Caribbean Archives • Purses & Planes

Viñales Day Trip Tour from Havana

by Natalie | Published on Jun 6, 2020 | Last updated Sep 5, 2023 | Blog, Reviews & Recommendations

A Viñales Day Trip Tour from Havana was the perfect solution to a problem I commonly have when planning trips – never enough time!

Originally, we wanted to stay in a Casa Particular in Viñales for a few days, but we just didn’t have the time in our limited seven days in Cuba. We were so happy we found this Airbnb experience that offered a day trip.

Where is Viñales?

Viñales is a town in Western Cuba home to lush fields, tobacco farms, rock climbing, and so much more. Just a couple hours away from bustling Havana, Viñales makes for a perfect day trip to enjoy life at a slower pace!

Why book an Airbnb Experience?

Because most of the tourism is run by the communist government, booking Airbnb experiences is the most direct way to give Cuban people money to support them for their services.

Most Cubans must work government jobs that only pay a monthly average wage of $20-40 USD (a month!) To make ends meet, many Cubans work on the side in the tourism industry.

By booking an Airbnb or Airbnb Experience, your money will go to supporting the Cuban people directly, rather than to a hotel or tourist agency. This rule doesn’t just apply to Cuba, it’s just like shopping locally. Your money goes to the people, rather than larger corporations.

Also, it is way more of an authentic experience!

Now that I’ve briefed you on Cuban geography and politics, let’s get to it!

– Viñales Day Trip Tour from Havana –

Depart from Havana around 8 a.m.

We were picked up in this awesome classic car from Havana around 8-9 a.m.

Honestly, nobody is on time in Cuba, so if you have a tour booked and they are running behind – that is totally normal! Patience is key, as keep in mind internet is not always readily available here.

The 2.5-hour drive to Viñales was really enjoyable. Make sure to bring your passport everywhere with you in Cuba, as cops will often flag you down when you are leaving city limits.

Horseback Riding through Mogotes Valley.

The first stop on our tour was riding beautiful horses through the lush valley.

Anytime I think of engaging in tourism with animals, I always do some research into the specifics of how the animals are treated.

We almost booked a different tour in Viñales before coming across this one, however, there were a number of reviews of how badly the horses were treated. Luckily on this tour, the horses seemed to be very well taken care of.

This photo doesn’t do the views of the valley justice, it was so stunning!

The Art of Cuban Cigars

This was unexpectedly one of my favorite parts of the tour! Smoking a Cuban cigar in Cuba is definitely a bucket list moment worth all the hype. You learn where the tobacco grows, how to roll it, and of course how to smoke it.

Bring cash with you so you can buy cigars and other souvenirs! If you personally don’t want them, they make excellent gifts to give away back home.

Say hello to the little farm animals

After the horseback riding and cigar demonstration, you just get to chill and hang out with the farmers while smoking cigars. It honestly feels like you’re visiting your family’s farm! It was so nice, and all the animals were so adorable.

– Check out my post. 41 photos of Cuba –

Explore the Caves of Viñales

Horseback, cigars, and now caves – oh my! This tour has quite a variety, which always kept things interesting. We enjoyed a nice boat ride through the beautiful caves of Viñales.

Enjoy a late lunch with a view.

On your way back to Havana, you will stop at a delicious restaurant with an incredible view. I ordered the Cuban Ropa Vieja, which is the National Dish of Cuba. It was incredibly delicious!

That concludes a full-day trip Tour to Viñales.

While Havana is a great place to base yourself during your time in Cuba, I highly recommend venturing out beyond.

You can book this Viñales Day Trip Tour on Airbnb here.

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41 Colorful Photos of Cuba To Give You a Virtual Tour of the Country

by Natalie | Published on May 30, 2020 | Last updated Sep 5, 2023 | Blog

This post is all about photos of Cuba.

Cuba’s vibrant colors are what I remember most about my 7-day journey through this stunning country.

From vintage cars that defy the test of time to the rhythmic moves of salsa dancers, we’ve captured so much in this Cuba photo diary.

By the end of this post about photos of Cuba, I can assure you, that you’ll be planning your Cuban vacation!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.

Cuba Travel Essentials

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41 Photos of Cuba

HAVANA

Havana is bursting with color.

Buildings here are like a crayon box on steroids, with every shade imaginable. From pastel pinks to sun-bleached yellows and bold blues. It’s like someone turned the entire city into a work of art.

Havana is a gigantic melting pot of colors and architectural influences from around the world. The styles of buildings that largely make up this city are Colonial, Spanish Baroque, Neoclassicism, and Art Deco.

Some of the architecture in Havana was oh-so colorful and symmetrical, it reminded me of something that would be seen in a Wes Anderson film.

Everyday Struggles for Cubans

Havana’s colors are bright but perhaps it is a distraction for tourists from the everyday struggles of Cubans.

Cuba has undoubtedly had a long history of fighting battles both outside and inside the country.

Most Cubans really struggle to make ends meet as the average monthly wage for a state worker is $20 – $30 ($USD). Many Cubans work constantly, pulling second jobs in the tourist industry working for tips or for private companies.

Old Havana or Vevado?

Havana is divided into two parts; Old Havana and Vevado.

Old Havana is likely what you envision Havana to be – bright colors, cobblestone streets, and those dreamy classic cars. However, with that being said, it’s definitely where all the tourists are. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing!

Vevado is the business district and more urban neighborhood of Havana. Likely, where more authentic Cubans live and spend more of their time. Click here for a more in-depth breakdown by a Cuban of the Havana neighborhoods if you are stuck choosing between the two!

We stayed near Old Havana and I am pretty happy with our decision. Vevado is rather far and spread out and I don’t think we would have gotten the experience we envisioned Havana to be.

The Famous Restaurant in Havana – La Guarida!

I LOVED getting to experience dining at La Guarida.

La Guarida is one of the most famous restaurants in all of Havana. It is known for a filming location in a classic film, Strawberry and Chocolate.

Making reservations weeks in advance is highly recommended. You can check out my full restaurant review of La Guarida, here.

streets of havana — La Guarida Restaurant Havana

La Guarida in Havana Cuba — La Guarida Restaurant Havana

Spend an evening watching the incredible Tropicana show

Tropicana is a classic Cuban MUST! The Tropicana is a world-famous cabaret show dating back to the late 30s.

Some of the tricks performed are jaw-dropping, and it’s an unforgettable experience. Don’t forget to dress up! The recommended dress code is “casual elegance,” meaning women shouldn’t wear shorts and men should wear long pants and a collared shirt.

– Our highlights of Havana were Tropicana and our Free Walking Tour –

After you’ve spent some time exploring the city, consider booking an Airbnb experience to go beyond Havana.

We booked an Airbnb experience that took us on a day trip to stunning Viñales.

The tour was so lovely; we enjoyed the few hour’s journeys in a classic car, horseback riding in the valley, and learned how to make Cuban cigars.

VINALES

Vinales is a slice of paradise tucked away in the Cuban countryside.

Immerse yourself in the land of horses, lush greenery, and tobacco farms.

Why you should book an Airbnb experience

Your money will go to supporting the Cuban people directly, rather than to a hotel or tourist agency (that are often run by the communist government!)

This rule doesn’t just apply to Cuba, it’s just like shopping locally.

Your money goes directly to the people, rather than larger corporations. Also, it is way more of an authentic experience.

This tour was so much fun, that we were completely exhausted when we returned to Havana. Luckily, our next destination in Cuba was a relaxing oceanfront town called Cojimar.

COJIMAR

Cojimar is a small fishing village on the Cuban coast. Filled with colorful boats bobbing in the harbor and salty sea breezes that instantly put you at ease, Cojimar is the perfect place to relax.

If this hidden gem sounds familiar, it’s because it is where Hemingway once lived and was inspired to write, Old Man and the Sea.

This sleepy ocean-front town is located just a 15-minute drive from Havana’s old town.

It’s a total change of pace from bustling Havana, and we were ready for somewhere a bit more low-key.

We stayed in an incredible Airbnb that was right on the water. It was way cheaper and more modern than any of the BNBs located in the city center of Havana.

Honestly, there is not much to do in Cojimar aside from visiting Hemngway’s house.

Unless you are setting it as your home base for your Havana trip, I would only spend two days here max. We filled our time by taking a taxi to Santa Maria Beach, which I highly recommend!