Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba

The agricultural landscape contains 171 historical coffee plantations spread across seven locations in the southeastern region of Cuba, featuring processing facilities and traditional buildings.

French colonizers established these plantations in the early 19th century after fleeing Haiti, bringing their coffee cultivation knowledge and techniques to Cuban soil.

Each plantation includes a central house with Basque architectural elements, separate quarters for enslaved workers, and specific areas for processing coffee beans.

La Isabelica plantation remains the most accessible site for visitors, offering exhibitions about coffee production methods and the social history of the region.

The coffee drying surfaces, known as secaderos, demonstrate the traditional sun-drying process that was essential for coffee bean preparation in these mountain plantations.

Location: Santiago de Cuba Province

Location: Guantánamo Province

GPS coordinates: 20.03000,-75.39140

Latest update: May 8, 2025 17:23