Recommendations for tobacco farms and buy ciggars in Vinales..

We went horseback riding in Vinales (some people were hiking, but it's dusty and hot) along some dirt tracks into the tobacco fields, surrounded by some dramatic mountain scenery. The casa owners can usually set up a pickup at your casa by one of the horse outfitters; there are lots of them. You can choose how many hours you want to be out (at 5 CUC an hour, payable at the end); about 3 hours should do well to see the scenery, the fields, people harvesting, and sample some cigars. There are huts where locals wait to show you the drying barns, and then bring you back to let you try a cigar and show you the round tied-up packs of cigars they have on offer. Singles were about 5 CUC per piece.
You can also see how coffee is grown and roasted in the same area as the tobacco fields, sample and buy some coffee.

As far as tobacco Vegas, these are, arguably, the 2 best right now.

http://cubancigarsculturelifestyle.blogspot.ca/2017/03/hector-luis-prieto-tobacco-plantation.html

http://cubancigarsculturelifestyle.blogspot.ca/2017/03/salvador-carbajal-rodriguez-tobacco.html

The cigars rolled on their farms are very good. Like any tobacco, these need at least a year of age to start to get really good. Fortunately, only 1 year....lol

I wouldn't buy cigars 'on the side of the road'.

"..... taking advantage of the bumper crop. The feeling I get from everyone, Hector included, is a sense of relief that they've finally gotten a good harvest out of the ground. The last few years have been horrendous for tobacco growers in Cuba and although exceptional farmers like Hector can always get a decent harvest off their land, it must be a good feeling to get a great one without hitch."

We were told 90% of the crop goes to the government, and only 10% to the farmer for his own use.

Yup... That's about right but don't think they are doing badly. They have become destinations for cigar tours. Selling a bundle of cigars for 100-150cuc, considering how much they sell.... They're doing very well.

They are, regularly, resoled for $250-$350 usd outside of Cuba.

And the government pays for that 90%. I know someone who has recently added tobacco to his crops and he thinks the government pays decently.

Τhanks guys. Very interesting things..

Also don't buy knock offs in the street in Havana,while they look identical they aren't and you'll regret the bargain price and the purchase if you like good Cuban cigars. In Havana the best place to buy as in the rest of the provinces are at the government cigar stores and hotels. When I used to smoke, the Partagas cigar factory behind El Capitolo was the place I used to hang around in and grab my smokes,coffee and rum, check it out.

Nobody ever mentions the regulations at the international airport for leaving Cuba with cigars. Wonder
how many get confiscated by airport officials. 2 boxes and 40 loose cigars still the limit?