A Necessary Introduction
These days I'm overjoyed because I was able to visit Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Cuba's most important protected area, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001.
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As I always say, these trips are much more than just visiting places to research, discover, or work. They are journeys to the very essence of my country, journeys that become a source of constant joy, lasting lessons, and, more than work, pure happiness for everything I discover and learn.
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I invite you on this journey Wonderful
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A paradise of endemic species
If there's one thing that characterizes this park, it's its record-breaking numbers. It's the place with the greatest biodiversity in the Antilles. To give you an idea, 70% of its plants are endemic (they only live there). Our guides also told us about incredibly beautiful animal species, considered treasures of the region, such as the solenodon, the Polymita snail (with its incredible colors), and the Cuban woodpecker.
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The "Cuban Amazon": The park encompasses the Toa River basin, the most voluminous river in Cuba. We could feel its power as we walked near its crystal-clear tributaries.
Unique Geology: Unlike other areas of Cuba, here the mountains (of the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa massif) have ultramafic rock formations, creating a landscape of barren mountains (serpentine) where only the hardiest plants survive.
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Hidden Gems: Beyond the trails, the park holds wonders like El Yunque (that iconic mesa mentioned by Columbus) and Salto Fino waterfall, the tallest in the Caribbean with a 305-meter drop!
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The Heart of the Trip: Connecting with the Community
But the most interesting part of our trip, the part that truly transformed a business visit into an unforgettable experience, was our interaction with the local people.
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We weren't passive observers; instead, we got involved and connected with the inhabitants of communities like Santa María de Tacobay and La Melba. In such a remote place, where access to the city is difficult, conservation projects have fostered a model of "scientific and community-based tourism."
If I had to highlight other significant elements, I would say these:
Mutual learning: A farmer taught us how to use medicinal plants to treat insect bites and how to identify the songs of endemic birds. We learned not only about biology, but also about real survival in the wilderness, something so essential for geologists.
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Park tour: The tour of part of the park was enchanting, and as we taught about soil types, rocks, geological formations, and more, the farmers shared agroecological techniques with us.
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The taste of authenticity: We remember what we ate. It wasn't a fancy restaurant. But we enjoyed the local flavors, the local fruits, and traditional dishes, and that's priceless.
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The midday route: We hiked to El Recreo. That 3-km trail to Taco Bay is spectacular. The reward after the exercise and the heat, plunging into the cool waters of the Recreo River, is one of those unforgettable pleasures.
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A final comment
In the end, what we got wasn't just a certificate or data for a report. We left with the certainty that in that corner of Cuba, nature and humankind can still coexist in harmony. We visited a place where the word resilience is best understood by watching a farmer tending the forest or a researcher marveling at a tiny insect.
Note: The images are my own.
I used DeepL Translate.
ESPAÑOL
Una introducción necesaria
Por estos días tengo una alegría inmensa porque pude visitar el Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt, el área protegida más importante de Cuba, declarada Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO en el año 2001.
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Como siempre digo, estos viajes son mucho más que recorrido por lugares, para investigar, descubrir o trabajar. Son viajes a la esencia de la tierra de mi país que se convierten en alegría permanente, enseñanza duradera y, más que trabajo es pura felicidad por todo lo que descubro y aprendo.
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Los invito a este viaje maravilloso
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Un paraíso de endemismos
Si algo caracteriza a este parque son sus cifras récord. Es el lugar con mayor biodiversidad de las Antillas. Para que se hagan una idea, el 70% de sus plantas son endémicas (solo viven allí) . También, nuestros guías nos hablaron de especies animales de gran belleza y consideradas joyas animales como el almiquí, el caracol Polymita (de colores imposibles) o el carpintero real .
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El "Amazonas cubano": El parque es dueño de la cuenca del río Toa, el más caudaloso de Cuba . Pudimos sentir su fuerza al al caminar cerca de sus afluentes de aguas cristalinas.
Geología única: A diferencia de otras zonas de Cuba, aquí las montañas (del macizo Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa) tienen formaciones de roca ultramáfica, lo que crea un paisaje de montañas peladas (serpentinita) donde solo las plantas más resistentes sobreviven .
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Joyas escondidas: Más allá de los senderos, el parque guarda maravillas como El Yunque (esa mesa emblemática que mencionó Colón) y la cascada Salto Fino, ¡la más alta del Caribe con 305 metros de caída! .
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El corazón del viaje: Conexión con la comunidad
Pero lo más interesante de nuestro viaje, el que realmente convirtió una visita de trabajo en una experiencia inolvidable, fue su interacción con la gente local.
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No fuimos observadores pasivos, sino que nos involucramos y . conectamos con los habitantes de comunidades como Santa María de Tacobay o La Melba . En un lugar tan remoto, donde el acceso a la ciudad es difícil, los proyectos de conservación han fomentado un modelo de "turismo científico y comunitario" .
Si tengo que destacar otros elementos significativos, diría estos:
Aprendizaje mutuo: Un campesino nos enseñó a usar plantas medicinales para curar picaduras o a identificar los cantos de las aves endémicas. No solo aprendimos de biología, sino de supervivencia real en la manigua, algo tan necesario para los geólogos.
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Recorrido por el parque: El recorrido por parte del parque fue encantador y, en la misma medida que enseñamos sobre tipos de suelos, rocas, formaciones geológicas y más, los campesinos compartieron técnicas de agroecología con nosotros .
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El sabor de lo auténtico: Recordamos lo que comimos. No fue en un restaurante de lujo. Pero, disfrutamos del sabor criollo, de las frutas del lugar, platos típicos y, eso no tiene precio.
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La ruta del mediodía: Hicimos la caminata de El Recreo. Ese sendero de unos 3 km hasta la Bahía de Taco es espectacular . La recompensa después del ejercicio y el calor, meterse en las frías aguas del río Recreo, es uno de esos placeres que no se olvidan.
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Un comentario final
Al final, lo que nos llevamos no fue solo un certificado o datos para un informe. Nos llevamos la certeza de que en ese rincón de Cuba, la naturaleza y el ser humano todavía pueden convivir en armonía. Visitamos un lugar donde la palabra resiliencia se entiende mejor viendo a un campesino cuidar el bosque o a un investigador maravillarse con un insecto diminuto.
Nota: Las imágenes son de mi propiedad.
Utilicé el traductor DeepL Translate.
