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