Diving, snorkeling, boat tours, trekking and observation of varied species are all on offer to visitors to Cayo Mono-Galindo Ecological Reserve, considered by many to be a natural paradise in Cuba.
The protected area is in the north of Matanzas province, at the westernmost end of the keys that extend into the area, and includes the municipalities of Cárdenas, Martí and the popular Hicacos Península, which contains one of the Caribbean's main beach resorts, Varadero. In addition to the two keys that give the Reserve its name, the Cruz del Padre, Blancos and Romero islets also form the group.
Administered by Empresa Flora y Fauna, the Ecological Reserve is 19,524.91 hectares in size, dominated by sea and lake plains, with two levels of terraces to the north of the keys. This can be seen in Galindo, where the maximum height, four meters above sea level, is found.
About forty well-preserved plant species have been identified in these areas, including Zamia sp., of national conservation interest and considered by scientists to be among the oldest seed plants on Earth. There is also the Pilosocereus robinii cactus, which, together with the former, is included in the Catalog of Threatened or Extinct Cuban Plants.
Red mangrove forests are common there, averaging a height of 8-10 meters, with patches of black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) and Batis maritima bushes.
The coastal vegetation is made up of, among other species, seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) and common prickly pear (Opuntia stricta), and the marine vegetation is composed mainly of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum), related to other flowering plants.
On land there are species such as conga hutias (Capromys pilorides) and Cuban iguanas (Cyclura nubila), and the great diversity of marine fauna includes sponges, tunicates, Porites and Manicina sp. corals, a variety of snails, stars, sea urchins and colorful fish. Marine mammals include the renowned Antillean or Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus).
Permanent control and systematic actions are carried out to preserve the biodiversity and ecosystems of these valuable marine sites.
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