Overview
Most of the Sierra de los Organos mountains in the Pinar del Rio province in western Cuba is protected under the La Güira National Park.
The massive limestone hills are home to endemic plants and several Cuban endemics.
Birds
Notable Species
This is an easy site for Cuban Solitaire. Olive-capped Warbler and Scaly-naped Pigeon are also found here.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Western Cattle Egret, Turkey Vulture, Gundlach's Hawk, Snail Kite, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, White-crowned Pigeon, Scaly-naped Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Zenaida Dove, White-winged Dove, Common Ground Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Great Lizard Cuckoo, Cuban Pygmy Owl, Antillean Palm Swift, Cuban Emerald, Cuban Trogon, Cuban Tody, West Indian Woodpecker, Cuban Green Woodpecker, Northern Crested Caracara, American Kestrel, Cuban Pewee, Giant Kingbird, Loggerhead Kingbird, La Sagra's Flycatcher, Cave Swallow, Northern Mockingbird, Cuban Solitaire, Red-legged Thrush, House Sparrow, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Palm Warbler, Myrtle Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Olive-capped Warbler, Yellow-headed Warbler, Cuban Oriole, Tawny-shouldered Blackbird, Cuban Blackbird, Greater Antillean Grackle, Cuban Bullfinch, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Western Spindalis, Summer Tanager
Birds
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat and Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat can be seen in the caves of Cueva de los Portales.
Site Information
History and Use
The area is famous for its caves. In some of them Che Guevara had his commando post during the Cuban missile crisis.
Areas of Interest
Cueva de los Portales
An excellent place for Cuban Solitaire. Just walk from the parking spot to the caves and you should hear (and hopefully see) the Solitaires. Scaly-naped Pigeon is common here and Yellow-headed Warbler can be found too. Cave Swallows are nesting in the caves. It's possible to spend the night in the bungalows here but be aware that the area is very popular among Cubans at weekends.
La Güira park and mansion
West of San Diego is the old La Güira Park located. This former private estate is now a public park. Olive-capped Warbler can be seen in pine trees and several New World Warblers winter here.
Access and Facilities
La Güira can be reached in 4 to 5 hours from La Havana. There are hotels in San Diego de los Banos or at Cueva de los Portales. Local guides are available and can be arranged at the hotel or at the caves. Some of the local guides know special spots for Gundlach's Hawk and Giant Kingbird.
