Friday, May 29, 2009

MATANZAS CITY


MATANZAS CUBA

The northern coast is lined with ports and bays and contains one of the world's finest beaches, at Varadero.This coast also has numerous small cays, scrublands and mangroves near the shoreline.

The southern coast has one of Cuba's most distinctive features: Ciénaga de Zapata, a vast wetland area of mangrove and swamp taking up most of the southern part of the province and the peninsula of the same name. Among Cuba's provinces, Matanzas is one of the most industrialized ones, with petroleum wells, refineries, supertanker facilities, and 21 sugar mills to process the harvests of the fields of sugarcane in the province.


This province has the biggest oilfield in exploitation of Cuba, located in the north coast, near of the Bay of Cárdenas and the Bay of Matanzas, where it produces the 60 percent of national crude oil. Some foreign firms make risk investment to drill for oil at this zone.

Energas, a plant which utilizes the spin-off gas to generate electricity, was constructed near Cárdenas and Varadero. It generates over 170 megawatts to the Cuban electrical power system.

Sugarcane and henequen are the major crops; subsistence agriculture is also practiced, and there is some cattle rising. In Matanzas there is also the biggest surface area of cultivation of citrus fruits in the country, with over 300 thousand tons produced per year.



MATANZAS HOLIDAYS

Matanzas has a prosperous tourist industry. Comfortable hotels have been built in some of the most beautiful spots in Matanzas, to facilitate your enjoyment of nature.

The ruins of the Triunvirato sugar mill and the fascinating Canímar River, of navigable and quiet waters whose limits are marked by an exuberant vegetation, complement the charms of Matanzas, close to which –on the way to the city of Havana– the vast Yumurí Valley will make you stop and enjoy the privileged Bacunayagua lookout

The best time to visit Matanzas is December though April is also the most popular time.

The weather is at its coolest and driest during these months, yet it's still far warmer than those of North America and Europe.
Pinar del Rio City Cuba

In the spring and fall, it's off season and this may mean fewer hotel amenities. There are, however, benefits for traveling in the low season: lack of crowds and prices that tumble by up to 25%.
Tops destinatios in Matanzas, Cuba are:

Pinar del Rio City Cuba

Matanzas city: (founded in 1693) is known as “the Venice of Cuba” for its many bridges enriching the urban area. Also, is known as "the Athens of Cuba" because of its cultural heritage. The provincial capital surrounds a large bay, whose name changed from Guanima to Matanzas (slaughters) after a group of Spanish colonizers were killed on its waters by aborigines commanded by cacique Guayucayex, in 1510.
The name of Matanzas was quickly extended to the then village, to the lands in the vecinity and to the rest of the future province.

Land of poets, in this town was born the Danzón, a popular Cuban rhythm. There is also in Matanzas a sui generis Pharmaceutical Museum, which together with the Oscar María de Rojas Museum, opened at the beginning of the 20th century, and the Sauto Theater, complements the cultural offer to the visitors.

MATANZAS TRAVEL GUIDE

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

MATANZAS BEACHES


VARADERO BEACH MATANZAS

The western Cuban province of Matanzas offers an array of tourist options that range from the world-famous beach resort of Varadero to Ciénaga de Zapata (Zapata Swamp).
Precisely, Varadero is considered Cuba's best beach, despite strong competition from the islets that make up the tourist destination known as Jardines del Rey (King's Gardens).
A score of kilometers of excellent beaches and natural attractions such as caves, pristine keys and crystal-clear water are complemented by a large infrastructure to meet the needs from the most demanding vacationers.
In addition, Varadero's sea is inhabited by more than 40 kinds of corrals, schools of fish, lobsters, shrimps, crabs, turtles and more than 70 kinds of mollusks.
Marinas like Dársena de Varadero and Gaviota provide diving enthusiasts with excellent conditions and services, including boats, skilled personnel, diving training centers, hyperbaric chambers and emergency transportation.
One of the best diving sites is Hoyo Azul Ojo del Mégano, a huge cave that has 70 meters in diameter and holds underwater walls, coral reefs and huge schools of multicolor fish.


VARADERO BEACH

Varadero Beach, Matanzas Guamá Canímar River, Matanzas At the same time, the Zapata Swamp is one of the most attractive tourist options in Matanzas, in addition to being the paradise par excellence for nature lovers.
Pristine beaches, exotic forests, rivers, lakes, flooded caverns, natural pools, virgin areas and grasslands are a safe haven for 30 percent of Cuba's autochthons fauna.
The swamp shelters 171 species of birds, 18 of which are native to the region, which is one of Cuba's richest zones for ecological tourism.
The geographic center of the region is Playa Larga, a 400-meter fine sand strip bathed by warm water and surrounded by corals and natural trails where tourists can enjoy nature at the International Bird Watching Center.
Other attractions include Salinas de Bidos (Bidos' Saltmines), where bird watchers can watch up to 165 species of birds in winter, and Cueva de los Peces (Fish's Cave), the largest flooded cavern in the Cuban archipelago and an excellent site to practice speleological diving.
One of the largest crocodile breeding farms in the Caribbean Island and the Caribbean, with more than 15,000 specimens, is in the Zapata Swamp.
Matanzas also boasts a natural underground wonder, Cuevas de Bellamar (Bellamar's Caves), which were discovered in 1861, the ruins of the Triunvirato sugar mill and the River Canímar.
One of the most beautiful natural sites in Cuba is the Yumurí Valley, whose breathtaking landscape can be enjoyed from Mirador de Bacunayagua (Bacunayagua's Lookout), which overlooks a bridge that is considered one of the Caribbean Island's seven wonders of civil engineering.
BEACHES OF MATANZAS CUBA

MATANZAS ATTRACTIONS

Bellamar Caves of Matanzas Cuba BELAMAR CAVES IN MATANZAS

BELLAMAR CAVE

The western Cuban province of Matanzas offers an array of tourist options that range from the world-famous beach resort of Varadero to Ciénaga de Zapata (Zapata Swamp).

Precisely, Varadero is considered Cuba's best beach, despite strong competition from the islets that make up the tourist destination known as Jardines del Rey (King's Gardens).

A score of kilometers of excellent beaches and natural attractions such as caves, pristine keys and crystal-clear water are complemented by a large infrastructure to meet the needs from the most demanding vacationers.

In addition, Varadero's sea is inhabited by more than 40 kinds of corrals, schools of fish, lobsters, shrimps, crabs, turtles and more than 70 kinds of mollusks.

Marinas like Dársena de Varadero and Gaviota provide diving enthusiasts with excellent conditions and services, including boats, skilled personnel, diving training centers, hyperbaric chambers and emergency transportation.



MATANZAS SCUBA DIVING

One of the best diving sites is Hoyo Azul Ojo del Mégano, a huge cave that has 70 meters in diameter and holds underwater walls, coral reefs and huge schools of multicolor fish.
Varadero Beach, Matanzas
Guamá
Canímar River, Matanzas

At the same time, the Zapata Swamp is one of the most attractive tourist options in Matanzas, in addition to being the paradise par excellence for nature lovers.

Pristine beaches, exotic forests, rivers, lakes, flooded caverns, natural pools, virgin areas and grasslands are a safe haven for 30 percent of Cuba's autochthons fauna.

The swamp shelters 171 species of birds, 18 of which are native to the region, which is one of Cuba's richest zones for ecological tourism.

The geographic center of the region is Playa Larga, a 400-meter fine sand strip bathed by warm water and surrounded by corals and natural trails where tourists can enjoy nature at the International Bird Watching Center.

Other attractions include Salinas de Bidos (Bidos' Saltmines), where bird watchers can watch up to 165 species of birds in winter, and Cueva de los Peces (Fish's Cave), the largest flooded cavern in the Cuban archipelago and an excellent site to practice speleological diving.

One of the largest crocodile breeding farms in the Caribbean Island and the Caribbean, with more than 15,000 specimens, is in the Zapata Swamp.

Matanzas also boasts a natural underground wonder, Cuevas de Bellamar (Bellamar's Caves), which were discovered in 1861, the ruins of the Triunvirato sugar mill and the River Canímar.

One of the most beautiful natural sites in Cuba is the Yumurí Valley, whose breathtaking landscape can be enjoyed from Mirador de Bacunayagua (Bacunayagua's Lookout), which overlooks a bridge that is considered one of the Caribbean Island's seven wonders of civil engineering.

MATANZAS HOTELS


MATANZAS HOTELS INFO

Hotel Horizontes Casa del Valle, Located in the famous Yumurí Valley, with beautiful vegetation and wonderful climate, 3 miles (5 km) away from the city of Matanzas. Casa del valle has capitalized on its magnificent landscape and ideal location to create packages that combine activities of ecological interest with health-oriented programs that focus on weight loss and stress reduction, traditional treatments and highly effective natural techniques. ,Hotel Horizontes Casa del Valle.


MATANZAS VACATION PACKAGES
Poolside in Varadero Matanzas

Hotel Horizontes Casa del Valle We have a wide range of accommodations at your disposal where to spend your vacations. From city rooms located in down town where history and architecture take you centuries ago, to modern placed on worldwide known Beach resorts. Here you will find a list of more than 160 locations. For most of the building you will find a brief description and photographs of the place and detailed information giving category, address, capacity, locations, room facilities, general services. Prices, types of rooms and seasons are listed at the end of the page. Through us, you can book your room at 4 and 5 stars Historic Lodgings in Old and Modern Havana, either in old buildings now fully restored or in recently built installations with high comfort and quality of services. Among them we have luxurious rooms for VIP's willing to have first class lodging associated to business infrastructure. But this is not only possible in




All along the island you will find available rooms, and depending on your specific interests, you could reserve excursions, city tours and tours departing from your location to the countryside, the beautiful sandy beaches or even go sailing through the Caribbean clean waters. At night you will have at disposal clubs, cabarets, and discotheques where to enjoy salsa music and dances. If you are planning to know the whole country on your own, you can rent a car in several car rental offices, this would give you flexibility during your trip. For those looking for economic or budget accommodation we can arrange lodging at some nice 3 stars Lodgings, by saving some money you could enhance your possibilities of touring the island and go to more than one destination.Almost in any city throughout the country you could find accommodation. But not only in urban areas you Hotel Horizontes Casa del Valle.
HOTELS IN MATANZAS CUBA

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