The Alejandro de Humboldt National Park is a terrestrial paradise for eco-tourism enthusiasts. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, it beckons visitors to explore its treasures of biodiversity.
Let Captain Ulysses enlighten you about this remarkable place!
💡 Planning Your Trip to Cuba 💡
✈️ Flights: To find the best deals on flights, Captain Ulysses highly recommends using Skyscanner or Omio.
🇨🇺 Visa: Before you depart, be sure to apply for your tourist card (which is your visa for Cuba). You can easily order your tourist card online through CubaVisa.
🛏️ Accommodations: To book your accommodations in Cuba, the Captain recommends Expedia. In Baracoa, the Captain especially recommends 3 casas particulares/B&Bs with very good value for money (Casa Lester, Casa Las Palmeras, Hostal Rubio)
📸 Activities: To book your activities, the Captain highly recommends Civitatis.
The Alejandro de Humboldt National Park in a Nutshell
Located in Oriente, spanning the provinces of Holguín and Guantánamo, the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park resides within the Cuchillas del Toa Biosphere Reserve, overlooking the Bay of Taco.
It is named after the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt, who visited Cuba in 1800 and 1801. During his year-long expedition, he extensively studied the island’s rich animal and plant species. Even today, biologists continue Humboldt’s work within the park, more than two centuries later.
The Alejandro de Humboldt National Park boasts the highest rainfall in Cuba. It showcases an incredible array of landscapes, encompassing agricultural land, primary forests, lagoons, mangroves, a network of caves, waterfalls, rivers, and streams. In fact, the park harbors the most diverse flora in the Caribbean, including numerous endemic species.
Getting to the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
The Alejandro de Humboldt National Park is situated 40 km / 25 miles northwest of Baracoa, which can be reached by approximately an hour’s drive.
You can hire a taxi, which would cost around 40 CUC for a round trip in a day (the taxi would wait for you at the park during your visit).
The Cubatur and Gaviota agencies in Baracoa also offer day trips to the park. Alternatively, you can book your excursion in advance online.
👉 More info: Alejandro de Humboldt National Park Day Trip
Entrance Fees to the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
In addition, you will need to pay an entrance fee at the visitor center to access the park. The fees range from 5 to 10 CUC (children enter for free), depending on the hiking trail you choose, and they include the services of a guide. Every visitor must be accompanied by a guide, most of whom are from local communities.
Exploring the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
The Alejandro de Humboldt Park offers four hiking trails of varying lengths, allowing you to immerse yourself in the incredible natural diversity of the park.
The El Recreo trail, 2 kilometers / 1.25 miles long, offers a scenic stroll along the bay. Another trail of the same length provides stunning views of the park and leads to the charming El Copal waterfall. The longer Balcón de Iberia trail (7 km / 4.5 miles) traverses a wider range of landscapes and rewards you with the sight of the Salto de Agua Maya waterfall. For the more adventurous, there’s a fourth hike that lasts approximately 8 hours, offering a chance to delve into the primary forest and discover the park’s endemic fauna and flora.
You can also embark on a motorboat tour through the mangrove forest, followed by a 2-kilometer / 1.25-mile walk. The lucky ones may even catch a glimpse of manatees.
Other Excursions around Baracoa
Interested in further hikes/excursions in the Guantanamo Province? Here are a few options:
- Boca de Yumurí: Captain Ulysses’ detailed article | book your day trip
- El Yunque National Park: Captain Ulysses’ detailed article | book your day trip
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