The whole area which includes Soroa is part of the picturesque Cuban rural countryside which makes up Pinar del Rio, arguably one of Cuba’s most fortunate and blessed provinces. The provincial border of Pinar del Rio is just 74 km (46 miles) from Havana city center, yet the contrasts are quite striking indeed. The short distance and numerous attractions make a visit to this area, as explained below, entirely "doable" if you leave Havana early in your Cuban rent a car and contemplate arriving back into Havana at around 7pm. It makes for a non-stressful pleasant day out and, at a total of just 200km roundtrip, including the below mentioned side trips, its very worthwhile.

Pinar del Rio features some sublime ecotourism venues and coastal resorts such as Maria La Gorda and the islands of Cayo Levisa and Cayo Jutia. The first place you´ll get to when arriving from Havana is the agricultural community of Las Terrazas which is 17 km (11 mi) east of Soroa, itself a component of the immense Cuban biosphere reserve established by UNESCO in 1985. Visitors can have lunch or spend a night at the ecological Hotel La Moka also located in Las Terrazas. The name of the area is derived from the terraced forests that were originally carved into the slopes as a coffee plantation; the terraces are now staggered levels making up the farm and hotel workers' living quarters. Tobacco plantations in the area seem to have overtaken coffee as the main agricultural crop.

Coming from Havana, you will reach Las Terrazas and the Hotel Moka first, just over the border in Pinar del Rio Province. After leaving the excellent 4 lane Cuban main highway called the Autopista Nacional. At the well-signposted turnoff at Km 51 you’ll pass through the toll gate 4 km (2½ mi) north and continue into the eco park, which originally was used as coffee plantations by French settlers who came from Haiti at the end of the 18th century. Then, while continuing your journey through the beautiful forests, Soroa can be reached via the mountain road through the nature reserve or by staying on the highway autopista another 29 KM until you get to turnoff Km 80.

We highly recommend taking the KM 51 exit and entering the area through the Hotel Moka roadway even if you will not be staying at La Moka it is worth seeing the hotel with its 200 year old trees growing through its windows and floors. Driving from Las Terrazas to Soroa is then a short 20ish kilometers through some truly sublime countryside.