Rancho Querete: a Captivating Spot in Central Cuba

Rancho Querete, las cuevas de Valdés (the Valdes’s Caves), la Solapa de Genaro and the Chalet Los Alamos, virgin landscapes of northern Sancti Spiritus, are becoming over time a permanent tourist attraction.

Rancho Querete, las cuevas de Valdés (the Valdes’s Caves), la Solapa de Genaro and the Chalet Los Alamos, virgin landscapes of northern Sancti Spiritus, are becoming over time a permanent tourist attraction, both, for the natural conditions of their environment and the huge efforts made by the National Enterprise for Flora and Wildlife Protection to preserve the astonishing place.

Belonging to the Jobo Rosado protected area of managed resources, in Sancti Spiritus northern municipality of Yaguajay, such sites are added to other equally promising in the territory such as Villa San Jose del Lago, in Mayajigua, the stone cays (rock formations which are unique in Cuba), and the Caguanes National Reserve, distinguished within the regional trails for the authenticity of its flora and fauna and particularly for the value of its landscaping.

Located in an area that was recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and also protected by the Ramsar Convention, given the value of its wetlands, the spots are being exploited in a controlled manner for some time, especially for domestic tourism.

More than 200 tour operators, travel agents and representatives from a dozen countries who participated in the 8th International Meeting on Nature Tourism TURNAT 2011 arrived last year at this setting, who recognized the work of the National Enterprise for Flora and Wildlife Protection and the rational use of these resources in Sancti Spiritus, central Cuba.

Rancho Querete, named after a former worker of Flora and Fauna now deceased, was severely affected by heavy rains in May, but the speedy recovery of areas permitted to receive in the summer thousands of tourists, mainly from northern Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara and Ciego de Avila, many of whom have become regular visitors to the place, a real oasis at Yaguajay doors.