Valle de Viñales

Written by Nadine Zangerle on 15 January 2014. Posted in Cuba

It felt like entering Jurassic Park when we got to Viñales. With its mogotes (outcrops) it seemed surreal and we almost expected to see dinosaurs. The little town Viñales consists mainly of very colourful one-story houses and porches with rocking chairs.

This was the perfect area to relax from all our city excursions. We found a nice, quiet spot and explored the valley. With an American Coche we had the opportunity to see different caves, a tobacco plantation and an ecological farm. Forget about the Mural de la Prehistoria, a big painting on a wall from the 1960s about the evolution. It’s not worth the money.

But the caves where fascinating. The Cueva de Viñales had a huge restaurant in front and at the end we got picked up in a horse-drawn carriage. On the underwater river of the Cueva del Indio we crossed the cave in a little boat and we always bet the big tourist groups.

After visiting a tobacco plantation we got an unofficial tour in the Cueva de Santo Tomas, the biggest cave in Cuba. It gave us a chance to get a little glance of the 46 km long cave system.

The next day we strolled around on our own and found a cave running all the way through the mountain. After our eyes adjusted to the dark we crossed the mountain which saved us quite some time to get back to Viñales.

For sure we had to see the valley from the back of a horse. And so it came that my parents were hopping along with us for the very first time on a horse. My mom looked like a pro and didn’t get irritated with the little contest going on between Michaels and my dad’s horse. Mojito, Nici’s horse was so relaxed, we had to wait for them all the time. The name seemed to have an influence on the mood of the horse. What a fun day we had.

After such relaxing days we had to get ready for Havanna. If you visit Cuba don’t miss out on Valle de Viñales.

Accommodation: Casa Juana Collera, Calle Camilo Cienfuegos Este No. 52 e/
Juaquin Pérez y Ramón Coro Reparto 26 de Julio, Viñales
(email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Price: Double bed, own bathroom $25
Triple bed, own bathroom $30

Comment: nice place away from the main road, helpful landlords

Cienfuegos – the Pearl of Cuba

Written by Nadine Zangerle on 13 January 2014. Posted in Cuba

Our next stop was Cienfuegos – the so called Pearl of Cuba and supposed to be the cleanest city in Cuba. Since we loved to travel by those old, American cars we organized a big Plymouth to drive to Cienfuegos.

Olga and Eugiene’s Casa was just fantastic. We enjoyed our obligatory Mojito on the beautiful roof terrace before we headed off into town. The neighbor talked to us through his window shields which reminded us of Wilson from Home Improvement.

At the Infocenter they even spoke German and we decided to drive down to the Punto del Gordia in another vehicle which we haven’t tried before – a horse-drawn carriage. We are not talking about a comfortable colonial style carriage, more a wooden creaking thing.

It was fun since we went ways normally tourist don’t go. The Cubans were staring at us and waving like crazy. At the beautifully built Palaco de Valle we enjoyed a cool drink at the roof and back at our Casa we had a fantastic dinner.

The next day we walked around town for nearly 5 hours, had a glimpse into the great Teatro, had a drink at the Nautilus Club and looked at the wooden houses of the Punto del Gordia.

Early morning after a big breakfast we took the transtur bus from the Hotel La Union to Vinales.

Accommodation: Olga y Eugenio, Ave 50 #4109 e/41 y 43, Cienfuegos

Price: Double room, own bathroom $25
Triple room, own bathroom $35

Comment: close to the Paseo del Prado, really helpful and cute hosts, great
big relaxing terrace, very clean rooms, a perfect place to stay

Valles de Ingenios

Written by Nadine Zangerle on 09 January 2014. Posted in Cuba

To get a little more background of Cuban history we booked a tour with Cubatur to the Valles de Ingenios. Our tour guide explained us about the importancy of sugar canes back in the 19^th century.

Some Spanish families became very rich and up to 12 000 slaves just worked on the farms in the Valle de Ingenios. We visited the old mansions and she explained us the hard work in the sugar cane factories back then. We climbed the biggest tower, which was built to control and survey the slaves during their 12 hours work. The tour was really great and informative.

For sure there is a time you want to relax a bit so we spent two days at the beautiful Playa Ancon. Michael and I did a dive and while the reef formation with its big, yellow sponges was good, there was not a lot of fish. We were also quite annoyed about the tours touching and divers and guides drinking beer in between the dives.

When they played with a dying fish which they got from fishermen – putting a cigarette into its mouth – I said something. Guess afterwards we were the nerds but I don’t freaking care. I say something if I don’t like it.

After a little discussion with the two CMAS dive instructors they sad, yeah we have many PADI divers they are like you. Strange, thought as scuba instructors we should have the same goal in preserving our underwater world. Isn’t this our income?

So we preferred to stay at the beach and enjoy a Pina Colada or two. And at this beautiful, long, clean stretch of beach you really could relax.

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