The Yumurí Valley, one of the most beautiful landscapes on the island of Cuba, is situated almost in the center of the island, in the famous Matanzas region. Matanzas is small in size but huge in terms of its natural wealth, because, not only is the Yumurí Valley found there, but also the famous Bellamar Caves and the Varadero beach, one of the most beautiful on the planet.
To give you a little history and situate them for you, it was on Matanzas Bay that the Dutch captured part of the fleet carrying the treasures of the Americas to Seville. A unique event in more than three centuries of colonial history and of such a magnitude that it shook the whole Hispanic world.
The Yumurí Valley is located just 3 km from the city and is an ideal place to lose yourself and disconnect from the noise, hustle and bustle and any stress. The valley possesses undoubted beauty and is split by the Yumurí and Bacunayagua rivers, which flow into the northern coast of the territory of Matanzas, as waters and sun, palm trees and sky come together in a true fairytale landscape.
We recommend that you discover it without any hurry, for example by jeep or on horseback, and that you stop to meet the locals who will welcome you with open arms and will not hesitate to show you the natural wonders of the area. And they are sure to tell you the legend of how this valley came to bear this unique name and possess this spectacular beauty.
It is said that there was once a community in the valley with an Indian princess called Coalina, on whom a curse had been cast, according to which, when she fell in love, misfortune would befall her town.
An Indian chief from the Camagüey region, named Nerey, well aware of Coalina‘s beauty, decided that he wanted to meet her, and after overcoming many obstacles, he managed to reach her. They soon fell in love and on that day, to everyone‘s astonishment, the earth shook, the hills opened up and the river was formed; tempestuous and out of control, it destroyed the town and dragged the lovers to the depths of the nearby sea. The original legends states that, before dying, Coalina shouted," Yu…murí!" (I died) – hence the name of the river and the valley.
The Yumurí Valley is an exceptional place that makes the natural surroundings a fascinating world full of intense greenery, rivers and lakes which are well worth visiting.
“IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts has a large number of hotels scattered across various regions of the island of Cuba. From the best known destinations, such as Varadero, to areas like Trinidad or the majestic capital Havanawhich, although less tourist-oriented, are no less attractive. The hotels‘ surroundings are spectacular, with fine golden-sand beaches, nature spots and highly significant buildings in the history of Cuba. ”
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