Though there are a number of hotels in Viñales, we recommend that visitors stay in one of the charming private guesthouses (casas particulares) that can be found in the village at the heart of the valley.

All accommodation that we offer includes breakfast and is air-conditioned, plus bedrooms come equipped with ensuite bathrooms. The highlight of the casa particular experience is often the owners, who will go out of their way to make you feel at home. Many will offer to make you a traditional home cooked Cuban meal in the evening – simply delicious.

Cuba Direct reserves rooms at the best guesthouses in the area – simply call for details: 1-888-849-CUBA.

Typically, a 1 or 2 nights stay in Viñales is enough to explore the valley and enjoy the most popular activities like exploring the caves, riding the underground rivers and learning about traditional tobacco farming.

Viñales is full of great restaurants but it’s well worth eating at your guesthouse on at least one evening of your stay. For dining out, these are our favorite spots:

Boasting a beautiful hillside location, Finca Agroecologica El Paraiso is a traditional family farm with lovely gardens. The home-cooked food is delicious, portions are large and virtually all of the produce used is locally grown and organic. The owners also offer several vegetarian options.

For the most awesome views in Viñales, as well as great food, we recommend Balcon del Valle restaurant which has tables on wooden balconies built into the hillside. Even if you don’t come to eat, we’d recommend at least popping in for a drink. There’s no need to worry about what table you get, the views are always spectacular.

Hidden away on the edge of a forest outside town, you’ll likely need a car or taxi to find Restaurant La Cueva, but it is well worth it. The food is both cheap and tasty – the ‘Ropa Vieja’ (shredded beef) and the Crayfish come highly recommended.

Viñales is definitely not Havana so don’t expect any big nightclubs! That being said, there are a few nice bars and a couple of atmospheric venues where locals and visitors get together for evenings of live music and dancing.

The most popular of these is the Patio de Polo Montanez located on the central square and part of the cultural centre mentioned above. There is live music almost every night and the venue enjoys a lively and welcoming ambience. Nearby, you can find the smaller Patio del Decimista which can get a bit crowded when a popular band performs.

At both places you should feel free to ask a local to show you some salsa moves, Cubans are generally great dance teachers!

Horse riding and cycling are both popular ways to explore the valley. Your guesthouse owner will be able to help arrange either and it is generally inexpensive. Many of our horse-loving clients have told us that riding through this rural paradise was the highlight of their holiday!!

On the village high street, a few small agencies offer guided walking tours of the valley and Cuban cigar themed tours that include a visit to the fully functioning tobacco factory in the nearby city of Pinar del Rio.

Viñales is one of the best places in Cuba for bird watching. If you are very lucky you may even spot the Cuban Hummingbird; barley the size of a bumble bee, it holds the record for smallest bird in the world.

One of the most popular excursions from Viñales is a day trip to the nearby islands of Cayo Jutias and Cayo Levisa, both home to spectacular beaches. Again, local agencies or your guesthouse owner will be able to arrange these.

In contrast to major cities such as Havana, life in Viñales moves at a languid pace. You’ll spend your days sipping rum with the locals in Central Square, dining traditionally with your local host, exploring the mogotes, museums and caves, horse riding across the valley and learning to hand-roll cigars at tobacco farms.