Las Terrazas holidays
Las Terrazas holidays at a glance
Las Terrazas Cuba is a real rarity: a landscape that was actively rebuilt rather than simply preserved. Once little more than degraded grassland, the area was chosen by Fidel Castro as the site of a major reforestation project, and the initiative worked well enough that UNESCO designated it a biosphere reserve in 1985.
What’s there now is the opposite of what came before – a rich tangle of flora and fauna, silvery lakes, rushing streams and a network of walking trails through it all, sitting just 74km from Havana along a winding, scenic mountain road that takes up to two hours to drive.
The altitude and mountainous setting bring a cooler climate than much of Cuba, which is as much a draw as the scenery itself. Visitors come here for horse riding, swimming, cycling and canyoning as much as for the walking, and the pace of a Las Terrazas biosphere reserve visit tends to run slower than a Havana city break by design.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Las Terrazas
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Las Terrazas demonstrates the extraordinary resilience of nature, with forests, lakes and wildlife flourishing where grassland once dominated.
When to visit Las Terrazas
The reserve experiences more rainfall and cloud cover than many parts of Cuba due to its altitude and mountainous setting.
High season in Las Terrazas sees many visitors arriving to enjoy the lush scenery in sunnier, less humid weather. Temperatures are usually warm, though there can be cooler days. This is an ideal time to explore the hiking trails on foot, or to try your hand at horse riding.
During the wet season there is significantly more rainfall and humidity levels increase, so the climate can feel tropical and stuffy. Between August and Nov there could be hurricanes or storms.
Top Things to do in Las Terrazas
Las Terrazas is all about nature, outdoor activities and discovering one of Cuba’s most beautiful rural regions.
Enjoy the fresh air and rural landscape on walks in a biosphere reserve within easy reach of the capital.
Accommodation in Las Terrazas
Our featured property here is Hotel Moka, also known as La Moka Eco Lodge, surrounded by tropical vegetation and positioned as an ideal base for exploring the reserve’s trail network without needing to drive in and out from Havana each day.
Located on a hillside above the village of Las Terrazas, La Moka is set in acres of forest in Cuba’s Sierra del Rosario Nature Reserve.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Tailor-Made Las Terrazas Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Signature Cuba: The best of the highlights
Places visited: Havana · Viñales and the Sierra de los Organos · Las Terrazas · Trinidad and the Escambray Mountains · Caribbean cayes and coast · Cienfuegos, Santa Clara and Bay of Pigs
14 days from £2,300
Signature Cuba: The complete Cuba
Places visited: Havana · Las Terrazas · Trinidad and the Escambray Mountains · Viñales and the Sierra de los Organos · Cienfuegos, Santa Clara and Bay of Pigs · Santiago de Cuba · Southest Cuba
18 days from £3,010
FAQs about visiting Las Terrazas
Las Terrazas is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When's the best time to visit Las Terrazas?
The high season for visitors is Dec – Apr when the weather is usually sunny, mostly dry and not too humid, though there can be cool days. Hurricane and tropical storms are possible Aug – Nov and this is when most rain falls. Rainfall and cloud is more frequent than the areas to the east, because of the altitude and attracted by the mountains.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What's the official language in Las Terrazas?
Spanish.
- How do I get local currency in Las Terrazas?
For the latest currency information, please see our FAQs page for Cuba.
- What's the time difference between Las Terrazas and UK?
GMT -5 hours; usually there is daylight saving in the summer but it is a moveable feast.
- What places combine well with Las Terrazas?
A visit to the Viñales Valley, further west (132 km).
- How do I get to Las Terrazas?
A scenic journey by winding road from Havana (74 km) takes up to 2 hours.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.