The main reasons millions come to Cuba each year are (primarily) beaches and (secondarily) culture. But the lag in the country’s development since 1959 has been a boon for ecotourism, leaving the island with quite a few natural treasures for visitors to discover, from hidden waterfalls to castaway beaches, national parks, and conversatories. I recently discovered one such gem in the Sierra del Rosario mountains just over an hour’s drive west of capital Havana. Allow me to introduce you to Las Terrazas.
This hilly mix of tropical and evergreen forests is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve covering some 27 square kilometres (103 sq. miles), centred on an ecological research station and village with a population of about 1,000, where visitors eat, shop, and overnight.
As I approached the eastern gate of the reserve, I felt as if I had gone back in time, rolling up in a beige 1950s Chevrolet Deluxe (very typical in a country known for its resourcefulness in keeping old U.S. cars running). As the Chevy heavily hummed its way up a steep hill leading to one of Cuba’s oldest coffee plantations, I jumped out to let it roll back down. The old girl definitely needed a break after the drive in from Havana.
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