The first geoparque of Cuba

The valley is located in the municipality of Viñales, in the province of Pinar del Río, specifically in the center of the municipality, located 178 km from Havana and 25 km from the city of Pinar del Río. This place, Cultural Landscape of Humanity, adds another reason to be visited and known since it has been declared the first Geopark in the country, a category granted by UNESCO to places with a geological heritage of international interest and that until 2020, located 161 in the world, especially in Europe and China, and little predominance in Latin America.

In the case of Pinar del Río, 57 geosites are identified, of which ten are of international interest, 23 are national, 18 are regional, and six are of local relevance. They contain geological values that place Viñales among the most exceptional places in the region, with a predominance of karst formations, known for mogotes located in valleys of singular beauty (only similar in Vietnam), as well as the existence of cave systems that They exceed 300 km, within which the Great Cavern of Santo Tomás stands out. 

In the national park, the Cueva del Indio stands out, with its underground river; the Mural of Prehistory, nestled on a slope of the Pita mogote; the Palenque de los Cimarrones, the Rancho San Vicente and the fabulous Mirador de Los Jazmines.

 In Viñales there is also evidence of the meteorite that 66 million years ago caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, as indicated by the discovery of a site where the rocks have a high concentration of iridium, an abundant chemical component in asteroids; and more recently, in 2019, another meteorite was reported.

 As if that were not enough, the fossilized remains of prehistoric reptiles also appeared in Cuba for the first time, which is why this land stands out for being the oldest region of Cuba, a true Jurassic park that currently has elements to increase interest. of the scientific community and tourists.

The appointment as Cuba's first Geopark makes it possible to disseminate values of the region in the field of geology and a reason to consciously contribute to the care and conservation of the heritage that makes this point in the West very attractive.