Ciénaga de Zapata
🇨🇺 Cuba
Matanzas, Cuba 479 spp. recorded
Zapata is the largest wetland in the Caribbean, a flat mosaic of swamp forest, sawgrass and flooded cave systems. Northern curly-tailed lizards run across every warm rock and Cuban sliders bask on the logs of the drainage channels.
22.030° N 81.329° W
🦜 Nature
245 Species sighted
55,903 Verified sightings From 2019 to 2026
Mar Best month
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
📊 Most Spotted
+ 268 more species with insufficient data
Recent sightings in Ciénaga de Zapata
LIVEiNaturalistSighting Calendar
How many species you'd see in a day
39Jan
44Feb
46Mar
36Apr
35May
34Jun
35Jul
33Aug
0.6Sep
34Oct
35Nov
35Dec
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
-
Palpite Casa de Bernabe
-
La Turba
-
Criadero de Cocodrilos
Daily sight. prob.vs avg -
Las Salinas de Brito
Daily sight. prob.vs avg
🏕️ Experience
Essentials
Entrance
Paid
Tourism
Low
Typical stay
2–3
daysTrails
Easy
World Heritage
No
Climate
Temp °C Rain mm
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
0.0 Good
Wallace's Line Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife? 🦜
Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
3.9
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds 347
🐒 Mammals 65
🦎 Reptiles 51
🐸 Amphibians 16
479 Total Species
828 Global average across 316 parks
36 Threatened 118 Endemic
🔭
Sighting
GoodHow likely to see animals?
2.9
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
55% 📊
Coverage (153 species at ≥5% of 479 in the inventory)
32% 🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (12 bird)
0% 🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
119 🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
5 ⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 🏕️
Experience
ExcellentHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
4.8
Climate Pleasant High
Entrance Paid Low
Tourism Low High
Trails Easy High
World Heritage No —
What visitors say
We had meandered only a short distance along the channel when Tania heard a Zapata Sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata) and in mere minutes it popped into view.
Sure enough, we first spotted one, then two, then up to six Blue-headed Quail-Doves.
We especially hoped to see Cuba’s special hummingbirds, including the glittering Cuban Emerald and the world’s smallest bird, the Bee Hummingbird, locally known as Zunzuncito.
We always discover something new!" he said as he watched two of the hummingbirds (Mellisuga helenae) zip towards a hanging water bath.
Before you go
What animals can you see in Ciénaga de Zapata?
479 species
Ciénaga de Zapata has 479 recorded vertebrate species. The ones wildlife watchers report most often on a given day are Turkey Vulture (about 80%), Cuban Emerald (about 70%), American Redstart (about 60%), Palm Warbler (about 60%) and Greater Antillean Grackle (about 50%). Among mammals, the most-seen is Desmarest's Hutia (about 20%); among reptiles, Cuban Slider (about 40%); among amphibians, Cuban Treefrog (about 40%).
When is the best time to visit Ciénaga de Zapata for wildlife?
November to March
In those months the park's 12 most-seen species average about 60% on a given day, against about 40% in April and June–August. Those are among Ciénaga de Zapata's driest months, with about 25 mm of rain a month against 150 mm in June.
Can you see a Cuban Trogon in Ciénaga de Zapata?
Yes
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Cuban Trogon sighting in Ciénaga de Zapata on a given day, based on 350 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. The best time is May (about 50%).
Can you see a Northern Curly-tailed Lizard in Ciénaga de Zapata?
Yes
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Curly-tailed Lizard sighting in Ciénaga de Zapata on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. The best time is June (about 40%).
Can you see a Cuban Slider in Ciénaga de Zapata?
Yes
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Cuban Slider sighting in Ciénaga de Zapata on a given day, based on 18 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. The best time is April and June–July (about 50%).
Can you see a Cuban Treefrog in Ciénaga de Zapata?
Yes
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Cuban Treefrog sighting in Ciénaga de Zapata on a given day, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. The best time is August (about 70%).
Where in Ciénaga de Zapata is wildlife easiest to see?
Around Palpite Casa de Bernabe
The richest sighting zone is around Palpite Casa de Bernabe, followed by Casa Ana Birding and La Turba, ranked by how many of the park's headline animals visitors can expect to see in each. See the zones on the map.
Is Ciénaga de Zapata good for wildlife watching?
3.1 out of 5
On the Wallace's Line Score, Ciénaga de Zapata rates 3.1/5: 263rd of 316 parks worldwide and 41st in Central America. 40 of its species are reported by about 40% or more of wildlife watchers on a given day.
