The UNESCO World Heritage Viñales Valley, located in the Pinar del Rio region of Cuba is where you’ll find dramatic landscapes, a laidback lifestyle, and the famous tobacco plantations of the island. It is perhaps the most popular of the day trips from Havana, Cuba’s capital, and for very good reason. Our guide covers how to visit Viñales on a day trip from Havana, what to see, what to do, and how to get here. We’ll also cover whether a Havana to Viñales day trip is right for you, or whether you need longer here.
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You can visit Viñales using the Viazul Bus, or by taking a taxi from Havana, and this guide to taking a day trip from Havana to Viñales touches on the best modes of transport to use, where you’ll want to visit, and what to do if you only have a day in Viñales. In a day in the Viñales Valley, you’ll be able to see the famous mogotes, visit some of the caves of the valley, and explore a tobacco plantation. Depending on how long you want to spend here you may also get to take a horse ride through the plantation, perhaps ride a bike, and visit the famous Jazmines viewpoint too. Ready?
#1 DAY TRIP
Book a Day Trip to Viñales Here
This full 10-12 hour day trip from Havana to Viñales is the perfect way to explore the valley if you just have one day. Your English-speaking guide will make sure you don’t miss any of the glorious sights of this UNESCO World Heritage area.
4 Ways to Take a Havana to Viñales Day Trip
You have a multitude of transport options when it comes to getting to Viñales from Havana. My full guide on all the options is here. But for this article today, we’re looking at using the transport for a day trip to Viñales. So here’s what you need to know.
1. Take the bus from Havana to Viñales.
The Viazul Bus is the main mode of transport for independent travelers to Cuba. You should read my guide here (and be sure to download the timetable, you’ll need it!). But for a day trip, this is NOT an option. There is one bus a day from Havana to Viñales. It doesn’t arrive in the valley until 11:40 and the return bus leaves from Viñales heading back to Havana at…. 12:20. Not much time for visiting eh? If you want to use the bus as your form of transport to Viñales, then you’ll need to stay longer. (and there’s plenty to do here, read my guide on Viñales here).
2. Take a taxi from Havana to Viñales.
You can easily book a taxi from Havana to Viñales, ask your hotel or casa particular owner to do this for you. But a taxi will take you to a specific point in Viñales. And drop you off. Likely they’ll wait until you’re done visiting the valley and then take you back to Havana. The point is though, that a point-to-point taxi won’t take you around the various sights and locations in the valley that make up this glorious UNESCO World Heritage area. So if you want to visit a tobacco plantation, go hiking see the caves, or go horseback riding, then you’ll need to arrange and book that separately. And no, you shouldn’t wait until you get to Viñales to do that. Those resources will be allocated elsewhere, they don’t sit and wait for “drive-by customers” to arrive.
3. Take a shared taxi from Havana to Viñales.
There are two great places to try and get a shared taxi from Havana to Viñales – the Havana Viazul Bus station or by asking at your casa particular. However, if you’re time-limited, then this isn’t a particularly good option. They’ll go when full. Or when you’ve agreed to pay what they want for the ride. Read our exploits on our trip from Matanzas to Havana for what it’s like.
4. Take a day trip tour from Havana to Viñales.
Now if you truly only have one day and want to allocate it to visiting Viñales, then this is the best way to visit. You’ll get to see the major sites and attractions, you’ll travel in comfort – in either a newer or a classic car and you’ll get an English-speaking guide/driver who will make sure you don’t miss anything too. Check out the options for a day trip to Viñales from Havana here.
I’m going to cover what you should see on a day trip to Viñales from Havana, but first let’s take a look at whether a day trip is right for YOU when it comes to visiting Viñales, or whether you’ll need longer. I can’t tell you which is the best way for you to visit – because I don’t know your Cuba itinerary, your travel style, or what exactly it is that you want to see, so take a look and see what works for you.
I included a day trip from Havana to Viñales in several of my itineraries in Cuba by Bus – as it makes sense to see the highlights of Viñales, but save time in your schedule. If you’re looking at traveling around Cuba, then check out my ebook guide here.
2 Considerations on taking a day trip from Havana to Viñales
There are several things to take into account when planning a day trip to Viñales from Havana. Let’s go through them and see if the things to do in Viñales warrant more of your time than a single day. Of course, it also depends on where else on the island you wish to visit!
1. How far it is from Havana to Viñales
It’s about 180 kilometers (100 miles) from Havana to Viñales, but as I say in my guide to Cuban transport, the distance is more or less irrelevant, it’s actually the time that it takes to travel the distance that’s important. And time ticks along differently here in Cuba. If you take a private car from Havana to Viñales it will take about 2 and a half hours to get here. And 2 and a half hours to get back to Havana. If you take the bus, it’s longer. It’s scheduled to take 4 hours and 10 minutes. It usually does take this long, but it won’t take any less time.
The bus schedule doesn’t allow for visiting anything in Viñales other than the bus stop – as it just literally stops, turns around, and heads back to Havana. If you take the bus you’ll need to stay at least one night in Viñales. That’s not a hardship, it’s just the reality.
2. What you want to see and do in Viñales
Depending on your whole Cuba itinerary, then a day trip to Viñales could be just the thing for you. However, if you want to spend a little more time exploring this UNESCO World Heritage area, then you’ll need longer than a day. My day trip to Viñales itinerary covers the key things to see and do, but if you have longer you could visit.
- Cayo Jutias
- Take a sunrise hike
- Take a sunset hike
- Hike to Los Acquaticos
What to See on a Havana Day Trip to Viñales
Now we’re going to dig a little deeper and see what you can visit on a day trip to Viñales. Note that you won’t be able to get around all of these in your day trip from Havana, but if you choose a private tour you’ll certainly be able to choose where you want to go.
Want to make your day trip to Viñales extra special? Head there in a Cuban Classic Car (this was my favorite way to visit the Viñales Valley. Our car fit four of us visitors, a guide, and our driver. It was comfortable and we had a fabulous day). Customize your private tour here.
Don’t miss the Jazmines Overlook aka the Mirador del Valle de Viñales.
This is the most famous view of the Viñales Valley. And it’s glorious. You don’t need to spend long here, it’s a photo stop (there are drinks and snacks to buy here too), but you absolutely should NOT miss it. If you want to spend longer or chill out, then head to the hotel of the same name, that’s Jazmines, not Overlook, and relax around the pool for a small fee. The viewpoint is in the public car park of the hotel, and there’s no fee to enter.

Visit La Cueva del Indios
There are a lot of caves in this area, but the Cueva del Indios is the one that you’ll want to head for if you have just a day in Viñales. It’s 10 minutes from downtown Viñales. And it’s popular for all-day trippers from Havana, so you’ll want to talk to your guide and get there at a time when others aren’t. It’s easy to visit – it’s a short walk – it is on the level, then you take a 400-meter boat ride through the cave on the underground San Vincente River. The Indios in the name are the Guanajatabey Indians whose home this once was, and there have been fossils, relics, and cave paintings discovered here. There’s a gift shop and a tourist native Indian dance show at the entrance to the cave.
There’s a fee of US$5 to enter the cave, but it’s usually covered on guided tours from Havana. Check here.

Visit a Tobacco Plantation in Viñales
The tobacco planting area here is the most famous in Cuba. And we all know how famous Cuban Cigars are don’t we? (no? Read my guide to Cuban Cigars here). You don’t need to be a smoker or cigar aficionado to enjoy this part of the Viñales Valley. It’s one of the reasons why it was added to Cuba’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. (read my guide to the others here).

Visiting one of the Viñales Tobacco Plantations is a great way to learn about the economics of Cuba. And the history of Cuban tobacco, how it’s grown, how it’s picked, why it’s picked the way it is. You’ll get to see how it’s dried and then rolled into cigars. You can even give the rolling a go yourself.
This day trip to Viñales includes a visit to a tobacco-growing plantation.
See the Mural de la Prehistoria in Viñales
About 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) from downtown Viñales is the “Mural of Prehistory”, which, despite its name is not prehistoric. It was designed in 1961 by Leovigildo Gonzales Morrillo and took 18 people and 4 years to complete. The mural is named for its content and represents the theory of evolution. It’s gaudy, supposed to be bright, but is these days a little faded and stretches 328 feet (100 meters). Pay the US$3 entry fee and you’ll get a free cocktail, or view it from the road and drive onto your next location in the Viñales Valley.

The benefit of course of taking a day trip is that someone else is driving, so enjoy the cocktails, which are also available without rum for those who don’t drink or don’t want to. My guide to Cuban cocktails is here and essential reading before you come to Cuba.
Visit a Viñales Valley Coffee Plantation
If you prefer not to visit a tobacco plantation, and your interests are more in coffee, then this is the place to come. The most popular coffee plantation to visit in the Viñales Valley is the Corazon de Valle. Learn about how the coffee bean is grown and processed, taste it, and then take home a sample of the coffee you’ve tasted. Take a private day trip to the Viñales Valley and customize it to fit in a coffee plantation visit. You’re unlikely to be able to fit in a visit to both a coffee and tobacco plantation on a day trip.
Eat traditional Cuban food in Viñales.
On each day trip to Viñales, you’ll need to stop for lunch. And your tour will have a place in mind that they’ve planned ahead for. This means that the restaurant will be able to plan their purchases and cooking for the day and they’re well used to this. So go with the flow, enjoy the Cuban food, and chill out while your driver has a break, they’ve got a long day of driving while you relax and enjoy the valley!
Take a horse-riding tour of the Viñales Valley.
One of the reasons that this area is a UNESCO World Heritage site is because its retained the traditional and much slower methods of cultivation and life. And that makes it a perfect place to explore on horseback. Meander slowly through the plantations and slow down a little on your day trip. This private tour allows for the addition of horse riding – for a short time at least and it’s an additional cost on top of your day trip price, usually around US$20 an hour. You won’t need any special equipment or riding experience, these horses know the route and the word meander is important. Slow and steady.

Now all that remains of your Viñales day trip from Havana is to head back to the city. You’ll likely arrive back in Havana around 19:00. Don’t forget to tip your driver and guide if they’ve done a good job (my guide to tipping in Cuba is here). And if you’re looking for plans for the night you’ll want to read my guide on what to do in Havana at night.
Final Words on Taking a Havana to Viñales Day Trip
The Viñales Valley is a stunning place to visit. Many people spend several days here, but not everyone has the luxury of time, so this guide to taking a day trip from Havana to Viñales explains what you can do in a day, the best ways to get to Viñales on a day trip from Havana and the considerations you’ll need to make when deciding if a Havana to Viñales day trip is right for you. If it comes down to it, and all you have is one day, then don’t miss coming here. It’s a glorious area and important to the economy of Cuba and the income of regular Cubanos.
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