This protected area 36km southeast of Camagüey contains three low-hill ranges: the Sierra del Chorrillo, the Sierra del Najasa and the Guaicanámar (highest point 324m). Nestled in their grassy uplands is La Hacienda la Belén , a handsome country ranch that was built by a Peruvian architect during WWII, and is now run as a nature reserve by travel agency Ecotur .
As well as boasting an interesting display of (nonindigenous) exotic animals such as zebras, deer, bulls and horses, the park functions as a bird reserve, and is one of the best places in Cuba to view rare species such as the Cuban parakeet, the giant kingbird and the Antillean palm swift. Another curiosity is a three-million-year-old petrified forest of fossilized tree stumps spread over one hectare.
