Guanahacabibes National Park

Guanahacabibes covers the long limestone peninsula that runs out to Cabo San Antonio at the western end of Cuba, a biosphere reserve of semi-deciduous forest, mangrove, cenotes and low karst. Green turtles nest on the southern beaches through the summer and the park runs a monitoring programme that visitors can join. Bird and land crab numbers are high, the endemic plant list is long, and the road out to the cape is one of the emptiest in the country.

What you actually see

• The dry forest trails - guided walks through semi-deciduous forest with a high endemic count.
• The cenotes - flooded sinkholes in the limestone along the trails.
• The turtle nesting - green turtles on the southern beaches in summer, monitored by the park.
• Cabo San Antonio - the western tip of Cuba, with a lighthouse and nothing else.

When to go

November to April is the dry season and best for walking. Turtle nesting runs from roughly June to September, which is the wet and hot season. Guides are compulsory on the trails and are arranged at La Bajada.

Honest expectations

Trails cannot be walked without a park guide and numbers are limited, so arriving unannounced can mean waiting. Mosquitoes and land crabs are abundant. The road to the cape is rough and there is no fuel or food on the peninsula.

Nearby

Maria la Gorda is on the bay inside the peninsula, and Sandino is the nearest town.