Topes de Collantes

Infobox Protected area
name = Topes de Collantes
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caption = Topes de Collantes
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location = CUBcoord|21|53|N|80|00|W|type:mountain_region:CU_scale:200000|name=Topes de Collantes|display=title
nearest_city = Trinidad
lat_degrees= 21|lat_minutes= 53|lat_seconds= 00|lat_direction= N
long_degrees= 80|long_minutes= 00|long_seconds= 00|long_direction= W
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Topes de Collantes is a nature reserve park in the Escambray Mountains range in Cuba. It also refers to the third highest peak in the reserve, where a small settlement and tourist center is located, all sharing the same name.

Geography

Topes de Collantes, literally Collantes’ Highs, with almost m to ft|800 over sea level, along with Potrerillo peak, m to ft|931 and tallest San Juan peak, m to ft|1140 are located in the Escambray range. This mountains are shared by the three center provinces of the island; Villa Clara Province to the north, Cienfuegos Province and Sancti Spiritus Province to the east and west respectively. Hit by the wet winds coming from the Caribbean Sea has made the North face of the mountains a luxurious refugee for plants and animals, yet the most dry south face host important ecosystems and in the skirts of it lays the two famous UNESCO World Heritage sites; Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the sugar mills), and Trinidad city, both a living expression of early XVII century wealthy colonial Cuba.

Nature

Nature is the big attraction here. Caves, rivers, falls, grottos, canyons, natural pools with crystal clear water, mountain hills surrounded by Mariposa (Butterfly lily, Hedychium coronarium) Cuba’s national flower announcing their presence with a soft unique flagrance from June to early September. More than 40 indigenous species of orchids and 100 species of ferns, of which 7 are M to ft|6 tall palm-like ferns, wild plantain and banana trees, jasmine, begonias, several representatives of the ginger family and around 40 species of coffee are growing under the shade of giant 40 meter tall pines, eucalyptus, mahoganies and magnolias making the wonder of this tropical rain forest.

Important animal species live here as well. They include the cartacuba (Todus multicolor), royal woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), unique hummingbirds, and Cuba’s national bird the tocororo (Priotelus Temnurus).

History

Coffee growers were living in the area when president Fulgencio Batista order the construction of massive battleship like deco style sanatorium for tuberculosis patients in 1954. Rumor has it that his wife Martha was battling against this illness and once there she fall in love for the place. As a result she persuaded Batista to built her a cottage in the zone as well. After the Revolution the hospital was converted into a school, and in the mid 70’s it was returned to a similar use as a hotel specialized in rehabilitation and special therapies. The Kurhotel is also famous for its vast collection of original Cuban art. Scattered in its 210 rooms, lobbies and halls, almost 800 pieces of art from the most famous Cuban painters of all times can be found. As a result, a small worker’s settlement was developed around the place. The "Universidad de Montaña" or Mountain Campus of Las Villas University was built here in the 80's. Due to its connection with Trinidad city and the beaches of the Ancon peninsula a couple more hotels and a resort villa catering to tourist have been developed.

Attractions

There are several places to go, these are some of the most popular trips:

Caburni Falls, at about km to mi|3 is the most popular hike trough coffee plantations, traditional farmers houses, and cliffs to end in Caburni river which falls from a m to ft|62 rock wall into a series of ponds.

La Batata, km to mi|3 from the city, offers scenic views as well, ending in an underground river-cave system with several levels of natural ponds.

Hacienda Codina, a ranch with several attractions: medicinal mud baths, medicinal and ornamental gardens, the orchid’s collection has more than 40 local species including bamboo; Altar’s cave from where a secret passage ends in a natural lookout facing south of the mountain system and the Valley of the sugar mills, Trinidad and Ancon can be seen. Paseo Ecologico, Ecology walk, km to mi|1 local path connecting the Kurhotel with hotel “Los helechos” filled with mariposa shrubs and arborescent ferns under the canopy of pines and eucalyptus. Parque La represa, a km2 to mi2|1 park developed around the original house built for Batista’s wife Martha. Placed on the banks of River Vega Grande, there is an arboretum with more than 300 exotic species. The highest and oldest mahogany ever found in Cuba lives in this place.

Snak Bar “El mirador”, literally The Lookout, it in the way down to Trinidad, between the Valley and the range in the back, but still 600 meters above sea level offers views of the city and peninsula below.

With around 500 years of history in its stone built streets and colonial architecture the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site of Trinidad is located close to the white sands and blue waters of Ancon and La Boca beaches.

External links

*Cuba Tourism Department. [http://www.dtcuba.com/ShowReport.aspx?c=236 Topes de Collantes] es icon