Must-do's |
1. Spend a day at the beach in Jibacoa
This beautiful, small beach (500 meters long), also known as Playa Amarillo is on the north coast, at some 60km from the capital La Habana: a beach of remarkable beauty thanks to its peculiar layout against the 100 meters high hills with their limestone terraces.
Like other beaches of that area, Jibacoa beach has, as outstanding features, inlets and sea shelves with a high rock (El Peñón de Jibacoa) looking over the rugged scenary. This rock gives the beach a pleasant feeling of privacy.
Jibacoa, Boca de Jaruco, El Fraile, Puerto Escondido and El Abra, lie on coves bordered on the inland side by hills or cliffs which give them great landscape attractive.
The quality of these beaches is excellent. Their crystal-clear water is warm most of the year, and their sea bottoms are inhabited by coral beds and a thriving underwater life with attractive caves and coral reefs, an ideal site for snorkeling.
At Jibacoa there is a diving center where you can sign up for some (beginners) courses: You can also arrange boat trips or enjoy other outdoor activities in the vicinities, such as horseback riding and hiking (either with a guide or on your own). Another attraction are the sunken Jibacoa and Sparta ships visible from the coast.
You can reach Jibacoa on bus from Santa Cruz, or from Casablanca near La Habana on the Hershey Electric Train (get off at Jibacoa Pueblo, about 5 Km south of Jibacoa). If you are driving a car, take the Vía Blanca, a 4-lane highway that runs between La Habana and Matanzas.
2. Cave exploring in the Parque Escaleras de Jaruco
The Parque Escaleras de Jaruco, set back from the northern coastline, offers a wonderful ride to sample some typical farmland views. The park, a protected area 6km west from Jaruco town, features forests, caves and strangely shaped limestone cliffs similar to the mogotes of the Viñales valley. The park offers a serene atmosphere with outstanding miradores (viewpoints) and an excellent site for cave exploring.
Address: Jaruco
Open: Thursday to Sunday, 9:00am a 4:00pm
Entrance: free
3. Marlin Fishing in Santa Cruz del Norte
Santa Cruz del Norte is an excellent site for some serious marlin fishing.
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