Must-see's |
Catedral de San Rosendo –Pinar del Río – Church or cathedral
The city's cathedral is an example of the typical architecture of Cuba´s inland towns. Built beginning 1900s it was consagrated as cathedral in 1914. In order to see the inside you can walk in using the side door, but you can also attend to mass during Sunday´s service.
Address: Calle Antonio Maceo, corner Gerardo Medina
Palacio de los Matrimonios –Pinar del Río - Notable building
El Palacio de los Matrimonios, as the name already suggests is a wedding venue dating from 1924. On the outside the building already shows a sumptuous architecture, competing with the overabundant decoration of the interior. Ask the guards whether you can take a look inside (a 1,00CUC in exchange of the service would be appreciated).
Address: Calle Martí 125
Teatro José Jacinto Milanés – Pinar del Río - Notable building
This wooden, 540-seat venue dates from 1845, making it one of Cuba's oldest theaters. Renovations were made starting in 1991 and in 2006 the theater reopened. With its colorfully painted interior and Spanish-style outdoor patio and cafe it is well worth a look. Check the program to see whether a good show is on or have a coffee on the patio where during the night the local intellectuals gather and organize all kinds of activities.
Address: Calle Martí 160 corner Colón and Recreo
Museo de Ciencias Naturales Tranquilino Sandalio de Noda – Pinar del Río - Museum
The most interesting sight, externally at least - some call it Cuba´s weirdest building -, is this neo-Gothic-meets-Moorish mansion designed and built by Francisco Guasch, a wealthy gynecologist, who, inspired by his travels abroad, wanted to give a special present to his wife. Now a museum, it displays life-size prehistoric animals in the flower gardens and rare species like the cork palm. And of course, interesting architectural details.
Address: Marti Este 202, corner Comandante Pinares
Open: Monday to Saturday, 9:00am to 6:00pm, Sunday, 9:00am to 1:00pm
Entrance: 1.00CUC
Museo Municipal – Viñales - Museum
Positioned halfway down Salvador Cisneros, Viñales' pine-lined main street, the Museo Municipal occupies the former home of independence heroine Adela Azcuy (1861–1914) and is the perfect place to get to know about the local history.
Address: Salvador Cisnero 115
Open: Monday to Sunday, 8:00am to 5:00pm
Estadio Capitán San Luis – Pinar del Río – Sport
Estadio Capitán San Luis was inaugurated in 1969 and has a capacity of 8000 spectators. The stadium is mostly used for baseball games and is the home of the Pinar del Rio Baseball team. Previously, one of the top baseball teams in the Cuban National Series, the Vegueros, used to have it as their home base.
Address: Calle Capitán San Luis
Casa Taller – Pinar del Río – Workshop or art gallery
This gallery was founded in 1998 with the aim to promote Cuban art and literature, supporting artists within an independent organization. The renowned Cuban artist Pedro Pablo Olivia, founder and main sponsor, frequently visits the gallery and many of his work is displayed there, amongst El Gran Apagón (the Great Blackout), a satirical (and therefore brave) artwork said to represent the problems and political situation of Cuban society during the so-called Special period of the 1990s, better than any other piece of art.
Address: Calle Martí 160
Open: Open most days
Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas – Pinar del Río - Workshop or art gallery
Across the plaza, this is another top-notch art gallery, exhibiting the work of local artists.
Address: Calle Antonio Guiterras 2 between Maceo and Marti
Open: Monday to Saturday, 8:00am to 9:00pm
Taller Provincial del Grabado – Pinar del Río - Workshop or art gallery
The provincial engraving workshop actually is a school, but also welcomes visitors who are interested in engraving and its techniques.
Address: Calle Antonio Guiterras between Maceo and Marti
Fábrica de Bebidas Casa Garay – Pinar del Río - Factory or plantation
Casa Garay was built in 1892 and since 1906 workers here use a secret recipe to distill sweet and dry versions of the city's signature liquor, Guayabita del Pinar, a guava brandy. Nowadays it is the typical drink of the province. The (short) factory tour shows you the old manual procedures still used and includes a taste of the liquor in the sampling room.
Address: Isabel Rubio Sur 189, between Ceferino Fernandez and Frank Pais
Open: Monday to Friday, 9:00am- 3:30pm, Saturday, 9:00am- 12:30pm
Entrance: free (bottle of Guayabita: 4.00CUC)
Fábrica de Tabacos Francisco Donatien – Pinar del Río
Occupying its current site (a former prison) since 1961, this is the town’s most important tobacco manufacturer. Inside you can see the cigar makers seated side by side at wooden benches, busily rolling tobacco leaves, producing vast numbers of cigars of identical weight and length. You cannot take your bag or backpack inside, nor are you allowed to take pictures or videos. There is an excellent cigar shop opposite.
Address: Calle Maceo 157
Open: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 12:00am and 1:00pm to 4:00pm, closed during lunch time.
Entrance: 5.00CUC
La Casa del Veguero – Viñales – Factory or plantation
To learn about the local tobacco-growing process, stop by just outside Viñales on the road to Los Jazmines and see a fully operating secadero (drying house) in which tobacco leaves are cured from February to May. The staff gives brief explanations and you can assist in the tobacco preparation process. Cigars can be bought on site at discount prices.
Address: road direction Los Jazmines, km 25
Open: Monday to Friday, working hours, closed during lunch time
Tobacco plantations – around Pinar del Río – Factory or plantation
When driving out of Pinar del Rio, in south west direction, reaching San Luis and San Juan y Martínez, the roads are surrounded by tobacco plantations, with its typical drying racks, ox-drawn ploughs, tobacco pickers with their straw hats and endless tobacco fields. If you want to see how the leaves are processed, and learn about the history of tobacco cultivation in Cuba, make a stop at the Finca El Pinar Vegas Robaina tobacco ranch.
Dirección: Road to San Luis, Finca el Pinar
Horario: Monday to Sunday, 10:00am to 5:00pm
Los Acuáticos – around Viñales – Notable site
Los Acuáticos is a community in the valley of Viñales, founded in 1943. Recognizing the importance of hygiene and clean water for health, the inhabitants worship water and bath three times a day. As a matter of fact, they believe water can heal all illnesses and hence they refuse any treatment offered by the national health system.
The location also offers some excellent views over the Viñales valley. It is said that women should go accompanied.
Address: Carretera El Moncada, Comunidad Los Acuáticos
Mural de la Prehistoria – around Viñales - Notable site
2 kms west of Viñales. Contrary to what the name suggests, the painted scene is not of pre-historic origin. Commissioned by Fidel Castro it was painted by Lovigildo Gonzáles between 1959 and 1976 and rather look like modern graffiti. There is a nearby gift shop and restaurant. Great place for picnics and climbing.
Address: Carretera El Moncada, Viñales
Entrance: 3.00CUC
Cueva de los Portales – around Viñales – Notable site
La Cueva de los Portales is a cave situated near the village of La Palma. Worthwhile a visit for its natural beauty and surroundings and its historical value. This 30 meter high cavern has plenty of stalagmites and hanging stalactites and is connected – through a complex system of balconies, walkways and stairs built by a former owner- to two other caves; the Cueva los Espejos and Cueva la Catedral.
La Cueva de los Portales is said to be one of Che Guevara’s preferred sites in Cuba. He also thought the cavern to be of strategic importance and during the Bay of Pigs crisis he set up his headquarters inside this spectacular cave. Items once used by the revolutionary hero are housed in a small museum, located there. Artifacts include his bed and table and some personal belongings.
Guided tours are organized from the camping Los Portales, located at the foot of the mountain.
Address: San Andrés, La Palma
Cueva del Indio – around Viñales – Notable site
Cueva del Indio, 6km north of Viñales, is an extensive cave system, but only a small portion of it is open to visitors. You can enter by foot and continue the visit by boat following the underground river that runs through this huge cavern. The interior is properly illuminated so you will be able to get a good look at the inside of a mogote. Once there you can take a quick visit to the Palenque de los Cimarrones (Cueva San Miguel), west of the Cueva del Indio, which nowadays is used as a disco.
Address: Km 8 Carretera to La Palma, Viñales
Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás – around Viñales – Notable site
17 km south west of Viñales you can explore the caves in the Valle de Santo Tomás. This 46km cave system is Latin America´s largest. Spread out over eight levels, it is home to bats, underground pools and a replica of an ancient mural. Of particular interest is the Gran Caverna. Tours take longer than those of the Cueva del Indio and are more difficult, but there are experienced guides to lead you through them. Near this cave system is situated the community El Moncada, know for the 3km ecological path called Maravillas de Viñales.
Address: El Moncada (14km west of Dos Hermanas and 1.5km off the road to Minas de Matahambre)
Soroa Orquideario – Soroa – Park or garden
Another site that since 2011 is no longer part of the province of Pinar del Río (it now falls within the territory of the province of Artemisa). But as it has been for years, we mention it here as well.
Within the Sierra del Rosario, 10km west of Las Terrazas, you will find the Soroa orchid garden. This garden is the largest in Cuba and covers an area of 35,000 square meters on a steep hillside.
The first species of orchids were introduced to Soroa in 1948 by a wealthy Spaniard, Tomás Felipe Camacho, and the garden still maintains specimens from the 19th and 20th centuries. Nowadays, you can admire more than 20,000 plants of 700 orchid species, along with other ornamentals, amidst limestone formations, palms, and towering semi-deciduous trees draped in vines. Soroa also has thousands of specimens of ferns and trees which contribute to the biodiversity of the region.
There is also a lovely waterfall, El Salto, with walking trails branching off from it and if you want to take in the spectacular views from the Mirador de Venus (viewpoint) you can take a 2.5km walk to the top of a mountain. Recommended visit by www.househostelcuba.com.
Address: Outside the village of Soroa, municipio de Candelaria, access via autopista La Habana-Pinar del Río.
El Jardin de Caridad – Viñales – Park or garden
First planted in 1930 El Jardin de Caridad is a quaint little garden filled with orchids and other tropical plants. Knock on the door of the Little-Red-Riding-Hood cottage and the owners will be more than happy to show you around and tell you about the story of the garden and the many plants they grow in it. You will be offered plenty of fruit; a contribution in return would be appreciated.
Address: Calle Salvador Cisneros on the northern exit of town, just passed Servi-Cupet
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