The Caves of Bellamar: one of the biggest tourist attractions in Matanzas

Near the historic center of Matanzas, which is only 2 km away are The Caves of Bellamar, one of the major tourist attractions of the province and the perfect place to visit on your tour of Cuba. Visitors do not have access to the greater part of this training karst; but it is well worth to enjoy a tour of a portion of 500 metres, safe area, with the conditions necessary for the circulation of the air and that account with electrical energy, stairs to lower and railings in dangerous places.

Not more than three years, they opened a gallery that experts have called “The way of the sponge”. It is a chance for those interested in eco-tourism and speleology: the experience is a bit complicated as it is in the natural state. Just get in a small group, less than 10 people, with the necessary equipment and a guide knower of the place.

On this trip you can enjoy the beauty of the stalactites on the ends hanging clusters of crystals of solid calcite. It is not known to exist in any other part of the world a glassware of these dimensions and their rarity.

The network of galleries of the Caves of Bellamar, which originally was called The Cave of Parga, extends for more than 20 km The historical documents dating back to its discovery on April 17, 1861 and say that it was the result of an act of boldness of the owner of the farm, the miner Spanish Don Manuel Santos Pargas.

Despite the superstitions, Don Manuel dug around the site where, supposedly, had been lost in a mysterious way a working instrument. This allowed the privilege of being the first to see what you are after is called Gothic Room and from its beginnings was one of the greatest natural beauties of the country.

The insightful miner assessed immediately the large tourist possibilities of the cave so that he invested a lot of money on conditioning, built a staircase, and later began marketing. As reported by the media during his first year, he received 2000 visitors. Please note that featured with little advertising, so that the figure is significant.

The Gothic Hall is a camera which measures approximately 80 metres long by 25 metres wide. Their formations have been given names such as: The Garden of Carrots, The Chapel of the Twelve Apostles, Doña Mamerta and the Mantle of Columbus.

To the east of this hall there are other cavities. They are: the Gallery of the Two Lakes, the Hall of the Sponges, the Gallery of the Dwarves and the Gallery of Megalocnus. If on the other hand, takes the opposite direction you can find the passage of Hatuey, the Hall of the Ladies of the Lake of the Dalias and the Bathroom from the American. The groups of visitors generally prefer the second option because they believe tempting the way up to “the fountain of youth”.

Each year, more the number of visitors who stay in ecstasy before the amazing stalagmites and stalactites. Again and again repeat their trip to this wonderful place and discover the secrets in the interiors of their houses: the pictograms of the indigenous peoples, the beauty of its network of rivers and streams, the colors of the stones.

Have you visited the Caves of Bellamar? Give us your impressions.