Explore the natural beauty of Cuba at Las Terrazas eco-tourism resort, just a short trip from Havana, Cuba.
Just 60 Km from Havana, along the Western Highway, lies the natural paradise of Las Terrazas. The whole area is protected and you need to pay before entering. There is also an information desk with maps, guides, and you can even reserve several services being offered by the complex. Once inside, the first thing to admire is the impressive vegetation of pines, eucalyptus, cedar trees, and mahoganies more than 50 years old and 40 meters high. You may find it hard to believe, but this whole place was an area of semi-desert by the middle of the 20th century because of the deforestation that took place over more than 4 centuries. In 1968, they came up with a plan to reforest around 50 square km and to gather the families isolated in the mountain ranges into several communities. The system they used was that of flat terraces, to avoid the soil deterioration due to the intense rains of the place, making this the first project for the Cuban ecologic, social, and sustainable development.
The community with around 900 inhabitants was built around an artificial lake in the San Juan River and its water mirror is one of the most famous in Cuba. You can tour around its environment by hiking through the foliage, ziplining under the Canopy, cruising the lake, taking a refreshing dip in one of the numerous natural baths, or simply strolling and admiring the surrounding nature. Recreational activities in Las Terrazas are all related to Nature: hiking, trekking, and birdwatching of such endemic species as the Tocororo, the Zunzuncillo, the Cartacuba, and the Carpintero. The local touristic information desk offers varied options and the required equipment for each activity.
Accommodation options at Las Terrazas are varied, with the most luxurious being the 4-Star eco-hotel, La Moka, built taking into account the proper respect for nature, to such extent that you can easily run into trees or ground features on your way inside the hotel. It’s located on top of the highest hill and magnificent views of the surrounding environment can be enjoyed from its balconies. Other lodging choices include local private houses, rustic cabins near the baths of San Juan River, and huts (casas de campaña). Restaurant and café options are not that many in the community. However, La Moka hotel offers excellent, although a little expensive, services.
In addition to the numerous ecotourism offerings, Las Terrazas hosts historical sights and a thriving art community; the Home-Museum of the Cuban singer-songwriter Polo Montañez is particularly popular. You can also go through the ruins of the French coffee plantations that stretched throughout the area after the Haitian Revolution. Cafetal La Unión and Cafetal Buenavista both host economic restaurant options. There also is a good food service at the baths of the San Juan and Bayate Rivers. These baths are especially crowded during summer time, particularly by locals and other national tourists who love cold waters and barbecues (barbecues are offered here, along with rustic furnishings and cooking utensils that can be reserved at the entrance of the Complex).
