In the surrounding area you will find cultivated lands of tobacco, with scattered farm houses where you can see and learn how the Cubans grow their famous tobacco.
Getting to Vinales
From Havana to Vinales
The Viazul bus leaves Havana at 9:00 and arrives to Vinales at 12:50. A second bus goes from 14:00 to 17:30. Cost: 13 pesos.From Vinales to Havana
The Viazul bus leaves Vinales at 8:00 and arrives to Havana at 11:10. A second bus goes from 14:00 to 17:30. Cost: 13 pesos.From Vinales to Trinidad
There is no direct bus that goes from Vinales to Trinidad. You need to take the bus to Havana and then (on the next day!) take the bus from Havana to Trinidad. A better option is to take a direct taxi from Vinales to Trinidad. Ask around in town and you will find a local with a car that will take you.Vinales
In Vinales' main street you will find all that you need:- Two tourist offices where you can book day tours (one day in advance is needed for most activities).
- A CADECA exchange counter
- motorbike rental office
- Tour bus stop
Vinales Botanical Garden
This is a nice small place in Vinales where they grow many different kinds of plants. The hosts are very nice, and guide you through a path that goes around their house. At the end of the little tour, you will be served with fresh fruits.The entrance to the garden is free, so don't forget to generously tip your guide.
Vinales Nightlife
Vinales nightlife are quite tranquile, with two places to choose from, both are in the the main steet, near the central village squere. Both places have open-air terrace where locals and tourists meet at night to enjoy music (sometimes it's a live music with a local band) and dance salsa.Cover charge is 5 CUC for tourists, free for the locals.
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Casas Particulares in Vinales
Following is a recommended Casa in Vinales. The hosts are friendly, their English is poor, but still we managed. Meals are the best we have had in Cuba. They have two rooms for rent in the same house, which is not common and very comfortable if you are more than two travelers.Villa Yareydis, Oriando Nodarse 12, Vinales. phone: (048) 696817
If you arrive to Vinales but don't have a reservation, don't worry. All casa owners with available rooms in the village wait near the bus station for the Viazul bus to arrive, so you can easily choose a casa that meets your needs.
My advise is to choose a casa that is not on the main road, which can be a little noisy because of the traffic. Look for a casa at one of the side roads near the main street.
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Outside Vinales
Tour Bus
This is a bus that leaves the village every hour, and takes you around Vinales to all the tourist locations mentioned here. You can go on and off as many times as you like, and this is a good and easy way to get from one place to another. Ticket is 5 CUC.Cueva del Indio (Cave of the Indian)
Cueva del Indio is the most visited cave in the valley of Vinales.It is crossed by the San Juan River, and you can take a boat ride and see the cave from the inside.
Nearby, there is another cave, the cave of Juan Miguel. I recommend taking a nice walk in the area and see both caves.
Mural de la Prehistoria
This is a very big painting on a natural wall. It is not that interesting, but you will see it anyway on your way to the caves.Hourse riding
Take a 4-5 hour guided tour into the lands outside of Vinales.
The landscape is beautiful (some say it's the best in Cuba), and you will enjoy the peaceful ride.
The guide will lead you to a tobacco farm, where the farmer will explain and show you
how they grow, pick and then dry the tobacco.
They will even roll a cigar for you so you can smoke it with them.
In addition, you will be served some fruits and
sugar cane juice, that will be squeezed on the spot from the sugar canes that grow at the farm.
Motorbike day trip
Rent a motorbike (You must have a valid driver's licence) for a few hours and drive around Vinales to places that the tour bus do not reach. The landscape of the valley of Vinales is very beautiful, and the few Cubans that you will encounter on the way are friendly.Cayo Jutias
A travel to Cuba must include some Caribbean beaches, this is one option.
40 minutes to the north of Vinales, there is an isolated beach, where you will enjoy the clear water of the Golf of Mexico. Find on the main street a taxi that will take you to the beach and back (The driver will simply wait in his car for you). Entrance to the beach is 5 CUC (for tourists only, of course), but I've also heard of people who were not asked to pay at all.