Soroa
Coordinates: 22 ° 48 ′ N , 83 ° 1 ′ W
Soroa is a place in the municipality of Candelaria in the Cuban province of Artemisa . It is known for its much-visited Salto de Soroa waterfall and its orchid garden. Soroa is located in the Sierra del Rosario.
Soroa is located approximately 76 km west of Havana . An exit from the Havana- Pinar del Río motorway is approx. 10 km south. The Hotel Villa Soroa is located in the village .
The place name goes back to the Spanish brothers Lorenzo and Antonio Soroa Munagorri. They came to Cuba in 1856 in the hope of making their fortune as coffee producers. The crystal clear water of the surrounding rivers brings a rainbow in the morning hours, from which the name "Rainbow of Cuba" ("Arco Iris de Cuba") for Soroa's Falls is based. As in the entire province, there is a subtropical diversity in flora and fauna. Around 20,000 plants such as ferns and countless groups of trees make up a world biosphere reserve. The climate of Soroa is characterized by frequent rainfall with an average annual temperature of 24 ° C. This created a typical evergreen rainforest with 40-meter-high trees, which stands out from the flat valley in front of it.
Salto de Soroa
The Salto de Soroa falls 22 m deep. Below the waterfall is a natural pool for bathing and swimming. The waterfall lies within dense vegetation and can be reached via a concrete footpath. The water basin can be reached via a staircase that must be climbed on the way back. The "Salto Arco Iris" is fed by the Rio Manantiades. Remarkably stalactites connected to a hood by the calcareous water.
Orchid garden
The Canarian immigrant Tomás Felipe Camacho founded the orchid garden in 1943 with over 700 species from all over the world. Including rare species such as the bird of paradise orchid , the Flor de San Pedro or the black orchid . The "Jardín Botánico Orquideario" is located on a hill at the site. A third of the orchids are endemic to Cuba, the flowering period is primarily November to May.
Mirador de Soroa - lookout point
The viewpoint "El Mirador de Soroa" on the highest point of the surrounding mountains is a two-kilometer walk. The last stretch leads up a staircase. The view is preferably to the north of the mountains and sometimes both coasts of Cuba can be seen.
Web link
- Tourist information of a travel company: Cuba Beautiful by Nature (Engl.)