CubaPLUS Magazine

If there is one gift for which the Greater Antilles must thank Mother Nature, it is the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park—the most significant protected area in the country and one of the world’s most biologically diverse and endemic-rich mountain ecosystems. 

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001, the park is a cornerstone of endemic flora conservation in the Western Hemisphere. Nearly 70% of the 1,302 spermatophyte (seed plant) species found within its borders are indigenous to the park itself.

Spanning 706.8 square kilometers, the territory features numerous points of interest, including lodging and camping facilities, as well as hiking trails led by highly qualified personnel dedicated to providing visitors with in-depth ecological insights.

Geographically and geologically, the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park is defined by dramatic mountain formations, rivers, and deep valleys. It is situated atop the Sierra Cristal, an ancient range that serves as the primary relief for eastern Cuba. The park’s complex orography and varying elevations foster a mosaic of microclimates and ecosystems, which directly contribute to its immense biological diversity.

Among its most notable landmarks are Loma del Mulo—one of the park’s premier lookout points offering vistas of the Jaguaní River and the Toldo Plateau—and Cascada Fugaz, a stunning waterfall cascading into the Jaguaní from the Toldo slopes. Another highlight is the Farallones de Moa, a karst region featuring the Great Cavern of the Farallones de Moa, officially recognized as one of Cuba’s five National Natural Monuments.

The park’s biodiversity levels are among the highest on the planet. Its flora alone represents 2% of the world’s plant species, housing 905 endemic plants—nearly 30% of those recorded in all of Cuba.

The fauna is equally impressive. These vast forests serve as a sanctuary for endemic, resident, and migratory birds, including the Cuban Amazon (Amazona leucocephala) and the Cuban Parakeet (Psittacara euops), both of which are currently threatened with extinction.

An ethnographically significant detail is the park's proximity to the community of Caridad de los Indios. This settlement is home to the last remaining direct descendants of Cuba’s indigenous Taino agro-pottery culture—a population largely decimated following European colonization.

There is much to be said about this extraordinary site, an incalculable treasure bestowed by nature upon Cuba. Finally, it is essential to note that the park was named in honor of the German scientist Baron Alexander von Humboldt. His extensive 19th-century explorations of the island were so profound that they earned him the title of the "Second Discoverer of Cuba."