Vinales

You can just take a horseback ride into the fields to see how the plants are raised, see a drying barn and see which cigars are on offer from the folks out there. Your casa can arrange this if you're staying overnight (recommended). The horses can come to the casa to pick you up, but there is also a central place (at the end of one little street that runs into the main one) where they "park" a lot of horses, ready to go

Okay, I guess I should have explained. My wife has bad knees and can neither ride a horse or go on long walks cross country, which is the other standard way of seeing the fields. I'd happily take up either option for myself, but I obviously have to think of my wife. So this is why I was trying to find a specific farm/plantation we could visit that might be close to the bus route round the valley, that we could take a taxi to, or that might be within easy walking distance of the town by road - my wife can at least manage a mile or two if the surface is fairly even and there's no hills! :)

Try to arrange someone to take you out there in a horse cart maybe. They're mostly work vehicles, but someone might be willing to make some money. Again, talk to your casa owner.

If you just take Calle (street) Aleda Azcuy north from the center of downtown Vinales, past the baseball stadium, it will end at a tobacco field about 1/4 mile down the road. All tobacco fields look the same. Same for all tobacco barns. In fact they look the same as tobacco fields in the SE US. You can see the same thing in Havana Florida, a tobacco growing area (hence the name) just NE of Tallahassee, our state capitol.

If you just take Calle (street) Aleda Azcuy north from the center of downtown Vinales, past the baseball stadium,

That's the street ! With the baseball stadium. We knew someone with a restaurant across the street. The horses are tied up in the shade at the end of the street, where the paving ends.

All tobacco fields look the same. Same for all tobacco barns. In fact they look the same as tobacco fields in the SE US. You can see the same thing in Havana Florida, a tobacco growing area

Not exactly, but close enough. A lot more rustic barn buildings in Vinales.

like the ones at 1:22 and 1:55 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAtDKfv9pso
Tobacco barns can be seen in Connecticut too.

carts of the type I saw coming and going out to the tobacco fields:
at 4:22 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAtDKfv9pso

The fields are completely bare in July. Planting starts in the fall and the harvest is completely done by May.

on your way up Calle Aleda Azcuy before you get to the baseball stadium, you will come to the very small Parke Prehistorico on your left. It sure is not the Museum of Natural History or the Smithsonian but it is classic Cuban. The proprietor, Jesus, has this rag tag collection of prehistoric artifacts and unique flora and fauna that he has personally collected, researched, and has created exhibits. He is the treat, not things in there. He is a self taught expert on everything there, a real tribute to the Cuban education system. He is so enthusiastic and proud that you will eventually find yourself making some excuse to leave so he will not consume your entire day.

Sadly "Senor Beisbol" who lived in a house on the right just past the baseball stadium recently passed away. He used to sit outside on his porch to talk to passersby. He would pull of his collection of baseball memorabilia, including his box of baseballs from Cuban national championship games, all having signatures of the players. Then you realize his signature was on every one of them. And he would show you his small collection of old baseball cards, every one having his photo and stats on it. Just an old guy who happened to be Cuba's equivalent of Mickey Mantle. But there are those kind of people all over Vinales.

There is the very colorful 97 year old pig farmer. But he is my secret and I don't tell people his name or where he lives. You have find your own but they are there in Vinales.

Just don't think the natural wonders are all there is to Vinales. There is so much more in the local residents.

Sweet story Bob. I had actually noted that museum and wondered whether it was worth a visit. As for the 97 year old guy you're keeping a secret - don't know how much longer you'll be able to hold on to that one before the old fellah passes away! :)

So no chance of even some locally rolled cigars from the farms? Damn, I was looking forward to that! :)