| Must-do's |
1. Scubadiving in Rancho Luna
People of www.househostelcuba.com love scubadiving! We have been here several times and we recommend each one of you to come and enjoy the spectacular landscapes, and more specifically the under-water-world. On our website we offer several casas particulares very neajust next to the diving centers.
Located just 18 km south of Cienfuegos, the Playa Rancho Luna beach resort hosts three diving centers: the International Diving Center of Cienfuegos, Club Amigo Faro Luna and Whale Shark Diving Center. They organize diving packages (between 1 and 20 immersions) for beginners, open water and advanced open water divers, departing all from Rancho Luna Hotel wharf and with the farest site ten minutes away by boat.
Right in front of Rancho Luna beach, between Las Puntas de los Colorados and Gavilanes, there is a wide inlet with a platform 200 meters off the coast. From here recreational diving can be practiced, exploring over 30 different diving locations beneath the clear waters, along the long coastal coral reef where elkhorn and brain coral grows as well as sea fans, gorgonians all surrounded by fish in all colours and sizes. In some seasons you may even see some nurse shark, turtles, eagle rays and whale sharks.
One of our most favorite locations are the Eastern and Western Corona, located near the lighthouse, with its vertical wall and sunken ship, both covered with submarine organisms where fish seem to play hide and seek.
Another location near the lighthouse is called El Cable Inglés. The name derives from the remains of the telegraphic communication line installed by an English company in the year 1876. This line allowed the city of Cienfuegos to connect with Santiago de Cuba. It also allowed for communication with the USA and Europe during the wars between Spain and the USA end of the 19th century.
Diving at this location you will start from where the cable goes into the depth of the sea, now covered by marine organisms and at points suspended in the reefs. At El Coral, located in the coral barrier west from Rancho Luna, there is the coral known as Notre Dame. It is a 6 meter high coral formation resembling a cathedral. Around it there are more coral formations, channels and two sunken ships which form the perfect refuge for the numerous small multicolored fish and make diving very entertaining.
If you are in for something more complicated you can take a dive at El Laberinto, an underwater labyrinth where you can take several different routes along wide and less wide channels and other unusual formations with a tunnel that falls to a depth of 30 meter where sponges, sea fans and plumes grow. To explore a sunken ship on the inside you best go diving at Camaronero III. Here lies a sunken steel ship. Its exits are not obstructed, so you can go in and out without any risk. Around the wreck there are sponges, madrepore stony corals as well as fungus coral reefs.
Address: Buceo - Hotel Club Amigo Faro Luna; Carretera de Rancho Luna, km 18
Entrance: 30.00CUC; open water 365.00CUC
2. Boat trip from Cienfuegos Marina
Cienfuegos Marina is located at La Punta Gorda Peninsula. From here you can go on a boat tour to discover the bay. The Marina also offers direct connections over water with the Isla de la Juventud, Cayo Largo, Jardines de la Reina and other ports at the southern coast of Cuba, as well as with the other Caribbean islands.
Being a yacht owner you can dock or anchor your yacht here. Piers are suitable for Mediterranean anchoring with 3.5m draft. If you do not have your own yacht you can rent one, including crew. You can also arrange deep-sea fishing trips. Prices start at 200,00CUC for four people for four hours. Multiday trips start at 400,00/3900,00CUC for one night/one week (gear and crew included), depending on the boat used.
Cheaper options are a classic bay cruise which will cost you around 16,00CUC for the day or 10,00CUC for a two-hour sunset cruise (stopping briefly at Castillo de Jagua).
Address: Calle 35 between Avs 6 and 8
Open: Monday to Sunday, 11:00am to 8:45pm
3. Visit the Cueva Martín Infierno
The world’s tallest stalagmite, with a height of 67 meters, is located in the province of Cienfuegos, near Martín Infierno, between Cienfuegos and Trinidad. The name of the cave allegedly comes from a slave named Martin who escaped from a ranch a sought refuge in this cave. There is another legend according to which the locals claim that the wells in the cave go as deep as hell. Hence, why the cave is called Cueva Martín Infierno (Martin Hell cave).
The cave is located about 650 meters above sea level and between the point where you enter the cave and its lowest point there is a difference in height of 197 meters. The cave is unique because of its compound calcium formations in Cuba, called "gypsum flowers." It is also the habitat for the butterfly bat, which is the world’s smallest bat.
The Cueva Martín Infierno can only be accessed through mountain trails, over a steep and at times tricky slope. You won´t be able to reach it with a normal car, so you might as well book a tour to visit this 67 metres high stalagmite, inside the cave located in the Valle de Yaganabo.
Address: Km 56 Valle de Yaguanabo
Open: daily, 8:00am to 5:00pm
Entrance: Excursions must be arranged through the Buró de Reservación de Cubanacán (Avenida 54 between 29 y 31, Cienfuegos)
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