Viñales Valley tobacco farms alone makes Cuba worth the trip

I'll be honest — I went to Cuba primarily to see Viñales Valley tobacco farms, and it delivered beyond what any photo prepares you for. But the surrounding region surprised me just as much. Cienfuegos has a character I didn't anticipate, and wandering without a plan for an afternoon turned out to be one of the highlights.

The food is extraordinary. moros y cristianos sounds simple but here it's done with real craft. warm and resilient people added another layer to the experience. Spent 7 days and honestly could have used a week more.