Villa Santo Domingo : Sierra Maestra Mountains

Villa Santa Domingo is a simple and authentic Cuban mountain hotel nestling in the majestic Sierra Maestra mountain range in Granma province in the south east of Cuba.

The small hotel blends easily into the very picturesque surroundings and stands on the banks of the River Yara which runs down the small valley from the mountains behind. The hotel is perfectly placed for those avid adventurers who wish to enjoy a testing trek to Pico Turquino, Cuba’s highest peak. For those that wish to visit the secret mountain camp of Fidel Castro and the Revolutionaries, hidden away deep in the sub tropical forests the hotel also serves as a great base. Other trails take you along the river where its possible to swim in the natural river pools.

Located in a tiny  hamlet where horses and donkeys are the main source of transport and life ticks by in a very relaxed manner, Villa Santo Domingo offers a small selection of very basic standard rooms, with a simple bathroom and fan for cooling the room. There are also 20 slightly upgraded bungalow rooms offering more comfort and a small balcony. The hotel also has a small cosy bar, a simple grill/ restaurant,  patio and a small selection of  sun loungers.

Depending on the season, at times the hotel can be very busy with trekking groups heading up Pico Turquino whereas at other times the hotel can be virtually empty as its pretty remote here.  At quiet times its possible to spot wildlife who wander through the gardens as well as an abundance of bird species.

Its a hotel where time metaphorically stands still and visitors will appreciate and embrace the real  mountain communities in Cuba, many of whom have never left the local valley, let alone visited nearby Santiago De Cuba and as for Havana, thats a world away