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Home » Garden » Drop Everything And Head To Viales, Cuba. NOW.

Drop Everything And Head To Viales, Cuba. NOW.

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Now that getting to Cuba is a little easier, we’re giddy just thinking of all the new travel possibilities. And Viñales, a rural town in Western Cuba, is smack dab at the top of our list.

Viñales is the perfect combination of natural beauty and traditional Cuban culture. It is best known for its tobacco farms, languid lifestyle and the distinctive limestone hills of Valle de Viñales.

So if you’re into cigars, nature, and culture, consider this your spot. 

Buena Vista Images via Getty Images
The dome-shaped hills inValle de Viales are known as mogotes.

How To Get There

It became significantly easier to visit Cuba when President Barack Obama announced his plan to restore full diplomatic relations with the island nation in December 2014, but there are still restrictions on who can actually visit.

Outright tourism is still prohibited by law, so Americans can only visit if their reason for travel falls into one of 12 categories, such as visiting relatives, conducting research, or attending a cultural event. 

People-to-people trips — organized tour trips with educational itineraries — are one of the most popular categories since they’re open to anyone, but prices can be on the high side. Many people-to-people tours make a trip to Viñales in addition to seeing the sights in places like Havana or Trinidad.

A photo posted by Nadim Mantoura (@nadimmantoura) on Feb 18, 2016 at 11:52am PST

Commercial flights to Cuba are expected to be restored within the next year, but until then your only option is a charter flight. Visiting Americans typically fly into Havana from Miami, New York and other cities.

Viñales is only a two and a half hour drive from Havana, so it’s fairly easy to get there. Stay for a couple of days and enjoy the laid-back culture or make it a day trip if you have less time on your hands.

What To Do

Life in Viñales revolves around agriculture, so visiting a tobacco farm should be at the very top of your to-do list. Take a horse ride through the lush valley and see how the most famous cigars in the world come to be.

A photo posted by Mickal (@mickaelge) on Mar 1, 2016 at 8:58pm PST

Not only will you get to experience one of the most naturally beautiful spots in Cuba, you’ll also get a peek into the everyday lives of the people who live in Viñales.

Though it is a small town, Viñales is no stranger to visitors. There are plenty of well-established small businesses including shops, restaurants, hotels and even a botanical garden.

You can also pay a visit to the Cuevas de Santo Tomas, Cuba’s largest cave system. Visitors can explore this unique natural feature by foot and take a short boat ride through the caves. And if you’re looking for a unique photo opportunity or a spot for a quick picnic, head for the Mural de la Prehistoria, a mural painted directly onto one of the valley’s signature limestone mogotes.

spot me

A photo posted by chloelamc (@chloelamc) on Mar 3, 2016 at 4:56pm PST

So yeah, if you want to visit the real Cuba, look no further than Viñales.

John & Lisa Merrill via Getty Images

On the way home… Viales, Cuba #planet_hd #amazing_pictures #teamtravelers #splendid_earth #theglobalwanderer #earthpix #worldtravelbook #magicpict #beautifuldestinations #amazingplaces #wanderlust #cuba #horse #cart #streetphotography #photojournalism #colours #cubatravel #havana #destinations #travel #caribbean #island #livelovecuba #vinales

A photo posted by Tim Perceval (@timperceval) on Feb 26, 2016 at 12:47pm PST

Logan Mock-Bunting via Getty Images

A photo posted by Alexandra (@cubajournal) on Feb 28, 2016 at 11:37am PST

Lorne Resnick via Getty Images

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2016/03/04/vinales-cuba-travel_n_9408320.html

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