A mixture of history, nature, culture and identity condensed in a unique natural setting where mountains and sea meet in perfect harmony, the Desembarco del Granma National Park is a geological and ecological wonder of Cuba, characterized by its marine terraces, karst landscape, endemic biodiversity and high scientific value.
Located in the southeast of the province of Granma, in a wide geographical extension that includes part of the coastal municipalities of Niquero and Pilón, this amazing ecosystem -declared a National Park in 1986, and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999- has several tourist attractions that offer panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea, mountains and other admirable landscapes.
In the midst of so much diversity and natural beauty stands the monument known as the Portada de la Libertad -the main entrance to the National Park-, a place that symbolizes the epic written by Fidel and 81 expeditionaries on December 2, 1956, with the landing of the Granma yacht.
Here, where visitors can relive part of the eventful journey of that glorious generation of revolutionaries through an emotional path built among the mangroves, the doors also open to the majesty of an ecosystem that dazzles with its exceptional karst landscapes, composed of sea cliffs, sunken valleys and an impressive cave system that offers opportunities for underground exploration and the practice of speleology.
The Desembarco del Granma National Park is also considered one of the most attractive places for nature tourism and one of the most fascinating places in the country for its extraordinary conservation and authenticity of the region, an ideal refuge for an impressive variety of flora and fauna marked by a significant Cuban endemism.
To give just a few examples, specialists say that there are about 600 species of flora, while in the fauna there is almost total endemism in reptiles and amphibians, along with the existence of three species of mammals, the presence of more than a hundred birds and the sighting of manatees and sea turtles in the aquatic areas.
For this reason, in its vast dimension, visitors can enjoy various options such as horseback riding, hiking, climbing and diving, in the midst of a natural environment embellished by a system of marine terraces on limestone rocks, archaeological sites and a submerged area of coral reefs.
In addition to the charms of the Park, there is a wide variety of landscapes, ranging from the lush forests of the Sierra Maestra to the captivating coastal areas of Cabo Cruz, where one of the best preserved cliffs in the Americas can be found.
Excursions to the caves that sheltered indigenous people (many of which were used as the setting for funeral and religious ceremonies) stand out among the proposals offered by the ecosystem, in whose archaeological reserves have been found clay pots, carved stones and even small altars about a thousand years old.
In this sense, the visit to the Cave of the Goddess Atabeira, the most sacred deity for the inhabitants of Granma, whose series of caves, located in the archaeological site of El Guafe, has small staircases that lead to its interiors, from where you can get a broad view of what was one of the first indigenous cultures of Cuba.
The excursion to the fishing village of Cabo Cruz, where the Vargas Lighthouse (one of the most emblematic of the island) is located, built in the second half of the 19th century, with a height of 32 meters, is also worth a visit.
And despite the difficult geographical location of the Desembarco del Granma National Park, this natural jewel of the country has several accommodation options nearby (including the Marea del Portillo Hotel Complex, Las Coloradas camping and houses for rent) for those who prefer to live an unforgettable experience in direct contact with nature and history.
