pio Cuá, Rancho Benito, in Caleta Buena.

Click to enter © sogestour

Casa Mercedes © sogestour