Cuba /Dec 04, 2020
The Escambray Mountains are a beautiful, forest covered mountain range located broadly in the centre of the island and incorporating the regions of Cienfuegos, Villa Clara & Sancti Spiritus.
Running east – west, the Escambray Mountains (Sierra del Escambray in Spanish) stretch for approximately 50 miles and, at Pico San Juan, reach a maximum altitude of some 960 metres.
Although less developed for tourism than one might expect, Topes de Collantes national park in particular (and Parque Guanayara within it) is home to a number of walking trails, many of which end up at cascading waterfalls and natural swimming pools.
Accommodation within the Escambray Mountains is either non-existent or very poor, so the vast majority of visitors base themselves in the beautiful towns of Trinidad and, to much a lesser extent, Cienfuegos, and explore from there.
Because tourist development is so scarce, exploring the mountains on one’s own is not generally recommended. It’s not that it is particularly dangerous – nothing is going to jump out and eat you – but you will struggle to locate the start of trails or be able to follow any reliable markings. If you’re expecting any Ordnance Survey style / quality maps of the area, you can forget that too.
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Beyond The Ordinary arrange fully bonded, tailor made holidays and tours to Cuba. Contact one of our experts on 01580 764796, email travel@beyondtheordinary.co.uk or contact us via our website. |
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While it is sometimes possible to make arrangements to explore the Escambray Mountains locally, our strong recommendation is that you book such arrangements in advance as part of a bespoke holiday. You’ll save yourself time and bother and will be certain of exploring with a licenced guide.
Beyond The Ordinary offer a number of day Trips into the Escambray Mountains while clients on our small group escorted Cuba tours will visit beautiful El Nicho en-route between Trinidad & Cienfuegos.
Aside from exploring the area on foot, for anyone considering a fly drive holiday, the direct drive through the Escambray Mountains between Trinidad & Santa Clara is widely regarded as being amongst the best drives in Cuba. It may not seem a great distance on the map but, due to the nature of the terrain, can take a good three hours.
This 14 night suggested itinerary around western Cuba includes the colonial highlights of Havana, Cienfuegos & Trinidad but primarily focuses on the island’s natural beauty with plenty of included forays into a variety of glorious, unspoiled countryside.
This fully flexible, 14 night private tour takes in the length of the island and includes visits to many of the key destinations associated with the Cuba Revolution.
Enjoy a private Cuba tour with your own driver / guide. This 10 night itinerary takes in the highlights of western Cuba but is only a small taste of what we can offer.
Topes de Collantes is a beautiful, near 200sq km nature reserve located within the Escambray Mountains of southern Cuba.
Although we don’t offer any specific tours or set itineraries, options for Cuba walking holidays abound and we are able to pre-book a number of private, guided walks in various destinations.
El Nicho is the name of a picturesque waterfall located just outside of Topes de Collantes National Park in Cuba’s Cienfuegos province.
When making your travel arrangements, we understand just how important peace-of-mind is. Beyond The Ordinary hold both ATOL & ABTOT bonds so whether you book your flights through us, or independently, any money you pay us is 100% protected. More detailed information on Financial Protection can be found by clicking here.
Whichever of our featured countries you wish to visit, we've been there several times. So, if you're after something beyond the ordinary to Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala or the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, we'd love to hear from you.
