Montaña de Siete Colores

Viñales in two days: An itinerary

Only two nights to spare in the beautiful valley of Viñales, Cuba? Follow our tried and tested play-by-play itinerary, you'll thank us later!

Where to stay?

Get in early and book two nights’ accommodation with the charming Osviel and his lovely wife Gemma at Villa Osviel y Gemma. With their top ten Trip Advisor reputation, they are eager to please and simply put, are the hosts with the most! You won't experience better in Cuba!

How to get there?

If travelling to Viñales from Havana, there are two great options:

If slow and steady is your race, book the morning Viazul which takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes and costs approx. CUC12. Whilst there’s no bathroom on board (they do stop along the way), there is air conditioning. If travelling during high season, be sure to book in advance.
If you prefer to choose your own adventure, take a taxi collectivo (shared taxi) which takes less time, but costs approx. CUC20-25 per person, depending on the season. You can either arrange one through your accommodation in Havana or simply head to the Viazul station around the same time as the bus departure (approx. 8.30am) and team up with other travellers. Conveniently they’ll drop you to your door when you arrive in Viñales. If you take a taxi collectivo, ask your taxi driver (nicely) to stop briefly at Hotel Los Jazmines on the edge of the town on the way in – the vista is muy bonita!

What to do? (Day 1)

When you arrive, you’ll be met by your very charming host Osviel. Ask Osviel to book you a sunset horse-riding tour that afternoon (4 hours in total), departing around 1 or 2pm, depending on the season. Indulge in a quick lunch from the comfort of the rocking chairs on the front porch, and book in dinner at the casa for when you return (as well as your day 2 activities – see below).

After lunch, don your long, comfy pants, slap on some sunscreen and pack your camera! And get ready to channel your inner cowgirl/boy! For CUC5/hr, the tour is a steal. You’ll swagger (or canter if you dare!) through the valley, surrounded by the magnificent mogotes (rounded mountains that seem to appear out of nowhere, dotting the valley) to a small, but impressive cave system. Along the way, you’ll visit a tobacco plantation where you’ll learn how they make cigars, and how to smoke them. You can even have a puff and buy a few to-go for approx. CUC3 a cigar.

When you get back, enjoy the magical sunset with a cold mojito (or two) on Osviel’s rooftop before eating yourself silly with a Cuban spread big enough to feed an entire family (and for only CUC10/person).

After dinner, feeling full and satisfied, take a stroll through the town to the plaza. If you’re lucky, there will be locals and extranjeros alike, dancing salsa under the stars - be prepared to join in! Otherwise, head to one of the small bars that kiss the edge of the plaza for another mojito or a Cuba libre!

What to do? (Day 2)

It’s adventure time! Pack your togs, towel and camera and don some comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes for your full day tour. You’ll get picked up around 9am by your private driver and stop number one is the Mural de la Prehistoria, just a short drive out of town. At 120m wide, this impressive masterpiece took 18 people 4 years to complete. Take pictures from the entrance (or pay the entrance fee and climb up around it) and get back on the road for stop number two, the Cuevas de Santo Tomas. This is the largest cave system in Cuba and the second largest cave system on the American continent, with over 46km of galleries over eight levels, it’s a feast for the senses. Think stalagmites, stalactites and other interesting rock formations… oh my! Take the 90 minute guided tour which costs approx. CUC10. You won’t be disappointed. Afterwards, head to the turquoise waters of Cayo Jutias for some lunch, Afro-Cuban beats and rancho-relaxo beach time. Laze around until about 4pm and then make the quiet journey home with salty hair and sandy toes.

Once home, depending on the time, make a quick change, (arrange your taxi collectivo for your onwards journey the next morning if you haven’t already) and head to El Olivo (opposite the plaza) for dinner. The earlier the better to avoid the line-up. But it’s worth the wait – especially the lasagne! Que rico! Or if you’re on Cuban time, enjoy another Mojito on the rooftop before dinner!

If you have any spare time, pop in to the market (also near the plaza) to see our friend Leo and grab some souvenirs for those who stayed home #jealous.