Cuevas de Bellamar (Matanzas)

                   The caves are located near the city of Matanzas and if you take a guided tour through your hotel in Varadero (about a 40 km distance) they'll bring you to the capital city (3 km distance from the caves) for a short walk on your own in and around the Parque de la Libertad. The caves claim to be the oldest tourist spot in Cuba (about 100 years) and today are considered a national monument. They were first discovered in 1861 and have been dated 300,000 years. They come from the usual Karst formations (formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone...in this case) that are typical throughout Cuba many of which are in the Pinar del Rio province. These caves extend 23 kilometers of which 15 km are accessible. It was hot and humid, not what we expected it to be which would have been cooler and not so humid...everyone was sweating. Some of the stalagmites measure 40 feet long and an underground stream runs through the caves. Outside you'll find the usual state run restaurant, trinket shop and a playground for the kids. It's a nice deviation from the usual beach stuff and a nice way to spend a few hours. In our case the bus picked us up at 8:30 am and dropped us off at 3:30 pm. Guided tours of the Bellamar Caves cost about $5 each (there is an extra charge to take photographs) but we didn't pay anything because it was included with our hotel package.

PS.......wear the right shoes, there's the possibility of slipping and falling.




Finca La Alcancia, Playa,
Matanzas, Cuba
Open: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tel: (5345) 25 3538

Tours: 9:30am 10:30am 11:30am
1:15pm 2:15pm 3:15pm 4:15pm