Page 15 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

DISC OVERING CUBA  13

Five Days in Western panoramas of the area, and
Cuba then book a walking tour at
the Visitors’ Centre to amble
• Airport Fly to Havana’s José amid the limestone stacks
Martí International Airport. and tobacco fields. Retreat to
• Transport You will need one of the hotels in the area.
to hire a car to complete
this tour, although the Víazul Day 3: Viñales and to
coach service (p303) does the west
stop at Las Terrazas, Pinar In the morning, explore the
del Río and Viñales. It is small town of Viñales (p145),
essential to take the Guía with streets of colonial houses
de Carreteras map (p304) bear ing coloured columns
and fill the car up when and terraces furnished with
you pass gas stations. rocking chairs. Alternatively,
take an atmospheric boat ride
• Booking ahead It is
important to book through the Cueva del Indio
accommodation in advance, and the under ground San White sands at the edge of warm seas,
particularly in Las Terrazas Vicente river (p147). In the María La Gorda
and María La Gorda. afternoon, drive three hours
south to coastal retreat María Day 4: María La Gorda
La Gorda (p150) and take an Spend the day snorkelling
Day 1: Las Terrazas evening dip in the sea. Stay the Caribbean coral reef or
Starting from Havana, drive the night in Hotel María La sunbathing beneath palm
an hour south to the lakeside Gorda (p258). trees on the pure white sand.
eco-community of Las Terrazas Look out for the giant iguanas
(p141). The area is renowned To extend your trip… that roam the hotel grounds
for its birdlife, remains of old From Viñales, drive to Palma and beach. Stay the night in
coffee plantations and an Rubia to catch the ferry to Hotel María La Gorda.
organic vegetarian restaurant Cayo Levisa (p141), a white
(p273). Choose from one of sand arc with one beachfront Day 5: Return via Pinar del
several hiking trails or enjoy hotel (p258). Alternatively, Río and Soroa
a zipline canopy tour. Spend drive to Cayo Jutías (p140), The six-hour drive back to Havana
the evening in Las Terrazas. where a restaurant and a can be broken up with a stop at
parasol-filled beach greet Pinar del Río (p144) to take in the
Day 2: Valle de Viñales visitors. The real draw, aroma of the tobacco factory on
Head two hours south to the though, are the giant orange a guided tour (open on weekdays
gloriously beautiful Valle de starfish found at the tip of only). Closer to Havana, don’t
Viñales (pp146–7). Stop at the the bay – accessed by a miss the opportunity to see
viewpoint near Hotel Los long, hot walk or by boat. the famous perfumed orchid
Jazmines to soak up wonderful gardens at Soroa (p140).

Mural de la Prehistoria, painted by Leovigildo González on the side of a mogote in Valle de Viñales

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