I arrive in Cienfuegos without a plan, last minute down from Havana, and made my first stop at the Airbnb to leave my luggauge. I was greeted with a cold lemonade, a quick overview explanation of what’s available in the area. After figuring things out in the Cienfuegos area, I was heading town towards Trinidad and asked whether I can combine something with that on the way. We then decided on a mountain trip to El Nicho national park, a green hike up the mountain to caves through waterfalls and streams, a lovely area, half way through the mountains on the road to Trinidad.
The old 70s car really struggled up the mountain and had to make a few stops to cool down, but we finally made it, and I took off for about 3 hours up and down, soaking in the cool clear water and enjoying the lush surroundings. Up on the top are a few “lifeguards” that offer another private tour of the caves, which I ofcourse joined, and heard not only about the caves but also about nature and preservation in Cuba, and much about the personal lives of these lifeguards.
It was the best half-day stop I could have hoped for.
Location:
It was a refreshing one day stop on our way from Cienfuegos to Trinidad this year (2018). The first thing our kids saw at the entrance into the park was a harmless snake and that was just a start of the discoveries. We swam in the natural pools of El Nicho. The lifeguards took as to the caves that are closed for visitors, but if you pay 2 CUC / person the path to the caves opens and you get your personal tour guide. I would recommend visiting the park before noon.