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