new Vinales Tours & Pinar del Rio

Pinar del Rio

Introduction
A sleepy provincial town. Some say it's worth a visit, others don't like it and choose the village Vinales for it's nice setting in the valley.

Getting there and away

To/From Havana
- Viazulbus service : It's a intermediate stop on the line Havana-Vinales-Havana. For more info see general info 1 (link to viazulwebsite)
- by car : good connection by the Autopista nacional.
- official taxi (10 US$ per pp. for 3)
- by train: connections to Havana

Accommodation

apto. 4, 2nd floor. Two rooms (15 US$ each) with AC. Very good food : dinner (5 US$), breakfast (2 S$) Quiet place in the middle of the city centre, they speak English, nice big terrazzo. (5/99)

Eloina Arteaga Gonzalez, Isabel Rubio 14 entre Marti y Adela Ascuyz,

Restaurants/Paladares

No recommendations yet

What to do

Cigar factory (Francisco Donatien) : you see workers making cigars and there is of course a shop to buy some (entrance 5 US$).

Rum factory (Casa Garay) : the distillation and bottling of guayabita, a rum made from the fruit guava and .......a shop to taste and buy the rum.

Museo de Tabaco

Vinales

Introduction
The valley of Vinales is the prettiest natural area of Cuba. It’s a hot spot for the nature-lover. You can visit caves, bike around the mogotes and learn more about the tobacco-agriculture. The small village Vinales has a colonial architecture and is the starting point to do the excursions.

Getting there and away

To/from Pinar del Rio (27 km from Vinales) :
- Taking a taxi (4 US$, 5/99) or renting a car in Pinar del Rio
- Viazulbusservice : It's a intermediate stop on the line Havana-Vinales-Havana. For more info see general info 1 (link to viazulwebsite)

To/from Havana :
- A taxi over the North route to Havana (over La Palma and Bahia Honda) will cost 60 US$ and will take 4 hours. It's a slow drive through small villages, but worth it for the nice scenery. (5/99,).
- Viazul bus : Daily departures from Havana City at 09:00 and arriving to Viñales at 12:15 hrs with a daily return from Viñales at 13.30 hrs and arriving to Havana City at 16:45 hrs. Duration of the trip: 3,15 hrs. Intermediate stop: Pinar del Río. For more info see general info 1 (link to viazulwebsite)

Accommodation

Senora Nena, Calle C.Cienfuegos nr 56, Vinales. Two rooms (15 US$ each) with private bathroom. They have no fan or AC. Meal service is possible (about 4 US$) (4/99).

Mario Arteaga Gonzales, Salvador Cisneros Interior, Edificio Colonial no 1 apto. 9. it is held by an older couple, they have 1 room on the 3rd floor with shared bathroom. It's very quiet, and they charge 10 US$ for a double, 3 US$ for breakfast and 6 US$ for dinner. food is good (5/99)(Jacky Cillen).

(El Moro) Mario Arteaga Gonzalez ,Salvador Cisneros Interior , Edificio Colonial N° 1 Apt

o 9 Appartment behind the hospital and close to the Viazulbus-meeting point and the towncentre. One room with two double beds (15 US$ for two persons), no towels available. A small, clean shower with hot water. Terrace with rocking-chairs. Breakfast (3 US$), dinner (6 US$). (april 2000)

Rent a room villa 'El Panchon', Gladys Acosta Calzadilla, Joaquin Pérez Street No. 27 Vinñales, P. del Rio, Cuba, c.p. 22400 - two minutes from central street. Facilities: Private bathroom, food and beverage service, special weekly rates, friendly people, Costs: $15 per night website: www.geocities.com/villaelpanchon/   (2001)

Restaurants/Paladares

Two recommended places are :
- Restaurant "Casa de Don Tomas", situated on the main street. It’s a blue colonial house with two covered terraces where you can eat. One in the front and one at the back of the house.

- Restaurant "Valle-bar" , situated on the main street. Good atmosphere and food. Sometimes live Cuban music.

What to do in and around Vinales

Cueva de Vinales : A discotheque in a cave (only open at night). One report said this was a real tourist trap charging 5 US$ entrance fee including 1 drink (5/99).

Cueva del Indio : A small cave which can be visited by boat. The trip takes +/- 15 minutes. At the end of the cave is a waterfall and a restaurant. Entrance : 3 US$. 6 Km from the village-centre. Not a big deal !

Cueva Cabaret : Lies on the same road as Cueva del Indio but closer to Vinales. No entrance fee.

El mural de la Prehistoria : It’s an 180m long artpainting on the side of a mogote. The surroundings are much more interesting then the painting itself. There is a bar/restaurant. About 2 km from the center.

Mogotes : The landscape has a lot of mogotes, green limestone hills. It’s a good area for biking. Ask your Casa if they have bikes.

Tobacco : The whole valley is one of the main tobacco-producing areas of Cuba. You can visit farmerhouses, tobaccofields, casas de tabacco where they dry the leaves etc.

Tip : El senor Bruno (everybody knows him in Vinales) is a friendly and warm disabled person who can explain you with enthusiasm the whole process of making the real 'purros'.

Hotel los Jasmines (4 km from Vinales) : This is the main viewpoint of Vinales where you have an excellent sight on the landscape with his mongotes.

Hotel La Ermita : The closest hotel to Vinales. It has a swimmingpool, bar and restuarant. Good viewpoint on the village and surroundings.

Acuaticos Indians : They are living in de mountains isolated from the rest of the world. No tap water, no electricity, grow their own food and cattle. Only ones in a week a teacher from Vinales visit this minority to educate the children.

Cayo Jutia : A very beautiful and isolated beach. The entrance is 2 US$. You can hire diving-equipement at Gaviota for a whole day (35 US$). A taxi from Vinales to the beach is aroun 50 US$.

Go on to Habana

For questions on Cuba send an e-mail to Steven Buvens.

Article Comments:

03/04/2006
Regis (1)
I just got back from Vinales, where I stayed at a casa particular "Villa Cristal" (http://villacristal.netfirms.com/). The homeowners, Any & Francisco, are wonderful hosts - very helpful on what to see, making connections, etc. Any's cooking is fabulous and the hospitality superb. The scenery is breath-taking and if you're into hiking or rock-climbing, this is your place. Horseback riding and tours available. Highly recommended!

03/02/2006
TERRENCE (4)
YES! I WAS IN P.DEL RIO IN JANUARY, 2006 AND VISITED AGUAS CLARAS. WE HAD A BEER FROM THE BAR AND WERE TOLD MY CUBAN FRIENDS COULD STAY AN ENJOY THE POOL AND EVERYTHING ELCE BUT COULD NOT GO TO MY CABIN IF I RENTED ONE. MAYBE I WILL STAY THERE IN APRIL WHEN I GO BACK THERE.