Cuba Nature Travel - Hanabanilla Mountain Paradise

By Matthew_Barker

The Hanabanilla Waterfall (Hanabanilla is an aborigine name interpreted as a small gold basket) is the biggest of its type in Cuba, located in the Siguanea valley, in the heart of the Guamuhaya Massif or the Escambray Mountains. At 364 meters above sea level, it's the only intermountain lake in Cuba, and one of the most beautiful and captivating spots in the whole island.




The lake (actually a reservoir seeming to be a natural lake) has a water mirror surrounding it, approximately 15 square kilometers and 30 or 40 meters deep. Fed by three rivers: Río Negro, Río Hanabanilla, and Río Guanayara, and with a storage capacity of around 300 million cubic meters, Hanabanilla is the third largest lake in the country used for recreational purposes and as a major water supply, and feeds the biggest hydroelectric station in Cuba.



The Hanabanilla Hotel is located over a dam. It has around 125 rooms, a cafeteria, a restaurant, and a multipurpose sport hall. Additionally, the complex includes a bar, a grill, a party hall, a disco, a swimming pool, game halls, and the availability of nautical sports. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, trout, and other fish, and there are plenty of wild duck, quail, pheasant and other game birds. Catch and release fishing is popular, with the biggest specimens of largemouth bass in Cuba caught in the lake.



The whole area is a natural reserve with extraordinary views and conditions to admire the Cuban flora and fauna. Bird watching is particularly popular of such species as the "tocororos" (Cuba national bird), royal boatbuilders, parrots, and ducks, among other endemic birds inhabiting the area. From the hotel, numerous excursions are organized throughout the rivers and paths of the area to appreciate the surrounding nature.



"Un reto a la Loma Atalaya" (challenging Atalaya mountain) is one of the exceptional hiking routes available, in which you walk through open extensions with exclusive sights. At the same time it gives you the opportunity to exchange with farmers and peasants of the area, and learn about their habits, customs, and traditions.



There is also the attractive excursion to Río Negro, also known as "El Mirador" (The lookout). This place can be reached after a charming boat tour along the river from the hotel. On the way, attentive passengers can admire caves, grottos, intricate houses, the school boats transporting students, and they get familiar with the surrounding environment and the life of the locals. The trip ends in the Río Negro restaurant, with exquisite Creole food and a pure coffee, extracted from that very mountain.



Another two walks are related to Río Negro. "La Colicambiada", one of the most complete excursions, begins in the touristic resort, includes boat transfer at the beginning and the end of the trip, a visit with locals, and a soak in the Arroyo Trinitario Waterfall, one the most paradisiacal places in all the area. The other one, "La Ribera", takes place in a similar environment, but in an opposite direction. Of course, it also has its uniqueness since every corner of the Escambray has its own charm.



Legends play an important role here as well since some associate the name of Siguanea to one of the daughters of the aborigine Chief, Arimao, a leader within the resistance against the Spaniards. The elders assure that the Indian figure appears reflected in the water in times of floods. The construction of the reservoir and hydroelectric station necessitated the flooding of large sections of the Siguanea Valley. Under the flooded sections are entire towns, including a cathedral and the local cemetery. Locals say that as the water of the river was growing sharply, the church bells never stopped tolling. Even today they claim that during the anniversary of the flooding, the church bells can still be heard from the bottom of the lake.



This guide to visiting Hanabanilla in Cuba's Escambray Mountains was written by a Cuba travel expert from Cuba For Less, a specialist in fully customizable Cuba vacations.



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