Most
of them of great archeological value, some of them underwater, others
turned into nights clubs, the Varadero caves and their surroundings deserve
all the attention of the visitor.
The Ambrosio (ceremonial site) and The Musulmanes
(dwelling site) caves:
Two out of the fifteen archeological sited discovered at the peninsula that reveal the customs of the area’s indigenous population are both located in the Varahicacos natural park. Traces of pre-Columbian inhabitants (72 rupestrian paintings) can be found in local burial plots that go back 2000 years, representatives of the agro-alfarera taino culture. The primitive pictographs and carsic formations in the Cave of San Ambrosio are surprising. The first one is a 250 meter long cave with five interconnected galleries. During the colonial period, it also served as safe heaven for maroons, or black runaway slaves. Los Musulmanes’ path, with its great diversity of plants and animals, also presents several interesting geographic points as does.
The Santa Catalina Cave:
This
cave has great archeological, scientific, and natural values. It is located
in an area know as Predios de Camarioca, on the Matanzas-Varadero Highway.
Aside from the evidences of pre-Columbian communities that where discovered
in the, the cave’s 8 kmilometers of galleries shelter several local
fauna species and show secondary formations that turn it into a true natural
wonder.
The Bellamar Caves:
Located near Matanzas city is one of the wonders of Cuban geography. This cave system was discovered in 1861 and is considered the island’s oldest tourist attraction of its kind. This cave is famous for its carsick crystals, stalactites and stalagmites formations in these nifty limestone caves.
Its more than 28 explored cavities treasure large mural painting, numerous fossils, and evidences of communities that inhabited the area some 1 600 years ago. Proclaimed a National Monument in 1987, it is well-known for its capricious crystallized formations, among them the one called El Manto de Colón (Columbus’ Cloak), an emblematic 12 meter high column formed by a stalagmite and stalactite that fused together.
Programmed tours take the visitor down for a length of 1 500 meters, half the caves’ total extension.
The
Saturno Cave:
On the way to the Juan Gualberto Gímez Iinternational Airport , The Saturno cave provides lovers of the underwater world with an option that is different: diving trhouh the crystal-clear eaters of this 150 meter long and 20 feet deep, cavern , ideal for speleolo‡ical exploration.