In
Cuba's central region, the province of Sancti Spíritus, offers
the visitor a varied spectacle: a succession of mountains and woods,
while waters are distributed in rivers or arrive
to its shores in form of serene waves.
The Sierra del Escambray is one of the most relevant orographic
groups in Cuba and treasures also fragments of the Cuban history
and the epical deeds having taken place in its heights.
Testimony of the development reached by Cuban sugar industry can
be found in the Valle de los Ingenios (valley of mills), in which
ruins of factories, summer houses, and barracks speak of the contrast
between the inhuman life of African slaves and the opulence of their
owners. Also preserved, the tower of Manaca Iznaga built in 1816,
announced to all the valley with the tolling of its bell the beginning
and end of the day-work.
It is precisely in El Escambray mountain range where the Topes de
Collantes health resort offers the benefits of local climate and
the services of
a highly-qualified medical personnel. The visitor can there enjoy
a protected natural landscape where orchids, arborescent ferns,
and eucalypts grow.
Sport fishing lovers find an ideal place in Zaza dam, where there
is abundance of fish, specially trout species, much requested by
amateur fishers.
Quite near the city of Trinidad, the beach of María Aguilar
amazes the visitor with shallow waters, letting show in the bottom,
gorgonians, multiple species of coral, tropical fish, and chelonians.
Of great importance in the area is the Marina Puertosol Cayo Blanco
offering opportunities for anchoring and docking of boats.
Visitors can count also on the Cayo Blanco and Costa Sur centers,
where they can take scuba lessons for beginners, rent
scuba equipment, and carry out day or night-time immersions in sunken
ships.
The protected area of El Naranjal, located in the heights of Banao,
has an extension of 3000 ha (7407 acres) and treasures 212 fern
species, 265 forestal ones, and 60 orchid ones. There are also varieties
of birds and amphibious species.
The Jardines del Rey archipelago is located off the northern coast
of the province. It has an extension of 22 000 ha (54 321 acres)
and possesses a cave system including flooded ones like that of
Cayo Zaguanes. There, we find the habitat of a freshwater sponge
species, only of its kind in the globe.