Natural beauty, rural communities, and urban centers meet in the Cuban province of Matanzas. Famous for its Varadero Beach, Matanzas is the second-largest province in Cuba. While most tourists see little of Matanzas beyond the walls of the beach resorts, the province is also known for its numerous rivers, deep valleys, sugar cane farms, and natural caves.
Follow guest contributor and photographer Tracy Zhang’s journey beyond the resorts and into the heart of Matanzas province:
Varadero
Varadero is situated on a narrow peninsula that measures only .75 miles at its widest point. Its 20-kilometer-long beach attracts more than 30,000 tourists during peak season, but the town is more than resorts. At the tip of the peninsula lies the Varahicacos Ecological Reserve, home to 27 species of reptiles, 32 species of butterflies, natural caves, and even a 2000-year-old aboriginal burial site.
Bridge
Beach
Forty-five minutes away from Varadero is Matanzas, the capital city of Matanzas province. Matanzas is also known as the “Venice of Cuba” for its many bridges and rivers. As I sailed down the Canimar River, absorbed in the surrounding greenery, a group of children playing in the river caught my attention. After exchanging cheerful waves, the children began to sing Joseíto Fernández’s “Guantanamera” as the boat pulled away.
Cave
One of my most memorable experiences in Mantazas was diving into the refreshing waters of the Saturno Cave. At 490 feet long and 20 feet deep, this dark underwater world—my first cave-swimming experience—left me amazed at the wonders of nature.
Mantanzas, Cuba
While the beaches and caves left me in awe of nature, the city center of Matanzas sparked my curiosity about Cuban life. Old automobiles, overcrowded public buses and horse-drawn wagons were all common modes of transportation. Houses with faded paint lined the narrow streets. Despite the vibrant culture of Matanzas, I was also reminded of the country’s poverty.
Sugar Cane
One of the primary industries in Matanzas is agriculture. During the 19th century, the province was one of Cuba’s top producers of sugar cane. During my trip, I had the chance to visit a banana and sugar cane farm located deep in the valleys. My day on the farm ended with fresh juices made from a traditional crusher. As the host fed and re-fed the stalks through the machine, I watched the milky liquids flow into a plastic pitcher. My mouth watered, knowing how sweet the beverage would be.
Minor updates and edits were made from the original article.
Photos © Tracy Zhang
Featured photo © Matthew Dillon
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Tracy Zhang is Canadian travel photographer. She loves to capture the cultural essence and natural beauty of her destinations. She has lived on 3 continents, traveled to 25 countries, but her favorite place to rest her head is still her quiet suburban home in British Columbia. She blogs about travel and photography at Tracy Zhang Photo.