Old Havana is the central area of the original city of Havana which is the capital. This UNESCO Heritage City was founded in 1519 by the Spanish, Havana features superb architectural structures, with many treasures from the city's long and colorful history. The old center of the sprawling metropolis retains a fascinating mix of historic buildings, museums, galleries, churches, and lively plazas. Explore the National Botanical Garden, home to flora from all continents including special collections from Cuba. Meet with specialists there.
Visit the famous Hemingway House and Finca estate which is another beautiful birding haven outside of Havana proper.

Situated in Cuba’s Artemisa Region southwest of Havana, Soroa is a mountain resort town known for its incredible natural beauty featuring lush landscapes, majestic mountains, and meandering rivers. Dubbed the ‘Rainbow of Cuba’, it is listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is home to the El Salto del Arco Iris, a magnificent waterfall and the Soroa Orchidarium, a world-famous orchid garden boasting the largest collection of orchids in the world. Meet with specialists from the Soroa Orchidarium which has the largest collection of orchids in Cuba with 130 species of native orchids plus almost 700 exotic orchid species as well as palms, cycads, and many other kinds of plants. After a presentation by the group from the University of Pinar del Rio, walk the hills around Soroa. Sights here include a waterfall and the mirador (lookout) at the top of a mountain.

In the depths of the Sierra del Rosario there emerges a jewel of Artemisa geography: the Botanical Garden of Soroa Orchid Garden, which guards untold treasures of biological and landscape wealth of the region. The Garden was declared “National Heritage” in 1961. It is a scientific production center of the University of Pinar del Río for the preservation and enjoyment of nature and the conservation of Cuban orchids. Its construction dates back to the 1950s when the renowned lawyer Thomas Felipe Camacho from the Canary Islands decided to build a retreat house, christened with the name of “Pinilla” in honor of Pilar, his deceased daughter. Camacho moved his extensive collection of orchids there and it gradually became a site of considerable interest to naturalists and lovers of endemic and exotic flora. Within the area’s 35,000 square meters is the largest variety of orchids in the country, with more than 20,000 specimens of 700 species, distributed on live plants and in nine reproductive greenhouses.

In the Orchigram, the tenth pavilion of the park, flowering orchids delight visitors with their delicacy and elegance. Among the main attractions of the landscape highlights are the Vanda teres or purple orchid, the Prosthechea cochleata or black orchid and Encyclia phenicia or orchid of chocolate. Added to this are the stream of crotons, begonias, anthuriums and other species of Cuban horticulture, all of great scientific and ornamental value. The Orchid Garden is part of the national and Caribbean networks of Botanic Gardens, and has one of the main libraries specializing in orchids in the world.

Located in the provinces of Pinar del Río and Artemisa, Cuba, Sierra del Rosario is a mountain range that was declared a Reserve of the Biosphere, giving recognition to its ecological diversity and richness. Travel to Las Terrazas National Park to meet the local conservationists of this area for a presentation. Observe the local butterflies and birds of the area. Stop for lunch. There will be a presentation and night observation walk to experience the night butterflies. Las Terrazas is also a small community that was originally founded as an eco-village in 1968. Today, it has evolved into a burgeoning and vibrant community with many artists, workshops and open studios, as well as a well-visited activity center. Las Terrazas is now a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, located on the site of Cuba’s earliest coffee plantation. Nestled in 5,000 hectares of forest nature reserve in the Sierra del Rosario Mountains, the area is rich in plant and animal life. Numerous footpaths and trails crisscrossing the lush area make the profusion of lakes and waterfalls accessible.

The naturally beautiful valley of Vinales is a popular UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba known for its distinctive limestone hills, endless tobacco farms and traditional Cuban culture. The majority of the area’s inhabitants live in the tiny eponymous agricultural village which, despite its small size, features a number of well-established tourist facilities including shops, restaurants, and hotels. The village is centred around a main plaza which is home to a lovely little art gallery, a charming church, a Saturday morning farmer’s market and daily cultural events. The Vinales Valley offers a truly authentic experience of rural Cuba as well as an ideal natural environment for a range of outdoor activities including: birdwatching, rock climbing, cycling, hiking, horse riding, and swimming in natural pools.

The UNESCO Biosphere of Guanahacabibes National Park on the peninsula is one of the country's largest natural reserves and is separated from the rest of the island by white-sand plains where one of Cuba's largest lakeside areas lies. A relatively small area holds some 100 lakes, as well as the largest and purest fields of silica sand, which is 99.8% pure. Nature tourism is a major attraction in the 153.77 square mile National Park. The area is inhabited by 172 species of birds belonging to 42 families, 11 of which are endemic and 84 are migratory. Experts also believe that 4 of the 7 species of marine turtles living on the planet have survived in the Guanahacabibes Peninsula. The peninsula was one of the last refuges of aboriginals fleeing from the Spanish conquistadors and also holds some 140 archeological sites linked to the life of aborigines, who were known as Guanahatabeyes. Accommodations at local casa partculars. (B, L, D)

Pinar del Río, city, western Cuba. It is situated on the Guamá River, near the base of the Sierra de los Órganos. The city is also situated in a vast province also known as Pinar del Rio. There are numerous ecosystems within the province including several keys to the north.

The Parque Escaleras de Jaruco (Escaleras de Jaruco Park) is a gorgeous protected natural area in the province of Mayabeque, in Cuba. The Parque Escaleras is made up of lush forests, limestone hills and deep caves, and it preserves endemic and native species.Its landscape is dominated by Palma Real de Cuba, a typical tree of the island. You can also eye species, like the magnificent white butterfly, the National Flower of CubaThe Parque Escaleras de Jaruco is home to remarkable birds, such as the colorful woodpeckers and the amazing red-tailed hawk.

This spacious area contains everything from a Japanese garden to greenhouses bursting with cacti and tropical vegetation. A gorgeous botanical garden, covering a 600 hectare surface, is situated only 25 km away from town and deserves a special visit from all eco-fans. You will find yourself in the middle of 150,000 specimens and over 4,000 different kinds of Cuban and international plants. The most natural ambient is created by elevation and an artificial creation of little hills. The whole place is organized into geographical areas. We recommend you to keep an eye on the cactus pavilion, tropical rain forest, the palm-tree collection and the Japanese garden, tastefully designed with little water falls and fountains.