Medicinal Waters and Tourism
Soroa's excellent natural conditions were first praised in the 19th century by those who lived on the premises or visited the place. The apogee in the use of medicinal mineral waters stirred and lured sick people and travelers alike.
The 1842 Outsider Guidebook mentioned the existence of those waters up in the hills of Manantiales, detailing its usage and preference for the zone, as well as its healing properties.
“(…) whose sulfurous waters , where those neighbors take a bath in and people from other places haven drunk with good effects for their rheumatic ailments (…). In 1866, a national publication specialized in these topics, made the following reference: “(…) its waters have the same composition and properties that the well-known waters of San Diego de los Baños (…). At the time, the Soroa family owned the Manantiales Farm.
Once again in 1880, the renowned Soroa spa got some media hype, that time around under very special circumstances. As a result of an earthquake, the head of the Observatory of the Royal College of Bethlehem, Rev. Benito Viñez and mining engineer Pedro Salterain, dropped in on the area to assess the damage caused by the tremble:
(…) To us, that was a real recreational trip with such a pleasant company and the amenity of those places, the shadowy freshness of the mountain range, the force of the environment and the happy chirp of the crystal-clear springs, fountains, creeks, waterfalls, let alone the Manantiales Falls, that provided certain sublimity to the location. In Soroa, we found a regular establishment of sulfurous thermal waters that the owner is trying to further improve with each passing day and that, even though they are a far cry from the waters of San Diego (de los Baños), they offer some comfort and advantages of their own. Their proximity to Candelaria will make them the choice of many neighbors from the vicinity because these waters are suitable for the humble fortunes. Soroa's springs of sulfurous waters are twice as many the ones we saw in the San Francisco River (more to the west) and their waters are a tad hotter. In the main spring, the thermometer registered 29 degrees Celsius (…).
On March 28, 1930, Soroa S.A. Co. bought the land in an effort to build, in a two-year period, a road from the lowlands all the way to the springs. They company also had in mind the building of am facility at the sulfurous water baths, plus a house or motel and a residence for the spa manager.
Between the 1930s and 1940s, the area caught on among families from Havana. These people started buying plots of land to build their own summer getaways. Up in the famous Loma del Fuerte, Antonio Arturo Sanchez Bustamante built a rock-solid mansion in 1940. Seven years later, Tomas Felipe Camacho, a lawyer from the Canary Islands, opened the Pilila Ranch, a superb and unique architectural compound that fitted in the location's topography.
Little by little, resting houses began popping up all over the place. Some of the standouts were the Cloud Castle, now a restaurant serving great Cuban food. Pedro Rodriguez took a fancy at building some kind of medieval mansion atop Loma del Fuerte, a construction that reflects an assortment of architectural styles. From its terrace and window panes, visitors are offered the spectacular view of the northern lowlands that run endlessly beyond the natural skyline and melt into the waters of the Caribbean Sea. The adjoining heights jut out to the north.
Soroa S.A. Co., apparently out of funds to conclude the execution of the original project, made a move on March 5, 1948 and sold the properties to the Balneario Presidencial S.A. partnership, represented by Fernando Avila y Ruiz. Following this turn of events, construction works got a big boost and the development of the residential area got a mighty leg up as well.
Beginning in 1952, the partnership got the support of the corrupt administration of General Fulgencio Batista, a move that allowed for the building of major infrastructure and more tourist facilities. In a bid to ease access to the place, the government ordered the construction of a paved road and power lines were installed. In the heart of a timbered environment, the El Salto restaurant was built and access to the waterfalls of the Manantiales River was guaranteed.
In the morning of October 18, 1959, Cuban President Fidel Castro and Celia Sanchez Manduley paid a visit to the zone. Eight months later, on June 24, 1960, the Soroa Spa was inherited by the people. The projected tourist compound for the Santa Ana Estate, next to the Bayate River and owned by Montañas Occidentales S.A. was equally expropriated. The new National Tourism Industry Institute embarked on completion of 49 cabanas, a cafeteria, an Olympic pool, lockers and stores. The official grand opening of the whole project took place on September 4, 1960.
Today, this two-star lodging features 80 double rooms and ten houses scattered across the marvelous environment of the Loma del Fuerte. All air-conditioned accommodations are equipped with private bathrooms and pay-TV. Seven of the ten houses are outfitted with private pools and butlery service (if requested). The villa has three restaurants, five bars, medical outpost, baths of medicinal mineral waters, massage areas, stores, currency exchange office, national and international calling service and parking lot.
Among the surrounding mountains, el Mogote or Mirador (1,243 feet) is the one everybody knows best. Its major value doesn't rely on its height, but the historic and geological richness. The peak provides eye-popping views of the Sierra del Rosario and the huge northern lowlands of Pinar del Rio.
The most noticeable hydrographic unevenness around is the waterfall over the Manantiales River, now a symbol of this tourist compound and a major source of inspiration for countless novelists, scientists in a number of fields, artists and visitors of all stripes.
The 72-ft-high waterfall and the deposition of calcium carbonate have whipped a humongous rocky layer into shape. In the same breath, it has roofed a small cave that lies right under the waterfall curtain. There are two smaller waterfalls nearby. During the drought season, the watercourse dwindles to a tiny trickle that muscles its way through masses of moss and yellowish lichens that shroud the steep rocky outcrop. However, during springtime the torrent picks up steam all over again, making a thundering noise as it crashes against the rocks below and echoing from a faraway distance.
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