Las Terrazas

One of the things that Cuba has done incredibly right is the preservation and reforestation of their island.

They could have so easily have gone the route of Haiti or the DR, but they didn't.  They should be commended for their efforts.

Our last day trip was to the eco-reserve of Las Terrazas.  This was an area that had been mostly stripped of its local flora for cultivation of coffee.  After the revolution, in the 1960s, they began reclaiming the area for a biological reserve.  The name of Las Terrazas is for the terracing project they did to replant trees and vegetation.

Today, Las Terrazas (along with Vinales) is an UNESCO World Heritage site and Biosphere Preserve.  So, well done Cuba.

The remains of one of the first coffee plantations is now on display with full explanation on how coffee was grown back then.

At one of the rest areas/bar.  Our first Cuban Boy Band.  (they were good)

Original plantation house.

Outdoor kitchen area.

Remains of old slave quarters by the coffee bean drying areas.

 Within the area of Las Terrazas is the village of the same name.  This village is unique in that it is a self-sustaining eco-village.  In order to be able to live there, you must sign on and adhere to the rules of the village's sustainability.  There is one small hotel there and many small artisan shops.  We stopped by where they were recycling old paper to recreate into hand made art paper and he sold paintings and prints of the area.

Drying sheets of paper hand dyed with local plants.

Other samples of the paper made.

We made stopped for lunch at the Paladar Campesino (farm worker). Beautiful area up in the mountains and he had quite the menagerie of various fowl.

 Our final stop was the Orquideario de Soroa.  Beautiful little garden with amazing examples of orchids and other plant life of the area.  There is a beautiful overlook that you can see the mogotes (mountains with rounded tops).  I would spend more time in this area to visit the waterfalls and such next time.

Remains of an old limestone wall.

A humming bird. I can't believe it sat still long enough for us to take pictures.

This would be our last night in Cuba.  We had a dinner that night with the rally on property and we also closed out what was due with the dockmaster.  We planned on an early departure so that we'd be only a few hours out from Key West before the forecasted front hit us.