Cuba Nature Travel - Las Terrazas Eco-Tourism

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