Buenavista Biosphere Reserve |
On the same northern coast Villa Clara is home to the Buenavista Biosphere Reserve. The Reserve extends along 300,000 hectares and is located in parts of the Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus and Diego de Avila provinces.
The Reserve contains a protected ecosystem that includes a marine part with coral reefs, rocky and sandy beaches, active dune zones, keys and reproductive zones for aquatic birds, while the the terrestrial part is composed of evergreen microphyllous coastal and subcoastal forest, mangrove forest, and matorral. The site has a high biodiversity of flora and fauna and many endemic (20) and threatened species.
The Buenavista Biosphere Reserve has eleven core areas in two National Parks: Caguanes and Santa Maria Key and two Fauna refuges: west of Santa Maria Key and Las Loras Key. These core areas contain extraordinary natural, historical and cultural values with 35 archaeological sites and caves with rural art and wall paintings. The area as scarcely inhabited, still there are around 25,000 locals living and working inside the reserve, dedicated to pisciculture, fisheries, agriculture, forestry and ecological tourism. Around 7,000 tourists visit the area annually and some of the main activities are hunting, fishing, beach tourism, diving and speleology.
In Remedios guided ecological tours are offered. We were able to go on one of such tours with a biologist called Armando. We have to say he is a great connoisseur. If you are a lover of nature and landscape don’t miss this opportunity and contact with us in www.househostelcuba.com to make a reservation. |
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