Vinales Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Vinales, Pinar del Rio, Cuba)

Tourism is a major component of life in Vinales and the surrounding valley, so you won't have to work too hard to find accommodation, food and amenities for enjoying the outdoors. While the real beauty is simply its lovely rural pace of life and stunning scenery, there are a handful of tourist attractions in the greater valley and throughout the Parque Nacional Vinales. Unfortunately, most of these tend towards being tourist traps.

That being said, you won't want to pass up a tour to one of the valley's tobacco farms. Just be prepared to share the experience with a few dozen other tourists. The Vinales Valley is covered in caves and other natural attractions, offering plenty of options if you like getting out for a bit of exercise. Most visitors, however, are content to stroll the quiet streets of town and sit on their hotel balcony, soaking in the magical views over the valley.

Casa de Caridad Botanical Gardens (El Jardin de Caridad)

Address: Calle Salvador Cisneros, Vinales, Cuba, CU
Don't miss visiting this pleasant little garden at the northern edge of town. El Jardin de Caridad is as quaint as can be, but contains a surprising array of medicinal and ornamental plants, as well as flowers native to this part of Cuba. Expect a huge collection of orchids and lilies, and some more unexpected attractions, such as a 'Little Red Riding Hood' cottage. Although the gardens don't charge anything to get in, donations are accepted and very much appreciated.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 17:00
Admission: free, donations welcomed

Gran Caverna de Santo Tomas

Address: Vinales, Cuba, CU
This is the largest cave system in Cuba, and arguably the best attraction in Vinales. Informative 90-minute guided tours are the best way to experience the 46 km / 29 miles of caves, taking visitors more than 40 metres / 131 feet above the floor of the valley to what's known as the sixth gallery. Here you can marvel at stalagmites and stalactites, underground lakes and massive limestone formations. Thankfully, the Gran Caverna de Santo Tomas has been left in its natural state, and so only your headlamp will light the way.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Mural de la Prehistoria

Address: Carretera a Pinar del Rio, 4 km / 2.5 miles west of Vinales, Cuba, CU
Tel: +53 082 79 6260
Part of the Parque Nacional Vinales, this well-touted attraction on the western outskirts of the town is really more hype than product. The original 120-metre / 394-foot mural on the side of a rock face was painted by Leovigildo González Morillo, along with a team of 15 people, but rather lacks the quality of his mentor, Diego Rivera. Although it has been restored and repainted, most will find that the Mural de la Prehistoria simply fails to inspire.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 19:00
Admission: charge

Cueva del Indio

Address: Carretera de Puerto Esperanza, Vinales, Cuba, CU
Tel: +53 082 79 6280
Of the many caves in the Vinales Valley, this one will appeal to kids the most. Originally inhabited by native Indians, there are petroglyphs on the walls and an underground lake that offers a fun boat ride. However, La Cueva del Indio is also the most popular cave in the area and does feel a bit like a tourist trap. Only 1 km / 0.5 miles of the cave is open to visitors, and when the buses of package tourists arrive it quickly loses any charm it had.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Casa del Verguero

Address: Vinales, Cuba, CU
Tel: +53 082 97 6080
The most popular place to tour an authentic Cuban tobacco farm is this small facility that grows and cures its own tobacco. At the Casa del Verguero you can watch workers de-veining the leaves, sorting the finest leaves for the outer layers of cigars, and then tour the final curing chamber. The local cigar shop, El Estancio, is a standard part of this tour and sells real Cuban cigars at discounted prices. The Casa del Verguero is situated just outside of the town, being reached along the road to Los Jazmines. Between February and May, the curing chamber / drying house (secadero) is filled with curing tobacco leaves.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Outdoor Activities

Address: Vinales, Cuba, CU
It is the outdoor attractions and activities that are the biggest draw in Vinales and the main reason that so many tourists now come to this popular Cuban region. Various hiking trails and climbing routes surround the town and provide a scenic way to explore the countryside, suiting different abilities. For a small charge, visitors can use the spectacular swimming pools at either the Hotel Ermita or the Hotel Los Jazmines. Some local casas organise walking and cycling tours, as well as visits to outlying tobacco plantations and nearby farms.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free