Milton Hershey's Havana
Milton Hershey's Havana
The City Tours are an EXTERNAL SERVICE recommended by CubaUnique and hired by the client at destination.
Visit Hershey, a magical place located 1h from Havana in the municipality of Santa Cruz del Norte, province of Mayabeque, with the help of a local guide who knows the area and the foundational history of its town.
The town of Hershey has the peculiarity of having produced the sugar used to make the famous Hershey chocolates.
The journey becomes extremely attractive for those who are looking for history, legends, environments and memories. A tour with the attraction of being transported to the town in an old electric train used daily by Cubans and visiting on foot this “ghost town” of peculiar landscapes, its old Sugar Mill and the Hershey Gardens.
More about Hershey
The ruins of the Hershey sugar mill are one of the main attractions of the place, as they become a living memory of a history of which the inhabitants are still proud. Marked by an economic interest, an industrial community was settled here, with a particular culture, a unique architecture in the country, the most prolific sugar industry in the nation, the first electric railroad in Latin America and the only one in Cuba, these being some of the elements that shaped the way of life of the inhabitants of that town.
Hershey offers an unparalleled rural landscape in Cuba, and exceptional architecture that make up this town as the last one created as a model by capitalism in the world. We speak of a place marked by the confluence of cultures, inhabited by Germans, Russians, Austrians, Americans, Hindus, Spaniards, Cubans and Chinese; who arrived looking for stability, economic improvements and the privileges offered by life in this place; as well as others who came to hold a position in the central.
ROUTE
The starting point of our route will be the Casablanca terminal where we will get by car and from where the Hershey electric train departs. The trip takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, being a journey full of experiences, because Cuban people use this as a transport daily, so farmers, hunters, children with their bird cages can be seen, normally here, conforming a very diverse and picturesque environment. Along the way, you can take pictures of these typical Cuban characters in their daily lives. Passengers, thus, form a very heterogeneous group that describes the idiosyncrasy of the people who inhabit the town very well.
Upon arrival we will take a tour around the Hershey Town, a charming place that goes back to its history. Today, it is a "ghost" town, which offers very peculiar urban landscapes. Throughout the tour we will be able to take pictures of their typical houses, the ruins of some buildings, as well as portraits of their settlers, while we will learn the interesting history of the town as explained by the guide. We will know a "batey" from the inside , still showing its original urban structure, with peculiar and beautiful constructions of stone, masonry and wood, with high struts and saddle roofs. The houses are covered with zinc, some with chimneys and beautiful gardens that preserve the attractiveness and character of this small settlement .
We will make a mandatory stop at the wrecks of the sugar mill Camilo Cienfuegos, which originated the "batey". The sugar mill became one of the largest and most efficient in Cuba, today is in ruins.
It highlights the tower and some halls that still have the majesty and relevance that the place had for the beginning of the 20th century. There, we will learn about the history of the factory, the role it played in Hershey's economic development and aboput its founder, Milton Hershey.
Later we will visit the Hershey Gardens, located less than a kilometer from the town, they are a tropical paradise created in the 30s of the last century. There, the Santa Cruz River forms beautiful meanders, before flowing into the coast. It is a very nice place where we can rest and take nature pictures. This natural park has several water springs inside, a natural reserve that was first exploited when the industrial community of Hershey was established. It also has dance halls, children's playground and a swimming area with its ranchón.
To finish the tour we will taste a rich Cuban Creole meal prepared by locals in a restaurant located in the garden ranchón. On the way back we will take the electric train to the Casablanca terminal, then get on the ferry that will cross the Habana bay and take us back to Old Havana
TIPS
During the tour, do not miss to visit:
- Parque las Escaleras de Jaruco: This ideal area for ecotourism and hiking is located 33km away from Hershey.
- Los Arcos de Canasí, a town also called Valle de Picadura. It is located 24km from Hershey, an interesting tourism option for landscape and nature lovers.
- The Puente de Bacunayagua, 32km from Hershey, marks the border between the provinces of Mayabeque and Matanzas. It is the longest and tallest bridge in Cuba, a beautiful viewpoint towards the Yumurí Valley considered one of the wonders of Cuban civil engineering.
LUNCH
For lunch we will stop at a "paladar" where you can taste an excellent traditional Cuban fusion food.
We recommend:
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- Ranchón Los Jardines de Hershey
- Restaurante Los Amigos. Santa Cruz del Norte
- Restaurante Los Marinos. Santa Cruz del Norte
- Peñón del Fraile. Santa Cruz del Norte
CUSTOMIZE
All private field trips and city tours can be modified and adapted to the client's needs.
