|
|
This province is one of the most popular
areas for visiting tourists, largely because of its varied
topography and natural beauty.
The north of the province is marked by
rolling hills and the beach resort of Varadero, the south is
home to a large area of swamp land and the beach of Giron,
better known as the Bay of Pigs.
Central Matanzas is a long stretch of
rolling plains whose red and fertile soils produce the
highest yield of sugar crop in the country. Other crops such
a tobacco, citrus fruits and vegetables are also produced in
abundance.
Matanzas City:
Matanzas, 42 km west of Varadero, is busy
and grimy. Behind a deep bay, it came into its own during
the 19th century when it served as the country's sugar
capital.
On the classic, leafy main square, Parque
Libertad, the Pharmaceutical Museum is a wonderfully
preserved chemist's shop, also there are plenty of
interesting buildings, monuments and museums to keep you
occupied like Museo Historico Provincial, Teatro Sauto,
Cathedral of San Carlos, Bellamar Caverns...
|
Varadero:
It is Cuba's principal beach resort (the 20 km
long, virtually uninterrupted whitesand beach with shallow, clean
waters is the main attraction), with dozens of hotels and
restaurants, streetside bars, fastfood cafes, and grocery shops,
Varadero is like any large resort the world over, so if you want to
eat and drink well, sunbathe under a clear blue sky, swim in warm,
turquoise tranquil waters that caress endless stretches of pure
white sand, then Varadero is for you.
Cardenas:
The city is laid out in a typical grid pattern
with the most important street, Avenida Cespedes, intersecting
Parque Colon, the focal point for city life. Other places to visit
are Oscar Maria de Rojas Museum, Catedral de la Immaculada
Concepcion, Plaza Molokoff, Casa Natal de Jose Antonio Echevarria...
Zapata Peninsula:
The peninsula is a huge natural reserve for all
manner of wildlife including local and migratory birds, lizards,
crocodiles and rock crabs, you can see penned reptiles at the
crocodile farm at La Boca.
A more appealing prospect is picturesque Guama
(it is a group of tiny islands connected by wooden bridges).The area
is also home to one of the largest underground cave and lake systems
in Latin America.
To the east of the peninsula lie a number of good
and relatively secluded beaches, the most popular of which are Playa
Larga and Playa Giron, one major attraction is the excellent Museo
Playa Giron, which serves as an emotive memorial to the unsuccesful
Bay of Pigs invasion.
|
