Though it’s just 90 miles from Key West, the idyllic island known for its beautiful sunsets, Cuba has long remained off most American travelers’ radar. This is mainly due to a number of travel restrictions put in place by the U.S. government back in the 1960s. However, the lack of American tourists hasn’t stopped Cuba from opening its doors to different nationalities, and for decades now, Europeans, Canadians, and others have flocked to the Caribbean’s largest island to soak up Havana’s colonial splendor, as well as to stay warm in the winter on some of these underrated beaches.
Due to the loosening of regulations, these days it’s more than possible for U.S. passport holders to visit Cuba. While many choose to follow in the footsteps of other travelers and wander the cobblestone streets of the capital and relax on one of the country’s many stretches of white sand, the lush valleys of Viñales — a production center for Cuba’s iconic cigars — also begs for exploration.
While usually recommending off-the-beaten-path spots in Europe, travel guru Rick Steves raves about this region of Cuba, saying on his website, “A highlight of any trip to Cuba is a horse ride in Viñales, which includes breathtaking scenery and visits to a tobacco farm and a coffee plantation.”
Explore Cuba’s rural heartland on horseback
Situated on the Western side of the island, some three hours from Havana, Viñales is a lovely little settlement surrounded by gorgeous valleys. The town itself is known for its colorful, colonial-influenced one-story homes, while the scenic area around it has been declared both a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is an arresting landscape of green fields, palm trees, mountains, and rounded limestone hills — known as mogotes — that rise dramatically from the earth.
The area is best explored on horseback, which is the traditional mode of transportation in this largely rural corner of the country. One popular excursion takes you through the Valley of Palmarito, which includes a farm-to-table lunch, locally-produced honey and coffee, along with plenty of rum. There are also hidden lakes in caves where you can cool off with a refreshing swim.
The highlight of the trip is a stop at a tobacco farm, where you’ll witness firsthand just how Cuba’s most famous export is grown and made. You don’t even have to be a cigar aficionado to appreciate the skill and tradition that goes behind making a proper Cubano. However, if you do like to puff on a well-made stogie, there are opportunities to purchase some on the spot, with all of the proceeds going straight to the farmers who create these aromatic works of art.
Other things to do in Viñales
