| 1> | | | | a 1950s visit that the American writer Ernest |
| Explore the impressive Orchid Garden and Waterfall in | | | | Hemingway made to the Orchid Garden belonging to |
| Soroa, Cuba, just a short trip from Havana, Cuba. | | | | the Cuban naturalist and lawyer Tomás Felipe |
| Cuba is renowned for its nature; the green of its | | | | Camacho. The Garden features a collection of 250 |
| landscapes, and its dense, unspoiled spots, but there | | | | orchids endemic of the Island, and over 700 from |
| is a place of particular note for its intense greenery | | | | around the world, along with numerous species of |
| and exotic spectrum: the Sierra del Rosario. This | | | | exotic plants that thrive here thanks to the local |
| mountain massif stretches 25000 hectares half way | | | | climate. Today, there is also an orchid research |
| between the western Cuba province of Pinar del Rio | | | | center belonging to the University of Pinar del Río. |
| and Havana. It’s one of the Biosphere | | | | To access the place, you should first pay; bilingual |
| reserves in Cuba declared and protected by UNESCO. | | | | guiding services are always provided. |
| Along with the Sierra de los Órganos (where | | | | To access the Saltón, as the waterfall is best |
| Viñales is located), it’s considered to be the | | | | known, you have to go down a path of more than |
| most ancient part of the Island as well as the most | | | | 400 meters (it’s necessary to pay at the |
| historically uninhabited because of its rugged nature | | | | entrance there). It’s recommended to take |
| and harsh climate (hot under the sun and relatively | | | | drinking water since there is no gastronomic service |
| cold in the shade, too humid and rainy throughout the | | | | at the base of the waterfall. If you are lucky, |
| year). Two places very popular among nature-loving | | | | you’ll run into a few locals selling tropical fruit. |
| tourists are located in the Sierra del Rosario: Las | | | | Once there you can soak into those fantastic |
| Terrazas Eco-Tourism Community and Soroa. | | | | crystalline waters of the waterfall and be delighted |
| Soroa is best known for its Orchid Garden and | | | | by nature and tranquility. Although paved, with steps |
| famous Waterfall. Opposed to Las Terrazas, Soroa | | | | and handrails, the path is steep and hard for older |
| has the most ancient forests in Western Cuba and | | | | people or others with physical disabilities or chronic |
| its nature is even denser and lusher than Las | | | | diseases. As the weather is similar to the one in Las |
| Terrazas’. Trees are varied in the area, | | | | Terrazas, it is advisable to visit the area in the |
| including mahoganies, cedar, carob, and ferns among | | | | morning to avoid the heavy rains that usually occur in |
| others, and could easily be 50 meters tall and more | | | | the afternoon. At the entrance there is an economic |
| than 150 years old. | | | | restaurant and some souvenir stores. |
| Like Las Terrazas, Soroa’s mountains were | | | | Ideal lodging in the area is the 3-Star Villa Soroa hotel, |
| colonized by the French coffee planters, but in a | | | | some comfortable cabins distributed within the forest |
| lower degree due to the harsh conditions. The place | | | | surrounding a pool. There are also several local private |
| was named after two brothers who bought the | | | | houses you can stay in where dinner and breakfast |
| Cafetal La Merced in early 19th century and then | | | | are offered as well. Along the road you will always |
| bought other coffee plantations in the surrounding | | | | find locals selling fruit and ornamental plants, including |
| areas; little by little the small town grew and took on | | | | orchid plants. Although exotic and very cheap, be |
| the name of Soroa brothers’. | | | | warned that Cuban customs does not allow the |
| However, what made the place so famous was its | | | | exportation of any vegetable species in regular flights. |
| waterfall of around 50 m in the Manantiales River and | | | | |