Fauna and Flora of this region
There are a very diverse flora and fauna in this part of Cuba. That makes the charm of this region and across Cuba. Cubans are concerned about the preservation of the environment. This is why there are as many bridges as kilometers of the road on the causeway that connects the islands to Cuba.
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All hotels are located behind the dunes facing the sea and the Iberostar Ensenachos is no exception. Why? To keep this natural protection against hurricanes.
To do this, they built several footbridges connecting the hotel to the beach. These are raised not to affect wildlife and local flora as mangroves. Click HERE for more information on mangroves and their precarious state in the planet.
Note that there are no poisonous snakes, scorpions, tarantulas or other dangerous species for humans in the islands. Apart from crabs, small lizards and birds, we did not encounter any dangerous wildlife.
Here are some photos that were taken in Cayo Santa Maria and Cayo Ensenachos in 2002 during our first and second visit in this province of Cuba. Several of these photos were taken by Jean-Marc, a very good photographer who loves nature.
The nature trails
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We discovered, in our first trip, a nature trail in this region of Cuba. It includes the famous endemic mollusks called « Ligus ». We returned in December 2002. The Ligus is a type of mollusk whose shell resembles a sea shell is a species endemic to this region. The particularity of this mollusc he climbs up into the trees! Looking carefully, you can observe in the trees along the trail.
In December 2006 and May 2009, we rented a scooter to visit Cayo Las Brujas and the entry to the Ecology Trail is unreachable or simply no more accessible. Access was near Cayo Ensenachos. Maybe it was the best way to ensure the peaceful survival of these small creatures.
We saw these little creatures in the region of Holguin (Playa Pesquero sector). It is surely a close cousin of the Ligus in the « Jardines del Rey » as the resemblance is striking.
There is also another ecological trail further east in the area of Playa Perla Blanca. We have not explored this path.
PHOTOS
Click to view our photo album of nature trails.
(photos from our site: http://photos.cayosantamaria.info)
