The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Las Terrazas is a nature reserve and community in the Sierra del Rosario mountains of Cuba. You’ll find it on the route to Viñales from Havana, and the Viazul Bus even makes a stop there (albeit on the side of the highway). It’s been a Biosphere Reserve since 1985, it was the first in Cuba, and the population here is about 1,200. There are about 5,000 hectares (50 square kilometres) of secondary forest here, it was planted on deforested lands to avoid erosion – the forest was planted on terraces, terrazas in Spanish, hence the name. Here’s our guide to visiting Las Terrazas, how to get to Las Terrazas, what to see, what to do, and what not to miss.
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Las Terrazas is an easy day trip from Havana, and is even on the Havana to Viñales Viazul bus route (and yes, it stops), but you don’t find many foreign visitors coming here. There are lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and a huge variety of flora and fauna here. There’s even a house museum of the famous Cuban singer Polo Montañez.
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Prebook a Trip to Las Terrazas
Take a day trip from Havana to visit Las Terrazas, and also take in the Soroa waterfall. This 8-10 hour trip maximises your time and has an English (and Spanish) speaking guide.
The History of Las Terrazas
It was here that French settlers, fleeing in 1791 from the revolution in Haiti, introduced coffee cultivation in Cuba. The peak of coffee cultivation here was in the 1820s and 1830s, when there were 54 coffee plantations here. This was the reason that the land was deforested, to plant coffee. Sadly, during the 19th century, production declined, in part due to the area being subject to reasonably regular hurricanes, which destroyed the plantations.
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The history of Las Terrazas then becomes part of the Fidel Castro story. In 1968, he promised to help all Cubans, including those living in poverty in the mountains. It was Osmany Cienfuegos, the architect brother of the revolutionary hero Camilo Cienfuegos, who designed and built the 845 miles (1,360 kilometers) of terraces to reforest the area and to combat erosion. Between 1968 and 1978, 7 million trees were planted, and the community of Las Terrazas, complete with homes, schools, and roads, was built.
It was a success. In 1985, Las Terrazas was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It’s not the end of the story, though. The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 cut off much of the flow of investment to Cuba, and Cuba’s “Special Period” began. Once more, the area now known as Las Terrazas needed to evolve to survive.
And so, in 1994, Hotel Moka was built. The beginnings of the eco-tourism future for Las Terrazas. It sits within the forest of teak trees and is at the heart of the tourism on which nearly 60% of the residents of Las Terrazas rely for income.
The area contains about 800 species of plants, with around 35% of them being endemic. Today, around 1,200 people live here. And they’re all invested in the community. It’s not possible to 2just move here”, you either marry into the community, or move here because you have a skill that is required by the community.
Las Terrazas uses energy efficiency, farms using local methods, and focuses on the community’s good. Las Terrazas doesn’t receive many foreign visitors, but this unique location in Cuba is worth a visit. It’s eco-tourism, Costa Rica style, but at a fraction of the cost to you.
Where is Las Terrazas?
Las Terrazas is in the Sierra del Rosario mountains of Cuba, in Artemisa province, it is located between Havana and Viñales. It’s often visited in conjunction with a trip to Soroa, which is most famous for its waterfall.
How to Get to Las Terrazas
The easiest way to get to Lass Terrazas is to take a day trip from Havana (check out this option), but that’s not the only way to get here.
Getting to Las Terrazas by Viazul Bus
The Havana to Viñales Bus stops at the highway turn-off for Las Terrazas. Read my guide to the Viazul Bus here and get a downloadable copy of the full timetable. This bus (in July 2025) only runs three days a week – Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
I’ve designed 5 specific itineraries around Cuba using the Viazul Bus, they’re contained within my Cuba by Bus book.
Getting to Las Terrazas by Rental Car
It takes about an hour to drive from Havana to Las Terrazas, and the road is decent. Just take the A4 until you get to the Las Terrazas turn-off. Read my guide to traveling Cuba by Rental Car.
Getting to Las Terrazas by Colectivo (shared taxi)
Ask at your casa particular about a shared taxi to Las Terrazas, they may be able to find someone to share with you, if you are less than a full car. Or try the Viazul Bus station for a shared taxi to Las Terrazas. These will likely be colectivos that are heading to Viñales. If that’s the case, then you will likely have to pay the full rate to Viñales and just get out early.
Getting to Las Terrazas by a pre-booked trip
This is the most convenient way to travel to Las Terrazas and the most time-efficient. You’ll be able to benefit from a pick-up from your hotel or casa particular, an English-speaking guide, and a private tour! Plus, this trip includes a visit to Soroa. You can check prices and availability here.
8 Things to do in Las Terrazas
Inside the Biosphere Natural Reserve of Las Terrazas, there are a heap of things to do; remember, there’s an entire community of people here. Whether you’re traveling to Las Terrazas independently or on a trip, just make sure that you pick out the activities and places that interest you.
1. Explore the Las Terrazas Coffee Plantations
It makes sense to start your explorations of the Las Terrazas area with the reason that this place is here. The Coffee Plantations. While many of them were destroyed, the oldest of Cuba’s coffee plantations survives and has been preserved. Cafetal Buenavista was established in 1801, built by French slave owners, and it’s located at the top of a hill (hence the name “good view”).
Of the coffee plantations that remain in Las Terrazas, this is the best preserved, and you can tour the grinding stones, the drying terraces, and the slave quarters. The original owner’s home is now a restaurant.
2. Take the zip line circuit in Las Terrazas
Las Terrazas is home to the first zip line in Cuba. The six lines total about a mile (1.6 kilometers) and head through the canopy and over the village. It’s a great way to get an overview of the area. If you’re on a guided tour, then this is an extra option and costs from US$3 per person.
3. Go Horseback Riding in Las Terrazas
Your guide will be able to point you in the direction of the horseback riding options, usually you’ll find them at the Hacienda Unión or alongside the San Juan River.
4. Venture out onto Lago San Juan
This lake is man-made, and whether you choose to wander around it or head out on one of the paddleboats, it’s a great spot to relax.
5. Go Hiking at Las Terrazas:
Exploring Las Terrazas on foot is a great option. You cannot hike without a guide here. There are several hikes in the area, but you should always go with a guide. Ask your tour guide, or head to the Hotel Moka for details, not all trails are signposted.
There are many short walks – whether it’s to the ruins of the Santa Serafina coffee plantation, along the river, or higher up overlooking the San Juan valley. Popular trails include El Contento, which takes you to the ruins of the El Contento plantation, or the Sendero la Serfaine, which is great for bird watchers. You’ll find trails here, but always take a local guide, as signage is generally not good.
Shorter hikes include:
El Taburete: This hike takes 3 hours and is 3.7 miles (6 kilometers), it goes up Taburete Mountain and gives great views of the Mariel and Cabanas sea ports. You’ll end at the San Juan River for a refreshing dip.
La Serafina: This is an easy three-hour trail that goes through the forest, heads to a lookout out and the Santa Serafina Coffee Plantation. It ends in Rancho Curujey. This trail is 4 miles (6.4 kilometers long)
6. Go Birdwatching in Las Terrazas
Las Terrazas is home to 117 species of birds, of which 12 are endemic. It’s here that you might see the national bird of Cuba, the tocororo (it’s red, white, and blue), or the Cuban tody, or the zocal. There’s more on the birds of Cuba here.
7. Visit the House Museum of Polo Montañez
The lakeside home of Polo Montañez is open to visitors to explore the well-known Cuban musician. He specialized in the traditional rural music of eastern Cuba called guajira. His first album, “Guajiro Natural,” achieved international fame with a gold and platinum award in 2001. Montañez died in 2002, but his fame continues.
Tours are available of the museum, and on the 3rd Friday of each month, a sing-along called Musical Peña occurs to honour him.
8. Visit the Artists’ Workshops of Las Terrazas
It’s no surprise that the community of Las Terrazas houses the workshops of Cuban artists. Likely the most famous is Lester Campa, known for his portraits of Che and John Lennon; you’ll also find landscapes of Las Terrazas here. Lester’s gallery is close to the Polo Montañez museum.
Where to Stay in Las Terrazas
The Hotel Moka is the only hotel in Las Terrazas. The hotel includes a swimming pool, bar, and restaurant.
Villa Maida – a casa particular within Las Terrazas gets super reviews and is in a great location.
La Villa Duque is 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) from Las Terrazas, and as a casa particular offers great quality and hospitality.
As ever, I recommend you use Homestay to book your stays at casa particulars, and you should read my guide on casas to understand how they work.
Where to Eat in Las Terrazas
Take coffee, why not? You’re in coffee plantation country, at Café Aire Libre. Eat at Casa de Botes overlooking the Lago San Juan, or eat at the spectacular El Romero for amazing vegetarian dishes – it uses solar energy and keeps its own bees too!
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Final Words on Visiting Las Terrazas
The stunning eco-tourism location of Las Terrazas is often overlooked by visitors, but once visited, never forgotten. This glorious place has reinvented itself and has a seriously interesting history. Come here for peace, quiet, and a different Cuban experience.
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