Vinales

If you prefer a simpler way of life, where things move at a slower pace, Viñales is for you. Located in the province of Pinar del Rio, this town was founded on the province’s signature fertile soil, ideal for growing tobacco.Though Viñales’ was colonised by tobacco growers in the early 1800s, its first documented settlement was a ranch belonging to Don Andrés Hernández Ramos in 1871. In 1878, it became a more well-established community with a school, church, and park.As you drive through, you’ll spot guajiros (country folk) driving oxen as they plough through fields of the land’s precious leaves. This relaxed, traditional town puts on a show for no one, but travelers seem to love this kind of what-you-see-is-what-you-get authenticity. Surely it doesn’t hurt that this tiny town happens to occupy an area decked with flora and fauna you won’t see in most other regions in Cuba.If you’re looking for hustle and bustle with plenty of shopping and nightlife, we might recommend visiting Havana instead. But, if you’re looking for a day at leisure where you can sit on the front porch, enjoy a cigar and the scenery, this rural town will be just your speed.