Viñales, Cuba

Experience the picturesque town of Viñales and the surrounding nature on your way through western Cuba

Viñales, Cuba
© Janna Johns-Friedman

The picturesque Viñales, located within the Parque Nacional de Viñales (Viñales National Park), is for many one of the most fascinating places in all of Cuba.

The town has architectural evidence of the colonial era that adds to the environmental values that make Viñales a place of great beauty, so it is not surprising that it has been declared a National Monument in 1979.

Here the atmosphere is very welcoming, peaceful, and ideal for enjoying a few days of relaxation and reflection in contact with nature, with many options for outdoor activities, such as climbing, horseback riding, etc.

Page index:

What are the best plans to make in Viñales?
What are the best things to see in Viñales?
What are the best excursions from Viñales, Cuba?
How to get to Viñales, Cuba?
Where to stay in Viñales?

The Best Plans to Make in Viñales

Viñales
© Robin Thom

Viñales is full of nature and beautiful landscapes. The Parque Nacional de Viñales (Viñales National Park) or Valle de Viñales has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where you can find incredible places and live unforgettable experiences such as: the Mirador de los Jazmines Jazmines Viewpoint, from there you can see the immense natural landscape with a beautiful mix of different colors and smells that make this area so special. You can get to this viewpoint by taxi, bus, bicycle or on foot.

Mural de la Prehistoria de Viñales
© Francis Larrede

A visit to the Mural de la Prehistoria (Prehistoric Mural) is an incomparable way of getting closer to the art of the inhabitants of Viñales. You will fall in love with this enormous mural painting, full of brightly coloured figures in the famous Pita mogote.

Viñales has several cave systems that you can visit: The Cueva del Indio (Indio Cave), a space that will remain engraved in your memory thanks to its underground rivers such as the Río San Vicente(San Vicente River), which you will be able to visit by boat, and the geological formations with different shapes; the Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás, (Great Cavern of St. Thomas). It is 46 km long and is the largest on the island, where you will find bats hanging from the walls and large underground rivers that will surprise you; Palenque de los Cimarrones, a museum dedicated to the passage of escaped slaves who built their own societies in western Cuba.

Also, apart from these caves, another place that everyone should visit if they travel to Viñales is Los Acuáticos, located in the Sierra del Infierno, a quiet village with a natural lookout point perfect for seeing the incredible views of the park.

The Best Things to See in Viñales

Calle de Viñales
© Guillermo Seijo

Viñales is a humble municipality with a population generally living in colorful, colonial-influenced, ground-floor houses, mostly built by the owners, which will transport you to one of the most authentic rural settings in Cuba.

Here you can visit some museums, such as the Museo Paleontológico (Paleontological Museum) or the Municipal Museum; find tropical varieties of flowers and native and foreign trees in the Museo Paleontológico (Botanical Garden) where, with luck, you will see some curious visitors such as hummingbirds, parrots or other birds of the region. You can also admire a 19th century temple with great social roots, such as the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón(Church of the Sacred Heart).

Tobacco plantations in Viñales
© Seonsalaisuus

In Viñales, apart from its landscape, it is also renowned for its tobacco production and handicrafts, so you should not miss it. Visiting one of its many tobacco plantations such as the Casa del Veguero, where you can see the process of tobacco production and how the famous Cuban cigars are made; the handicraft market that is set up every day in Calle Joaquin Perez, a magnificent spot to find some Cuban artwork and handmade objects such as belts, hats, bracelets... , the ideal place to take home the perfect souvenir from your trip to Cuba.

The Best Excursions from Viñales

The most famous excursion is to Parque Nacional de Viñales (Viñales National Park). You can do it in different ways: on horseback, in a private transfer, by hiking or by bike. If you choose this option, you will be able to get to know the fauna and flora of the place more closely, as well as see the many tobacco plantations.

Cayo Jutías
© ARNAUD_Z_VOYAGE

Another outstanding excursion is to nearby Cayo Jutias, a paradise of turquoise waters and fine white sand. It owes its name to a friendly rodent typical of the Caribbean. It is an ideal place if you like to practice snorkeling or make a route in a kayak.

To get to Cayo Levisa you will have to make a short trip by ferry. It's the ideal place if you want to rest, enjoying the tranquility offered by its incredible virgin sand beaches. Not only that, but you will be surrounded by a wonderful tropical nature, the butterflies, palms, jutias or the trogon will be your only companions during a truly exceptional day.

Maria la Gorda stands out because of its beauty and the great amount of coral reefs it has, which you will be able to see closely if you are a diving lover. Something very interesting about this beach is its name, which comes from a legend of pirates who abandoned a beautiful young woman in this area. In order to survive, she took advantage of the fact that it was a stopover for buccaneers and organized a business that, in time, was called Maria la Gorda.

How to Get to Viñales Cuba?

Due to its geographical location Viñales is an ideal place to visit on your arrival in Cuba. Its proximity to Havana makes it an ideal excursion before discovering other areas of the island. You can get there in a private or collective transfer.

The best option to visit Viñales for a day trip from Havana. However, if you want to know more in depth all that Viñales has to offer, its valley and nearby treasures such as Cayo Jutias, Cayo Levisa or Maria la Gorda, the best option is to spend one or two nights in the area.

The best option to visit Viñales is with a day trip from Havana. These excursions include visits to the most important places in this area such as the Mirador de los Jazmines (Jazmines Outlook), the Mural de la Prehistoria (Prehistoric Mural), the Cueva del Indio (Indio Cave) or the tobacco plantations, although if you want to know more in depth all that Viñales has to offer, its valley and nearby treasures such as Cayo Jutias, Cayo Levisa or Maria la Gorda, the best advice is to spend one or two nights in the area

Where to Stay in Viñales?

If you want to enjoy a unique experience you can stay in a casa particular (private house), this will allow you to get closer to local life and see how Cubans in this municipality really live. You will be able to rest on the charming porches and taste the homemade food that the owners sometimes offer.

Although there are also some hotels in the area such as the Hotel Central Viñales, the hotel La Ermita, el hostal Mis Cumbres, Casa Yakelin o el Campesino Yuri y Nino.

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