Cuba’s westernmost province is the perfect spot for travelers who come looking for a kind of leisure related to natural environments. With that view in mind, local travel agents can offer an array of choices and conveniences that include necessary services tailor-made to guarantee a very nice stay to all visitors.

Location As Cuba’s westernmost province, Pinar del Rio shares a predominantly plain terrain with a few notable heights that make up a third of the territory.

Access An excellent highway hooks up Pinar del Rio with the nation’s capital. There’s a marina in Punta Los Morros in the Guanahacabibes peninsula, the westernmost tip of the province.

Capital y & main cities The local capital is the city of Pinar del Rio. Other major urban areas are San Cristobal, Consolacion del Sur, Viñales and San Juan y Martinez.

Population 739 500 inhabitants

Surface With 4,210 square miles, it’s the country’s third-largest province.

Where to stay Los Jazmines Hotel Road to Viñales, 23 km Marker, Viñales Municipality, Pinar del Rio. Phone: (53 48) 79 6205 Fax: (53 48) 79 6215 Email: directorjaz@vinales.hor.tur.cu La Ermita Hotel Road to La Ermita, 1½ km Marker, Viñales Municipality, Pinar del Rio. Phone: (53 48) 79 6071 Fax: (53 48) 79 6069 Email: chavez@vinales.hor.tur.cu Rancho San Vicente Hotel Road to Puerto Esperanza, 33 mm Marker, Viñales Municipality, Pinar del Rio. Phone: (53 48) 79 6221/ 79 6201 Fax: (53 48) 79 6265 Email: hvinaler@vinaler.co.cu Soroa Hotel Road to Soroa, 8 Km Marker, Candelaria Municipality, Pinar del Rio. Phone: (53 48) 52 3534 Fax: (53 48) 52 3861 Email: reserva@hvs.co.cu Cayo Levisa (Key) Palma Rubia, La Palma, Municipality, Pinar del Rio. Phone: (53 48) 75 6501 Fax: (53 48) 75 6506 Email: reservas@cayolevisa.co.cu Moka Hotel Las Terrazas Community, Candelaria Municipality, Pinar del Rio. Phone: (53 48) 57 8600 Email: alojamiento@hoPhoneterraz.co.cu Pinar del Rio Hotel Calle Marti final, City of Pinar del Rio. Phone: (53 48) 75 5070-74 Email: reservas@hpr.co.cu Vueltabajo Hotel Calle Marti No.103, on the corner of Rafael Morales, City of Pinar del Rio. Phone: (53 48) 75 9381-83 Email: richard@vueltapr.co.cu Laguna Grande Road to Ciudad Bolivar, Sandino Municipality, Pinar del Rio. Phone: (53 48) 3453 Fax: (53 48) 3453 Mirador Hotel Calle 23 final, San Diego de Los Baños, Los Palacios Municipality, Pinar del Rio. Phone: (53 48) 77 8338 Fax: (53 48) 77 3042 Email: carpeta@mirador.sandiego.co.cu Maria la Gorda International Diving Center Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Sandino Municipality, Pinar del Rio. Phone: (53 48) 77 8131 / 77 3067 Fax: (53 48) 77 3067 Email: mlagorda@mlagorda.co.cu Aguas Claras Camping Site Road to Viñales, 7 ½ Km Marker, Pinar del Rio Municipality Phone: (53 48) 77 8427

Where to eat Casa de Don Tomas Restaurant Cuban food Viñales. From 10.00 am to 11.00 pm Phone: (53 48) 79 6300 Palenque de los Cimarrones Restaurant African-Cuban theme cuisine Viñales. From 12:00 m to 4:00 pm Phone: (53 48) 79 6290 Mural de la Prehistoria Restaurant Cuban food. Viñales. From 8:00 am to 7:00 pm Phone: (53 48) 79 6260 Cueva del Indio Restaurant & Bar Cuban and international cuisine Viñales. Phone: (53 48) 79 6280 Finca Rancho San Vicente Restaurant Cuban and international cuisine From 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Phone: (53 48) 79 6110 Cafetal Buenavista Restaurant Cuban food Las Terrazas Community, Candelaria. From 11:30 am to 3:00 pm. Phone: (53 48) 57 8700 / 57 8555 Rancho Curujey Restaurant Modern cuisine Las Terrazas, Candelaria. From 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Phone: (53 48) 57 8700 / 57 8555 Fonda de Mercedes Restaurant Las Terrazas Community Local traditional food From 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Phone: (53 48) 57 8647 El Romero Eco-restaurant Comunidad Las Terrazas, Municipio Candelaria, Pinar del Rio Ecological food From 9:00 am to 10:00 pm Phone: (53 48) 57 8700 / 57 8555 Casa del Campesino Restaurant Las Terrazas Community, Cuban food From 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Phone: (53 48) 57 8700

Moving around Pinar del Rio has good roads that link all major cities and sightseeing spots. Since this is a predominantly rural area, some precautions must be taken down those roads where bicycles and horse-hauled carts are everywhere. Tours are done on buses that make in-and-out transfers; there are cabs and car rentals at all travel desks of each and every hotel.

Shopping & souvenirs An array of Cuba’s traditional items like cigars, rum, books, postcards, local craftworks such as carvings, hats and others is available at all local hotel stores.

Traveling tips Visit Las Terrazas Tourist Compound; watch the Soroa waterfall; enjoy the mineral-medicinal waters of San Diego de los Baños; stop by San Luis and San Juan y Martinez, the so-called Tobacco Mecca; drop by Hoyo de Monterrey and smoke a cigar hand-rolled by one of the local hicks; stare at the sunup over the Viñales Valley from the Los Jazmines or La Ermita hotels; take a little boat ride through the Indian Cave; walk into the entrails of land itself down the Great Cavern of Santo Tomas –a National Monument; take a swim in the balmy waters off Levisa and Jutia keys; ride on horseback around La Guabina estate; take a firsthand look at the exclusive nature of Mil Cumbres, Sabanalamar and Guanahacabibes, and do some scuba diving around the caves and coral reefs at Maria la Gorda.

Interesting tourist choices Canopy (only at Las Terrazas), trekking, birdwatching, hiking, bike tourism, cave exploration, horseback rides, scuba diving and nautical tourism in Levisa Key, Maria la Gorda and Villa Gaviota in San Antonio Cape.