December 05 – Viñales

On the drive in the area. 

The scenery around here is gorgeous with pretty farmland and valley dotted with huge mogotes (narrow, steep-sided hills that jet out of the flat plains).  They were very dramatic and dominated the valley.  The entire area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

We started the day with a boat ride in the Cueva del Indio, a large cave system with a river running through it. 

The cave exit.

The wall of vegetation at the cave exit.

There were some day-old piglets at the check-in lodge that we all enjoyed watching and photographing. 

There were some art shops that we all enjoyed exploring. 

Next stop was an artisanal tobacco farm.  A beautiful and bucolic setting.

We had a short demonstration about growing, harvesting and roasting coffee. 

Waiting for the cigar rolling demonstration. 

Most of the cigar industry is owned and operated by the Cuban government.  However, small farms are allowed to operate.  Since they aren’t owned by the government we were allowed to visit. 

Then it was off to the tobacco operation.

Tobacco seeds...some of the smallest in the world...

and some young tobacco plants.  

Tobacco leaves drying in the drying barn.

Then it was off to a little shop where we had drinks and then watched a cigar rolling demonstration.  

Leo was very interested in cigar rolling

Donna tried one and bought some.  (Apparently if you buy cigars from the artisanal cigar makers you can take them into the US…not so any government owned cigars). 

Back in Viñales we had a small walk around town and the small market.