Program starts and finishes in Viñales, BUT transportation from Habana Vieja direct to your Casa Particulare in Viñales, departing after breakfast Sunday morning and arriving lunchtime, is an option. You also have the option to include a return transfer from/to Havana. As usual there is a ‘welcome camino’ to familiarize yourself with the neighbourhood and various services. Very quickly you will sense a totally different atmosphere and pace to the chaotic energy of Habana.

This is farming country and the horse is used to get around town and used to work the rust coloured tobacco fields. The town itself is very pretty nestled in a valley surrounded by distinctive limestone mountains. The main square is lively during the evenings with an outdoor ‘Casa de Musica’ being the central hub for nightlife.

Accommodation is shared rooms in a family run Casa Particulare. Breakfast and lunch are provided each day and features locally grown produce - usually organic. Monday to Friday Spanish lessons continue in the usual format 3 x 45 minute lessons from 09:00-11:45. After lunch there are daily activities to help you enjoy and explore this beautiful part of the country.

Monday to Friday’s intensive Spanish lessons take place shortly after breakfast. Your teacher is licensed and on day one you receive a short test followed by a discussion to establish your level and objectives (OR if doing this as a ‘follow on’ program, teacher in Havana will prepare continuation classes in Viñales). Lessons take the format of 3 x 45 minute lessons each morning, with 15 minute breaks to refresh, making approximately 3 hours of Spanish lessons each day - 15 hours per week. Lessons are held from 09:00 sharp, Monday to Friday at your Casa.

Each day Monday to Friday an activity has been scheduled to help you enjoy and explore the town and countryside. These include:

Horseback Finca & Tobacco Tour
The best way to explore the valley and lush plantations is as the local formers do; on horseback. This is a gentle trot through the countryside to take in the scenery and traditional farming techniques. We stop at one of the distinctive tobacco drying houses and learn more about this famous crop - and the processes involved in cultivating tobacco, drying/curing and finally how to roll a cigar. We then continue to the spectacular ‘Mirador’ viewing point before returning home late afternoon. If you prefer, this activity can be taken as a walking tour - without the horse!

Trek Valley of Silence
This time we enjoy exploring the valley on foot. Learning more about the various crops cultivated here including sugar cane - a refreshing cane juice helps energise us along the way. As we walk your local guide will help you understand how people live here, some of the challenges and the importance of agriculture and tourism to create a balanced and sustainable economy.

Sunrise & Prehistory Mural
This morning we have a particularly early start as we aim to catch a spectacular sunrise with a local community, Los Acuáticos. We enjoy stories about the history and mythology of this community. After a coffee or fruit juice we continue to the famous ‘prehistory mural’ - actually an art piece created in the 60’s and often hyped but nonetheless a popular attraction and the location itself is very special. Back to our Casa ready for breakfast and Spanish classes. As the afternoon is free any sleepy heads can enjoy a well-earned siesta!

Bicycle tour to Indian Cave
This time we hop on bicycles and head out of town and explore one of the many limestone caves that make Viñales so distinctive. Some of these caves were used as shelters for indigenous peoples and used as hideouts for runaway slaves. There is also a cave that doubles as a nightclub! Today we take a boat trip to admire one of the most extensive cave formations with distinctive mineral and limestone formations.

Viñales village & Botantical Gardens
Our final activity during this busy week is to learn more about the evolution of the town, different construction techniques and pointers to her future. We also learn more about the indigenous flora at the beautifully manicured botantical gardens.