Plizio Visual Lab

Alturas de Bejucal-Madruga

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Relief

Weather…

The Alturas de Bejucal-Madruga is a range of hills in western Cuba, extending through the provinces of Mayabeque and Artemisa. This geological formation consists primarily of limestone and is part of the central Cuban anticlinal system. The relief is characterized by gentle elevations interspersed with fertile valleys where traditional agriculture, especially sugarcane and tobacco cultivation, thrives. The region holds significant hydrogeological importance, serving as a watershed and a key reservoir for the water supply of Havana. Numerous caves and karst features are found throughout the hills, attracting speleologists and researchers. Historically, these heights played a strategic role in the defense and monitoring of the region during the colonial era. Today, the area is well-known for the thermal springs of Madruga, which have been valued for their medicinal properties since the 19th century.

Location: Cuba
Nearby: Melena del Sur (4 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	23	24	25	27	28	29	29	29	29	27	25	24
Rain mm	19	24	17	24	59	86	72	88	85	74	36	23

📋 Practical info

🧭

Getting there

This charmingly interior hilly region is very easily reached via a decent network of local roads and smaller highways directly branching out from Havana, making it highly accessible for swift regional excursions.

📅

Best season

The reliably dry winter months, beautifully stretching from November right through to April, consistently provide handy weather characterized by much lower humidity and pleasantly cooler temperatures for walking.

⛰️

Terrain & paths

Visitors can excitedly expect a remarkably gentle, undulating topography interspersed with pretty agricultural fields and beautiful patches of tropical vegetation, offering relatively wonderfully easy walking conditions.

🎒

What to bring

Light, highly breathable tropical clothing, reliably comfortable walking shoes for occasionally uneven dirt paths, and perfectly adequate sun protection are wholly entirely sufficient for effortlessly navigating these low hills.

🅿️

Parking

Finding a perfectly secure spot to park is usually delightfully straightforward in the various small characterful towns and distinctly rural communities that joyfully dot the hills, providing highly convenient daytime starting points.

⚠️

Safety

This is a famously benign and happily well-populated rural tropical environment with exceptionally very few truly natural hazards; basic standard precautions against the intense midday sun and minor insect bites are generally enough.

⏱️

Time needed

Because of its tremendous proximity to major population centers, fully enjoying the deeply scenic vistas and delightfully rustic rural charm of these gentle hills is typically very easily accomplished entirely within a single leisurely day trip.

Geography

Coordinates

22.80000, -82.10000

Facts

The highest elevation in the range reaches about 250 meters above sea level.
The hills form a prominent natural barrier south of the city of Havana.
Madruga is famous for its medicinal sulfur and iron springs.
Geologically, the formations date back to the Eocene and Miocene epochs.
The region contains significant archaeological sites related to indigenous peoples.
Key telecommunication towers for Western Cuba are situated on these heights.