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Topes de Collantes Cuba- Natural jewel in the Sierra de Escambray mountains

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Topes de Collantes Cuba – In the heart of the Escambray mountain range, discover the Hanabanilla Lake where the rivers Guanayara, Negro and Jibacoa join to form the Hanabanilla reservoir, a splendid artificial lake in the province of Villa Clara. For nature lovers, this water mirror has an area of 15 km2, a depth of 30 and 40 mt. and it is located at an altitude of 364 metres above sea level.

Cuba – View of the hanabanilla Lake from the boat – Photo Patrick Sheridan

To reach Topes de Collantes, you can take a boat departing from Lake Hanabanilla Hotel, crossing the magnificent Río Negro, appreciating fertile valleys, beautiful waterfalls with dense forests. The activities more practiced here are fishing especially trout and bird watching where you will discover the parrots, tocororos, flowered ducks and carpenters, not forgetting the surprising toad of Hanabanilla.

 After half an hour, one reaches the banks of the lake where you find a typical Cuban restaurant. The “Restaurant Río Negro” is embedded in the middle of the forest where you can have a great view of the lake and its surroundings and then taste exquisite Cuban traditional food.

A tree in Topes de Collantes – Photo Patrick Sheridan

Topes de Collantes- World Cultural Heritage from UNESCO

 One way to visit the Topes de Collantes National Park is by taking a tour on some trucks from the 50s along a natural trail where you can contemplate amazing landscapes and wildlife. The park is located between the provinces of Sancti Spiritus, and Cienfuegos, in the mountains of Sierra del Escambray, about 800 meters above sea level, near Trinidad city.

Of natural beauty, the park impresses by its imposing elevations, its wide valleys, the diversity of its fauna and flora, its cave systems, the beautiful scenery, as well as transparent rivers and streams that form picturesque waterfalls and natural pools. The Park is organized in six smaller parks: Guanayara, Codina, Altiplano Toples de Collantes, El Cubano, El Nicho and in the heart of the Trinitarian Caribbean Sea, Las Iguanas Key, all sites of spectacular landscapes that specialized guides who speak English, French, Spanish, German and Italian will help you discover by participating in eco-tours programmes.

Cuba – View from the Topas de Collantes Belvedere – Photo Patrick Sheridan

In an interview to Mr. Ángel Camacho, Director of Topes de Collantes Park, he commented: “The Park is protected by all Cuban laws on flora and fauna. Among the species that we have here I can name, the highest mahogany in Cuba, the cedar, the majagua, there is an endemic plant called the Aralia Rex, that is in danger of extinction since it is very difficult to reproduce. Scientific experts are working for the preservation of this environmental treasure and popular awareness is promoted for its protection”. Camacho also added that the jutía, the deer, the pig, the cattle, the goats are raised here. Camacho invited the Canadians to come here for a nice hike in one of our parks, then bathe in a transparent waterfall, and finally enjoy a typical Cuban meal in one of these parks.

Upon entering the park one discovers a variety of species including orchids, eucalyptus, butterflies and arborescent ferns that live in great harmony in the rich Caribbean ecosystem fed by a semi-tropical climate where the sun and rain feed its peculiar vegetation. We can observe a variety of birds specially the endemic birds to Cuba the Vencejo del Collar and the Colilargo Sparrowhawk.

Salto de la Hanabanilla, also called “the little gold basket” in aboriginal language, is the highest waterfall in Cuba with 364 meters, and is considered a tourist destination not yet fully exploited, with a virgin aspect and is the unique intramontane landscape of the Caribbean island. It is a destination for ecological tourism where you can come alone or with the family to go hiking and learn about the natural species that abound in Cuba.

Other waterfalls in the vicinity of Topes de Collantes are the Salto del Caburní, the Salto de Javira, the Salto el Rocío, the Salto del Nicho and the Cáscada del Amor. Find more information about the waterfalls or the parks and tour programmes at:

Restaurant El Rio Negro – Photo Patrick Sheridan

Parque Topes de Collantes

Topes de Collantes, Sancti Spiritus, Cuba

Gaviota Turismo Cuba

Téléphones:(43) 42540219 et (53) 42540231

comercial@topesdecollantes.co.cu

http://www.gaviota-grupo.com/en/destino/topes-de-collantes

Traditional preparation of coffee – Photo Patrick Sheridan

The Coffee House

 Topes de Collantes is also distinguished by the cultivation of coffee and is one of the most important economic activities in these mountains. Here, more than two centuries ago, coffee was grown, a place with a wonderful collection of documentary pieces such as mills of various brands, presses, farming objects, vegetable fibber baskets and others. It is an interesting place to walk and learn about the culture of this part of Cuba. They gave us a demonstration of the elaboration of Cuban coffee that we could taste. There are more than 25 types of coffee plant species on the island; the one planted here is the Arabica type, which is organic.

The Kurhotel Escambray – Photo Patrick Sheridan

The Kurhotel Escambray

 The Kurhotel Escambray was previously used back in 1937 for the treatment of tuberculosis. Today this hotel serves for health tourism with 210 double rooms, 17 suites, 2 apartments, air-conditioning, private bathrooms, sauna and steam baths. Tourists come here to get medical treatments for joint diseases, arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatism, stress, and depression. Patients stay up to 21 days and more.

For more information, visit the following page:

http://www.gaviotahotels.com/en/hotels-in-cuba/topes-de-collantes/kurhotel-escambray

 The VII edition of the International Nature Photography Contest will take place in this beautiful park from 17 to 22 September. All photographers can participate with works made in Topes de Collantes during the event.

For more information, visit the following page:

http://www.gaviota-grupo.com/en/node/105

By: Frida Velarde – info@mtltimes.ca
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