Three Ways To Travel From Havana To Vinales (And One To Avoid) 2024

If you have found your way to Havana Cuba, that is really great, and I hope you are having a blast exploring the Cuban capital. But while there, you need to know that it is only a few hours from Havana to the beautiful Vinales Valley, home of the coveted Cuban cigars.

I have visited the lush, green Vinales Valley several times while traveling regularly to Cuba for five years, and I even have a favorite day tour from Havana to Vinales that I want to share with you.

You can easily go there for a day or a week if you want to; there are plenty of things to do and explore. But first, here are three ways to easily travel from Havana to Vinales (and one to avoid), the stunning valley that is also the heart of Cuban rum and honey.

How To Travel From Havana To Vinales

There are various options for traveling from Havana to Vinales and also for the best experiencing of what Vinales has to offer.

1. Organized Tour From Havana To Vinales

If you don’t have a lot of time but really want to explore the best of Vinales, an organized day tour from Havana to Vinales is a really good option.

I have done this tour twice, and it really gives you the best experience of the highlights of the valley when you only have one day to spend—and you will be back in Havana for a late dinner.

This organized tour includes pick up and drop off at your accommodation in Havana, as well as transfers between sites of interest during your stay in Vinales.

You will have a lunch stop in Vinales somewhere between cigar testing, rum sampling, cave exploration, and visiting the incredible Mural de la Prehistoria.

This is a great option for those looking for an easy and enjoyable way to discover the beautiful sights of Vinales.

📍 EpicNomadLife Tip: Top-rated two-day tour from Havana to Vinales!

Civitatis has launched a new two-day tour from Havana to Vinales that has already received top reviews.

With this tour, you will stay at a casa in particular and have more time to explore this amazing part of Cuba, including horseback riding, cave boat tour, and zip lining.

2. Viazul Bus From Havana To Vinales

Another easy and cost-effective way of traveling from Havana to Vinales is the Viazul bus.

Express buses leave daily from the main bus terminal in Havana, right beside the Plaza de la Revolucion. Depending on traffic and stops along the way, the journey takes less than four hours.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance or directly at the station before departure. Even at the station, you need to pay with a credit card; cash payment for the Viazul ticket is not accepted.

The bus fare from Havana to Vinales is €12 one way and €24 for a return ticket with Viazul. Remember that with Viazul bus transport, you need to be at the station one hour prior to departure for check in.

Once onboard, enjoy the view as you make your way through the Cuban countryside!

US citizens are not at liberty to book the Viazul bus, as the Cuban government owns it and is on the Cuban restricted list.

Bus Schedule Havana Vinales

3. Taxi From Havana To Vinales

Traveling from Havana to Vinales by taxi is another possibility, and there are two options.

Booking and paying for a private transfer ride in advance will provide you with a convenient trip from your accommodation in Havana directly to your destination in Vinales.

It is also possible to book a seat in a shared taxi, taxi colectivo, which is great for solo travelers or couples. This will cost less but take slightly longer as the driver may pick up other passengers along the way.

Taxi Privado From Havana To Vinales

If you want an easy and comfortable door-to-door journey between Havana and Vinales, and don’t have a tight budget, taking a private taxi is a good option.

Private taxis can be booked in advance. Prices start at around €135 for a private taxi, which normally includes up to four people and luggage.

The journey should take just under three hours, depending on the traffic and stops along the way.

Private taxi drivers can also provide an enjoyable ride as they often share interesting stories about Cuban culture and history!

Your hotel or casa particular can help you book a private taxi for this journey, or you can book online yourself with a highly rated tour company.

Taxi Colectivo From Havana To Vinales

For budget travelers (or solo travelers) looking to save money on their journey from Havana to Vinales, taking a shared taxi or taxi colectivo is a good option.

These taxis can sometimes be bigger than private ones and might fit up to six people with luggage or even a minibus.

The cost for a shared taxi ride from Havana to Vinales is around $25-30 per person.

The drive will take around three hours, but the whole journey might take longer as the driver of a colectivo picks up the passengers and lets them off one by one.

For a solo traveler or a couple, this option is cheaper than a private taxi, but the taxi colectivo’s departure and arrival times might be a bit unpredictable as it makes lots of pick-ups and drop-offs.

4: One To Avoid: Why You Should Not Rent A Car In Cuba

Traffic in Cuba is not heavy, and the reason for this recommendation is not that driving is particularly risky in Cuba.

The car park in Cuba is very old and prone to breakdowns. Due to sanctions, the island does not have access to spare parts and repair tools and equipment.

Also, gas is rationed, expensive, and hard to find.

If your car breaks down, you cannot call road assistance, and as a foreigner, it can be hard to get out of that kind of trouble.

Statistics show that if you get into an accident, a foreign driver will often be the one assigned the responsibility for the accident and, subsequently, economically responsible.

In conclusion, I recommend you skip the rental car road trip in Cuba. Instead, book a taxi with a driver who knows his way around and the language. If anything happens, he knows how to fix it (and he will probably be an excellent guide on the way).

Vinales Valley In Cuba

Vinales Valley in Pinar del Rio province in Cuba is the home of cigars, rum, and honey, most of which are grown and produced the old way. It is also one of the most beautiful, lush, green, and fertile places in Cuba.

The biggest characteristic of Vinales Valley is that the valley floor is scattered with mogotes, special, small, steep limestone hills that seem to grow right up from the ground like green sugar tops.

The mogotes are one reason why Vinales is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and you can go rock climbing here both on the outside and inside, in caves. But there are other reasons, too.

FAQs Vinales Valley

Why Travel From Havana To Vinales?

Traveling from Havana to Vinales is a great way to explore the natural beauty of Cuba.

The journey is not long, and the drive from the capital to Vinales is super scenic. You can just lay back and enjoy the rural landscape of western Cuba.

What Is Vinales Valley Known For?

Vinales Valley is particularly known for its production of Cuban cigars and rum and the small hills called mogotes in the valley, which are protected by UNESCO.

Rolling hills of green and lush vegetation will greet you with a stunning landscape and will allow you to experience rural Cuba with its old-fashioned farming and farmhouses.

It is not unusual to come across locals traveling by horse and cart, as this is still a common form of transport around here. In the hills around Vinales, you will also have some of the most spectacular views in Cuba.

How To Book A Casa Particular In Vinales Valley In Cuba?

Booking a casa, particularly in Vinales Valley in Cuba, is super easy.

You can book your casa online before your trip, ask your host in Havana (or wherever you are before your trip to Vinales) for recommendations, or even just go there and find a place.

If you show up without pre-booked accommodation, be aware that the approved casas foreign tourists can stay at are identified by a white sign with a blue anchor on it outside the casa.

I have also researched these 7 top-rated casa particulares in Vinales for you here.

Wrap-Up Havana To Vinales

These are the three ways I recommend you use to travel to Vinales Valley from Havana.

The day trip from Havana really covers a lot and is a good option. But if you have the time, I would recommend you stay here a night or two to explore the valley and some of the Pinar del Rio province.

If you do your research, you will find out there are lots of fun things to do, from horseback riding, biking, rock climbing, hiking, and exploring caves, to mention just a few.

Related blog posts:

3 Easy Ways To Make A Day Trip From Varadero To Havana By A Local

How To Book Casa Particulares In Cuba (& Are They Legal?)

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