Written by Angeles V, High School/Pre-College Student Correspondent for CET Cuba: Advances in Healthcare, Summer 2019
Around 9am today we made our way to Las Cuevas Del Indio located in Viñales, Pinar del Río. Bianca our guide, told us that these caves were once primitive homes of the natives and I couldn’t wait to get to the caves. I had never been in a cave and so I didn’t know what to expect. The thought of going deep into a cave seemed so fascinating but terrifying at the same time. I have never liked spiders and the thought of them possibly falling on me sent chills down my spine.
As we pulled up, I was left speechless by the vast amounts of vegetation everywhere I looked. I was surrounded by breathtaking mogotes (a type of rounded mountain) and never-ending fields of trees and vines. I wanted to jump off of the bus right away and get lost in my thoughts wandering through the mountains. Pulling up to the cave I tried thinking less and less of spiders or anything crawling on to me. I was one of the first three people ready to start walking into the cave. Walking into the cave was like walking into another world.
Step by step I walked in farther and farther until the light of day could no longer be seen behind me. Thankfully there was the occasional source of light keeping me and the others from slipping down the steps. In the distance I could hear the drops of water falling and echoing into the deepest parts of the cave. The cave was pleasantly cooler and I had drops off water hitting me and cooling me down from time to time. There was a certain point where we had to crouch down because our path had directed us to a narrow pathway. I was glad to make it fast to where we were surprised by a motorboat ride. Once we all got onto the motorboat, I quickly got my phone out to take pictures of all the wonders of the cave.
Everywhere I looked there were cracks and crevices of limestone descending from the high points of the caves. Some parts of the caves looked like jarring teeth ready to grab a snack, while others looked like faces and animals. Soon our ride was over and I wanted to turn right back around. My fear of any critters going down my back had vanished and all I wanted to do was to explore any other cave. We carefully got off the motorboat and began to walk back to the bus. The only thing we could talk about was how amazed we were by the cave. If I were ever to return to Viñales, I’d definitely explore Las Cuevas del Indio.