Spectacular and winding its way high on the mountainside, La Farola crosses the Sierra del Purial in a dizzying ascent. Located in the east of Cuba, this mythical road links Baracoa to Guantánamo, with breathtaking panoramic views of the ocean and tropical forest.
Constructed in the 1960s, La Farola stands not only as a remarkable engineering achievement but also as a crucial economic resource. Prior to its construction, Baracoa—the inaugural city established by the Spanish in Cuba, located at the easternmost part of the island—was nearly unreachable due to its location wedged between towering mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Despite being completed decades ago, this 54-kilometer stretch featuring numerous twists and turns alongside several suspension bridges still appears to conquer the challenging terrain surrounding it. At times, parts of the roadway cling closely to cliff faces some 600 meters above sea level before descending again through dense primeval forests.
La Farola,
a voyage through mountains, vibrant jungles, and coffee plantations
Starting in
Baracoa
At the easternmost part of the island, as you drive through thick foliage dominated by cocoa trees, banana plants, and royal palm trees, the route starts ascending with tighter curves. Gradually, the dense forest gives way to rugged cliffs. From these natural lookout spots, you can see sweeping vistas of the Caribbean Sea on one side and an expansive sea of verdant greens on the other. The sharp inclines of the Sierra del Purial hold remnants of a once-thriving agricultural history; these areas used to be old coffee plantations.
cafetales
, which bear witness to the time when the region was major centre of coffee production, especially thanks to the French colonists who fled Haiti in the 18
th
Some of these farms are still operational today, cultivating Arabica beans with hints of chocolate, whereas others have transformed into overgrown ruins hidden beneath the forest canopy.
Among the tunnels and suspension bridges, a rendezvous takes place.
cucurucho
sellers
One of the most impressive things to see on La Farola are the suspension bridges and tunnels cut into the rock: these structures, often narrow, force you to slow down and offer a breathtaking view of the horizon between sky and jungle. As you climb, you may see some of the tunnels have been taken over by vegetation, and small makeshift stalls appear at the side of the road. The sellers, often perched on roadside rocks, hail passers-by and offer freshly ground coffee or hand-rolled artisanal cigars for sale. But the local speciality you really need to try is
cucuruchos
: a mixture of coconut, honey, guava and citrus fruit wrapped in a palm leaf. As indulgent as a the sweetest candy and as nourishing as a cereal bar, it’s probably one of the
the finest snacks we have ever experienced in Cuba
!
