The ‘soul of Cuba’, as this central region is often called, is accessed via a good six lane motorway running along the backbone of the island to just beyond Sancti Spiritus. Here another main road, the Carretera Central, continues to Santiago de Cuba in the east, giving plenty of opportunity to see the many authentic sights of the region. It is characterized by rolling landscapes, typical thatched huts (‘bohios’), ox-drawn ploughs, dramatic mountains, and picturesque colonial towns, which are home to many architectural reminders of Cuba’s rich past. Central Cuba can be reached from Havana, Varadero or Eastern Cuba.