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Rolling through tobacco hillsWhen thinking of Cuba, most people automatically think of tobacco... or more precisely, Cuban cigars. The finest tobacco plants can be found growing among the oddly shaped hills of the Pinar del Rio province, in the countryside surrounding the town of Viñales, Cuba. Here, oxen carts plough deep into the fertile red Cuban soil whilst town's people sit back in their rocking chairs and gossip about the latest news.Generally, travellers do day trips from Havana to this area. However, it's better to take your time and enjoy this beautiful part of Cuba without having to hurry back to Havana. That's why this Cuba trip includes two nights' accommodation in an idyllic hotel on the outskirts of town. It also includes an escorted horseback tour (or if you prefer, a guided walking tour). During this Vinales Cuba tour you'll travel through stunning terrain whilst accompanied by your own personal 'cowboy' guide. If you would like to see where you could go after this Vinales Cuba trip check out of other Cuba trips, many of which depart from Havana. We also have a range of longer suggested Cuba holidays. |
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Duration |
3 days - 2 nights, daily |
Accommodation |
Hotel on the outskirts of Vinales. |
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Price |
From £75 per person - based on 2 people |
Includes |
Accommodation with breakfast for 2 nights, guided walk/ horseback ride |
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Transport |
n/a |
Excludes |
Transport, other meals |
Day 1: Arrival in ViñalesHavana is a 2.5-hour scenic drive away from the country town of Vinales. There's very little traffic in this area, which makes the drive past lakes and tropical forests even more enjoyable. During the last part of the drive you'll pass through rolling hills and gentle valleys of this region, until the 'mojotes' will start to pop up.About 4000 people live in the town of Vinales. If you visit one of the local bars in the evening on this first day of your Cuba trip, you'll meet up with a mix of travellers and locals. At the end of the day you'll spend the night in a wooden cabin on the outskirts of town with your own swimming pool for a refreshing dip after a long day. The hotel has a stunning view of the region's landscape. |
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Day 2: Viñales - Horseback riding or hikeHorses are as much a part of Cuba as tobacco is. Suffice to say, a Vinales Cuba tour in this part of the country wouldn't be complete without a horseback ride. That's why this morning you'll either go horseback riding or hiking along local tobacco field paths. The Cuban work horses you'll ride on are very obedient and easy to ride. Our guide will lead you across winding paths through farmland where tobacco is cultivated from October through March.If you take a peek beneath the slanted roofs of local farm houses you'll see tobacco leaves drying in the sunshine. During the tobacco harvest, local barns are filled with tobacco leaves and a local city official comes by to determine how much tobacco is harvested. Farmers sell their secret stashes of tobacco to any travellers that pass their way for a little bit of extra income. You can ask your guide to stop off at one of the tobacco farms you pass by. If someone is home and if it's the right season, you may even be able to roll your own cigar- sure to be a highlight of your Cuba trip. |
| Around lunchtime you'll return to your hotel and you'll have the rest of the day on your Vinales Cuba tour to spend as you wish. We recommend driving to Hotel Jazmines for the panoramic view of the Vinales Valley. You can also choose spend the night here and enjoy the picture-postcard view at any given moment during the day. Once you've visited the scenic view point, you could go on a boat ride on the underground river at Cueva del Indio or you could visit the famous murals representing the evolution of humanity. These murals, known as Mural de la Prehistoria, were commissioned by Fidel Castro in 1960. Of course you could also spend an afternoon by the pool and drive into town in the evening for dinner at a casa. |
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Day 3: Departure from Viñales - End of our Cuba tobacco tourThis Cuba tobacco tour ends after breakfast. Continue travelling with our Las Terrazas Cuba trip or start off with our Trinidad Casa homestay. Alternatively, if you need a beach break on your Cuba holiday, take a peek at our Cayo Levisa accommodation or visit Playa Pesquero Cuba for a castaway Caribbean beach.You can also choose to add an additional night to this Vinales Cuba tour. North of Vinales you'll find deserted, virgin white-sand beaches on the Jutias peninsula. There are no hotels or towns anywhere near the peninsula. |
A peek at your accommodation (Click to enlarge)
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