Challenge Tour is a distinct opportunity and very special regarding cultural and ecological tourism with absolute respect for nature and environment.

Adventure, the ideal situation, the synonym of freedom and personal fulfillment endowed with the typical charge of emotion, expected when meeting the unknown. It is a need of the human spirit, reluctant to escape from this challenge.Undoubtedly Challenge Tour is an extraordinary odyssey for the spirit, and every morning starts the journey at Puntarenas Hotel. ...But before indulging into descriptions and accounts, let’s read which were the reasons that made Grazia María Lané, Manager of the partnership Marlin S.A. and Los Gomones, Altius Sole International S.A. think of this project: "Usually the tourists that arrive in Cuba, live in the city. The are eager to see and feel virgin scenarios and emotions. This is a kind of tourism which every time is more active and demanding. Our goal is to surround them with the attractions of a territory where all tastes can be pleased by us: sea, rivers, beaches, mountains, caves and the like”.

Challenge Starts The fact of being another caravan member, I mean a passenger of this open jeeps that, as has been said above, depart at 10 a.m. from Putarenas Hotel— located at Reparto Kawama, Varadero—offers the opportunity of making an account and description...Of Course from the protagonist’s viewpoint, since it’s not the same to experience the adventure by oneself! You will have the feeling of having arrived to another world: two rows of a thick forest, wild vegetation that seems to absorb the place with a deep green landscape and you on the steering wheel in the midst of this impassable way, according to "civilization" standards. Along the way, one finds ditches of different diameters or open holes filled with water, at both sides and occasionally a virgin vegetation, the shadow of some carob trees and the yellow shades of the tiny flowers of wild romerillo herb. Suddenly before your eyes, the guava trees. You simply have to grasp it with your hands and taste that unique flavor under the same tree you took it. Finally the sugar cane plantations. Once in this spot, a tractor or a cart full of that sweet plant will unexpectedly receive you or a man cutting the sugar cane who will friendly welcome visitors with a warm glance, a brief but affectionate chat, that make you think of the human values of these humble ordinary men who are typical expression of Cubannes.

Heading the March Again Now the destination is Saturn Cave. En route toward the cave the landscape is different: the valley is surrounded by hills, a large green area is specially beautiful, this is the work of nature, a view in sharp contrast with the area of wild vegetation. The descent in the midst of a magnificent and original scenario of stalactites and stalagmites of assorted shapes form different figures at will in the visitor’s mind, and this may you think that a magic place is your setting now in this different trip. Below, the crystal-clear waters with its stable temperature of 24º C, a sort of lagoon where you can have the opportunity of splashing and practice some snorkeling, while admiring the bottom. Underwater scenario is also unique and spectacular. Now the caravan continues along the road, until reaching a place of unequal beauty, a site under the shadow of thick trees, typical of this Cuban nature. There a place to have lunch, swim in the river, practice horse riding, fish and why not? ride on a fabulous bull that seems to be in a relaxation mood, just waiting for you. This place under the shadow of many trees is La Arboleda—in Spanish, a grove of trees. ...And now the expected moment. Get ready to get aboard the picturesque Gomones, lighters with out-of-board motors. Always under the command of the guide, you can be the helmsman or helmswoman enjoying the privilege of conducting the lighter through Canímar River waters in a ride of some 13 km along almost vertical hills, covered by exuberant vegetation and some scattered caverns. No words can describe the splendid view projected before your eyes along the endless curves of the river. Then the majestic architecture of the bridge appears whose name is that pf the river also, Canímar, whose essential architectural motifs are the large arches supporting the bridge.

Other Offers from Challenge Tour Beyond doubt, the best promoters of this offer is those who have already enjoyed. Eva Suárez from Palma de Mallorca, has stated after visiting Saturn Cave: "This is a unique experience, I have seen similar caves, but any like this where stalagmites and stalactites come together to form the most capricious figures." Challenge Tour promises an incredible and fully safe adventure! but this is not the unique scenario: Havana-Jibacoa-Canímar trip is one among other attractive choices of our company, that in addition to provide you with adventure, also offers the opportunity to riding along Yumurí Valley in full contact with nature and the locals where visitors can see a panoramic view of Matanzas city, also named the "Athens of Cuba" for its cultural heritage. For the tourists who visit Holguín province—located in the easternmost region of Cuba—Challenge Tour also opens up another world of brand-new experiences and emotions. Regarding this new option, Grazia María Lané, the manager of Marlin–Altius Sole partnership as was announced above, said: "We open a spot in Guardalavaca, a small tourism resort with beautiful surroundings: mountains, breath-taking scenarios, small but beautiful beaches; in summary, an ideal place for the goal pursued by us that of providing tourists with this blend of emotions and new experiences that they look forward in this sort of tropical paradise. "An open door is always waiting toward other new resorts and attractive tourism resorts, in a complete safe manner for those who love and respect nature. We are satisfied, but as I said before, our wish is to continue ahead in search of new horizons..."

Altius Sole International Río Canímar Nautical Base Matanzas 40100, Cuba Telefax: (53 52) 25 3189 E-mail: altius@atenas.inf.cu