Over View
To the south of the province of Matanzas is the Ciénaga de Zapata, the largest wetland in Cuba and the Caribbean. It extends between the cove of La Broa and the Bay of Pigs, in the Gulf of Batabanó, located in the Caribbean Sea.</p>
<p>It is a National Park, Biosphere Reserve and also a Ramsar Site. It has several spots of tourist interest. These include Guama, a replica of a Taino village nestled in Laguna del Tesoro, the largest in Cuba. In the southern part there are several beaches with coral reefs ideal for diving and underwater exploration, including Playa Larga, Playa Girón, La Cueva de los Peces, Punta Perdiz and Caleta Buena.</p>
<p>Crocodiles, carp, bats, flamingos, parrots and cranes are some of the most unique species, while Playa Girón and Guamá or the Laguna del Tesoro are the main tourist destinations.<br />
Zapata swamp is the main wetland of the insular Caribbean. With an extension of 4 520 km2 it occupies the entire southern tip of the province of Matanzas; It has an east-west length of 175 km and an average width of 14-16 km. Landscapes of low, swampy and semi-swampy plains predominate, over turbulent deposits and limestone rocks, with hydromorphic soils and vegetation of natural savannas of high aesthetic and landscape value, such as the Laguna del Tesoro and the Hatiguanico river basin, the main river artery of the area, as well as Playa Larga and Playa Girón.</p>
<p>For its natural treasures of its flora and fauna, this region was declared a Biosphere Reserve. With regard to animals, the values of this place transcend local borders. The chicken of Santo Tomás, the ferminia, and the cabrerito de la Ciénaga, are considered among the most restricted habitat birds in the world. In addition, the colilargo hawk, zunzuncito, catey, parrot and partridge dove are exclusive birds of the area.
