The Toa is the largest river in Cuba by volume — short but powerful, draining the wettest part of the country (more than 3,000 mm of rain a year falls on these mountains). The lower river is a popular destination for half-day boat trips from Baracoa, with the option of a guided walk on the far bank to a cocoa plantation.
A wooden-decked motor launch heads upstream from the road bridge at the village of La Boca de Yumurí, weaving past forested banks where kingfishers and herons flap up at the boat's approach. There are several swimming spots along the way. The river is famous for its very pure water — sometimes bottled and sold across Cuba.