Viñales Valley

Viñales Valley

Located in western Cuba, about 3 hours by taxi from Central Havana is the Viñales Valley. Lonely Planet probably described it best: “The Valle de Viñales is a stunning national park blessed by fertile rust-red soil, layered in chartreuse green expanses of tobacco plantations and studded by precipitous limestone buttresses of rock. It offers Cuba’s very best hiking, climbing, caving and vistas, based around the tranquil farming town of Viñales on the edge of the park. This is Cuba at its most alluring: no wonder it’s the country’s second most visited tourist destination after Havana.”

We arrived during carnival weekend (?) and our taxi couldn’t/wouldn’t try to make it to our accommodations. Fortunately it was less than a half mile after wending our way thru the rides and festival goers. Tip: A carnival is a carnival no matter where you are.

Our particular casa backed to a farm with gorgeous views of the mogotes (limestone cliffs) and thatched buildings.