Punta Perdiz: the kind blue where the Caribbean dives in peace By: Rachell Cowan Canino/ Photos: Abel Rojas Barallobre Arriving at Punta Perdiz, a corner of the southern coast of Matanzas, is to encounter a landscape worthy of the word beauty, a place where national and foreign visitors agree on the dominant harmony and admiration for the enchanting blue of the Caribbean Sea waters. It is nestled in the heart of the Ciénaga de Zapata, the largest wetland in the insular Caribbean and a biodiversity sanctuary that holds three important management categories: Biosphere Reserve, Ramsar Site, and National Park. Unlike other diving destinations that require long boat trips, here the underwater paradise literally begins from the shore. Punta Perdiz is one of the eleven environmentally certified diving spots in the Ciénaga, and it is home to one of the best-preserved seabeds in the country, with a large coral reserve, seagrass beds [...]

Five ideas for exploring caves in western Cuba Some of Cuba’s largest and most spectacular caves are located in Pinar del Río, a region well-known to travelers for its extraordinary natural beauty. Exploring its caverns means discovering the intrinsic secrets of Cuban nature, making the province an essential destination for those seeking intense emotions and authentic contact with nature, as it boasts the largest cave systems in the country. Caving tourism has significant value in several areas—economic, educational, scientific, and environmental—as it can generate income for communities through job creation (guides, transportation, lodging, food), as well as foster the development of tourism infrastructure in rural or less developed areas, while allowing visitors to learn about geology, cave formation, subterranean biodiversity, and natural history. Furthermore, it facilitates the exploration and study of underground environments that may contain key information about past climate, biodiversity, and geological and paleontological processes. Here, the Sol de Cuba team [...]

The Christ of Cuba, standing on a Havana hilltop A collaboration by Yoanna Cervera/ Photo: Abel Rojas Barallobre An image surprises the curious passerby: suddenly, it seems as if they are in Rio, very close to that famous sculpture. But no, we are in Cuba, although also close to a Christ, but in Havana. The same figure with open arms, the same protective gesture; but the sea seen from below is different, the heat is different, and its history is different too. The Christ of Havana peeks out from the La Cabaña hill, right at the entrance to the bay. Rather than at the top of a mountain, it stands on a hilltop overlooking the Malecón seawall and the historic center of the Cuban capital. With its 20 meters of white marble, it looks imposing, as if it might start walking at any moment. The story of this sculpture is curious. [...]