1015 square kilometers of the Península de Guanahacabibes have also been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The reasons for the protection measures are multiple; it is the only part of the mainland where sea turtles come ashore at summer nights to lay their eggs. Being one of Cuba's most isolated areas it is an ecologically rich enclave with mangrove swamps, irregular limestone formations, corals and with an impressive variety of flora and fauna including 172 species of bird, 700 species of plant, 18 types of mammal, 35 types of reptile, 19 types of amphibian, 86 types of butterfly and 16 orchid species.
The Península was also the home of the Guanahatabey people in the pre-Colombian period. The Guanahatabeys were peaceful people whose culture had developed more or less independently of the Taíno and Siboney cultures further east. The Guanahatabeys were already extinct by the time Columbus set foot on Cuba and so there is little firsthand documentation. The Península is thought to shelter many important archaeological sites which could shed a light on its earliest inhabitants and their way of living.
It takes a two-hour drive from Pinar del Río to get to the Península. The region lacks major tourist infrastructure but www.househostelcuba.com will look for you the best option for your accomodation.
To visit the Biosphere Reserve you will have to obtain a permit before entering.
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