Information
Landmark: Cueva de los PortalesCity: Pinar del Rio
Country: Cuba
Continent: North America
Cueva de los Portales, Pinar del Rio, Cuba, North America
Overview
In western Cuba, Cueva de los Portales sits in the rugged Sierra de los Órganos mountains, not far from La Palma in Pinar del Río Province, its limestone walls steeped in both history and natural beauty.This limestone cave draws visitors for its striking beauty and for the history it holds-it once sheltered revolutionary leader Che Guevara during the tense days of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.Just 25 kilometers northeast of Viñales, near La Palma in Pinar del Río, Cueva de los Portales sits in the rugged, protected wilderness of Parque Nacional La Güira.You can get there by car or with a guided tour, winding past sunlit hills before reaching the cool, shadowed entrance.Inside, the cave reveals towering limestone walls, stalactites shimmering like wet stone teeth, and a river that threads quietly through the dark.Beyond its beauty, this was Che Guevara’s headquarters during the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962-a place that still carries the weight of resilience from those tense Cold War days.A visit blends history you can stand inside with nature that takes your breath.Tucked into the lush mountains of the Sierra de los Órganos, Cueva de los Portales once served as Che Guevara’s command post during the Cuban Missile Crisis, its limestone walls and shadowy arches hiding a wooden bed, a worn desk, and a handful of relics from his stay; cool air drifts through the dim interior, carrying the faint sound of the river, while outside, the surrounding forest shelters rare birds and bursts of tropical foliage, all shielded by the cave’s natural camouflage.Cueva de los Portales may have played only a small part in the larger conflict, but its symbolism runs deep; today, visitors can join guided tours led by locals who share stories of its dramatic karst cliffs, Che Guevara’s time there, and the lush forest outside, with parking and basic facilities near the entrance, a modest $3–5 fee, and nearby attractions like the hiking trails of Parque Nacional La Güira, the tobacco fields of Viñales Valley, and the calm Los Portales River, best enjoyed in the dry season with sturdy shoes, a flashlight for the cave’s shadowy corners, and insect repellent for the surrounding woods-making it an ideal stop for anyone drawn to Cuba’s history, natural beauty, and rich cultural heritage.With its sweeping limestone cliffs and rich history, it’s one of Pinar del Río’s most unforgettable sights.
