Mogotes & Tropical Forests

The mogotes of the Viñales Valley are geological uniques: rounded limestone hills from the Jurassic era, rising like petrified giant turtles from the plain. They were formed when a former limestone plateau eroded into individual hills over millions of years due to tropical erosion. The mogotes contain cave systems, underground rivers, and endemic flora and fauna.

Cuba's forests cover about 31% of the island's area — and are growing thanks to reforestation programs. The main ecosystems:

• Tropical Rainforest: In the east (Sierra de Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa, Alexander von Humboldt National Park). Extremely diverse: over 1,300 plant species, 900 of which are endemic.
• Pine Forests: In the Sierra Maestra and on the Isla de la Juventud.
• Mangroves: On the southern coast, especially in the Ciénaga de Zapata — the largest wetland in the Caribbean.
• Dry Forest: On the southeast coast near Guantánamo — cacti and thorn bushes in an almost desert-like landscape.