Guanahacabibes

Guanahacabibes Biosphere Reserve occupies the westernmost peninsula of Cuba in Pinar del Río Province, encompassing approximately 1,175 square kilometers of terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1987, the peninsula extends into the Caribbean Sea as a narrow limestone promontory separating the Gulf of Mexico to the north from the Caribbean proper to the south. Guanahacabibes protects one of Cuba's largest remaining tracts of semi-deciduous and evergreen forest, along with extensive mangrove coastlines, pristine coral reefs, and coastal lagoons. The peninsula's geographic isolation from mainland Cuba and its position at the intersection of Caribbean and Gulf marine currents create conditions that support high levels of endemism among both terrestrial and marine species. The reserve encompasses two national parks, Guanahacabibes and Cabo Corrientes, which together protect the peninsula's most ecologically sensitive habitats.