Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve

Pinar del Rio - Pinar del Rio City

Declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1985, the 25,000-hectare Sierra del Rosario encompasses a mountainous area of rapidly recovering secondary tropical deciduous forests, cut with numerous rivers and waterfalls.

Nearly 100 species of birds can be spotted here, including over half of Cuba's 22 endemic species. Currently there are relatively few trails and facilities in the reserve, which is not open to individual exploration and trekking. Most activity is confined to 2 tourism developments, Las Terrazas and Soroa, which are connected by a loop of paved roads that begins and ends on the Autopista Nacional.

Las Terrazas

This ecotourism center is situated in an area of around 5,000 hectares, in which a project of sustainable rural economy is being developed, based on the rational use of its natural resources for tourism. The buildings in the Las Terrazas Community have been designed to blend with their surroundings. The nearby ruins of French coffee plantations from the 19th century are an additional attraction.

Soroa

Soroa is a beautiful site some 70 km west of Havana. It has a rich flora, with many species of trees, shrubs, wild orchids and ferns. Its fauna includes one of the smallest frogs in the world, and around 70 kinds of birds have been reported, many of which are endemic. The 22 m high, spring-fed Rainbow Waterfall brightens this spot. The surrounding countryside is lush, hilly and very pleasant to wander around.