Zapata Peninsula

Matanzas Province, Cuba

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The Zapata Peninsula, located in Matanzas Province on Cuba’s southern coast, is one of the Caribbean’s most important natural regions and is home to the vast Ciénaga de Zapata, the largest wetland in Cuba.

The peninsula contains extensive swamps, mangrove forests, lagoons, coral reefs, and tropical habitats that support an exceptional variety of wildlife and plant species. Renowned for its biodiversity, the area is a refuge for rare species such as the Cuban crocodile, the bee hummingbird, and several birds found nowhere else in the world.

It is also a popular destination for birdwatching, diving, snorkeling, and ecotourism. In addition to its natural importance, the peninsula is historically significant as the location of the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion, making it a place of both ecological and historical interest.