"ECOLOGICAL RESERVE LIMONES - TUABAQUEY, SIERRAS DE CUBITAS" Tour
General Information
- Category: Half day tours
- Modality: Landing tours
- Duration: 2 hrs / 4 hrs aprox
- Departure time: 08.00 hrs
- Tour guide: Yes
- Children are allowed: Yes
- Languages spoken: Spanish, English and French
- Location: Limones Tuabaquey Ecological Reserve, Camagüey
Program Details
"ECOLOGICAL RESERVE LIMONES - TUABAQUEY, SIERRAS DE CUBITAS" Tour
Values of the Area:
The Ecological Reserve Limones-Tuabaquey is located in the Sierra de Cubitas 32 km from the city of Camagüey, in the municipality Sierra de Cubitas. It is accessed first by some stretches of road and then an embankment road called Vial Sur de la Sierra, up to Paso de los Paredones.
The geological origin of this Sierra was characterized by violent ascents and descents of the limestone blocks. It is part of the so-called tabular karst represented by broad massifs, ranging between 5 and 20 km wide, cut and dissected by valleys and canyons of steep slopes.
There are 713 plant species and subspecies recorded for the reserve. Of these, 618 are seed plants (Spermatophyta), including 616 flowering plants (Magnoliophyta) and 2 species of Zamia (Cycadophyta); 60 are mosses and liverworts (Bryophyta), and 35 are ferns and related plants (Pteridophyta, Lycopodiophyta and Psilophyta). In the Sierra itself, the most interesting areas from the floristic point of view are Cerro de Tuabaquey, Mirador de Limones, Paso de los Paredones, Hoyo de Bonet and Paso de la Vigueta.
The fauna reported to date corresponds to 50 species of terrestrial mollusks, 13 species of amphibians grouped in 4 families with one genus each, thus representing 100% of the families and genera described for Cuba. For the Reptilia class, 29 species are reported, distributed in 11 families and 15 genera; while for birds, 74 species have been listed, including the recent record of Swainson's bijirita (Limnothlypis swainsonii). Finally, mammals are represented by 18 species.
The existence of numerous caves located in places that were difficult to access meant that the agro-pottery aborigines, who settled in the plains to the north of the Sierra de Cubitas, used some of them for ceremonial purposes, leaving symbols and images on their walls that today provide information about the spiritual life of these communities, their fears of natural phenomena, animist beliefs and ideas, customs, cosmogonic interpretation, etcetera.
Among the caves are those of María Teresa, Pichardo, Las Mercedes and Matías, whose pictographs date from a period between 1000 and 500 years ago. They are the only ones so far attributable to agro-pottery groups, as proven by scientifically based studies. These aborigines used the different passes of the Sierra to go from the habitation sites to the ceremonial ones.
It is possible to observe in the vicinity of the Reserve, the presence of some constructions in the form of peasant huts, which together with the elaboration of the food called "casabe" that is still practiced, have been inherited from our aboriginal culture and still persists in today's society.
Description:
Admire the beauty of the ecological reserve Limones Tuabaquey on a hike through a trail between walls to the impressive Hoyo de Bonet.
If you are looking for a time full of nature, a gentle hike of light effort, this is the perfect tour for you. It consists of a 2 km trail, bordered by 45 m high limestone walls, leading to the Hoyo de Bonet, a 90 m deep and 300 m in diameter doline. At the same time, enjoy the flora and fauna of this natural reserve, being able to closely observe the tocororo, the cartacuba, the zunzuncito and other endemic birds of Cuba.
If you wish, venture on a more demanding excursion to caves with excellently preserved aboriginal pictographs. The ascent to Pichardo Cave includes a steep climb up the side of Tuabaquey Hill, the largest mountain formation in the Sierra.
Proposed departure time 7:30 am, although the client can decide the departure time, always before 10:00 am. Return time 1:30 pm
Guests can choose among the trails of the Limones-Tuabaquey Ecological Reserve:
- Ruta de los Intrépidos Trail
- Paso de los Paredones and Oyó de Bonet Trail
- María Teresa Cave Trail
Includes:
- Guide (English or Spanish)
- Excursion to the Ecological Reserve ¨Limones Tuabaquey¨.
- Entrance fee to the facility.
What to bring:
- Water
- Insect repellent
- Clothes for trekking
Places of interest: Ecological Reserve: Limones de Tuabaquey - Hoyo de Bonet - Sendero de los paredones. Degree of difficulty: Low. Distance to be covered in the tour (round trip by car): 75 kms approx. Distance traveled on the trail (round trip): Approximately 4 kms. Approximate duration of the excursion (total): 5 hours approximately.
TIPS: • Recommended: light clothing, sunglasses, hats or caps, tennis, sandals or comfortable shoes and photographic camera. • For the tour we recommend a water bottle.
- Pick-ups may be delayed up to 15 minutes depending on the number of hotels and the punctuality of customers. The client should inquire at the sales desk to avoid any inconveniences.
- Minimum pax for the tour: 3 Pax.
- This tour operates with a minimum number of passengers. Holiplus will reconfirm 48 hours before the departure of the excursion. If the supplier decides to cancel, because the minimum number of passengers is not reached, Holiplus will offer you an alternative excursion or fully reimburse the cost of your excursion.
Cancellation and no show policy:
- Cancellations more than 72 hours before the excursion: No penalty applies.
- Cancellations between 72 hours and 48 hours before the excursion: a penalty of 25% of the total value of the excursion applies.
- Cancellations less than 48 hours before the excursion: a penalty of 50% of the total value of the excursion applies.
- NO-SHOW: a penalty of 100% of the total value of the excursion applies.
- Booking fees and credit card surcharges cannot be refunded in case of cancellation.