En este caso, la ruta inicia en el campismo El Yunque, desde el cual comienza una ruta de unos 5 kilómetros que promete llevarte hasta la cima de la montaña.
El campismo está muy bien ubicado, cuenta con magníficas instalaciones que te permiten pasar un buen rato con familia o amigos. Tiene una variada programación cultural, además de una buena gastronomía. Desde las áreas del campismo, adornadas por cocoteros, es posible admirar la montaña.
English Version - Click here!
Greetings my dear readers. Today we are going to the easternmost end of the country, to Baracoa. In one of the few examples of tropical jungle that is preserved in Cuba, between the Duaba and Toa rivers, the Yunque de Baracoa rises majestically, perhaps one of the most media-friendly geographical points that the island has.
In this case, the route begins at the El Yunque campsite, from which a route of about 5 kilometers begins that promises to take you to the top of the mountain.
The campground is very well located, it has magnificent facilities that allow you to have a good time with family or friends. It has a varied cultural program, as well as good gastronomy. From the camping areas, adorned by coconut trees, it is possible to admire the mountain.
[Tomada desde mi móvil Samsung J3 Star/.Taken from my Samsung J3 Star cell phone. Una panorámica de un costado del Yunque de Baracoa,que se eleva a mas de 500 metros sobre el nivel del mas]
English Version - Click here!
Access to Yunque begins with the crossing of the Duaba River, with a large flow and treacherous currents. The river bed is full of rocks of different origins, which have been washed away in the great floods. The alluvium of this river, as is often the case with large rivers, is a paradise for geologists to take samples of different rocks. The current can be so strong that some of these rocks can weigh several tons.
[Tomada desde mi móvil Samsung J3 Star/.Una panorámica artística del Yunque]
English Version - Click here!
When crossing the river you pass through several coffee plantations, which also have cocoa tree plantations. The wealth of fruit trees, coconut trees and vegetation attest to a very fertile land with a lot of calcium carbonate. Pineapples, tangerines and mangoes are common when it is the right season. From here on, the guide recommends constantly hydrating because walking in humid conditions and in the stifling heat can cause serious dehydration.
English Version - Click here!
Halfway along the road there is a rest point, where locals sell water coconuts and some fruits to tourists. Trail tourism has become common here. Tourists come to Baracoa attracted by the rich history of the municipality, and then with guides they are taken to the mountains, to some of the rivers and some caves. Already at this point you can see that the mountain is composed of different types of carbonate rocks, which form whimsical shapes, called karst.
Karst occurs when water dissolves limestone rock, perhaps the best-known examples are dog's tooth on the coast, or stalactites in caves.
English Version - Click here!
From the road to Baracoa, El Yunque appears flat, and has the typical shape of a volcano, however, once at the top one realizes that the surface is irregular, that it is not flat and that it is not shaped like a volcano. El Yunque is a vestige of ancient areas that were eroded. The view is stunning and I'm afraid my phone lens isn't enough to capture the grandeur of the moment.
El Yunque no es solo una montaña para los baracuesos, es parte de su identidad, es parte de su historia local. El Yunque ha maravillado durante siglos a geólogos, geógrafos, aventureros, turistas por igual. Y creo que seguirán admirándolo por un largo periodo de tiempo.
Si has llegado hasta aquí, solo me resta agradecerte por leerme y recomendarte que vuelvas para visitar juntos otros lugares geológicamente relevantes.
Hasta entonces
Recibe la mejor de las vibras.
English Version - Click here!
Once the tour is over, and in accordance with our practices, finish with a dip in one of the many waterfalls that exist in the area.
El Yunque is not just a mountain for the people of Baracues, it is part of their identity, it is part of their local history. El Yunque has amazed geologists, geographers, adventurers, and tourists alike for centuries. And I think they will continue to admire him for a long period of time.
If you have come this far, all that remains for me is to thank you for reading and recommend that you return to visit other geologically relevant places together.
Until then
Receive the best of vibes.
