Bacunayagua Bridge
Whether you're visiting Cuba for a relaxing all-inclusive vacation or you're more of an adventure-filled traveller, a visit to Cuba's highest standing bridge (at 110 meters off the valley floor) can fit any type of travel schedule. It's only a one hour and 10 minute drive from both Varadero and Havana, which makes it a great half way stopping point between the two cities, or even just a short day trip to get out of the captivity of an all-inclusive resort.
Bacunayagua is often crowded with tourists, mainly because it's a perfect location for a pit stop during drives between Varadero and Havana. For this reason, the parking lot is always full of old, vintage, picture-perfect cars, so get your cameras ready! It's a great place to get up close and personal with 'em.
Bacunayagua is technically the space between two provinces: Mayabeque and Matanzas, but the bridge connects the two. On the Mayabeque side, there's an observation deck with an overpriced snack bar that serves some sort of meat sandwich that tastes like metal and blood. BUT they also sell Piña Coladas served in pineapples, which make great photo props at the lookout point! I had to - I'm a basic bish and if it's not on Instagram, did it ever really happen? Bonus: The bartender will hand you the bottle of rum so you can decide how strong or how weak you want your cocktail! You can wash it down with some not-so-tasty blood sandwiches and then wash it out because (woo!) there are washrooms here too. You can also take a gander through the little market-style shops that surround the restaurant for crafts, souvenirs and trinkets.
The viewpoint is the climax though. It overlooks the Yumuri valley with the ocean on one side and the bridge inland on the other. The green canyon stretches out for what looks like almost forever and then it juuust barely touches the deep blue ocean before it turns into the sky. Vultures circle this area, perhaps because there are so many damn cats around, but also perhaps because they're after the blood sandwiches?
mARKET-STYLE SHOPS SURROUNDING THE RESTAURANT AT THE LOOKOUT.
