Guama

At La Boca on the edge of the Zapata swamp there is a crocodile breeding farm holding Cuban and American crocodiles, and from the jetty beside it boats run across the Laguna del Tesoro to Guamá. The village there is a 1960s reconstruction: thatched huts on a group of small wooden islands linked by walkways, with life-size sculptures by Rita Longa showing Taíno people at work and at rest. It is part museum, part hotel, and the boat ride across the lagoon through the reeds is a good part of the appeal.

What you actually see

• The crocodile farm - Cuban and American crocodiles in breeding enclosures at the jetty.
• The lagoon crossing - a boat run across the Laguna del Tesoro through reed channels.
• The island village - thatched huts on linked wooden islands, built as a reconstruction.
• The sculptures - Rita Longa's life-size figures of Taino people set among the huts.

When to go

November to April is the dry season and the best for the boat and the birds on the lagoon. Mosquitoes are serious in the swamp at any time and worse in the wet months. Early boats are quieter.

Honest expectations

The village is a 1960s reconstruction rather than an archaeological site, and it has weathered. The crocodile farm keeps animals in conditions some visitors find poor, and crocodile meat is sold at the restaurant. Mosquito repellent is not optional here.

Nearby

Playa Larga and the Zapata swamp birding areas are south, and the Bellamar caves are north near Matanzas.