More than 15 years ago we made this trip. It was a trip back in time. We moved to the pre-Columbian stage of our country. There, where the aborigines lived before colonization. Oh...yes, we arrived in a very modern way, a trip by speedboat through a 8 kilometers long pluvial canal to our destination.
Villa Guamá, a tourist center that stands on inland islets in the heart of the Laguna del Tesoro, the largest and most beautiful in Cuba, belonging to the Ciénaga de Zapata, also the largest wetland in our country.
This site houses the "Taino Village", a life-size replica of an aboriginal village. It recreates the life of the indigenous people who inhabited this area. In a very sui generis way the recognized artist Rita Longa shows us, through more than twenty sculptures, its inhabitants carrying out their daily activities. Fishing, hunting, pottery, agriculture, housework, games and rituals are represented so that we can witness how our ancestors lived.
We also find replicas of "bohíos vara en tierra" and "caneyes", the first dwellings built by them, made of wood and guano.
Following this constructive style, the place stands out for its huts on pillars. On the islets of the lagoon, connected by wooden bridges, numerous rooms simulating these typical dwellings, but with the comfort of modernity, offer those who stay in them a unique adventure.
This group of islands connected by bridges and trails, is located in a Biosphere Reserve area. In its 16 square kilometers it possesses an unparalleled natural wealth.
Legend has it that the aborigines who lived here preferred to throw all their riches into the water before they were taken by the conquerors. That is why it is known by the name of Laguna del Tesoro (Treasure Lagoon). But as I said...it is only a legend 😉.
What is a palpable reality is that far from the pollution and the bustling life of the city, this corner of the Cuban geography is undoubtedly an exceptional place.
P.S. Amazingly in the archives of the place we found a photo of our direct ancestors. Mine was a little lightly clad and I put a bra on it 🤣.
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Hace más de 15 años hicimos este viaje. Fue un viaje en el tiempo. Nos trasladamos a la etapa precolombina de nuestro país. Allá, donde vivian los aborígenes antes de la colonización. Eso sí...llegamos de una manera muy moderna, un viaje en lancha rápida por un canal pluvial de 8 kilómetros hasta nuestro destino.
Villa Guamá, un centro turístico que erige sobre islotes interiores en el corazón de la Laguna del Tesoro, la más grande y hermosa de Cuba, perteneciente a la Ciénaga de Zapata, también, el mayor humedal de nuestro país.
Este sitio alberga la "Aldea Taína" una réplica a tamaño real de una aldea aborigen. En ella se recrea la vida de los indígenas que poblaron esta zona. De una manera muy sui géneris la reconocida artista Rita Longa nos muestra, a través de más de una veintena de esculturas, a sus habitantes realizando sus actividades diarias. La pesca, caza, alfarería, agricultura, labores domésticas, juegos y rituales son representados para que podamos presenciar como vivían nuestros ancestros.
También encontramos réplicas de "bohíos vara en tierra" y "caneyes", primeras viviendas construidas por ellos, hechas de madera y guano.
Siguiendo este estilo constructivo el lugar destaca por sus cabañas sobre pilares. En los islotes de la laguna, conectados por puentes de madera, numerosas habitaciones simulando estas típicas viviendas, pero con el confort de la modernidad, ofrecen a quienes se hospedan en ellas una aventura única.
Este conjunto de islas unidas por puentes y senderos, se encuentra en una zona Reserva de la Biosfera. En sus 16 kilómetros cuadrados posee una riqueza natural inigualable.
Cuenta la leyenda, que los aborígenes que vivían aquí, prefirieron tirar todas sus riquezas al agua antes de que les fueran arrebatadas por los conquistadores. Motivo por el cual se conoce con el nombre de Laguna del Tesoro. Pero como dije...es solo una leyenda 😉.
Lo que sí es una realidad palpable, es que lejos de la contaminación y la vida bulliciosa de la ciudad, este rincón de la geografía cubana es sin duda alguna un lugar excepcional.
All rights reserved on the text and images, which are of my authorship unless otherwise indicated. I use DeepL for translation because my English is very bad 🤭.
Derecho reservado sobre el texto y las imágenes, que son de mi autoría a no ser que indique lo contrario. Uso DeepL para la traducción porque mi Inglés es muy malo. 🤭
I love that you shared the pictures of this trip in the community. If they've made it this far it's because they really mean something to you, thank you so much for being part of #tbtThursdays. Despite the beauty of this place, I think the most engaging moment of the post are those last two images, what fun!...
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Thanks for the welcome again this Thursday and for the support.
For me it was very pleasing to find photos of our ancestors and to be able to show them here 🤭🤣.
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Really amazing and totally different from what I had in mind about Cuba!
I'm glad you like it, it's quite an atypical place. Greetings to both of you.
What did they shave with, Amanda? Did you ask? 😂
Jajajaja, olvidé preguntar. Cuando vuelva pregunto!!
sí por favor.
The photos are nice even though 15 years passed.
Thanks. The place is still almost as you see it in those photos, even a little better.
Welcome. Great.☺️
Come on, you put on the bra on your ancestor and on your husband's ancestor no shirt or jacket? 🙄
😂
Your direct ancestor liked flower decoration on her hahaha 😋
Esto de las flores viene desde antaño!!! Jajaja
Yo por recato vestí un poco a mi ancestro, al parecer Eddyss sigue siendo un tilín desvergonzado 🤣, o será el calor tropical? 🤔
el calor, seguro 😉
Jajaja, eso, eso.
Hiya, @choogirl here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Travel Digest #2206.
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