Pantani Cuba-Longarini itinerary
Hiking itinerary
- Departure: Ispica
- Trekking time: 3 h (including stops)
- Difficulty: low, suitable for everyone
- Length: 1st route: 5.5 km; 2nd route 3.5 km.
- Max altitude: 2.6 m; Minimum altitude: 0.9 m; Difference in altitude: 1.7 m
Possible variants: Within the area there are several km of trails and during the visit the guides provide the telescope for optimal observation of the birds.
THE COURSE
The recently established “Pantani della Sicilia Sud Orientale” Nature Reserve includes some of the coastal wetlands located in the southern part of Sicily, between the provinces of Ragusa and Syracuse and includes the Cuba and Longarini marshes. The entire complex was included in the NATURA 2000 network both as a SIC (Site of Community Interest) and as an SPA (Special Protection Area).
The excursion to this corner of wildlife paradise is easy, alternating with dirt and asphalt roads, with the possibility of approaching the coastal lagoons, equipped with good boots. In addition to the panorama, the tourist will be able to observe expanses of pink or red flamingos, spoonbills, gray herons, storks, etc., intent on grazing in brackish waters and other magnificent migratory species that stop in these places before reaching the Africa, nesting place. This precious ecosystem, once used as salt flats but now protected, is also a refuge for other fauna species, such as fish and arthropods, and also of particular naturalistic interest with respect to the flora, especially of some endemic halo-hygrophilous species at risk of extinction or rare and included in the red lists of Italian flora.
USEFUL INFORMATION AND CONTACTS
Equipment: Clothing suitable for the season: boots, jacket or windbreaker, hat, camera and binoculars.
LOGISTICS INFO OF THE ITINERARY:
- Nuccio Pisana cell.: +39 334.226 6249;
- Pietro Cavallo cell.: +39 366.132 1345
HOW TO GET:
The route develops in the territory of the Municipalities of Ispica and Pachino. The starting point of the itinerary is easily reachable by taking the SP 50 from Ispica towards Pachino for about 16 km up to the Granelli district, then turn left and reach the access to the protected area of the Pantani.
