"Fluvial Walk by the Hatiguanico River"

"Fluvial Walk by the Hatiguanico River"

The Hatiguanico River is one of the main drainage routes of the Ciénaga de Zapata, with depths of around 4 metres and a length of 29 km. Very well preserved swamp forests and mangroves grow on the riverbanks. The terrestrial fauna is mainly made up of water birds and in the marine environment, the shad, bass and cubera fish stand out.

Our proposal is that you join us in this motor boat trip through the extensive waters of the Hatiguanico River, considered the Amazon of Cuba, for this we access through an embankment of about 8 kilometers from the point known as Hato de Jicarita (Km 104 of the National Highway). During the journey you will appreciate exuberant mangroves and a diverse flora and fauna of fish, aquatic birds, reptiles and mammals. You can visit the source of the river and take a refreshing bath in its crystalline springs.

Area Values

The Ciénaga de Zapata is the most humid territory in Cuba and one of the largest in Latin America and the Caribbean, approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a Biosphere Reserve and also declared a Ramsar Site.

It has a wide variety of flora and fauna. The ornitofauna amounts to 212 species, of which 86 are permanent residents of our country, 101 migratory and 25 bimodal residents. It is important to highlight that the endemism of 23 of them constitutes 95.8% of the endemic birds of our country. Six of the seven Cuban endemic genera and three local endemics are also found in this area: the ferminia (Ferminia cerverai), the gallinuela de Santo Tomás (Cyanolimnas cerverai) and the sub-species of the cabrerito de ciénaga (Torreornis inexpectata inexpectata).

The native mammals of the Ciénaga de Zapata are represented by the orders Rodentia, Chiroptera and Sirenia, and this is the only region of Cuba where the three living genera of capromids coexist: Capromys, Mesocapromys and Mysateles. The conga hutia (Capromys pilorides) is the most abundant species in the area and can be seen mainly in Cayo Venado and Cayo Las Vacas, where they have shelters among the stones. Eight bat species have been reported in Cienaga de Zapata. The manatee (Trichechus manatus) is another mammal that inhabits this wetland. It has been reported at the mouth of the Hatiguanico River and can also be seen in areas with brackish water.

Details of the excursion

• The excursion is made in the company of a local guide.
• Difficulty Level: Low
• Duration: 2 hrs
• Motor boat ride on the Hatiguanico River.
• Swimming time at the river springs.
• Snack included (snack + liquid)

Important: This tour does not include transfer.