Cueva de los Portales

Useful Information

Location:	15 km west of San Diego de los Banos, along the road to Viñales and La Palma.
Open:	No restrictions. [2009]
Fee:	free. If there is a guide, a tip is appreciated. [2009]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	bring torch
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As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1800	discovered by an Spaniard.
1947	opened to the public by Manuel Cortina.
OCT-1962	used as a headquarters and dormitory by Ernesto Che Guevara during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1987	declared a Monumento Nacional (National Monument).

Description

Cueva de los Portales is the place where Ernesto Che Guevara set up his staff headquarters and dormitory as commander of the Western Army for 45 days during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The cave is still furnished with some furniture and personal items of Che Guevara. There are tables, an army bed, his office and chess playing place. The cave has been a show cave before he used it, but today it is an underground Che museum and worshipping site.

It is located on the Sierra de la Güira near the abandoned Cabaña Los Pinos. The cave is a huge through cave, little more than a natural bridge, with the Río Caiguanabo flowing through.