Please note that the use of credit and debit cards is currently very unreliable in Cuba. Banks, ATMs and POS services for credit/debit card payments are often not working and it is important to arrive to Cuba with cash to avoid inconveniences. Please see the “Money Exchange” section of the Tour Details for more information.
Cuba Explorer
9 days, Havana to Havana
Itinerary Notes
Right now is an exciting time in Cuba with rapidly changing legislation and local conditions. Cuba has seen a massive increase in tourism lately, which has put a strain on local tourist infrastructure. While we will strive to operate our tours as closely to published itineraries as possible, conditions often change from one day to the next, and minor tour modifications may be necessary with no advance notice.
Itinerary
Day 1Havana
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included to your casa particular (a Cuban home used as a bed and breakfast) for an authentic Cuban experience.
Arrive in Havana at any time and transfer your casa particular. One of the oldest cities in the western hemisphere, Havana was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. It contains a wealth of colonial architecture, and the old city and streets around the malecon (ocean-side walkway) are best discovered on foot.
After the group welcome meeting at 6pm, we will be heading out for a meal in a nearby local restaurant (optional). If you arrive late, the leader will leave you a message at the front desk.
It is important to note that Cuba tends to be quite different to other areas of the world you may have travelled in. Buildings and infrastructure are generally old and may not have been maintained to the highest standard. Elevators, internet and A/C often break down, things happen very slowly and water pressure and hot water can be minimal. Cuba is an amazing place to visit but to fully enjoy and relax, western expectations should be left at home and your sense of adventure should be your guide.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Arrival Transfer
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the start location to start your adventure. Please note, the included arrival transfer is from Havana's José Martí International Airport (HAV). If you are flying into Varadero (VRA) you will need to pre-pay a supplement (70 USD per person or equivalent in your booking currency) to receive the service.
Day 2Havana
Enjoy a walking tour of historic Old Havana before hopping in a vintage automobile to cruise through the city. Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore Cuba's capital.
Learn more about the city's history on an included walking tour of Old Havana. After, enjoy an included tour in vintage automobiles. Revel in the bustle, history, and rhythms of this fascinating Caribbean capital city. After lunch spend time exploring Havana with a free afternoon.
Havana City Walking Tour
Take a walking tour of Havana and find out what your CEO loves best about this amazing city. See city highlights that may include La Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana, the Palacio de los Marqueses de Aguas Claras (which now houses a restaurant), the Museo de Arte Colonial and the Plaza de Armas, with its statue of Manuel de Céspedes (one of the leaders of the Cuban independence movement). Use this walk as a jumping off point to explore the rest of this lively city.
Havana City Tour in Vintage Car
A fantastic way to experience most of Havana—and in style! Hop into a well-preserved car from the 1950s and cruise around, soaking in the city's atmosphere.
Free Time
Spend the afternoon discovering some of Havana's iconic sites. Opt to visit Plaza de Armas, stroll the Malecón, or relax at a café while soaking in authentic Cuban culture.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 3Havana
Take advantage of a free day to explore Havana and discover the city's rhythm. Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant with the group.
Our last full day in Havana, spend the morning taking in the sights, sounds, and hustle-and-bustle of the city.
Free Time
Make the most of your time in this vibrant city.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 4Havana/Viñales
Travel to lush Viñales with a cigar factory tour en route.
A short trip west brings us to "The Garden Province" of Pinar del Rio and to the Valley of Viñales with the town of the same name. Enjoy an included cigar factory tour en route before getting your cameras ready for the lush vistas and pincushion hills around Viñales, called mogotes.
Tobacco Farm and Cigar Tour
Pinar del Rio is tobacco country. Fans of the ubiquitous Cuban cigar will be hard-pressed not to be impressed by the fields of green plants punctuated by thatch roof drying hut. Then witness a demonstration of how the cured leaves are hand-rolled, cut and packaged. Prepare for the heady smell of tobacco. Opt to buy a box to bring home to friends or enjoy them all by yourself.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 5Viñales
Take a walk through the countryside to enjoy the stunning outdoors. Enjoy free time in Viñales in the afternoon. Opt to explore the region by horseback or by foot.
Arguably one of the prettiest natural areas in Cuba, we have many options for exploring the area, whether it be horseback riding, hiking, or simply sitting back and enjoying the view.
Free Time
Hike or ride a horse to explore one of the prettiest areas in Cuba, or sit back, relax, and take in the view - you're in paradise!
Viñales orientation tour
Explore the stunning Cuban country side on a walk with your CEO.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Horseback Riding
Saddle up and hop on your horse as you set off to explore the lush valleys of Viñales. Ride past farmers working in their fields of coffee and tobacco. See the mogotes – limestone hills – on the horizon. Stop at one of the many caves in the area, head inside and take a dip in the cool natural pools.
Viñales Hiking
The countryside around Viñales is lush, fertile and punctuated with mogotes – limestone “haystack” hills. Hire a guide or head off with some friends to explore the area. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. You may stumble upon a cave with an underwater spring. Dive in and cool off.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Viñales/Trinidad
Travel to Trinidad, tour the city, and opt to take a salsa dancing lesson.
A trip south brings us through the beautiful Topes de Collantes region to the southern coastal city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trinidad. We include a tour of the area to get your general bearings; the rest of the time is free to wander the cobblestone streets, shop, and experience the great music scene that has made this city famous.
In Trinidad, we spend 2 nights in a Casa Particular, the Cuban equivalent of a Bed & Breakfast. Utilizing local accommodation puts you closer to the Cuban people and lifestyle and often provides a higher standard of service and comfort than in a hotel. The Casas have air conditioning, hot water, en-suite and are located right in the center of Trinidad.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Trinidad Guided Tour
Enjoy the sights and sounds of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and get your bearings through a guided tour.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Salsa Lesson
Loosen up those hips and get ready to salsa. Led by expert Cuban instructors, rumba, mambo and cha-cha-chá your way across the floor. Never danced salsa? Have no fear, Cubans are happy to share the secrets behind one of their national pastimes.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 7Trinidad
Board a catamaran for an excursion to Cayo Blanco with lunch and snorkeling. Enjoy a free evening in Trinidad to discover this Spanish colonial town that was founded in the 16th century and still preserves a look and feel of the past.
Free Time
Opt this evening to visit a Casa de la Trova for live music.
Cayo Blanco Catamaran Excursion
Enjoy a day on the water to Cayo Blanco by Catamaran with time to snorkel and lunch included. Please note this activity is subject to availability, and may not be offered on all departures due to weather and operational constraints.
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Casa de la Trova Visit
For nearly four decades, the Casa de la Trova has been the centre of culture and nightlife in Trinidad. This bar/performance space is home to some of Cuba’s finest singers and musicians. These former “trovadores” (troubadours) once walked the streets in twos and threes, performing ballads (boleros). Now – people come to them to listen, dance and soak in the laid-back rhythms of this made-in-Cuba music.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 8Trinidad/Havana
Take a guided tour of key historical sites, including the famous Che monument in Santa Clara and the town of Sancti Spiritus, en route back to Havana. Opt to stroll around Plaza Serafin Sánchez for superb people-watching by night.
Head east along the Carretera Central to the city of Santa Clara, a key location in the history of the Revolution. On your way into town visit key historical sites, including the massive Che monument (Santa Clara is also the final resting place of Che Guevara) before settling in for the night.
After exploring some of the revolutionary sites, enjoy a guided tour of Sancti Spiritus, one of the best preserved cities in the Caribbean from the time of the sugar trade.
Travel back to the north coast to Havana for your final night on the town with the group.
Sancti Spiritus Guided Tour
Enjoy a guided tour of spectacular Sancti Spiritus, one of the best preserved cities in the Caribbean from the time of the sugar trade. It was one of the original seven Cuban cities founded in the 1500's by the Spanish. Take a stroll around its main square, the Plaza Serafin Sánchez, or check out the Iglesia Parroquial Mayor, a church originally built in the 1500's and then rebuilt in the 17th century due to being a victim of pirates several times.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Che Guevara's Monument Visit
Set eyes on a 6.7m (22ft) bronze statue of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara standing tall atop a mausoleum erected to mark the 20th anniversary of Guevara’s murder in Bolivia. Tour the mausoleum lit by an eternal flame ignited by Fidel Castro. Visit the adjacent museum, containing a number of exhibit pieces ranging from medical materials to Guevara’s pistol, and photographs that include pictures from his childhood.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 9Havana
Depart at any time.
Check out from the hotel is approx. 12pm midday.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.