Viñales is a beautiful and lush valley in Pinar del Río province of Cuba that includes a small town with the same name. It’s a very rural valley about 26 kilometers north of the city of Pinar del Río & 3 hour drive from Havana, and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We did a one-day drive to the valley from Havana on January 13th, 2016. The town of Viñales is said to be Fidel Castro’s favorite place in Cuba. It also is one of the only places where Cubans seem happy. The mountains are beautiful, the farmers grow the best tobacco in the world, and tourists—who come every day by the busload—are allowed to mingle with the Cubans and spread money in a nice even sugar-coating. The area is dotted with small farms (Fincas in Spanish) which all seem to grow some tobacco. On January 13th, 2016 we visited a self sustaining Finca where they served a fantastic lunch with servings of things they grew on the farm. Tobacco Field & Tobacco Flue Curing Barn (where they dry/oxidize the leaves)
Cigar Maker
General Store (with prices on the wall chockboard)
Residence
Vinales Resident
Tobacco Plants gone to seed
A Family Breaks during the long day
This is Cowboy Country