Cuba – Vinales Sunrise Hike
There is something so satisfying about making the effort to see a sunrise in a foreign country. That satisfaction is only sweetened when the sunrise is over a dramatic landscape, special to that destination. Though it was not included on our tour, I am so glad we arranged to do a Vinales sunrise hike. The meeting time was not crazy early, the hike was not too strenuous, but the sunrise with coffee was spectacular. Plus, we had the rest of the day at our feet. I am not seeing a downside here… read more about it below.
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The Early Alarm and Pickup – Vinales Sunrise Hike
Because we were on the 8-Day Cuba Group Tour, we ended up going on the sunrise hike with our local Vinales coordinator, Albi. With a verbal agreement, we scheduled to meet up at 5:15 am the next morning. The 4:15 alarm was brutal, but as soon as we stepped out of our Casa, the cooing chickens and fresh air woke us up. At 5:25 am, we began to worry a bit that our taxi hadn’t shown up. But sure enough, headlights came down the street to pick us up. But not any headlights, these headlights were on a classic 1950s Chevrolet in white and red. Kelly (my travel partner in Cuba) and I giggled as we climbed into the bucket seats in the back.
We drove out of town but ended up stopping on the side of the road along the way. Both our driver and Albi got out and opened the trunk and dug around a bit. Kelly and I nervously looked over at each other, then at the doors, which didn’t have any handles. Hmmm, stay calm. Then the driver and Albi got back in the car and Albi tells us that we were filling up on gas! Hilarious. We continued on our drive to a dirt road that our driver did not hesitate on at all. These cars are truly driven, not only for show. After a few more minutes, we were at the trailhead.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars, a great way to see the stunning limestone formations of Vinales
- Intensity: athletic clothes, tennis shoes, and camera
- Location: About 10 or 15 minutes outside of town
- Cost: $20 for a local guide, including taxi
- Hiking Distance: unclear, but about 45 minutes of walking/hiking
- Restrooms: there is a pit toilet at the top for the hike at the worker’s house
- Timing: 3 Hours Total
Highlights:
- Explore the iconic limestone structures of Vinales
- Learn about the Aguas People
- Enjoy locally grown coffee or juice
- Be back before breakfast!
Vinales Sunrise Hike
The Vinales sunrise hike began along a dirt road through a farm. Albi told us that this farmland belonged to his extended family. With a flashlight provided by Albi, we would flash farm animals as we passed – chickens in a tree, cows, goats, horses, etc. It was flat for about 10-15 minutes. We then began to climb. The funny thing about hiking in the dark is that you have no idea what is around you in terms of the bigger picture. You can only see what your little light beam shows and to keep walking, it is necessary to keep the light beam on the ground. The climb was generally pretty steep on dirt and I was having flashbacks to our beast of a sunrise hike in Guatemala. We climbed for about 20 – 30 minutes.
We had one break, where Albi told us about the Augas people that live on this farm in the hills of the limestone formations. Locals refer to them as Augas people because they refuse to go to modern doctors and believe the rain would heal all maladies. However, they are not completely isolated as they come to town frequently to sell and buy products. There are about 8 or 10 families in this community. When waiting for the sunrise, it started to sprinkle. I am hopeful that the water will heal me of any health issues that I might have unknowingly. Though it’s only been a few weeks, I haven’t gotten sick since – maybe it’s working?!
After a couple more minutes, we arrived at a small house, which farmers utilize when working on the farm up here. This is where we would watch the sunrise over the Vinales Valley. We sat on the patio on a couple of stools, while we waited for the sun. We were early – like an hour early before for the actual sunrise. With a set timing, I’d much rather get there before the sunrise… Rather than be racing up the mountain.
Sunrise & COFFEE
20 minutes later, the sky changed ever so slightly, and my iPhone was able to pick up some colors against the clouds. With a bit of light, we are able to see our surroundings. We were at a small house one of the last flat areas before the sheer cliff of the karst behind. Surrounding the house was fields of pineapple and other vegetables. There’s a grassy area In front of the house toward the Vinales Valley, so there is a great view and plenty of room for pictures. I was also able to capture some of the plants with the beautiful valley behind. At one point a mama hen and her chicks walked right into the view, so not only is stunning but also cute!
Because of the clouds, we only got to see the sun for about two minutes before it disappeared into the distant clouds. There were clear skies above us, but it didn’t matter because this view of the valley was another big draw of doing the sunrise hike.
Since we are at a little house, there is a menu of options for coffee and fresh fruit juices. We ordered some coffee through Albi and were able to enjoy some fresh Cuban coffee while watching the sky continue to change colors. As you can tell from some of my other posts, nothing makes me happier than watching the sunrise with a cup of warm coffee in my hand. Pure bliss.
Return to Town
Although we were one of the first people at the house, we were the last to leave. Kelly and I loved watching everything change and capturing the valley from different angles. It was fascinating to play with the tiny little plants that close up when you touch them. There were about 12 people at the little house, including the guides.
On the way back down, we got to see everything that we couldn’t see on the way up – the gorgeous trees, the karstic formation just beyond the house, and all the farm animals. Also along the way, we met Albi’s cousin’s father and then a different cousin. These men looked like they tended to the farm all day, every day, but they were happy to meet us. The second cousin seemed to talk Albi’s ear off, continuing to yell as we walked away. I asked Albi what he was saying and apparently it was a grocery list of things to get in town. When I asked if he would remember everything, he said, “Of course, it’s always the same things.” Such a normal family thing, right?!
The same taxi that picked us up was waiting for us at the trailhead, sitting in the shade. There was no way I was going to pass up a photo opportunity like this and we snapped a few photos before getting in. The driver was amused in a strong, but silent kind of way.
Arranging the Tour and Other Things to do in Vinales
The land didn’t have many fences, but I wouldn’t recommend doing the Vinales sunrise hike on your own. That’s in large part because you will be walking through someone’s property. I’m not sure how it is in Cuba, but that is not usually welcomed in the US. We arranged our tour through the Locally Sourced Cuba guide and local coordinator. However, if you are not on an organized tour, I bet you can ask your Casa host or hotel. Vinales is quite small, so I am sure if you ask enough people, you will find a guide. Our price was $20 CUC/per person with coffee being an additional charge. I saw Albi pay the taxi $10 CUC, so I am happy that both Kelly and I tipped Albi. With all those extra errands Albi now had to do, I am sure it is an appreciated gesture.
Here are some other things to do in Vinales:
- See the Pre-Historic Mural
- Visit the Caves and take a boat through the caves
- Tour a Tobacco Farm and learn about Cuban cigars
- Smoke hand-rolled cigars
- Go for a sunset horseback ride
Overall Thoughts: Vinales Sunrise Hike
Vinales is a small town, but I definitely could have spent longer enjoying the friendly people and karstic formations. However, even though we only spent one full day in Vinales – it was jam-packed with activities. Doing the sunrise hike helped get us off on the right foot. With a relatively easy hike and spectacular views, it was surprising that more people didn’t join us on our hike. Another member of our group went for a sunrise run and also said how wonderful it was to be out at that time. The hardest part is getting out of bed, but after that, it was 1,000% worth the effort.
In addition to the Vinales sunrise hike, I did an 8-day Cuba Tour with many inclusions. You can read about the tour and all of my Cuba posts at the following links:
- Old Havana Walking Tour
- Things to do in Havana
- Vinales Sunrise Hike
- 8-Day Cuba Group Tour
Where have you watched the most spectacular sunrise? Was it in an international destination? Or simply back home? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear about it.
Happy Travels,
Hanna
