Cueva de Saturno

Saturno is a cenote: a collapsed limestone chamber holding a pool of clear fresh water, reached by a stair cut down through the rock into the cave. Light comes through the opening above and lights the pool, which is deep enough for diving and clear enough to see the formations underwater. Small fish live in it. It is close to Varadero airport and is on every excursion schedule, which means it can be crowded, and going early or late is the difference between a swim and a queue.

What you actually see

• The pool - clear fresh water in a collapsed limestone chamber, lit from the opening above.
• The formations - stalactites above the water and more below it, visible with a mask.
• The stair - a cut descent through the rock into the cave.
• The fish - small freshwater fish that live in the pool.

When to go

Year-round; the water temperature barely changes. Early morning and late afternoon avoid the excursion buses, which arrive in the middle of the day. The pool is at its clearest before the crowds stir the bottom.

Honest expectations

It is small, and when three coaches arrive at once the pool is full of people. The water is cold, colder than the sea by a long way. Entry is charged and gear hire is extra, and the site is heavily commercialised for its size.

Nearby

Varadero is fifteen minutes east and Matanzas is west along the coast.