Cuevas de Bellamar

A substantial limestone cave system about 5 km southeast of the city, the oldest tourist site in Cuba. The accessible galleries extend for several kilometres, though guided tours cover about 1.5 km of decorated passages — stalactites, stalagmites, crystal formations, and several underground pools. The caves maintain a constant temperature of around 24°C, a relief in summer.

Guided tours in Spanish run regularly; English tours can be arranged but require a wait or prior arrangement. The ticket office is at the site entrance, and transport from central Matanzas is available by taxi or on foot. The caves are a reasonable half-day excursion from either Matanzas or Varadero, and more interesting than the beach options for visitors who have seen enough of the coast.

things to do sight
A story
The caves were discovered in 1861 when a Chinese worker employed on a sugar estate nearby broke through the surface limestone while clearing land. The estate owner, Don Manuel Santos Parga, organised one of the first scientific explorations within months of the discovery, and the caves were open to paying visitors before the decade was out.

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