By: Dr. Martin Luis

 

Enjoying Northern Havana beaches is one of the best choices to spend a few days not far from the capital. It is good to point out that in Tarara beach there is the marina of the same name. In several places of the Cuban coasts there are marinas of different names. They are landing points that provide different services such as boat repair, boat implements sales, lodging, and supplies of all kinds. In the tours we propose, we will be telling you where to find these marinas.

After being in Havana for some days, if you still want to know and enjoy the Cuban beaches, continue to travel further on than Guanabo, towards Matanzas. The Via Blanca road, which is in very good shape, goes along the coast and gets very near of it, just a few meters. Also, the Havana- Matanzas Heights are next to the Via Blanca road.

There are no beaches but reefs, which the waves beat strongly. It is exciting to walk along the reefs for a while and feel the waves. Next to the sea, there is no vegetation, while on the other side, next to the Heights, there is the henequen, some crops and fallow lands. First, the heights appear between the coast and the road, then, slowly, the road gets away from them and crosses them, where a system of about four emerged terraces, separates it from the coast.

During the trip, small rivers are crossed, such as: Jaruco, Santa Cruz, Jibacoa, Canasi, Puerto Escondido and Bacunayagua. Around the three first, there are communities with few inhabitants. In Santa Cruz town there is the biggest rum factory of Latin America, The Havana Club industry, manufacturing one of the favorite rums, not only of a lot of Cubans but of many people all around the world.

In this part of the seashore, there are two camping sites that offer services for tourists: Los Cocos and El Abra. The first one, next to Jibacoa Beach, is an excellent and very warming place, surrounded by small beaches and limy hills of extraordinary greenness. The second one is next to the outlet of the Jibacoa River and to the gorge that the river made by crossing the heights to reach the sea.

Along the trip, the heights become taller and the rivers cross them through deep gorges to get to the sea. The most remarkable gorge is the one of the bridge over the Bacunayagua River,a wonder of the Cuban engineering. Next to it, there is a place where you can stop and have a snack. From here, you can watch the Northern coast and see the depth to the river borttom. To the Northeast, in the distance, you can see the Yumuri River Valley, one of the most beautiful in Cuba. It would be good to point out that there is another river of this same name, Yumuri, located in the Guantamo province.

For those who love adventure, there is a narrow road on the left following the route towards Matanzas. It goes down from the Via Blanca to the river bottom, next to the high columns that hold the bridge from both banks, at almost 400 meters above the visitors’ heads. The descent is not very dangerous but you have to be careful. It takes about an hour to slope down for you have to do it very slowly. The view of the bridge from the river upwards is spectacular.

The trip continues and the road turns slowly to the right, which indicates the proximity to Matanzas Bay. The road reaches the coast and crosses some of the already mentioned terraces; among them, Seboruco, very near to the city. Some paths are to the left and cross the coastal xeromorphic bush (small plants of hard leaves, sometimes thorny and surrounded by cactus), that grows between the road and the sea. From there, it is not difficult to observe the interesting above- mentioned terrace system of marine origin whose stairway-like pattern leads to the high reef coast, something worthy to admire, that is why it is recommended to take any of the paths and reach the sea to observe the wonders of these coastal formations. Here you may find iguanas. You should always pay attention to the limited access signs that you might find during the trip.

On the other side, you can admire the beautiful Yumuri Valley, crossed by the river of the same name. Far over the Valley, you can see the reef through which the river flows towards Matanzas Bay. You can also see the city at the distance, as well as the heights that surround it.

The trip continues and the road descends gradually to Matanzas city, also known as the “City of Bridges”. Before arriving in the city, you pass by the sulphur factory. The Via Blanca Road surrounds Matanzas Bay because the city is built around the bay. This bay, as compared with others in Cuba, is not a “ bag shape “ bay ( that is to say, a narrow entrance and widened interior ), but the other way around, wide entrance which  narrows itself towards the outlet of the Yumuri and San Juan Rivers crossing the city.

Arriving in the city, you cross the Yumuri River through La Concordia Bridge, which has colonial style and leads you to the center of town where you will find the Fire Station and the beautiful Sauto Theater, a jewel of the Cuban architecture. Then you cross the bridge over the San Juan River and you reach the center.

Matanzas City always had three main neighborhoods: Matanzas, Pueblo Nuevo and Versalles. Today, there are others next to them. It is possible to lodge in the city hotels as well as in registered renting houses. There is a lot of interesting things to see in the city.

You can visit, for instance, the Bellamar Caves, that have been opened to the public since 1862. They are located almost in the urban area and are very well preserved. They have lighted galleries and the guides explain their origin and evolution. It is very easy to get to them from any part of the city, even walking. During the visit you find out how they were discovered.

Matanzas, the capital of the province of the same name, is a city where there is no time for boredom; for it has an intense cultural life and many interesting places. Next to the city, there is Varadero Beach. That is why we recommend you visit it and stay overnight. In our next article we will give you suggestions to visit this beautiful city.

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