Cuba, island country located where the Northern Carribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean meet, attractive tourist destination because of its pristine stunning beaches, mild climate, great colonial architecture and its rich culture also highlighted by a notable biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes aims to position itself in a new tourist segment with the promotion of astrotourism in its western region.
Astroturism is a niche of tourism which is becoming very trendy, defined as a travel centered around experiencing starry skies and celestial events, stargazing or travelling across a destination to experience astronomical phenomena such as solar eclipses, auroras and travelling to observe objects on dark sky sites with minimal light pollution and Cuba offers very interesting places to enjoy all that.
The western territories of the Caribbean island comprising the provinces of Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque and Pinar del Rio are emerging destinations for all lovers of astrotourism offering clear skies and areas with minimal light pollution, places which combine privileged natural environment with a developing tourism infrastructure and offering several opportunities for astronomical observation.
Valle de Viñales, Pinar del Rio
Valle de Viñales, Viñales Valley, also recognized as National Park situated in the province of Pinar del Rio, Cuba’s westernmost province, a tapestry of lush green vegetation, rural villages, traditional old farms and tobacco curing shacks in the Sierra de Los Organos, near the western end of the island of Cuba is an outstanding destination boasting a stunning karst landscape encircled by mountains and dotted with spectacular dome - like limestone outcrops that rise as high as 300 metres, declared a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO and well known for its low light pollution.
These characteristic mountain formations, limestone outcrops also called mogoles, create a unique setting for starry nights and several rural houses and farms offer astronomical observation activities, allowing visitors to enjoy the charm of the Cuban night sky.
Valle de Picadura between Matanzas and Mayabeque
Valle de Picadura, the Picadura Valley, is a very scenic Cuban territory highlighted by karst landscapes, a lush green rural countryside and suggestive hills situated near the hamlet of Camarones and the village of Comunidad Peña del León, south of Canasí on the border between tbe provinces of Matanzas and Mayabeque.
This is a an excellent area for astrotourism activities and astronomical research thanks to its dark sky conditions and low cloud cover and it was selected to host the Valle de Picadura Observatory. This observatory is a joint project between Cuba and Russia allowing Cuban and Russian astronomers to conduct scientific research remotely, both in photomeric and spectroscopic modes and there are plans by adding more telescopes in the future.
Sierra del Rosario, Artemisa
Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve is located in the easternpart of the mountain range of Guniguanico, between Artemisa, Havana and Pinar del Rio’s provinces,a stunning land highlighted by a great diversity of rocks, well known to be one of the oldest eco tourism attractions in Cuba, offering bird watching and scenic treks and it is the first biosphere reserve to be declared in the country in 1985.
This area standing out for its biodiversity nd clear skies and the community of Las Terrazas, an example of sustainable tourism offers its visitors programs to participate in agrotourism and astrotourism activities organized by local guides.
The Belén Obsevatory, Havana
The Belén Magnetic, Metereological and Astronomicaal Obsevatory considered a national icon was established in 1857 linked to one of the schools which was considered among the best in the world in that time, situated in the historic centre of capital of the country, Havana, a city with light pollution, offers an educational experience on astronomy, with in addition a modern museography that illustrates the evolution of metereology and astronomy in the Caribbean island offering programs and proposals directly linked to astrotourism.
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Thanks a lot to read and note.