María La Gorda: Diving, Coral and Birdlife

María La Gorda brings together two perspectives on nature: underwater landscapes with coral and marine life, and a forested setting with diverse birdlife. It also offers dive sites, snorkeling, boat trips and excursions within the nature reserve.

Coral, Marine Life and Dive Sites

At CIB María La Gorda, more than 20 coral species can be seen on the seafloor. Fish of various sizes, lobsters, crabs and moray eels are also commonly found there. María La Gorda is described as a place for water sports and has 50 dive sites; according to tourist information, María La Gorda is one of Cuba’s best diving areas. If you enjoy diving and observing marine life, María La Gorda offers a focus on underwater nature experiences.

Named Natural Sites

Valle de Coral Negro and Salón de María are two sites near María La Gorda where feather stars and brightly colored coral can be seen. Feather stars and brightly colored coral are a shared feature of these two named natural sites.

Forest and Birdlife

The forested setting around CIB María La Gorda offers a distinct nature experience: more than 100 native bird species nest there, including the Cuban green woodpecker, the Cotorra and the Tocororo. Many migratory bird species also occur there. The forested setting brings together native breeding birds and other species that are present only temporarily.

Activities in the Nature Reserve and on the Water

CIB María La Gorda offers excursions within the nature reserve. The sports activities listed there depend on availability and weather conditions; if one of these activities is important to your plans, check both in advance. Snorkeling and boat trips are also among the options in María La Gorda. When planning, you can therefore decide whether to focus on an excursion within the reserve or a water activity. In the wider destination of Sandino, the visitor center for Guanahacabibes National Park is located in La Bajada. Hiking, birdwatching and contemplative diving are offered there. This means hiking and birdwatching on land are available alongside contemplative diving. The visitor center is in La Bajada, Sandino; the dive sites, coral, birdlife and excursions within the nature reserve, by contrast, are in María La Gorda. This lets you distinguish between the offerings when planning your trip based on location and the activity you want to focus on.

What to Focus on When Searching for Hotels

For a diving-focused trip, the 50 dive sites are a concrete point of reference; if you also want to experience birdlife in addition to the sea, you can include the forested setting as a second nature-focused attraction. If both interest you, weigh them as distinct travel interests and tailor your hotel search to your destination accordingly.

For the wider travel overview: Sandino.