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Municipality in Pinar del Río, Cuba
Photo: Ricardusmd, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Viñales is a valley in the Pinar del Río province of Cuba.
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The main street was named after Salvador Cisneros Betancourt, who was a leader in the war of independence (1868-1878) and later was President of Cuba from 1895 to 1897. It has many restaurants that cater to tourists.
In the central plaza, the Casa de la Cultura puts on events every day (or night), including music, fashion shows, and children's events.
Also on the central plaza is an art gallery and the church. On Saturday mornings there is a farmers' market at the plaza.
The small municipal museum is in the former home of independence heroine Adela Azcuy.
The national park covers 150 km². The visitor center offers information, hiking and guides. The visitor center does not have a lot to see, some wall charts with walking routes and a small model of the valley. It is the view that is stunning and from here you can organize your excursions into the valley.
Perhaps the worst tourist attraction in Cuba. In 1961 Fidel Castro visited the beautiful "valley of the two sisters (Valley de Dos Hermanas). He commissioned a cliff to be painted with snails, dinosaurs, and a family of cavepersons, in garish colors! There is a restaurant, bar, and gift shop. The food in the restaurant is reputed to be excellent and the live music is good, and locals say that the piña colada in the bar is the best in Viñales. Also there is horseback riding. So consider visiting the mural and doing something other than looking at the mural. You do not have to pay the entrance fee to see the painted mountain cliff, its visible from the road.
Tiny museum as you walk through a smaller cave (Cueva de San Miguel) showing how slaves hid out in centuries past. There is a restaurant at the back with a slave show, mostly for bus tours. The cave has a disco at the weekends where all the locals go to hang out. Food is also served.
To learn about tobacco farming, visit this tourist-oriented tobacco farm and drying shed. Food is also served.
Explore the valley riding on the back of a horse, which can be arranged by your hotel or casa particular. No experience is necessary. The paths can be quite rough, but the horses are very capable (the locals call them "semi-automatic"). Depending on the amount of time you would like to spend there are several routes that your guide can choose. You will likely explore some of the sights in the area about 2-4 km around Viñales, stop at smaller caves or visit tobacco farms. Put on sunscreen in advance, wear long trousers, and bring plenty of water (although on longer trips you will stop at primitive cafes with amazing views).
There is a bird-watching trail starting at the El Ranchón restaurant near the Cuevas del Indio. You can also take guided tours. Ask at the information office near the central plaza.
Learn how tobacco is produced. Such tours are often included in horse-riding packages.
Zipline totaling 1100 meters across four stages, located 7 km west of downtown Viñales. Next to it is a hilly area featuring a number of wooden statues, a lake and a viewing platform of the valley, which costs a few hundred pesos to enter.
There are day trips to the beaches Cayo Levis, Cayo Jutias and Maria la Gorda. The roads to the northern coast are in very poor condition, so expect a two hour drive to reach your destination.
An easy to visit cave well-developed for tourists, featuring a boat ride through the cave. Nearby is a restaurant, gift shop, etc.
likely the same as Cueva del Palmarito
The cave is only accessible through a trail. It is at the edge of walking distance from Viñales and most visitors come here by bike or horse. You’ll be walked in by a guide until you reach a pool after about 200 m. It’s about 30-m long, you can go swimming inside and the cool water will be a welcome refresh from the hot air outside. The depth of the water varies and there’s rocks reaching up every now and then. The guide has a small light, otherwise the cave is completely dark.
This is the biggest cave in Cuba. Basic tours are two hours and you must hire a guide. Helmets and headlamps are provided, although you might want to bring a more powerful flashlight, if you have one. Also you're required to wear shoes, which is a problem for female Cubans, who seem to own nothing but sandals. The cave is spectacular, especially where the roof has collapsed and you walk into a green jungle paradise sunk into a mountaintop. The cave has 45 km of galleries on eight levels. Also, the town of El Moncada was another of Fidel's ideas, and the streets are laid out to form a C, U, B, and A.
The cave is not exciting at all, but it is great that you can pass through the mountain and continue your hike on the other side.
It has some religious history.
This restaurant serves very delicious dishes on small plates. It is quite famous and visible so it is wise to make a reservation esp. if you want to sit outside.
This calm restaurant is named quite correctly as balcony of the valley. You’re literally seating on a wooden balcony constructed over the hill incline. It offers a spectacular view over the valley and is a great place to watch the sunset. They only serve a set multi-course menu of creolean but nonetheless very good and tasty food.
This state-run restaurant is in an old building. In the evening there may be live music. If you fancy to sit on the balcony, you’ll likely need to reserve ahead of time. The house dish is a paella (CUC10). The other dishes are neither very special nor tasty and plates are small.
Organic farm and restaurant with a spectacular view of the valley and the town. For dinner they only serve a good set menu served simultaneously to all guests, although the excellent cocktails can be enjoyed on the patio earlier (including their signature "anti-stress" cocktail). The set menu is $20, cocktails are $5, juices $2 and rums range from $3-10. Many bus tours make a stop there for dinner, and horseback tours around the valley can also be arranged to end there in time for dinner, so reservations are recommended.
Simple but good Cuban food at one of the most affordable price points in central Viñales. Prices range from 1000 to 3000 CUP, with mojitos costing only 190 CUP.
One of the more popular restaurants and bars in central Viñales, which is also commonly recommended by locals. They serve both Cuban food and Spanish tapas and have an extensive drink list. Prices mostly fall in the 2000-4000 CUP range for food, with cocktails starting at 1000 CUP.
viewpoint
It has a great view on the valleys and offers refreshing fruit juices starting from CUC3.
During the day a restaurant and snack bar serve food and drinks. At night salsa bands play here. Polo Montañez was a singer world-famous in Cuba.
A few blocks down from the plaza, a.k.a. the yellow bar. They also have live salsa music.
The nearby Cueva de Viñales (Cave of Viñales) has a discotheque built into it. You just can not beat a discotheque in a cave—there is another one in Trinidad. Saturday night there is a cabaret espectáculo followed by dancing. Saturday night they host the hottest nightlife in the province — the place is packed, almost all Cubans.
Bar that you can reach by horse or by foot. Has great 360° view of the nature.
This hotel has one of the best views you will ever see. In 1960, Fidel said, "Great view! Build a hotel here." It was one of his good ideas. The rooms are nice. The pool is big and clean. Breakfasts and suppers are good.
Also has an incredible view, especially at sunset.
The only centrally located hotel in Viñales
The house is very nice and welcoming, with all amenities. It has 2 double and triple rooms, spacious, bright, good ventilation, air conditioning and private bathroom in each. The house has a large porch, lounge, kitchen, a terrace exquisitely decorated shack that serves delicious meals and a garage to park your car. Ideal for tourists looking for quiet and rest.
Magnificent home with all amenities, offers 3 bedrooms, double, triple and quadruple, with air conditioning and private bathrooms. It has a terrace with mountain views, porch, 2 dining rooms and parking. The best Creole food served here Viñales. Ideal for large groups.
Wonderful hosts (best mojitos anywhere), great homecooking, a five-minute walk from the town square and bus station.
It offers one comfortable and clean room with all modern facilities. The room is equipped with an air conditioner, private bathroom and private entrance. It’s possible have breakfast, dinner and salsa lesson with professional teacher.
In a quiet little hamlet a few kilometers from the centre of Viñales in Los Jazmines. Felicia, José Luis and Nancy are wonderful hosts who enjoy sharing their culture with guests. Here you will be able to enjoy delicious home-cooked Cuban meals made with organic ingredients, many of which are grown in their own backyard. At breakfast you will try fruits picked fresh from the property: papaya, plantains, mangoes, limes, guava, mandarines, mamey, oranges and chirimoya. If you arrive at the right time, you might even be lucky enough to try the honey José Luis collects from the nearby honeycombs.
Very quiet place view amazing view of the nature. Jesus has a garden with bananas, mango, avocado, etc. Simple room with air conditioning.
Two rooms on the upper floor with two beds each. Air conditioning and wifi work when there is electricity, and they have a generator for when the grid goes down. Both Daya and Yoan speak good English, and Yoan can take you on excursions around the region.
Campismos were built by the government for Cubans to go on vacations. This is not a campsite and it is not clear that they will take non-Cuban guests. This campismo has 54 basic cabins, a restaurant and a big swimming pool, although the water is remarkably green.
Two banks next to each other. One has an ATM that’s out of order most of the time. Both allow cash withdrawals with credit card, and often have long queues of foreigners.
Currency exchange office. Can also do cash withdrawals, but their credit card terminal often breaks. Expect about 30 min of queuing time.
This is the only convenience store or supermarket in town, but it’s rarely fully stocked. Especially goods like large water bottles run out quickly and you’ll be forced to pay inflated prices for the small bottles here or at restaurants. Larger supermarkets can be found in Pinal del Rio.
Here you can sometimes buy bread. The small rolls are only given to Cubans with the libreta. Larger bread is sometimes available for foreigners as well.
Here you can buy a cheap and fresh bananas, papaya (fruta bomba) or pineapple (piña).
By colectivo
You will likely be offered a colectivo already at the Havana bus station. They run to Viñales for $20 USD per person (as of December 2025).
By bus
Other sights such as the Santo Tomás cave are further away and out of walking distance.
By bicycle
This is another good way to see the valley up close.
By motorbike
You can rent a motorbike (a scooter) for about CUC20 per day and ride it either to Cayo Jutias or to Cayo Levisa. The road is magnificent and you may even enjoy it more than the beaches.
Other
You can also hire a taxi or join an organized tour.
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