Pinar del Rio Attractions | Viñales Valley Attractions | Soroa Attractions | Las Terrazas Attractions

Fábrica de Tabacos Francisco Donatién One of the most popular attractions of the city is the cigar factory Francisco Donatién in the middle of the town. Housed in a 19th-century hospital, this is a small, renowed cigar factory that is open to the public. Visitors can watch workers making veguero cigars of several fine brands. You can walk through the rolling station where a caller reads news and stories to keep rollers interested. Then, you can see other rooms where the final selection, labeling, and boxing processes take place. There is also the store, where they sell all cigars manufactured at the factory, or you can buy them at the Casa del Habano (Habano’s House) across the street.

Casa Garay Fábrica del Ron Guayabita del Pinar The other main attraction in the city is the rum Guayabita del Pinar factory. Since 1892, the Casa Garay has produced Guayabita del Pinar, a famous, town-signature liquor. It is made by distilling brandy from the sugar of the guayabita (little guava), which grows in the forest in the outskirts of the city. A quick tour around the factory finishes at the tasting area, where visitors can try both, the sweet (dulce) and the dry (seca) versions of this popular liquor. The workers at the factory are very friendly, especially the guy at the tasting area. You can buy the liquor and other souvenirs at the small souvenir shop in the factory.

Valle de Viñales Probably the most famous scenario of the city, or even of the entire country, this Viñales Valley, stretching along the Sierra de los Órganos, offers a unique landscape to its visitors. The mogotes, the characteristic, giant limestone formations that resemble sugar loaves are like guards watching over the tobacco fields, the red earth with opulent royal palm trees (Cuban national tree), and the bohíos (farmhouses with palm leaves roofs).

Casa del Veguero Tobacco Farm A typical tobacco tour is commonly taken by visitors. This tour usually starts at Casa del Veguero, a small farm that grows and dries the primary material, followed by other establishments where the process is continued including the de-veining, and final curing stations. Finally, you’ll visit a real cigar shop called El Estanco.

Mural de la Prehistoria This spectacular mural was painted by the Cuban painter Leovigildo González (a pupil of the famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera) on the face of one of the mogotes in 1959-62. From ammonites to Homo sapiens, he painted the history of evolution there. Restored in 1980, the mural makes use of the cracks in the rocks to create special effects of light and colors. There is an on-site restaurant as well at the place.

Cueva del Indio This cave, discovered in 1920, lies in the middle of the San Vicente Valley, near Rancho San Vicente Hotel. The first part of the tour here is on foot, through the cave tunnels with artificial lights. Then, you’ll be surprised to find the underground San Vicente River flowing inside the cave. A small motorboat takes visitors up the river for about a quarter of a mile. At the end of the cave several little souvenir stores wait for you as well as a local group playing live music.

Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás This is the largest network of caves in Cuba and Latin America. With 18 km of galleries and up to 5 levels of communicating grottoes, the Great Cavern of Santo Tomás is a speleologist paradise. In the 19th century, the Cueva del Salón was used by local farmers for festivities.

Palenque de los Cimarrones In the depths of Cueva de San Miguel, is a spectacular cave that was once a refuge for runaway African slaves (cimarrones). It now houses a small museum and a pleasant restaurant. At the entrance of the cave, there is a bar.

Soroa's Waterfall and Orchid Garden Probably the most photographed attraction in Soroa is El Salto, a spectacular waterfall on the Manantiales River, just a 10-minute walk from the village. However, the major sight here, undoubtedly, is the Orquideario, an orchid garden which has been declared a national monument. It’s one of the largest orchid collections in the world, with more than 700 species, 250 of which are endemic. The park, often visited by Hemingway, was founded in 1943 by a lawyer from the Canry Islands in memory of his daughter who loved orchids and had died at the age of 20 in childbirth.

Las Terrazas' Hiking, Canopy Tour, and Buena Vista Coffee Plantation The Hotel Moka makes a good starting point for a walk through the reserve. Also open is the old, recently restored Buena Vista coffee plantation, which has a restaurant. For bird watching, hike up to the Cabaña del Infierno, a shady pool visited by local birds like the zunzún (hummingbird), the tocororo (Cuban national bird for its colors like the Cuban flag) and the cartacuba. If you like to test your limits, try the canopy tour at that area, an exciting adventure ride which takes you on a downhill trajectory of 800 meters along steel cables which go above the whole complex. This option is unique in Cuba.

Pinar del Rio Attractions | Viñales Valley Attractions | Soroa Attractions | Las Terrazas Attractions