Day 1 – Havana

You will be met at the airport, & transferred to your accommodation in a vintage American car.  You will meet with your guide and your hosts at your Casa Particular or hotel.  In the evening your guide will accompany you to one of our favourite Paladares for dinner.  A Paladar is a family-run restaurant which serves authentic Cuban cuisine. If you are not too tired, you can visit any of Havana’s famous Jazz clubs to hear Cuba’s lively music and dance.

Day 2 – Havana

We start with a walking tour through the romantic winding streets of Old Havana.  The slightly crumbling and faded facades of the buildings remind us of the original grandeur of the Baroque and Neoclassic architecture in the Old Town, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The sights and sounds of Cuba will be around you to absorb. We suggest wearing comfortable shoes, & don't forget your camera.

Lunch at one of our favourite private restaurants, with views of the famous Havana Malecon.                                                                                                                

After lunch you will enjoy exploring several Havana neighborhoods in a private chauffeur-driven Classic American car.  You will see Havana Vedado, the Malecon, the up-market suburb of Miramar and the cemetery of Colon.

There are various options for your evening entertainment and dining and your guide will be happy to suggest recommendations and make the bookings for you.  You could visit a dance club and participate in a fun evening!

Day 3 – Vinales

Today it is time to experience rural Cuba!  After an early breakfast we leave on a day trip to the beautiful Vinales Valley. This area has rich and fertile farmland which produces some of the world’s best tobacco.  Along the way you will see outstanding scenery with amazing pin-cushion shaped hills and lush tobacco fields as far as the eye can see. This valley produces the tobacco which has made Cuban cigars so sought-after worldwide.  Vinales is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is remarkable that the farming here still follows age-old artisanal methods. You will be able see it first hand when we visit & tour one of the local tobacco farms.

Lunch at a local Paladar and relax and enjoy the atmosphere of rural Cuba.  Then something really different – we take a boat ride through some underground Indian caves before returning to Havana.

The evening in Havana is at leisure.  Maybe take a sunset stroll along the 8km stretch of the Malecon, Havana's beautifully restored sea front, and then enjoy a cocktail at the famous Hotel Nacional.

Day 4 – Rum, Cigars and Hemingway

We start with a morning tour to learn about Cuba’s two main exports, quality cigars and authentic Rum.  The first stop will be the Havana Rum Museum, housed in a marvellous old Palace.  You will be shown the entire rum-making process from beginning to end and, of course, get to taste and buy some to take home with you.  Then we visit the Hotel Conde de Villanueva, a beautifully restored mansion which now houses one of Havana's most popular cigar shops.  Here you will see how cigars are made and you can also partake in a cigar and coffee tasting.  Even if you don't smoke or drink will give you a good understanding of both these prized exports. You can also visit the Partagas Cigar Factory to see how cigars are rolled and readied for export.

After lunch at another favourite restaurant, you will begin the fascinating Hemingway tour,  & visit several of the famous author’s favourite haunts.  Walking in his footsteps will give you a deep understanding of Hemingway’s love affair with Havana as city that has barely changed in all these years.  We will visit his favourite bars, maybe enjoy his favourite rum cocktail and then his beautiful home, Finca Vigia, which is preserved as a museum in his memory.

Your guide will help you decide how to spend your last night in Havana. Where you'd like to go and also make the bookings.

Day 5 – Leisure Time and Departure

We will arrange your airport transfer to the airport to suit your flight departure time.

Includes

4  breakfasts and 3 lunches

No Single supplement

Accommodation –  You can choose from Authentic Casa's or Romantic Hotels

Transport in a Private car and Classic American Car

English-speaking local Cuban guide, transportation between all destinations, airport transfers

Walking tour of Old Havana

Classic Car Tour  of Havana

Vinales Day Tour

Export Cuba Rum and Cigars Tour

Hemingway Tour

Excludes

International flights /all lunches and dinners not specified / travel insurance / Cuba Visitor Visa / drinks, tips & Gifts / optional activities / airport taxes.

Itinerary

DAY ONE – Arrive Havana – transfer to Casa

DAY TWO – Full day tour Havana [including Cigar Factory] & classic car

DAY THREE – Day tour to Viñales

DAY FOUR – Transfer to Cienfuegos via Bay of Pigs

DAY FIVE – To Trinidad, and tour of the area

DAY SIX – Free in Trinidad

DAY SEVEN – To Santa Clara [Che Guevara mausoleum], continue to Havana

DAY EIGHT – Transfer to airport

Eight Day Cuba Group Tour – US$750

Day One: Havana

Transfer on arrival. Meet your guide and group for an optional evening meal.

Day Two: Cienfuegos

Stopping at Playa Girón/ Bay of Pigs. This area's natural beauty of is stunning – cave systems, coral and an abundance of sea life – a must for snorkelers & divers.

Cienfuegos was founded in 1819 by Don Luis de Clouet, and luckily managed to remain free of pirate attacks, which allowed this popular city to prosper.

Day Three and Four:  Santa Clara & Trinidad

We visit the Che Guevara mausoleum and memorial in Santa Clara, where Che’s remains are immortalized after being discovered in Bolivia in 1997. Santa Clara holds a special place in Cuban history as it was where in December 1958, Che Guevara led his revolutionaries in the derailment of the armoured train carrying ammunition which Batista had sent to defeat Fidel Castro & following this the revolution was won.

Then to the favourite destination of most travelers to Cuba. Trinidad was founded in 1514 by Diego Velázquez and is a jewel in Cuban colonial architecture. Trinidad is simply a living museum, still as it was during Cuba’s first War of Independence. Vibrant colours and soulful music along cobbled streets will just leave you feeling something special.

It's worthwhile to visit a local waterfall, historic sugar mill or one of Cuba’s best beaches – Playa Ancon. And spend an evening at one of Trinidad’s fabulous music venues!

Day Five and Six: Vinales

Vinale is situated  in the beautiful, lush valley of the Pinar del Rio province It's the heart of Cuba’s prime tobacco growing region. You will see in the valley, a number of stunning karst hill formations known as mogotes (pin cushions).

There are many outdoor activities available to you with wonderful views and a Cuban nightlife will you won't forget.

Visit a local tobacco farm and having lunch with a local farmer. And we offer you the opportunity to take salsa lessons on all our tour, so why not in Vinales!

Day Seven and Eight: Havana

We are back in Havana and you will be given the opportunity to explore and experience Cuban nightlife one last time. A tour of the city by Classic American car is included as well  – enjoy!

Group size 2-10

Included

Meals – 7 breakfasts

NO Single supplement

Accommodation in Cuban B&B's/ Casa Particular's – 7 nights

Transport by Minivan, taxi , VIAZUL bus,

English-speaking local Cuban guide / transportation between destinations, / airport transfer on arrival

Orientation walks at each destination / Havana city tour in classic American car / visit to  Vinales tobacco barn / visit to Che memorial & museum/ informal salsa lesson in Trinidad /1 x drink at Cienfuegos night spot

There are a lots  of extra optional activities and excursions available.

Excludes

International flights / all lunches and dinners (except where note above) /  travel insurance / Cuba Tourist Visa / drinks / tips & Gifts, / optional activities / airport taxes