Nature Tour "Journey to the Origins"
General Information
- Category: Half day tours
- Modality: Landing tours
- Duration: 5-6 hrs aprox
- Departure time: 07.30 hrs
- Tour guide: Yes
- Children are allowed: Yes
- Languages spoken: Spanish and English
Program Details
Nature Tour "Journey to the Origins"
The Southern Managed Resources Protected Area of the Isla de la Juventud is a Ramsar site and within it are other protected areas with more restrictive management categories, such as Punta Francés National Park, Punta del Este Ecological Reserve, and Ciénaga de Lanier Ecological Reserve.
Area values:
This Protected Area is located south of the Isle of Youth, it is considered a karst plain. Very close to the coast are the lapiés and the casimbas. The action of the underground waters has caused the presence of caves and abrasions along the entire coast.
The terrestrial flora is represented by 556 species of superior plants and 13 species of ferns, with an endemism of approximately 105 species, of which 3 are strict for the area. The semi-deciduous forest is the predominant plant formation in the south of the island. The fauna stands out for its diversity and degree of endemism. Sixty-two resident and fifteen endemic bird species have been reported; some are subspecies endemic to the Isla de la Juventud, the most frequent of which are the cartacuba (Todus multicolor), the green carpenter (Xiphidiopicus percussus), the eltocororo (Priotelus temnurus), the lachillina (Teretistris fernandinae), the parrot (Amazona leucocephala), the white-headed latorcaza (Patagioenas leucocephala)
Program description:
- Departure by minibus from Nueva Gerona.
- Arrival at the entrance to the Southern Managed Resources Protected Area of the Isle of Youth.
- Interpretive stop in the area of calcium carbonate extraction (10 min).
- Interpretive stop in the area of the outstanding natural element Pine forest on limestone soil (brief ecological explanation about this outstanding natural element (15 min).
- Interpretive stop in the coffee plantation area (brief explanation about the importance of the person who established this plantation and visit to the cenotes (10 min).
- Arrival at the Punta del Este weather station, brief explanation about the different activities that take place in the area.
- Departure to the cave of Punta del Este.
- Snack (Sandwich and a liquid).
- Departure to La Puntilla beach.
- Departure to the zoo (crocodile) 18km. Place belonging to the Lanier swamp, south of our territory pine trees, accumulation of sediments of peaty nature, with interior lagoons. Main fresh water reservoir of the karst plain with predominance of mangrove forests, swamp and marsh grasslands, has an extension (ha): 54.8 ha dedicated to the breeding in captivity of the Cuban Crocodile, (C. rombifer) in artificial ponds for future reintroduction to the southern area.
- Departure to the town of La Fe, the second most important urban center of the island in transport.
- Return to Nueva Gerona.
TIPS: • Recommended: light clothing, sunglasses, hats or caps, tennis, sandals or comfortable shoes, solar protection and photographic camera. • For the tour we recommend a water bottle.
• The collected may be delayed up to 15 minutes depending on the number of hotels and punctuality of customers. Customer should be informed on sales desk to avoid disagreements. • This tour operates with a minimum of passengers. Holiadventure will reconfirm 48 hours before the departure of your tour. If the provider decides to cancel, for not meeting the minimum required amount of passengers, Holiadventure will offer an alternative tour or fully refund cost of your trip.