Discover Pilon

Desembarco del Granma National Park is located in the municipality of Pilon. Its archaeological sites and hiking routes offer different themes to consider when planning a trip: cultural heritage on the one hand, and clearly specified loop trail distances on the other.

Archaeological Sites in the National Park

The archaeological sites include ceremonial caves and gathering places of the original Indigenous inhabitants. Numerous sites with petroglyphs, pictographs, and artifacts made by Taíno potters are spread throughout the park. This diversity encompasses places of ceremonial significance as well as visual and material records. For travelers interested in culture, this thematic connection is a reason in its own right to explore the national park; it complements the hiking routes with a different perspective.

Hiking Routes of Different Lengths

The hiking routes designated in the national park include a cave trail with a 3 km loop, another 6 km loop, and a route with a 17 km loop. The 6 km loop is rated as highly difficult. The 3 km cave trail is half the length of the 6 km route; of the distances listed, the 17 km loop is the longest. This makes it possible to compare the route lengths, while also taking into account the specific difficulty rating for the 6 km loop. Check locally on the current status of the trails before planning a route.

Granma as a Broader Travel Destination

For a perspective beyond Pilon, Granma is the broader travel destination. Parque Nacional Desembarco del Granma preserves the limestone terraces of Cabo Cruz at the western end of the Sierra Maestra. Its relatively undisturbed terrestrial and marine landscape features numerous karst formations, including large sinkholes, cliffs, ravines, and caves. These landscape features offer a broader view of the park in Granma, complementing the specific loop trail distances. UNESCO's documentation of the park's terrestrial fauna lists 13 mammal, 110 bird, 44 reptile, and seven amphibian species. Parque Nacional Turquino is also located in Granma. This protected area lies in the heart of the Sierra Maestra, which is associated with events surrounding Cuba's independence. Pico Real del Turquino is its summit; at 1,974 meters above sea level, it is Cuba's highest point.

Granma also has a recurring cultural calendar. The San Juan Bautista festival is held annually on June 24, primarily in the mountain communities of Guisa and Buey Arriba, as well as in Bayamo. It includes a procession to the river and the communal cooking of Ajiaco rivelino and fried fish with sweet potatoes. The date provides a seasonal reference point for the region's cultural theme.

Another historic site in Granma is Plaza del Himno in Bayamo, where Cuba's national anthem was composed and first sung. The historic burning of Bayamo is also commemorated annually on January 12.

Discover more destinations: Marea Del Portillo

Go to the broader travel overview: Granma.