How To Travel Towards The Keys And Islands Of The King’ S Gardens In Your Own Rented Car

For those who want to visit these islands or keys, from Matanzas or Varadero, there are two choices: using the Central Road or the North Road. In both cases, the destination should be not only Caibarien ( to visit the smaller keys and islands ) but also Moron and Nuevitas ( to visit the largest islands ), because from them depart the “ pedraplenes “ ( stone roads ) that reach the different keys and islands.

These roads are more attractive than the National Highway, which is used most of the time by traditional tourist groups.

If, on the contrary, you prefer to enjoy something different with the taste of adventure, you should make one of the two first choices. The less frequent is to use the North Road, that is, the one we recommend if you like doing something different from the rest of the visitors. Assuming you accept it, our first destination will be Caibarien.

The distance between Varadero and Caibarien, is too long, that is why we recomend staying overnight in one of the local hotels or camping sites. The best place we would suggest is the Elguea Hotel, which belongs to the Islazul Hotels Chain, almost 110 km from Varadero. It is located in a resort of sulphurous- mineral- medicinal waters of proved healing properties. It is recommended to make a reservation from Varadero, it is better to assure always the hotel room, particularly Elguea which has a great demand.

To arrive there from Varadero and spend the night there, it is necessary to take the Northern Road, next to the North shore, as we explained in former articles. The first village you can visit is Cardenas, interesting town because of its museums and because of the fact that it was here where the Cuban flag waved for the first time.

Continuing the trip, the road goes inland and crosses the sugar cane fields and some sugar factories. The villages that it goes through, in the following order, are: Maximo Gomez, Esteban Hernandez, Itabo and Hoyo Colorado. There is not a lot of traffic during the trip. The road is plain or with small hills. Almost every village or community is picturesque and each has the appearance of the infrequently visited places. There is always a place where to stop and have a snack, like fruit or the sugar cane juice known in Cuba as “ guarapo”.

During the trip, you should pay attention after you pass Hoyo Colorado. At about 31 km, there is a turn to the left that leads you to Elguea, not far from the sea. It is a very warming and quiet place. The next day you get on the road again to continue towards Caibarien. The distance is of about 160 km, so you have time to visit some interesting places.

In general, there are some small beaches along the coast which are permanently enjoyed by locals. We recommend visiting them for they are very different from the rest of Cuba. Among them we can mention El Salto, Ganuza, Sierra Morena and La Panchita. The three first ones have camping sites.

After you pass Corralillo, Rancho Veloz and Quemado de Guines, you arrive in Sagua la Grande. If you like to see a fluvial port, we recommend visiting Isabela de Sagua. To do so, you should take a small road of 20 km that will lead you directly to the port. It is located at the outlet of the Sagua la Grande River. It is a small fishing town.

Coming back to Sagua la Grande, you take again the Northern Road, and looking into the map you may find two choices: to visit Santa Clara, the capital of the Villa Clara province, or to continue directly to Caibarien and visit the city on your way back from the East of the country. We suggest the second one. This city has several museums, very well- preserved churches and cultural centers besides its high architectural values.

If you follow this suggestion, arriving in The Sitiecito village, you should take the road that leads to Caibarien. From here, there are 90 km left to Caibarien. During the trip there are other interesting villages such as: Encrucijada, Vueltas and Remedios, this last one only at 10 km from Caibarien. They all are adjacent one after the other. There is a lot to see in them, including Sagua la Grande. Here, for instance, we propose to visit the birth home of the famous Cuban painter Wilfredo Lam; in Caibarien, also known as Villa Blanca,  you can find the Polivalente Museum ( Multi – Purpose Museum), while in Remedios you can visit churches and museums. Among the first, The Major Parish Church and The Good Journey Church. Regarding museums, we recommend visiting Las Parrandas Museum (Museum of Local Carnivals), The Alejandro Garcia Caturla Music Museum ( an outstanding Cuban musician) and The Municipal Museum Francisco Javier Balmaceda. Refering to hotels, in Remedios Historical Center, there is the Mascotte Hotel, while in Caibarien you find the Brisas del Mar Hotel.

If , instead of spending the night in Caibarien, you prefer a more quiet place in contact with nature, you may check ou the camping site Cayo Conuco, surrounded by the forest and an indigenous fauna, where you get through the “ pedraplen” ( stone road ), just a few kilometers before arriving in Caibarien,

From this moment on, you will start visiting, in the rest of the country, the largest number of protected areas and other well- preserved areas of high natural value such as the Natural Parks.
We recommend consulting a map known as “Cuba. The Nature Map”, distributed by the Cuban Ministry of Tourism. In it, you find some of the places we suggest to visit. It is good to point out that some of these areas are under specific categories within the National System of Protected Areas. In the map you will find more detailed information of how to enjoy your stay.

According to the book  National System of Protected Areas, Plan 2003-2008”, dated June 2002, in this area as well as in the localities next to the Main Island of Cuba, there are more than 25 protected areas, among them, Natural Parks, Ecologic Reserves, Natural Landscapes, Flora Reserves, Fauna Reserves, Outstanding Natural Elements and Protected Areas of Handled Resources. To have an idea of the wonders of this area we can mention The Buena Vista Biosphere Reserve and the Natural Parks Los Caimanes and Caguanes, the Ecological Reserves of Cayo Mono Galindo, the mid-West  of Cayo Coco  and Manternillo- Tortuguilla, the Fauna Shelter “Las Picuas”, Cayo del Cristo and Lanzanillo- Pajonal- Fragoso, among others. Next to these keys, in the Main Island, there are the Ecological Reserves of Mogotes de Jumagua and Limones- Tuabaquey. That is why this archipelago is the ideal destination for those who love nature.