The Best Sight in Cuba

According to legend, Taíno aboriginals dumped gold and other loot in this lake to hide it from the Spanish. No treasure has ever been found, although Taíno relics have been recovered from the lake and are now displayed in the Museo Guamá. The museum is part of an impressive replica of a Taíno village on an island, complete with 32 life-size figures of Taínos going about their daily business, created by Cuban sculptor Rita Longa. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass for visiting fishermen who stay in the cabins dotted around the lake. Access to the museum is by boat, leaving from the Criadero de Cocodrilos dock. The outboard motorboats, some with sunshades, travel 4 km (2½ miles) along a canal into the lagoon. The boat trip takes about 30 minutes and costs CUC$12, including entrance to the museum. The first boat leaves at 9 am and the last one at 4 pm.