Las Terrazas Cuba is arms is down considered one of my favourite secret spots in Cuba. It’s now not intended to be a secret however simplest locals truly learn about it.
It’s a small group and nature reserve positioned within the Artemisa province within the Sierra del Rosario mountains.
Constructed round a creek, this area was once designated a Biosphere Reserve via UNESCO in 1984. Even if it’s a very easy day commute from Havana, and on the best way to standard Viñales, many vacationers by no means pay attention of it.
And this can be a disgrace as a result of I believe it’s what many travellers crave on a commute – to head the place Cubans pass.
I first visited Las Terrazas on a press commute with the Cuba tourism board. I used to be skeptical as press journeys steadily contain taking media to the similar lame touristy puts that everybody has already heard about.
However this was once somewhat other.
Autentica Cuba knew this was once one thing particular however they didn’t know the way to proportion the scoop with travellers.
Let’s face it, some vacationers by no means get outdoor Varadero or Holguin, and whilst unbiased travellers might consult with Viñales they don’t even know they’re passing the Las Terrazas advanced at the manner.
And they’re lacking out as a result of this position is so superb, I had chills visiting it and now need to inform everybody about it.
It’s the rustic’s absolute best stored secret. I couldn’t stay rely of the way time and again I stated “wow” or “I want lets spend the evening.”
Once I returned to Cuba six years later alone I had the similar sense of marvel.
It truly is the sort of stunning position.
Las Terrazas Cuba: Fidel Castro’s Eco Good fortune
At the most simple degree Las Terrazas Cuba is an unique eco hotel. There are simplest 1200 population and you can not merely transfer there.
You should both marry anyone who lives there or in case you have a distinct talent this is wanted, equivalent to an electrician, you’ll be invited.
It succeeds via the usage of native farming, power potency and a focal point at the better excellent of the group.
You’ll be able to to find fashions like this during the arena, within sight Costa Rica is the king of eco-tourism. But Cuba does this a bit of in a different way.
The function is to combine tourism into an present group, somewhat than create synthetic vacationer reports.
And it’s operating.
Of the 30,000 individuals who consult with each and every 12 months, 50% are Cuban. It’s a spot locals like to consult with at the weekends right through summer time in Cuba. Past the seashore it’s not commonplace to look Cubans playing native tourism, because it’s generally pricey and steadily simplest obtainable to foreigners.
This makes Las Terrazas particular.
Like virtually the entirety on this nation, the tale of Las Terrazas Cuba starts with Fidel Castro.In 1968 he has the imaginative and prescient for a brand new combat – a inexperienced revolution.
The panorama were ravaged via Spanish conquistadors and the French who created over 50 unsustainable espresso plantations within the area after fleeing the 1791 revolution in Haiti.
That coupled with hurricanes and different herbal forces left the area deforested and unusable.
However Fidel promised to assist all Cubans, together with the illiterate guajiros (countrymen) who lived in poverty within the mountains.
So he enlisted architect Osmany Cienfuegos, brother of innovative hero Camilo Cienfuegos, to construct 1,360km terraces to battle erosion and to construct a self-sustaining group with roads, properties and colleges.
They planted 7 million timber between 1968 and 1978.
In 1985 its good fortune was once known and Sierra del Rosario changed into Cuba’s first UNESCO Biosphere. It was once a candy however brief good fortune.
The area was once threatened when the Soviet Union collapsed and its cash stopped flowing to Cuba.
This time is understood among Cubans because the “Particular Length” when the economic system was once on the point of cave in. Its stated the typical weight reduction was once 12 kilos as there wasn’t sufficient meals.
The Las Terrazas group had to evolve to continue to exist, so in 1994 it constructed Lodge Moka.
It stored its goal to care for a steadiness with nature via nestling its location inside teak timber and round a 100-year outdated rain tree that’s the centrepiece of the foyer.
And that is what I like about this position, whilst there are many issues to do in Las Terrazas, it stays first a group with a focal point on its distinctive setting.
10 Best possible Issues to Do in Las Terrazas Cuba
When you’re questioning methods to give again to the group, you’ll ebook a excursion prematurely and spend time in Las Terrazas. They are able to organize transportation to and from Havana.
Tourism supplies jobs and has allowed the group to prosper. Tourism bucks lately funded the brand new Aire Libre café, a museum and the growth of the Moka Lodge.
1. Las Terrazas Cuba Zip Lining
The realm is house to Cuba’s first cover circuit/zip line in Cuba (there’s additionally one in Viñales). This can be a sequence of 6 traces slightly below a mile lengthy that go overtop the village and surrounding space.
The realm is house to Cuba’s first cover circuit/zip line in Cuba (there’s additionally one in Viñales).
This can be a sequence of 6 traces slightly below a mile lengthy that go overtop the village and surrounding space.
Plan to do it within the morning as they are going to now not permit any person who has been ingesting, which in a foreign country can be simple.
However in Cuba ingesting can start at lunch, a minimum of in the event you’re with me. And there are such a large amount of scrumptious Cuban beverages.
But even so it’s a lot cooler within the morning.
2. Lago San Juan
A small guy made lake. You’ll be able to hire paddle boats. It’s a fantastic space to arrange a picnic watch the natural world. Deliver sunscreen because it’s somewhat sizzling right here.
3. Cafetal Buenavista
A former French espresso plantation, it was once inbuilt 1801 via French slave house owners in Haiti and is the oldest plantation in Cuba and neatly preserved.
It’s positioned on the most sensible of a hill and has a fantastic view of area (therefore the title Buena-vista or excellent view).
I’ve been to numerous plantations all over the world, whether or not it’s sugar, cotton or espresso.
I truly dislike how they gloss over the truth that plantations have been a success on account of slave labour and glamorize the colonial side.
However Cubans talk frankly in regards to the details, together with its historical past in slave buying and selling and the French who arrived as a result of they fled Haiti when slaves revolted in opposition to their masters.
Cafetal Buenavista is the most efficient preserved plantation in Las Terrazas Cuba with excursions to be had of the drying terraces, the tajona grindstone to procedure the beans and quarters that have been house to 126 slaves.
A part of the landlord’s house is now a cafe serving conventional Cuban meals to be had for dinner reservations.
4. Horseback Driving
There are many alternatives to head horseback using within the area. There’s generally anyone alongside the San Juan river, but when now not simply ask an area.
We all know the fellow who rents the horses.
5. San Juan River
That is the place you’ll to find Cubans placing out at the weekends. There’s a totally stocked snack bar and eating place at the river.
There may be an front rate however generally maximum of it’s “consumable” this means that it is going towards food and drinks.
Probably the most improbable a part of this gorgeous space is that they’ve a strict rule of no track.
When you spend any time within the nation you free up that Cubans play loud track far and wide. They even stroll with audio system down the road.
I may just now not consider they enforced this rule. It can be the one position in Cuba the place you gained’t pay attention track.
6. San Pedro and Santa Catalina
Two extra Nineteenth-century plantations ruins are alongside the L. a. Cañada del Infierno or Path to Hell.
They’re at the manner from the Soroa toll front on the best way to the Moka resort the place there’s a well-liked spot to swim.
7. Casa-Museo Polo Montañez
There is also nobody extra liked than native guajiro musician Polo Montañez, a people singer from the area with world status with a gold and platinum album for his first album “Guajiro herbal” in 2001.
His lakeside house is now a museum, the place his brother offers excursions right through the week.
The 3rd Friday of each and every month there’s a sing alongside known as Musical Peña to honour him.
This space museum is the web site of the Musical Peña (assembly / amassing), which gathers singers of the area at the 3rd Friday of each and every month, to sing his songs and to honor him.
8. Hen Gazing
I didn’t assume I used to be a lot of a “birder” till I took a excursion of the Galapagos. Possibly Latin American birds are extra attention-grabbing?
Las Terrazas Cuba is now house to 117 species of birds, 12 of them are endemic.
It’s commonplace to look the zocal, colourful inexperienced Cuban tody and the tocororo, which is the nationwide hen of Cuba because it’s additionally crimson, white and blue.
9. Mountaineering
There are some superb mountain climbing alternatives within the Sierra del Rosario. Then again, you can not hike unguided as they’re rather demanding and the paths are unmarked.
You’ll be able to ebook a information at Lodge Moka or the Oficinas del Complejo.
I haven’t any want to hike up steep hills so I ignored out at the monument of Che Guevara on most sensible of the mountain, however I didn’t really feel so badly as there’s a number of different Che statues, monuments and souvenirs round the remainder of Cuba.
When you’re now not lazy like me, listed below are one of the crucial most well liked hikes in Las Terrazas
El Taburete
This 3 hour hike is simplest 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) but it surely’s a medium-difficult adventure instantly up Taburete Mountain.
Then again, when you’re on the height it’s a super view of the Batabanó Gulf on one aspect and the Cabañas and Mariel sea ports at the different. The climb backpedal ends with a neatly deserved swim within the San Juan River.
El Contento
Even if this 9km (5.6 miles) hike covers extra distance, it is usually 3 hours and is a bit of much less steep and just a medium issue.
It comprises the ruins of the San Ildefonso and El Contento espresso plantations, which is able to simplest be accessed via mountain climbing.
L. a. Serafina
This 6.4km (4 miles) is a straightforward 3 hour path.
It features a brief stroll in the course of the evergreen woodland, as much as a glance out and the Santa Serafina Espresso farm, and in spite of everything finishing in Rancho Curujey.
10. Las Terrazas Cuba Artist Studios
Las Terrazas is referred to as an artist group as neatly with 4 formal studios and an emphasis on artwork and track.
The Las Terrazas group is sufficiently small, that in the event you aren’t certain methods to get to the following studio simply ask anyone passing via.
Lester’s Studio
Lester is well known the world over, particularly for his portray of John Lennon and Che.
He has many panorama items of Las Terrazas, which make nice souvenirs. You can not leave out his house a couple of doorways down from Polo Montañez’s house.
I visited Lester once more in 2025 and he was once on the brink of ship maximum of his art work to be featured in a New York Town gallery. It was once lovely improbable.
He has prints to be had at his studio and postcards for just a buck.
Duporte’s Studio
A nature lover, Duport was once born in Guantanamo however now lives in Las Terrazas.
His studio is a nature sanctuary and his artwork replicate this with artwork of tropical Cuban plants, most commonly orchids.
Ariel’s Studio
That specialize in nature, Ariel is understood for linen, wooden and recycled paper use. Whilst there may be conventional art work, the ingenuity of recycling and reusing pieces is inspiring.
Locals use beer can rings to create purses and hibiscus wooden carved into salad tongs.
The studio options notebooks on the market that native kids have discovered to make.
Ariel teaches them to make paper via recycling present paper, bamboo and banana leaf and growing color dyes with bamboo, beets and tobacco.
You’ll be able to additionally purchase fragrance bottled in recycled Cuban drugs bottles, the usage of the smell of Cuba’s nationwide flower, the aromatic white mariposa.
Henry’s Studio
After we popped into Henry’s studio there have been different travellers making the cruel resolution of simply which considered one of his surrealist items they might purchase.
Henry isn’t from the world however as a substitute is likely one of the locals that married into the group.
His English is very good and he was once in a position to proportion his inspiration for the watercolor items the place he blends animals with on a regular basis gadgets.
11 Scrumptious Las Terrazas Eating places
In spite of being a vacationer location, Las Terrazas eating places are unusually reasonably priced with costs not up to eating places in Havana.
As part of the clientele are Cuban, lots of the eating places serve conventional Cuban meals, with Lodge Moka providing probably the most upscale variations catering to world visitors.
Even if Raul Castro created the chance for Cuban paladares (non-government owned eating places) and houses opened their doorways to personal eating places this doesn’t exist in Las Terrazas.
Since the entire constructions are authorities owned, Terraceros (locals who reside in Las Terrazas) can’t promote the houses or open companies in them.
That stated, whilst they don’t seem to be technically paladares the companies make use of locals and earnings are reinvested into the group.
1. El Romero
In a rustic the place a excellent salad is difficult to search out, El Romero stands proud like a shining superstar.
No longer simplest is it a vegetarian eating place, but it surely makes use of solar power together with a sun range, composts, helps to keep its personal bees to pollinate native produce and is repeatedly in search of extra techniques to grow to be extra environmentally pleasant.
If you’ll, get the desk at the balcony, with a impressive view.
El Romero
Open 9am-9pm.
2. El Almacigo
This Las Terrazas eating place has two bars, considered one of which (Loto Bar) is open 24 hours an afternoon.
El Almacigo gives snacks and small plates of Cuban meals.
Open 6am – 9pm.
3. El Macurije
Positioned at the San Juan River, the place Cubans flock in the summertime. Be expecting conventional creole meals in an outside coated eating room with entrees starting from roast beef to grilled fish.
El Macurije
Open 9am-6pm.
4. Rancho Curujey
Simply within the toll gate, maximum guests start at Rancho Curujey for a welcome cocktail and to be informed a bit of in regards to the space.
There’s additionally a small bar with Cuban snacks in a coated space to benefit from the view of the lake.
Rancho Curujey
Open 9am-5pm.
5. Boat Area
Focusing on fish and seafood, you’ll to find this Las Terrazas eating place additionally on the front at the San Juan Lake.
Open 9am-10pm.
6. The Teaks Balcony Eating place
Positioned in Lodge Moka, the Balcon de las Tecas includes a trendy spin on conventional Cuban delicacies with some world dishes as neatly.
You’re much less more likely to to find Cubans consuming right here but it surely’s value trying out, particularly in the event you’re with travellers preferring world meals.
Open 12pm-3pm, 7pm-10pm.
7. Casa del Campesino
It is a great spot for lunch in the event you’re with a gaggle because it’s a chance to check out conventional Cuban meals served circle of relatives taste.
Regarded as to be the most efficient eating place in Las Terrazas, you’ll arrange a pig roast or one thing a bit of extra atypical like rabbit cooked creole taste.
The out of doors eating space is in the midst of a fantastic rural space the place you’ll see reside animals, the lawn and unique fruit timber.
Casa del Campesino
Open 9am-5pm
8. Buenavista Espresso Plantation
Positioned within the proprietor’s attic of the oldest espresso plantation in Cuba, the eating room has white linen however is unusually reasonably priced Cuban delicacies with imported wine.
The chef beneficial chilindron de cordero (lamb fricasse).
It was once up to now simplest open for lunch however the view is so stunning it’s now additionally open for dinner via reservation.
Cafetal Buenavista
Open 12pm-10pm
9. Mercedes’ Eating place
L. a. Fonda de Mercedes is positioned subsequent to Mercedes’ house and is supposed to really feel like consuming in a Cuban’s house.
It is a nice instance of integrating tourism into the group. Visitors arrive to an area corn and vegetable soup and are handled like visitors.
L. a. Fonda de Mercedes
Open 9am-9pm
10. Cafe de María
You can not beat the view at this outside espresso store.
Whilst Maria has many alternative gourmand espresso beverages to be had, you’ll need to get Café Las Terrazas, which is a refreshingly chilly espresso with milk, cacao liquor, chocolate and ice.
It’s unhealthy as you’ll need a couple of.
Cafe de Maria
Open 9am-10pm.
11. The Disco
Whilst Las Terrazas Cuba is a small group, there may be at all times a chance to bop on this nation.
Some other folks to find this nightlife a bit of ordinary in the sort of serene spot however to each and every their very own.
Las Terrazas Cuba Lodging
Lodge Moka – The Best Las Terrazas Cuba Lodge
This resort was once inbuilt 1994 when the group opened to tourism.
It makes use of native fabrics in its colonial taste, nestled in between the timber with a large rain tree because the centre of the foyer.
There are 42 rooms, one a junior suite, with air-con, satellite tv for pc tv, web and the entire resort amenities you could be expecting from a resort together with a swimming pool.
Neighborhood Rooms
Simply as Terreceros can’t personal personal eating places, they can’t run casa particulares or B&Bs.
Then again, Lodge Loka gives 5 “Neighborhood Rooms” which can be rooms adjoining to other folks’s properties locally and necessarily B&Bs as neatly.
All of them have separate bogs, nationwide tv and really feel extra like staying in anyone’s house.
Glamping Cabins via San Juan River
Alongside the San Juan river you’ll hire considered one of 11 cabins, that have a fan, operating water and electrical energy.
There’s a rest room in within sight El Macurije eating place. Even if there are out of doors showers the general public swim within the river.
Breakfast is incorporated and the doorway rate to the river is waived, which makes it an implausible deal.
Tenting Choices
In entrance of the cabins is a tenting space. You’ll be able to hire a tent for one individual or for a pair.
When you have your personal tent you’ll negotiate a worth.
The place is Las Terrazas Cuba
Las Terrazas Complicated is 60 km west of Havana at 52.5km in Pinar del Rio on the best way to Viñales.
At each ends of the freeway there are toll gates and data on issues to do in Las Terrazas, lodging and another questions you might have.
get to Las Terrazas
Via Automobile
I’d for my part by no means pressure in Cuba and I wouldn’t counsel {that a} vacationer does both.
Hiring a automotive is costly and hard. Roads can also be demanding to navigate and in the event you don’t talk Spanish it is going to be difficult in the event you get misplaced. As neatly, the principles relating to injuries are other in Cuba and a few vacationers finally end up in prison.
There may be truly no want to pressure in Cuba. Assist the native economic system via hiring Cuban drivers or take the bus. Even if most of the tours in Las Terrazas Cuba require a automotive, there are native taxis and throughout the area a taxi experience is only some bucks, relying on gasoline availability,
Via Taxi
Taxi prices range wildly relying on how neatly negotiate.
When you’re assured along with your Spanish that you must negotiate a taxi collectivo on its strategy to Viniales and organize for a taxi from there.
Via Bus
The Viazul bus stops two times an afternoon, within the morning at 10am heading to Viniales and 4pm returning to Havana.
The prevent is at Rancho Curujey, which is a 1km stroll to Las Terrazas.
When you’re staying on the Moka Lodge that you must organize for an area taxi to pick out you up from there.
Or whilst you arrive you’ll ask on the administrative center.
Breakdown of Prices at Las Terrazas
One of the most issues I like about Cuba is that the associated fee isn’t at all times lower and dry.
So you’ll have an front rate of 25, however 20 of this is “consumable” this means that you get a 20 credit score to spend on food and drinks.
It’s most well liked to stick 2 nights and there are lots of applications to be had.
If Spanish ask for the Tu Conmigo bundle, which is generally presented to Cubans because it’s less expensive however foreigners too can purchase it.
It’s a 2 evening all inclusive choice with the zipline.
Well being and Protection
Cuba is in most cases a secure nation and is understood all over the world for its healthcare.
Even if vacationers needn’t fear about mosquito-borne sicknesses like malaria, the Zika virus is provide.
I’ve heard conflicting perspectives on ingesting water. Some Cubans say it’s secure to drink however the presence of various minerals may just give anyone the Cuban model of Delhi abdominal. Then again, none of my buddies drink water instantly from the faucet so neither do I.
The 2 maximum essential issues to pack for Cuba are:
- Mosquito repellent. Particularly right through the summer time mosquitos are vicious at the seashore at nightfall. The area of Las Terrazas Cuba is shaded with many timber, this means that loads of attainable trojan horse bites.
- Sunscreen. It’s pricey and hard to shop for. The solar may be very robust right here. I put on 110 SPF and reapply steadily however I’ve spotted numerous solar harm on my face. I truly want to discover a hat that doesn’t make me stand out like a yuma vacationer.
Vacationers are required to have insurance coverage whilst touring in Cuba. Whilst it’s incorporated in flights coming from america, it can be absolute best to believe supplemental insurance coverage.
