Jeep Safari "NATURE TOUR RÍO CANIMAR"

Jeep Safari "NATURE TOUR RÍO CANIMAR"

Values of the Area ¨Paisaje Natural Protected Area River Valley Canímar¨:

This area is located in the northwestern region of the province of Matanzas, in the basin of the Canímar River, linked to its lower course, 5.4 km from the city of Matanzas and 27.0 km from the Varadero resort. One of the ways to access it is from the Carretera Central, through a 5 km road to the place known as La Arboleda. The physical-geological processes are widely developed in the territory of the Canímar River basin; in particular, in the Protected Area, the most intense are those linked to karst; to a lesser extent, the processes of weathering and erosion are developed.

The geological formation known as Canímar, from the Upper Pliocene, characterises the area, and is exposed on the eastern bank of the river some 800 m from the mouth, with a maximum depth of 250 m. There are areas of flat plains, where vertical dismemberment values range from 0-2 m/km, to areas with values of 50 m/km associated with the river canyon. Marine terraces, erosion lines, rocky niches, caverns, cave mouths, karst remains of ancient phreatic caverns are frequent, which, when the canyon was cut, were drained and cut as well. At the mouth of the river the karst forms that stand out are the lapiés, cacimbas and small holes.

In the area there are forests, scrublands, and vegetation complexes with different physiognomies and degrees of conservation. In Canímar, 33% of the flora is endemic and species from the Rubiaceae and Asteraceae families predominate. Especially a threatened species, the so-called Zamia integrifolia, an interesting species because of its primitive existence.

The invertebrate fauna is rich in the Phyla: Mollusca and Arthropoda. Some species of the gasteropoda class have been reported, some of the most common being the Zachrysiaauricoma, or the Arachnida, Insecta and Myriapoda Classes; some species of these Classes are the hairy spider (Aviculariaspinicrus), red scorpion (Rhopalurusjunceus), both endemic to Cuba. There are also several representatives of the orders Diptera (flies and mosquitoes), Lepidoptera (butterflies) and Hymenoptera (wasps, ants and bees). The Class Reptilia has a total of 10 families, 13 genera and 23 species, of which 14 are endemic. 13 mammal species have been listed, the most important being: the Conga hutia (Capromyspilorides), the Wild boar hutia (Mysateles prehensilis) and the Hot Cave Bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi).

There are many archeological sites in the area. The most interesting ones are the Aboriginal Cemetery, Hospital, Playita Site, Jutía, Los Perros Cave, El Bongo, El Burén, Los Cristales Cave, XIII Congreso Cave, Las Cazuelas I and II, Ferrer I, Canímar Arriba, Las Carolinas, Centella (caves) and El Morrillo. The history of the colonial period in the valley of the Canímar River begins in the 16th century, because it was in this site, named by the first settlers of Canímar or Caneimar, where the first land grant took place in 1558. The characteristics of the fluvial network with 10 navigable km, turned it into an important communication route, used by owners of sugar mills and coffee plantations in the surrounding areas: Limonar and Valle de Guamacaro, to transport their productions to the Port of Matanzas. In 1720 the fort known as El Morrillo was built, which protected the area against incursions of corsairs and pirates. On October 5, 1833, the maritime service between Matanzas and Canímar was established. In 1839, the German naturalist Gundlach carried out fauna studies in the surroundings of the river.

In this excursion you will enjoy an adventure in nature, getting to know important components of the Cuban fields, the beautiful coral formations and discovering very interesting elements of the landscape and natural environments found in the Canímar River together with the history of the city of Matanzas.

We offer a diverse selection for panoramic tours of the most significant sites in Cuban history, culture and contemporary life. So this is a treat for those seeking some vacation adventures on their Cuba holiday tour.

A more than 150 kilometer adventure across rivers, off roads, quarries, royal palm tree groves and small countryside communities.

Itinerary:

• Pick up by jeep at the client's place of accommodation.
• Exclusive possibility of having the driving and accompaniment of a specialized guide during the tour.
• In Canímar River, arrival at the Nautical Base. Enjoy an aboriginal show.
• Upon arrival at Río Canímar, you will be able to navigate by speedboat on this beautiful river.
• Departure to La Arboleda, a beautiful area of impressive nature on the banks of the Canimar River.
• Upon arrival at La Arboleda, reception with tropical fruit salad and 1 natural water. Brief explanation of the tour to the Manantial del Amor and the Tumbadero Ruins Trail in rowboats guided by jet ski.
• Swimming time at the Manantial del Amor. Return to the rustic dock and continue along the trail to the Casa Campesina and enjoy a Creole lunch.
• Free time for recreation at La Arboleda. (horseback riding, bull riding and archery).
• Nautical recreation on the Canimar River (paddle boats and water bikes).
• Return to the client's place of lodging.

TIPS: • Recommended: light clothing, swimsuit, sunglasses, hats or caps, tennis, sandals or comfortable shoes and photographic camera. • For the tour we recommend a water bottle.