Pinar del Rio travel guide

The west of Cuba is blessed with an exotic landscape of limestone mogotes, caves and mountains, forested nature reserves and tobacco plantations. This is where you will find the world’s best dark tobacco, which is hand-processed into the finest cigars. There is world-class scuba-diving, and there are good beaches and wetlands for migrant water fowl. The Sierra del Rosario contains the Biosphere Reserve at Las Terrazas, a must for anyone with an interest in ecology and tropical forests, as well as the orchidarium at Soroa.

The capital of the province and the major city west of Havana, Pinar del Río can be a good base for excursions as transport starts from here, while María La Gorda is a diver’s dream, low key, laid back and friendly. The small town of Viñales attracts thousands of visitors, both independent and package tourists. Its position beside the mogotes provides spectacular views and good walking opportunities. Its beauty has been internationally recognized and the Viñales Valley has been declared a UNESCO World Cultural Landscape.