Coastal Cities. Matanzas, the Athens of Cuba

In this city and its surroundings, it is recommended to take not only tours of the city sections between the rivers Yumurí and San Juan but also to do some cycling, bird watching and fluvial tours.

Cycling: For those who take cycling seriously, a cycling tour in this area would ideally begin in Havana and end in Varadero. The optimal is to take the Via Blanca highway but not up to Matanzas City. Instead take a small road to the right about 5 km after the bridge over the Bacunayagua River and descend till the Yumurí Valley.

Bird watching: The Yumurí Valley offers some good areas for bird watching, with best population density by the trees next to the heights that border the Valley.

Fluvial Tours: Although not located by the city center, the River Canímar, the most copious of all 4 rivers that opens at the Matanzas Bay, is located at a few kilometers away from the city. It is a navigable river for smaller draught boats. Navigation begins by the bridge that crosses the Canímar River, by the road that links Matanzas and Varadero, towards rustic restaurant by the river and covers some 13 km. During this trajectory, views are quite beautiful with its best sites being those by the road that communicates Matanzas and Varadero where the river meanders can be observed. At the end of the course there is a line of Real Palm trees leading to the restaurant. In this site besides having lunch, you can take horseback tours. The fluvial trips can be taken in boat either ways or half the trip by bus and return by navigating the river.

Boats are roofless so it is recommended to take a raincoat and umbrella to protect you from the sun or casual rain.

The City of Matanzas: The city is only modestly visited by groups of tourists in organized tours. The Historic Center can be visited by foot and has good architectonic and cultural value.

Bachelor in French Language, Mr. José Antonio Martínez Coronel, poet and experienced guide, recommends some very interesting proposals to visit the city. One of them consists in parting by foot from the Sauto Theatre (formerly the Esteban Theatre), for a gradual discovery of this architectonic and artistic jewel of the Cuban identity with guided explanations of the places and sites.

This walking tour covers many places of interest like the Park or Plaza of Independence where the city Hall and the Velasco ad Louvre Hotels are located as well as the Provincial Library Gener y del Monte. Nearby are the Pharmaceutical Museum (drugstore established in 1864) a must visit in this urban and architectonic ensemble and one of the best pharmaceutical museums of the occident and the birth home of José White, where the Cuban dance called the Danzón was ever first played and danced around 1879 and the same place where some years later, in 1920, the “Danzonete” would be played by musician Aniceto Diaz. The tour also covers the Cathedral of Matanzas and the Palacio del Junco (Historical Museum of the Province).

Other tours would include very interesting places like the house where the distinguished poet Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda lived, the Presbyterian Church and the Hershey electrical train station, the only of its type functioning in Cuba. They also cover the Parque del Escudom the Catholic Church of Versalles and the Monserrat hill, an elavation used as an excellent viewpoint, especially of the Yumurí Valley, from where Domingo Ramos, the artist who made famous the Valley of Viñales, painted several linens including one of the Valley and one of the City of Matanzas and its bay. Here can also be found the Monserrat hermitage where the well-known Spanish poet Federico García Lorca visited and stated his preference for the Valley of Viñales.

If you wish to visit a beach in this area, you can go to the Playita del Tennis. From there a road can be taken that leads to the intersection with the highway Habana – Varadero.

Once in Varadero, it is recommended to go all the way to the furthest extreme of the peninsula de Hicacos, some 22 km long, where the Ecological Reserve known as Varahicacos is located. This reserve covers about 30% of the peninsulas area, with trails where very interesting Cuban coastal vegetation can be observed, especially the catus.

Varadero is also Cuba’s best known beach and counts with over 22 kms of the mentioned north peninsula; an open port with three international marinas: Marina Gaviota, Marina Chapelín and Marina Dársena which can provide the necessary supplies for arriving crafts.

Facilities are also available for practicing parachute and golf among other sports proposals.

A stay of one or more days in of of the available cuba hotels is ideal in this great spot before continuing your route east towards one of the most beautiful and yet little known archipelagos in Cuba, the so called Sabanas – Camaguey or Jardines del Rey.

To be continued in our next articles!