The
province of Villa Clara is located on the central region of the Isle of
Cuba, less than 300 km. (185 miles) from Havana, Cuba’s capital.
From Caibarién, a fishermen’s village surrounded by deep
waters home to important lobster farms, a 48 km. road built of stones
(called pedraplén), stretches across the sea, linking the main
island with keys like Santa María, Las Brujas (which has a small
airfield), Ensenachos, Cobos, Majá, Fragoso, Francés, Las
Picúas and Español de Adentro, among others.
This
important engineering work has 45 bridges to allow the exchange of tidal
waters. It’s a very nice ride across this pedraplén because
the visitor may see species like sparrow hawks, pelicans, oldsquaws and
the astonishing pink flamingos.
The northern keys have several kilometers of excellent beaches and an almost virgin environment. They also constitute a true natural reserve (Fauna Reserve of the Northern Keys) for a unique kind of hutía (cane rat), and a meeting place for flamingo colonies. Besides there are endemic species of lizards, mollusks and birds like the one called arriero, along with a flora comprising 248 species, 91 of them medicinal, 72 timber-yielding, 41 honey-producing and 40 decorative. 29 of them are endemic.
Though
the smallest of the keys linked by the pedraplén, Cayo Ensenachos
is regarded by many as the one having the best beaches. Its location behind
Cayo Santa María protects it from the beating of heavy waves even
when the sea is rough and grants it a calm sea throughout the year.