Have you heard about Viñales? A beautiful fertile valley that is home of the best cigars in the world and possesses exceptional views. If you are travelling to Cuba, you should definitely consider spending a couple of days there. However, if you don’t have much time and you still want to check on something outstanding, why not trying a day trip to Viñales to discover one of the most exceptional UNESCO sites of Cuba.
What are the activities you shouldn’t miss when planning a day excursion to Viñales? Keep reading and learn everything you need to know before you go.
Timing/ departure time
First of all, take into account that Viñales is 2 hours and 45 minutes away from Havana and that you will be on the road for about 5.5 hours in total. Don’t panic! You will enjoy the views and the landscape on your way to Viñales. Besides, it is a very good idea to hire a private guide for your group; those 165 minutes will be a great opportunity for asking as many questions as you like and getting a better understanding about Cuban society and idiosyncrasy.
All this said, leaving Havana as early as possible is a must in order to have more time in the Valley. For early birds 7:00am might be a good idea, but if you are a night owl make an exception the night before and go to bed earlier. Leaving Havana after 8:30am means little time for enjoying the excursion.
What should you visit on a day trip to Viñales?
Mirador Los Jazmines (25min)
When you arrive to the Valley you should first stop at “Mirador Los Jazmines” in order to get a panoramic view of Viñales and appreciate the exceptional Mogotes, 900 feet tall (300m) rounded karst hills over the sea level that only exist in Viñales. The other records of Mogotes are in the territorial waters of Vietnam and Laos. Thus, this is a landscape you will never forget.
The Indian Cave or the Cimarrones Cave (50min)
The second stop of your one day excursion to Viñales should be at the famous caves of the zone. Here you have to make a choice between the Indian Cave or the Cimarrones Cave. The first one offers a very cool boat ride through a river under a thousand year old cave. It will also let you get in touch with the Cuban native culture as the first inhabitants of Viñales used to live inside these caves. The latter will allow you to understand the slavery process in our island and the organization of salves that fled from their masters for having a free life in the mountains.
Owing to the short time you will be in Viñales, you have to make a decision depending on your interests and the availability of the caves. Normally during the high season, the Indian Cave is really demanded. If you happen to arrive there and you see over one hundred people, it is a good idea to take an overview of the location and then go back to the Cimarrones Cave. You don’t want to be stuck in the Inidian Cave for 1.5 hours, do you?
Finca agroecológica El Paraíso (1h15min)
Around 12:00pm or 1:00pm, you should head to the prestigious restaurant Finca Agroecológica El Paraíso, ranking very high on TripAdvisor (previous reservation needed). Why this one and not any other restaurant? First of all, everything you will eat has been grown at their farm. This means that you will enjoy an authentic organic farm-to-table lunch. Besides, this restaurant has one of the most incredible views in the whole Valley and the building where it is located won a restauration award in 2019 for preserving its vernacular architecture for almost one century. Moreover, having lunch there is one of the best ways for experiencing traditional Cuban food from the countryside. On top of that, they offer a free tour around their garden, which becomes a must to understand the organic techniques that were used for growing the vegetables you will eat later… Also, you will get fascinated when trying their unique anti-stress cocktail, a cold beverage made up of medicinal herbs and “Vitamin R”.
Horseback riding and visits to local plantations (2h-3h)
After lunch, we recommend you to dive into the valley horseback riding or otherwise by carriage or on foot (previous reservation needed with a local guide). That is the only way you can really enjoy the unique landscape and beautiful nature of your day trip to Viñales. During this time, you should ask your guide to take you to a tobacco plantation for learning everything about the world of Cuban cigars and interacting with the owners. You will even see how cigars are rolled on the valley and will have the opportunity to try one of the best cigars on Earth.
Moreover, you could visit a coffee and honey farm for learning more details about these products and the traditional agricultural methods that characterize the Valley of Viñales. Most of these farms offer a rum tasting experience with the local beverage “Guayabita del Pinar” made out of a tiny guava that only exists in the Valley. That’s something you should really do if you like rum and want to try something different. Besides, most of these farms have their products for sale. Thus, you can come back home with artisanal honey, coffee, rum and cigars.
- Prehistory Mural (2 hours)
If you have extra time, you should take a look at the Prehistory Mural by the end of your day trip to Viñales. There, you will appreciate a giant painting crafted on one of the Mogotes, which shows the evolution of life in Viñales, from Dinosaurs, to mammals. This place is specially beautiful for enjoying the sunset and a cocktail before embarking on the way back to Havana.
Pricing of a one-day excursion to Viñales
Ok, it looks amazing but, what is the cost of these activities? Well, the final price really depends on the activities you choose, the type of car you need for your group and whether you hire a private guide from Havana. We will provide you with this reference list of independent services so that you have an idea of the cost when planning your trip.
| Activity | Cost | Duration |
| Round trip transportation in an American Classic Car with room for up to 5 people | 150cuc per car | 2h45min each way |
| Ticket to Cueva del Indio | 5 cuc per person | 50 min |
| Lunch at Finca Agroecológica El Paraíso | 15 cuc per person | 1h10min |
| Horseback riding and visits to tobacco and coffee plantations | 30 cuc per person | 3h |
| Ticket to the Prehistory mural + 1 coktail | 3 cuc per person | 30 min |
| Full day guide service from Havana | 100 cuc per guide |
Check here an all inclusive day trip to Viñales with professors from the University of Havana from 165 cuc per person
Summary
A day trip to Viñales will definitely be a one in a life experience that will allow you to enjoy a unique landscape and learn everything you need to know about the world of Cuban cigars. Do you need help for planning your trip to Vinales? Then, just contact us.