Cuba: Fauna of the Sierra Maestra Mountains
We head to explore the Sierra Maestra Mountains inland from Santiago. It’s a rough 4WD ride to get to our first destination – Jardín Botánico Gran Piedra. The botanical garden covers around 40 hectares and was established in 1986. It sits at an elevation of about 1,225 m (4,019 f) above sea level with panoramic views of the mountain range. The place has a cast collection of flora, including tropical plants, orchids, palms, and ferns. In fact, a lot of tropical flowers blooming here are supplied to flower shops down in Santiago de Cuba. The garden features over 700 species of plants, including some endangered and endemic to Cuba.