A Guide to Spending 2 Days in Cuba’s Beautiful Vinales Valley
Disclaimer: The Vinales Valley is a place of truly indescribable beauty. Though my words will not be capable of doing it justice, I’m going to try.
Vinales is a small town in the Pinar del Rio region of Cuba that should be on everyone’s itinerary. When I arrived, I immediately felt at home. Even though there are a lot of tourists, all the locals are like one big family. The cowboys warmly call to each other in the fields, asking one another if they need help. My children found some playmates and were instantly accepted into the community, with every parent keeping watch as the children ran across their path. At night, everyone sits in rocking chairs on porches or terraces and chats. And I never could quite figure out who lived in which house, as everyone was so easy and friendly. Vinales was truly a place to unwind.
The Vinales Valley
Horseback riding through the valley, with the Mogotes surrounding you, you can see what makes Vinales so magical. This was the first Airbnb Experience I have ever booked. We started off in the cool morning, peacefully riding through the valley. As you enter the valley, you will be able to see goats grazing, oxen pulling their plow, and tobacco drying sheds dotting the fields. The experience is not a secret one, and yet nothing detracts from the wonderful view. The horses on our experience looked well cared for and were very calm. It was just another day at the office for them, and they knew exactly where to go.
We arrived at a farm in the middle of the valley, where the farmer took us on a tour. We tried some Cuban rum that was flavored with a type of guava that only grows in the Vinales Valley. The most important crop to this region is the famous Cuban tobacco for cigars. We learned about the entire tobacco process, which includes 4 months of growing, 3 months of drying, and 1 month of fermenting before a cigar can be rolled. Different Cuban cigar brands use different leaves from the plant to get a specific taste, and nothing in the process is wasted. Finally, we learned to roll a cigar and dip the end in honey before smoking. After touring the farm, we swam in an underground spring fed lake and enjoyed a nice Cuban beer, before riding back into town.
Vinales
About 2 KM outside of the center of Vinales is a farm to table restaurant called El Paraiso. From here you can get some of the best views of Vinales. You can wander through the farm and crops before sitting down to your buffet meal. Though this option is more expensive than most food choices in Cuba, the views are worth stopping by for at least a drink. We visited after the lunch crowd, and the farm was so peaceful. There were birds singing, and people calmly watering the crops. If I had to visit again, I would have stayed until sunset to see the sky turn pink.
We also did a bit of knick-knack shopping in Vinales. There is a street close to the center with a small market of wooden crafts. The vendors really wanted my husband’s official MLB Braves hat, as they said it was almost impossible to get a Braves hat in Cuba. After some negotiating, my husband relenting the second hat he had brought with him in exchange for 16 cigars. When he checked the inside and saw the official MLB logo, he started cheering and then all the other vendors started cheering! So if you do go, take some baseball gear with you!
Our time in Vinales may have been short, but it was truly an incredible experience. One I will never forget.
Did this post inspire you to add Vinales to your bucket list? Let me know in the comments. See more photos from the Vinales Valley on Instagram @TheGlobetrottingAccountant!
