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.
Treasures of Cuba
15 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. An arrival transfer is included to the tour's starting point, a "casa particular" (Cuban home used as a bed and breakfast), for an authentic Cuban experience.
Check into the Casa Particular and enjoy the city before an evening welcome meeting.
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.
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 can purchase a transfer to the starting hotel. Please reach out to your G Adventures booking agent for pricing and availability.
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.
Your Local Living Moment: Havana Homestay
Live amongst the locals in this “casa particular”, Cuba’s equivalent of a bed & breakfast homestay. Learn about the lifestyle, culture and real-life realities of our hosts. More intimate than a hotel, experience a slice of Cuban life as it’s actually lived.
Accommodation
Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
Casa Villa Azul (or similar)
Day 2Havana
Tour the city by vintage car before a walking tour of Old Havana with the CEO. In the afternoon, opt to visit museums, or attend a cabaret performance at the Tropicana.
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
Set out to explore the vibrant streets of Havana.
Accommodation
Casa Villa Azul (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Havana/Sancti Spíritus
Travel to Sancti Spiritus today and enjoy an orientation walk of this beautiful, but often overlooked, colonial city.
Santa Clara/Sancti Spíritus
Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Hotel del Rijo (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4Sancti Spíritus/Bayamo
Travel overland across Eastern Cuba to Bayamo. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore – opt to hire a horsecart like the locals to tour the area or people watch in the pedestrian only Plaza de la Revolución.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Hotel Royalton (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5Bayamo/Baracoa
Continue on to Baracoa, and get the lay of the land with an orientation walk. The area offers everything from beaches to waterfalls to hiking opportunities and museums.
The best way to get around this colonial town, situated on the bay with mountains towering in the background, is on foot and with 2 1/2 days to explore the area, there's plenty of time to see it all.
Wander the malecón (boardwalk) and visit the forts built to defend the city from pirates.
Orientation With CEO
Follow your CEO through the streets of Santiago de Cuba, discover useful spots and interesting sights.
Informal Spanish Lesson
Sit down with the CEO for a brief lesson on some important words and phrases in español to prepare for the upcoming adventure.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Homestay Rolando y Elvira (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Baracoa
Explore Cuba’s rural communities and small businesses in Baracoa, a G Adventures-supported project. Enjoy a free evening to wander the seaside boardwalk or to find a bite to eat in town.
Your G for Good Moment: Baracoa Community Experience
Explore Cuba’s rural communities and immerse in local life through visiting social micro-enterprises in the Baracoa area. With support from G Adventures locals have developed a community experience, benefitting four micro-enterprises. Travellers have the opportunity to learn from local people with a visit to a cacao farm, sampling local food, learning about a project working to preserve some of Cuba’s unique species, and have the chance to purchase unique handicrafts, all supporting women, men and youth of this community.
Free Time
With free time here you can explore the beaches, the nearby national park or wander the colonial streets and hang out on the lively boardwalk.
Accommodation
Homestay Rolando y Elvira (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 7Baracoa
Take advantage of a full free day to enjoy everything that Baracoa and its surroundings have to offer. Opt to hike or explore one of the many breathtaking beaches nearby for which this area of Cuba is famous.
Take some time to visit the city then head further afield to the mountains or visit the striking black sand beaches.
Playa Maguana and the smaller Playa Nava are both nearby and accessible by bike or taxi. Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt is approximately 40 km outside of town and well worth a visit.
Free Time
Sun, sea and sand – enjoy a full day to relax at a nearby beach.
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Bicycle Rental
5USD per personRent a bicycle and explore Baracoa. Travel along dirt roads crossed by small water stream and down other roads flanked by cocoa, coffee, and coconut farms. Feel the wind in your hair as you pedal through paradise. Stay on the lookout for fruit trees bearing papaya, guava, mango, and cashews as you ride. Perhaps stop at a roadside stand along the way should you need a snack.
Finca Duaba Visit
20USD per personVisit Finca Duaba for a true taste of the Baracoan countryside. Finca Duaba is a farm surrounded by lush tropical plants and has trails you can walk along to learn about the history and characteristics of cacao. You can also choose to grab something to eat at the ranchón-style restaurant or swim in the Río Duaba.
Maguana Beach Visit
Playa Maguana might just be the best beach in the Guantanamo region of Cuba. With turquoise water and fine golden sand this beach is exactly the kind of paradise we picture when we think of a tropical getaway. Spend some time sunbathing or swimming in the calm waters. A perfect way to reset for the remainder of your adventure.
Yumuri River Tour
12USD per personSet off on an excursion down through the Yumurí River Canyon. This canyon is the most biodiverse endemic canyon in all of Cuba. It is 220 meters deep and the beauty of this lush environment is the main attraction. Stay on the lookout for wildlife such as birds and amphibians and appreciate the wonderful views from both the top and bottom of the Yumurí River canyon.
Accommodation
Homestay Rolando y Elvira (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Baracoa/Santiago de Cuba
Drive along the rugged coast towards Santiago de Cuba and take an orientation walk with the CEO on arrival. Enjoy free time to explore this Afro-Cuban city by visiting important revolutionary sites, like the Moncada Barracks.
Santiago de Cuba is the cradle of the Revolution and home of traditional son rhythms. Opt to visit museums, colonial churches and buildings like the Moncada Barracks. Santiago has a vibrant traditional music scene that will entice even the shyest dancer out to experiment with some salsa moves.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Accommodation
Las 3 Ana Homestay (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Santiago de Cuba/Sierra Maestra
Travel into the heart of Sierra Maestra National Park, and stay in quaint wooden cabins next to the Yara River. Enjoy free time for hikes or relaxing in nature.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Free Time
Enjoy an afternoon to explore Sierra Maestra National Park.
Accommodation
Hotel Villa Santo Domingo (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Sierra Maestra/Camagüey
Hike through the Sierra Maestra mountains in the footsteps of Che Guevarra and Fidel Castro and learn more about Cuba's history. Arrive in the afternoon to Camagüey with some free time to explore. Opt to hop in the back of a "bicitaxi" (bicycle-taxi) and tour the local markets and plazas, or take in the city's nightlife.
Your journey will continue west across the Carretera Central to Camagüey, the third largest city on island. It retains much of its colonial heritage in its buildings, plazas and its tinajones, large clay pots traditionally used in Spain and in its New World colonies for collecting rain water. Explore the narrow winding streets and impressive sites.
Comandancia de la Plata Hike
Hidden in the hills of the Sierra Maestra mountain range is the secret headquarters where Fidel Castro and Che Guevara started the Cuban Revolution. This short (but steep!) hike leads to the abandoned buildings at the top of the cloud forest, where members of the revolution lived for a year. Take time to explore the buildings that are still standing today, and make sure not to miss Casa de Fidel – the house Fidel Castro lived in during his time in the mountains.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Free Time
Enjoy free time to take in all that Camagüey has to offer.
Optional Activities - Day 10 HideShow
Bicitaxi Tour
Get the lay of the land during a tour of Camagüey on a bicitaxi. Discover the city's markets and plazas, brightly coloured colonial buildings, and well-preserved historical centre.
Accommodation
Hotel Colon (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 11Camagüey/Trinidad
Enjoy an orientation walk and included salsa lesson in Trinidad.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery continuing on to the colonial city of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to lovely Spanish-style churches and great museums, Trinidad is a hub of cultural activity, never out of earshot from a group of musicians playing local salsa or son. Enjoy an included salsa lesson during your time in Trinidad.
Private Vehicle
Stop along the way for an optional visit to La Torre del Esclavo before continuing on to Trinidad.
Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Your Hands-On Moment: 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.
Accommodation
Homestay Jesus Pineda (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 12Trinidad
Enjoy free time in Trinidad. Opt to hike in nearby Topes de Collantes National Park to see the Salto del Caburni waterfall, or visit Ancón Beach for diving, snorkelling or lounging. Savour a local dinner as a group hosted by one of the homestay families.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Trinidad is a haven for activities. If a beach is in the cards, try snorkelling or diving in nearby Playa Ancón. Enjoy a local meal together with one of the host families on Day 10 or 11.
Free Time
With two days of free time, leave no Trinidadian stone unturned.
Accommodation
Homestay Jesus Pineda (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 13Trinidad/Cienfuegos
Travel along the coast to colonial Cienfuegos. Detour along the way through Santa Clara to visit the Che Mausoleum. Then continue on to Cienfuegos and enjoy an orientation walk to learn more about this city.
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.
Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Accommodation
Lily's homestay (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 14Cienfuegos/Havana
Drive along the picture-perfect Bay of Pigs, and learn more about the Cuban victory in 1961 at the Giron Museum. Enjoy free time for swimming and snorkelling before returning to Havana. Enjoy a final evening with the group in Cuba's vibrant capital.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Free Time
Opt to snorkel or swim in the Bay of Pigs.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Casa Villa Azul (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 15Havana
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.