Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site, the Viñales Valley stands out for its conservation of terrestrial ecosystems, its tradition of small-scale farming, and the valley's characteristic music. Local residents carry out numerous ecotourism initiatives and sustainable development practices. Trails running through tobacco fields and mogotes (the mountain formations that define the valley) offer an intimate look at daily life and the efforts made to preserve this heritage. A visit to the despalillo (tobacco leaf sorting centre) reveals a key step in cigar-making.
Tobacco was discovered in Cuba by Christopher Columbus during his first voyage to the Americas. The Taino people, native to the island, used it in religious ceremonies. The tobacco industry developed in the 19th century, largely through Spanish influence. At the time, Winston Churchill, among others, smoked cigars, and generations since have continued to praise the Habano as the finest cigar in the world. As with great wines, a cigar is nothing without the land, the climate and the people who work it. This trilogy, which forms the terroir, is found across a few hectares in Pinar del Río province, between San Luis and San Juan y Martínez. Visit to a cigar-box workshop. Departure for San Juan y Martínez.
Visit to the Despalillo or Vivero in San Juan (tobacco leaf sorting).
Welcome from a Veguero, one of the finest growers of wrapper leaves in Cuba.
Creole lunch on site.
Visit to the farm.
Conversation and exchange over a cigar.
