Tourists are welcome to visit and overnight at the attraction
IAN STALKER
No one should doubt Joaquin Reinaldo Abreu Figueroa’s work ethic. After all, he continues to work daily, despite being 80, and his work happily has him sharing insights into agricultural lifestyles in his native Cuba, with “Uncle Rey” as he’s fondly known by locals, routinely being on hand at the Sitio La Guira farm on Cayo Coco.
And those who visit La Guira will indeed gain insights, learning about how the likes of sugarcane and tobacco — both agricultural staples in the Latin country — are planted and cultivated. Sitio La Guira — one of a number of Cuban farms that’s now hosting tourists and on an island that’s seen considerable hotel development thanks to its beaches — also serves buffet lunches that feature Cuban food, with musicians on hand to entertain those dining.
“You can really connect with our culture and our musicians, traditional music,” says guide Barbero Rodriguez.
Sitio La Guira has thatched-roof cabins for those wanting to overnight on site. “If you want to come to Cuba and have contact with Cubans you can stay here,” Rodriguez adds. “In places like this you learn about our culture, our life and our products.”
Farm visitors can actually see a house Uncle Rey lived in, although he now lives nearby, rather than on the farm. Chickens can be seen roaming around the farm. Visitors are also invited to grind coffee — with coffee hugely popular in Cuba — in a rural manner.
“Everything is traditional,” Rodriguez says. Nature trails are found and the area has more than 300 plant species and more than 200 types of birds.
Meanwhile, visitors shouldn’t be surprised if they spot smallish snakes on the farm, with Rodriguez assuring people that Cuban snakes aren’t venomous.
“We have a really good thing — we don’t have dangerous animals,” he reports.
