Valle de los Ingenios

East of Trinidad, on the road to Sancti Spiritus, visitors will find the lush Valle de los Ingenios. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this valley, also known as Valle de San Luis, contains numerous relics and monuments, from the 19th Century when the sugar cane plantations and mills were flourishing. Uniquely tied to the history of the sugar cane industry is that of the slave trade and the role of slaves on these plantations.

The Valle de los Ingenios is a great place to drive or do a horseback ride through to take in the beautiful scenery of green sugar cane fields, palms trees, and mountains that fence in the valley, as well as explore the history of the area. Tours of the valley should include a number of key sights. The Mirador de La Loma del Puertos is a high lookout that allows for great views of the landscape and is the best way to see the entire Valle de los Ingenios. Also not to be missed is the 44m / 144ft high Manaca Iznaga tower. The tower stands next to the house that once belonged to Pedro Iznaga, and was used to watch slaves. The house is now a restaurant and visitors can climb the tower.

Another historic house turned restaurant is the Casa Guachinango, owned in the 18th Century by Don Mariano Borrell, a well known name in the history of the region. Here visitors will find another beautiful view of the landscape which also takes in the river, Rio Ay. Borrell's main estate, Sitio Guaimaro, also a restaurant, is an impressive piece of architecture and is just a short distance from Manaca Iznaga.

A tourist train runs through the valley regularly, beginning in Trinidad. It is also possible to tour the valley by car or horseback, with or without a guide.