9 Amazing Day Trips From Vinales Valley, Cuba, From A Local (2024)
Vinales Valley has a lot more to offer than just the famous tobacco plantations, so staying a few days and making day trips from Vinales will show you a lot of this amazing part of Cuba!
Many travelers opt for a day trip from Havana to Vinales, and this tour is also very interesting with a lot of adventures gathered in one day. However!
I have visited Vinales many times over several years and explored caves, tobacco farms, rum, honey, mogotes, horseback riding, and, not least, the short-traveled organic food. There is a lot to see and do.
To help you decide on your best option, I have gathered the top 9 tours in Vinales to show you the variety of experiences you can have here. I am pretty sure you will find more than one that ignites a spark and maybe decide to stay for a while longer.
Why Day Tours In Vinales?
Vinales is one of the most fertile, green, and lush areas on the entire island. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site protection list and is just a bit more than a three hour drive from Havana.
Day trips from and in Vinales will take you through Cuba’s extremely fertile and unique scenery, the land of the mogotes, in a variety of ways.
1. Vinales Sunset Hike
Vinales Sunset Hike is a tour in Vinales rated 10 out of 10, and I can tell you firsthand that the sunset over Vinales Valley, west of Havana, is spectacular.
- Duration: 4 hours
- Languages: English and Spanish
In the late afternoon, you will trek through the unique, green landscape of the Vinales Valley into the Valle del Silencio, or “Valley of Silence.” This is part of Vinales National Park in Cuba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed area.
Marvle at the green fields, jungle, limestone karsts (green sugar top hills) known as “mogotes,” and natural caves on your way. You will also see coffee and tobacco plantations, as Vinales is the “heart” of Cuban cigar and tobacco production.
On this tour, you will be able to “support the Cuban people” by buying local products, such as tobacco, coffee, honey, rum, and fruit, directly from the farmers.
The trek is not difficult but be prepared that the summers in Cuba, including Vinales, can have high temperatures and humidity. When you make it to the hilltop, you will be rewarded with the best valley views just in time for the spectacular sunset!
2. Vinales Zip Line Tour
The Vinales Zip Line Tour will start off at the zip-line park in El Fortรญn, a park that has up to four zip lines in its circuit, so you can try them all!
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Language: English (sometimes also Spanish)
First, you will go through safety rules and get into helmets and harnesses before you get to fly over the super green Viรฑales Valley. The park has 8 suspended platforms over a distance of 1 kilometer, and the longest zip line is over 400 meters (1312 feet).
Just sit back in your harness and enjoy the stunning landscape of Viรฑales and El Fortin from a higher perspective (if the adrenaline is not too much for you)!
When you are safely back on the ground, you will be returned to the pick-up point in Vinales after an airy day.
3. Sunrise Hike In The Sierra Del Infierno
I loved this epic experience in Vinales, the Sunrise Hike In Sierra del Infierno. For this tour, you will meet in the center of Vinales and drive for about 15 minutes to the base of Sierra del Infierno to start the hike.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Language:
Ascending, you will learn about the diverse flora and fauna characteristic this part of Cuba. You will have several stops along the route to take in the spectacular sunrise against the backdrop of Viรฑales’ mogotes.
One of the stops is at the Los Acuรกticos community, where you will also learn about this particular culture and traditions, one of which is the worship water for its healing properties.
Finally, you will reach the mountain range’s summit, where the views are spectacular, especially during the magic sunrise over Vinales!
Also read: 6 Top Rated Tours In Trinidad Cuba
4. Vinales Valley Private Classic Car Tour
You will meet your classic American ride at a meeting point in Viรฑales for the Vinales Valley Private Classic Car Tour and start the day off in style!
- Duration: 3,5 hours
- Language: English
As this is a private tour, so you can talk to the driver about tailoring the route, but I recommend that you listen to his recommendations to experience the most beautiful and impressive parts of Vinales.
Having visited multiple times, I recommend you see the Cueva del Indio, the Mural of Prehistory (one of the largest open-air frescoes on the planet), the Botanical Garden, the Palenque de los Cimarrones, or the Paraiso Estate.
Also, see the stunning viewpoints of Los Jazmines (there is also a hotel there) and Cuajani, as well as a stop at one of the tobacco farms unless you also do a specific tobacco tour.
This is a great and very comfy tour to see the highlights of Vinales, and you will be dropped off at the pick-up point at the end of your tour.
5. Cueva Del Silencio Hike
Starting on the Cueva del Silencio Hike, you will meet in front of the Vinales Church and head out along the Palmarito trail through the lush, green Vinales Valley.
- Duration: 5 hours
- Language: English
You will start hiking among the mogotes and the extensive tobacco and coffee plantations. You will stop to see how tobacco leaves are dried and how the famous cigars are made, and if you are up for it, you can test one!
When you arrive at the Cueva del Silencio or the “Cave of Silence,” you will descend to almost 328 feet (100 meters) until you arrive at a lagoon between the rock walls.
You will have half an hour exploring the deep, dark cave, before heading back into daylight to go to a nearby lake to go for a swim.
You’ll have time here to chill in the beautiful scenery before you head out for lunch, and then transport will take you back to the pick-up point.
6. Vinales Tabacco Tour
The Vinales Tabacco Tour starts in the center of Vinales, where you start the day off with a guided tour of Vinales before you head out into the green valley.
- Duration: 1 hour
- Language: English, Spanish, and French
You will see the amazing old-fashioned run farms in Vinales growing not just tobacco but also corn, rice, beans, yukka (a root vegetable that is delicious fried), and coffee. The farms also often produce their own honey (great with a cigar!), and rum!
You will stop at a local farmer’s plantation to learn about the tobacco fields, the cultivation process, and the art of hand-rolling Cuban cigars.
You will also see how the tobacco leaves are dried before they become cigars, and be invited to taste the sweet, strong local coffee, maybe a taste of rum, and a puff of a cigar (and yes, you should try them with honey, which gives them a super sweet taste!).
You will be dropped off at the pick-up point at the end of the tour.
7. Vinales Horse Riding Tour
You will meet your guide at a pick-up point before you head over to meet the horses for this Vinales Horse Riding Tour, an amazing experience and a great way to explore slowly around the valley. I loved this tour!
- Duration: 4 hours
- Language: English and Spanish
You will start riding through the Viรฑales National Park before you make your way into the Valle del Silencio, which means “Valley of Silence,” where you suddenly find yourself in the middle of one of the most beautiful areas in Viรฑales – if not Cuba!
On this tour, you will also stop at a tobacco plantation and learn about the drying process and rolling of cigars, and, of course, try one!
Explore the valley’s coffee and honey farms, too, learning the local secrets of their production. Moreover, you’ll hear about Guayabita del Pinar rum, one of the region’s most popular alcoholic beverages.
You’ll also stop at a local shop, where you can legally purchase some of these if you like them. The last stop of the day is a viewpoint with uninterrupted views of both valleys before you slowly head back to town.
8. Vinales Valley Bike Tour
You will start this tour from Calle Orlando Nodarse street where you get your bikes and set off on the Vinales Valley Bike Tour.
- Duration: 4 hours
- Language: English
The route starts by ascending to the Mirador de los Jazmines lookout point for a breather and enjoying the vast views of the valley.
Then, you keep going to the Cueva del Indio, a cave inhabited by indigenous peoples centuries ago where you will descend into the darkness through a narrow path, to experience formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
Once below ground, you will walk along the cave hall and take a boat trip on the underground river to admire the spectacular ceilings before you exit the cave by boat into the bright sunlight!
Then you will head to a tobacco farm to learn about fermentation and careful selection of the tobacco leaves that are used to make Habanos, the most prestigious cigars in the world!
On your way back to Vinales town, you will also stop at the impressive Mural of Prehistory (which was actually painted in the 50s) while having a fresh cocktail made from local rum.
9. Vinales Valley Horse Carriage Ride
You will start the beautiful Vinales Valley Horse Carriage Ride from the center of town.
- Duration: 3,5 hours
- Language: Spanish
Safely seated in the carriage, you will head for a zip-line area for an airy overview of the valley (and you can also combine this with actually doing a zip-line ride!).
Then you will continue into the Viรฑales Valley National Park, to learn about how farmers work here, and the traditional farming techniques still used in this region.
Then you will ride on to another viewpoint before continue to Finca El Renacimiento (finca means farm), where we’ll learn about cultivating Cuban tobacco, coffee, and honey.
Included in the tour is also a traditional lunch before you continue to the last stop, the Mural of Prehistory also on this tour.
After three and a half hours, we’ll say goodbye at the meeting point.
Other Things To Do In Vinales
- Day Trip To Cayo Jutia
- Rock climbing on (and inside) the mogotes
- Swimming in submerged lakes in the mogotes
- Have dinner in one of the amazing restaurants in Vinales Town
- Go hiking on the valley floor or to the mogotes
- Explore Vinales Town on your own
- Take a salsa class at the culture center (I did this, and that was a lot of fun!)
Vinales Cuba Map
FAQs Vinales Valley Tours
How Many Days Do You Need In Vinales?
You can see a lot in Vinales if you do a (long) day tour from Havana, but that will be the highlights.
If you want to explore the area, nature, mogotes, oasis in the mountains, the caves, and everything – should consider 3-4 days.
Is It Worth Going To Vinales Cuba?
I will say yes! In my opinion, Vinales Valley and the tiny Vinales town is one of the most beautiful and unique destinations in Cuba to visit.
Why Is Vinales Famous?
Vinales is mostly famous for its mogotes, a small hill (or mountain) with a particular shape like a “sugar top” with steep sides, composed of dolomite, marble or limestone.
Havana To Vinales Distance
The distance from Havana to Vinales is 179 kilometers (111 miles).
Wrap-Up Day Trips From Vinales Valley
Being one of the most charming destinations in Cuba, Vinales is the home of the Cuban cigars, rum, delicious honey, sugar and the sweet, strong Cuban coffee.
I hope I have expanded your view on Vinales in this article, and that you see that there are a myriad of tours you can join here, as well as fun things to do on your own.
Vinales is a unique Cuban destination, and not really far from Havana. If you have the time, I really recommend you make the trip, and stay for a few days!
Related blog posts:
15 Best Things To Do In Vinales From A Cuba Expert
7 Amazing Casa Particulares Vinales Valley Cuba
Three Ways To Travel From Havana To Vinales (And One To Avoid)
