Geoparque Viñales

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 6

supremo — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:16:41 +0000

Zacarías Stream Sinkhole

The Zacarías stream drains from south to north, from the slates to the limestones, sliding through a small cave, making its entire underground journey to the del Indio Cave area.

Pan de Azúcar Resolladero

Located on the emissive slope of the valley where these waters from the other end of the mountain range emerge. Responsible for excavating large cave systems present in the area.

Del Agua cave

Abundant Quaternary fossil remains of the genus Megalocnus rodens, mainly adhered to the ceiling in a calcareous breccia dragged by floodwaters from the outside.

Hoyos de San Antonio

Numerous specimens of ammonites, fish, and reptiles from the Upper Jurassic in the concretions known as “cheeses”, from the Jagua Formation. It is also reported as the only place in Cuba where remains of giant reptiles have been found.

Mogote La Mina

An extremely important locality for characterizing the Upper Oxfordian layers and collecting fauna from that stage. Numerous holotypes of ammonite and fish species have been collected here.

Pan de Azúcar Fossils

One of the most important fossil deposits of the Upper Jurassic Oxfordian in the region. The “cheeses” report a large number of ammonites of various species, as well as remains of reptile and fish skeletons.

Ancón Gap

The deepest active fluvial channel in the region, with a height difference of over 300 m, from the Ancón River bed to the summit.

La Jutía Valley

A set of karst phenomena can be observed; the valley is of fluvial origin, located at the bottom of La Jutía, at the entrance to Hoyo de Jaruco in the Guasasa Mountains.

Ancón Resolladero

The resurgence of the Ancón River constitutes the continuity in Ancón Valley of the Palmarito River, responsible for excavating one of the largest cave systems in the country and the region, “Palmarito Cave System”.

GEDA Cave

Excavated on the western margin of the Guasasa Mountains, it is one of the best-preserved paleontological sites in Cuba from the Quaternary Period. It is also distinguished by its great variety of speleothems.

Fossils, La Jutía

An internationally known fossil locality for the abundance of ammonites, and to a lesser extent, fish and reptiles from the Upper Jurassic Oxfordian.

San Vicente Spa

A natural discharge through ascending springs of mesothermal groundwater with high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas and other chemical compounds, giving it medicinal properties.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 5

supremo — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:11:58 +0000

Puerta de Ancón

A karst gap constituting the natural passage for communication between Viñales Valley and San Vicente Valley. This is where the presence of the Jurassic Period was first reported in Cuba, a magnificent geological and geomorphological observatory.

Cuevita Valley

A contact polje located about 2 km east of Ancón Gap. The great activity of fluvial erosion can be observed, combined with ascending neotectonic movements.

Hoyo de Jaruco

A sinkhole with almost perfect geomorphology, presenting the geosite as a set of several places of geomorphological, paleontological, and pictographic interest.

Santo Tomás Polje

A valley of fluviokarst origin, a contact polje due to the narrow relationship between the terrigenous sequences of APS and the units of the FCC.

Boquerón del Infierno

The deepest inactive fluvial channel in Cuba, observed in the mountains of the same name, an incision in the mountain range over 150 m deep.

Viñales Valley

A contact polje, precisely given by the contact between the APS and the FCC. A broad development of tower or conical karst is observed, represented by the mogotes, in a valley with an almost flat bottom.

Dos Hermanas Valley

An excellent example of a karst landscape, the entrance to the valley is marked by a large inactive fluvial canyon with vertical walls formed by the Tumbadero Mountains (Mogote valley) to the east and the Dos Hermanas Mogote to the west.

Laguna de Piedras

A clear example of the karst morphology of the area and the entire Los Órganos Mountains Range. A lagoon surrounded by lapiaz in a sinkhole whose bottom is occupied by clays accumulated by washouts.

Hoyo de Jaruco Gap

A narrow and steep gap, access to the Hoyo, excavated by the dissolutive action of water, corresponding to an inactive fluvial channel with an approximate depth of about 100 m.

Mogote El Lele

Composed of limestones from the Guasasa Formation, it appears as a unique karst structure in the center of the valley with the development of “Caves at Foot” or “Fuss Höhlen”.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 4

supremo — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 22:56:14 +0000

Natural Bridge

A natural bridge 30–40 m long and over 20 m high. A mesoform of karst origin, produced by the partial collapse of one of the caves in the Pan de Azúcar Underground System.

Waterfall

An enormous sinkhole or hole in a torrent bed, partially blocked by blocks of various sizes, leading to the foot of a waterfall about 40 m high, active only during the rainy season.

Arco del Novillo

A circular karst structure about 15 m in diameter, originating from dissolution and possible partial collapse of one of the caves, forming a kind of skylight or peephole at the top of the mogote.

Valley View from Los Acuáticos

A view of the valley from another perspective, a beautiful sight especially at sunrise, highly exploited by local tourism.

Los Insurrectos Trail

A trail with a great variety of gigantic karst forms and diverse geomorphological structures. Large lapiaz, waterfalls, mountain holes, and narrow galleries leading to the entrances of different caves in the area can be observed.

Indio Cave

The geological interest site is the surroundings of the resurgence of the San Vicente stream. “Strand lines” can be observed, pointing to the hydrological functioning of this area.

China cave sinkhole

Los Acuáticos Sinkhole

A sinkhole with an almost circular plan, where groundwater belonging to a perched level emerges in the region known as “Los Acuáticos”. The water has also been used in magical-religious ceremonies.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 3

supremo — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 22:48:58 +0000

Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian Contact

Stratigraphic contact between the Jagua Formation and the San Vicente Member of the Guasasa Formation. The former consists of carbonaceous stratified limestones, and the latter of massive or thickly stratified limestones.

Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás

Known as the princess of Cuban caverns, it spans 46.2 km. Abundant Quaternary fossil remains and evidence of human activity by our ancestors are reported.

Palmarito Cave

The largest underground complex in Cuba, with over 50 km of galleries, traversing a massif of cones, towers, and very rugged karst domes, where a multitude of typical tropical karst forms are also found in great proportion.

Del Cable cave

A transverse, inactive cave, with two levels of perpendicularly intersecting galleries, with a 10 m drop. It is 1000 m long and crosses the mountain range from one side to the other, from San Vicente Valley to La Jutía Valley.

Cumpleaños Cave

Aragonite speleothems and truly surprising formations, clearly constituting an elevated underground channel raised by neotectonics and fractured by a fault dividing it in two.

Constantino Cave

In addition to its dimensions, over 25 km of galleries, it is the type locality of Paralouata varonai, one of the three primate species recognized as inhabitants of the Cuban archipelago during the Quaternary.

Del Ocho cave

An inactive fluvial cave, known for its figure-eight (“8”) or keyhole shape. Of great importance for its dimensions (9 km in length), it is one of the most important caves in the Palmarito system.

Grande cave

An emissive, active cave, belonging to the Palmarito-Novillo-Pan de Azúcar Cave System. It is approximately 2240 m long, and inside, the superposition of three levels of galleries can be observed.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 2

supremo — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:35:38 +0000

Hypostratotype Tumbitas Member

Light and dark gray biomicrites, up to black, well-stratified, bioturbated, mottled (Pszczolkowski, 1987). It differs from the Tumbadero Member by the absence of cherts.

Hypostratotype, Vieja Olistostrome

Chaotic polycomponent sequence, consisting of olistoliths and olistoplates of various types of limestones, cherts, serpentinites, volcanic and metamorphic rocks, in a sandy-clay matrix.

Loma El Fortín Overthrust

Overthrust of the Southern Slate Heights (APS) above the limestones of the Central Calcareous Belt (FCC) of the Órganos Mountains. This is the place where these sequences are spatially closest in the area.

Los Jazmines Overthrust Nose

Hypostratotype, El Americano Member

Dolomitic, microgranular, clayey limestones, laminated limestones and shales, dark, containing several species of ammonites and calpionellids that place it in the Upper Jurassic (Tithonian)-Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian) age.

Valley View from El Fortín

A beautiful view of Viñales Valley from its westernmost point located at the viewpoint of Loma El Fortín.

Valley View from Los Jazmines

An emblematic viewpoint for contemplating the valley from the Los Jazmines Hotel viewpoint. One of the most spectacular intramountain valleys in the world for its scenic beauty.

Cretaceous/Paleogene Boundary (K/Pg)

Evidence demonstrating the collision of a meteorite with planet Earth 65 million years ago, a collision that caused the mass extinction of Mesozoic vertebrate and invertebrate fauna.

Recent Activities

supremo — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:13:02 +0000

The aUGGp Viñales Geopark has carried out several community initiatives in recent months, including:

– Nature and Community Festival: Held in celebration of World Environment Day, featuring discussions on environmental conservation, video debates on disaster risk prevention, group activities with children, recycled crafts (primarily plastics), storytelling and poetry readings, environmental clean-up actions, reforestation efforts, ephemeral art displays, and contests in painting, poetry,improvisation, etc.

– Diploma in World Heritage Site Management: A collaboration between the MINTUR Training Center, the Viñales Valley Conservator’s Office, Viñales Geopark, and the Municipal University Center, certifying 34 professionals with theoretical knowledge and practical skills for the sustainable territorial management.

– III Workshop “Natural Diversity: Efforts for Sustainable Geopark Management”: Divided into two commissions—Education and Environmental Management for Sustainable Development, and Resource Management, Sustainability, and Community Empowerment—the workshop brought together producers, educators, specialists, and academics to discuss progress and challenges in sustainable development.

Viñales Geopark’s Candidacy for UNESCO Global Geopark Network Underway

supremo — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:07:17 +0000

The aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark (aUGGp), Viñales Geopark, has formally submitted its candidacy to the UNESCO International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme Secretariat in Paris, as confirmed by a letter from the President of the Cuban National Commission for UNESCO.

The aUGGp is now focused on preparing its application dossier, which must be submitted by November 30, 2025. The dossier requires explicit support from relevant local and regional authorities and a letter of endorsement from the National Commission for UNESCO.

Once the application is accepted and deemed complete, the UNESCO Secretariat will forward the geological section to the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) for documentary evaluation. Simultaneously, the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council will assign up to two evaluators for a field mission, tentatively scheduled for the first half of 2026.

Viñales Geopark Participates in UNESCO International Intensive Course on Global Geoparks

supremo — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:58:13 +0000

From June 20–29, 2025, representatives of the aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark, Viñales Geopark, participated in the UNESCO International Intensive Course on Global Geoparks. Held on the island of Lesvos, Greece, the event brought together participants, experts, and academics from over 30 countries across all continents and geographic regions.

The course covered topics such as future organization, the construction and essence of a Geopark, the significance of geological heritage within geoparks, management and governance, geoeducation for sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, the role of women in geoparks, geotourism, intangible heritage, communication, visibility, and networking—all aimed at improving the well-being of communities in these territories.

Viñales Geopark presented its proposal and current achievements, receiving positive feedback from participants.

Geoparque Viñales

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 6

Zacarías Stream Sinkhole

Pan de Azúcar Resolladero

Del Agua cave

Hoyos de San Antonio

Mogote La Mina

Pan de Azúcar Fossils

Ancón Gap

La Jutía Valley

Ancón Resolladero

GEDA Cave

Fossils, La Jutía

San Vicente Spa

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 5

Puerta de Ancón

Cuevita Valley

Hoyo de Jaruco

Santo Tomás Polje

Boquerón del Infierno

Viñales Valley

Dos Hermanas Valley

Laguna de Piedras

Hoyo de Jaruco Gap

Mogote El Lele

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 4

Natural Bridge

Waterfall

Arco del Novillo

Valley View from Los Acuáticos

Los Insurrectos Trail

Indio Cave

China cave sinkhole

Los Acuáticos Sinkhole

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 3

Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian Contact

Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás

Palmarito Cave

Del Cable cave

Cumpleaños Cave

Constantino Cave

Del Ocho cave

Grande cave

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 2

Hypostratotype Tumbitas Member

Hypostratotype, Vieja Olistostrome

Loma El Fortín Overthrust

Los Jazmines Overthrust Nose

Hypostratotype, El Americano Member

Valley View from El Fortín

Valley View from Los Jazmines

Cretaceous/Paleogene Boundary (K/Pg)

Recent Activities

Viñales Geopark’s Candidacy for UNESCO Global Geopark Network Underway

Viñales Geopark Participates in UNESCO International Intensive Course on Global Geoparks

ALLIES 4

Vaqueras del Oeste Farm

La Matilde Farm

Raíces Workshop House (Self-Taught Sculptor)

Coco-solo Agrotourism Farm

Local Development Project "Manos creando"

Fashion Project "Diseños Praxis"

"Geosafari Viñales" Project

Mogote Verde Integrated Agroecological Farm

Local Project"Innova Pecuaria Viñales"

Socio-Community Productive Project "Rincón de Viñales"

Women Creators Project "Potenciarte"

Local Project "ViñaleArte"

ALLIES 3

La Armonía Ecological Farm

Colada de Café Agroecological Farm

Raimundo Peasant House

René Dópico Peasant Farm

LLedías Peasant Nursery

El Niño en el Valle Agroecological Farm

Orlando Farm "El Café del Geoparque"

Esmeralda Farm

El Lele Traditional Farm

Local Project
"Innova Pecuaria Viñales"

Women Creators Project
"Potenciarte"