Valle de Los Ingenious (Valley of the Sugar Mills)

East of Trinidad, on the road to Sancti Spiritus, lies the lush Valle de los Ingenios with gorgeous scenery of green sugar cane fields, palms trees, and mountains. The Valley de los Ingenios was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it stretches more than 25 miles between Trinidad and Sancti Spiritus, offering great views to the quaint countryside with castles, old haciendas and slave houses.

Tours of the valley should include a number of key sights. The Mirador de La Loma del Puertos, an elevated lookout, offers the best views of the entire Valle de los Ingenios. The 44-meter high Manaca Iznaga tower is also not to be missed. Visitors can climb the tower for more views, and dine at the restaurant in the house next door. 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 stunning view of the landscape, which also takes in the river, Rio Ay.