Your Tour includes:

• Arrival and departure transfers
  • 10 nights accommodation
  • Havana – 3 nights(at hotel or B&B)
  • Trinidad – 2 nights (B&B)
  • Camagūey – 1 night (at hotel or B&B)
  • Santiago de Cuba – 2 nights
  • Baracoa – 2 nights
• Meals
  • Breakfast daily
  • 9 lunches
  • 10 dinners
    • Lunches and dinners include an appetizer, main course, dessert, and one drink
• All transportation is by car or van depending on group size.
• Children are allowed

• English speaking guide will be with guests during all scheduled tours, workshops, and most transfers.

 

Tour does not include:

• International or domestic airfares
• Taxes and fees related to air transportation
• Cuban entry visa
• Taxes & Medical Insurance
• Excess luggage
• Optional activities
• Personal expenses
• Travel Insurance
• Tips to guides or drivers
• Expenses of a personal nature
• Meals and services not mentioned in the itinerary

Hotels in your tour:

 

City	Hotel Name	Room Type	Tripadvisor
First Class
Havana	NH Capri	Standard	4
Trinidad	B&B	Vivian y Pablo	5
		Casa Cantero	5
		Hostal Colina	5
Camarguey	B&B	Casa Durän	4
	Rodolfo Y Xiomara		4.5
Santiago	Imperial		4
Baracoa	Rio Miel		4
	Habanera or 1511		3.5
Deluxe
Havana	Iberostar Parque Central	Standard Modern	4.5
Trinidad	B&B	Casa Barmarin	4.5
		Hostal Lola	4.5
		La Casona	5
Camarguey	B&B	Casa Madiba	5
		Hostal Rafael	4.5
Santiago	Melia		4
Baracoa	Porto Santo		3.5

Hotels will be confirmed at time of booking

Day 1: USA, Havana

After passing Customs and Immigration at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana you’ll be met and greeted by the guide/driver that will transfer you to tour Bed & Breakfast in Havana. After settling down your guide will take you on a tour of Havana, including a drive along the famous Havana “Malecon” seawall, Vedado neighborhood, 5^th Avenue in the suburb of Miramar and make stops at the Plaza of the Revolution, and Almendares Park. The rest of the day is free to relax until dinner at a private restaurant. Overnight at your B&B. [D]

 

Day 2: Havana

Breakfast at your B&B and walking tour of Old Havana, covering the old city and its five main plazas, with stops at the residence of the colonial era Captain General of the island, the Havana Cathedral, Obispo Street, the Capitol building, and more.  Most of our guests in Cuba start their cultural exchanges with a walking tour of Old Havana. This event is directed by one of our professional English speaking guides, and gives you a taste of the island through a very interesting activity that feels like stepping into a time machine.  Old Havana has buildings and streets that are some of the oldest in the Americas, with some buildings dating to the 17^th century.  Though the buildings are hundreds of years old, they are still used to house a significant number of Havana’s inhabitants.  Old Havana features the first church built on the island, a street paved with wooden bricks, palatial residences, and much more!  Old Havana is one of the largest, oldest, most authentic colonial areas in Latin America and houses a significant number of Havana’s population. After the tour enjoy lunch at private restaurant. In the afternoon participate in a Salsa and Rumba dance workshop and class.  Learn about the history of some of Cuba’s most popular dances, and then receive expert dance instructions.  Music plays a large part in the lives of most Cubans, and Cuban music has influenced many musical styles around the world. This workshop covers some of the history of both Salsa and Rumba style music.  Cuban music has been strongly influenced by Spanish, African, and Middle Eastern musical styles, and this melding of styles gives Cuban music its unique sound.  A professional presentation on the history of Cuban music will be followed by a demonstration of both Salsa and Rumba, and personalized dance instruction for the guests. Surely, tall this activity has opened you appetite so, next, you’ll have dinner at private restaurant followed by a visit to “La Fabrica de Arte Cubano,” for an art exhibit and live music. Return to your B&B for overnight. [B/L/D]

 

Day 3: Havana, Viñales, Havana

Leave to Viñales after breakfast at your B&B to discover the UNESCO protected “Valle de Vinales,” and its unique rock formations. The tour includes a visit to the “Guayabita del Pinar” rum factory, the “Mirador de los Jazmines,” the “Cueva del Indio,” (the cave of the Indian), and a tour of the “Casa del Veguero,” (the cigar maker’s home) which includes a boat ride through its interior.  We have included lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to visit the Valley of the two sisters, where you can enjoy a huge painting on the wall of one of the steep-sided hills in Viñales , which is 394 feet high by 590 feet wide and depicts the biological evolution of the Sierra de los Organos , as the most ancient landform of Cuba. The work was directed by Cuban Professor Leovigildo González, disciple of the painter and muralist Diego Rivera and was dubbed the Mural of Prehistory. Return to Havana for dinner and overnight at your B&B. [B/L/D]

 

Day 4: Havana, Trinidad

Enjoy breakfast at your B&B and be ready for today’s trip to Trinidad, with stops in Guamá and Cienfuegos.

Once you arrive in Guamá you’ll have an early lunch at private restaurant and then continue to Boca de Guamá to visit a crocodile-breeding farm for a crocodile encounter. To end the visit, tour of the “Aldea Taina,” a reproduction of a precolonial Indian village consisting of overwater Bungalows scattered along the 12 islets in the middle of the Laguna del Tesoro. Continue to Cienfuegos for a panoramic driving tour of the city stopping the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Conception, “Paseo del Prado”, Provincial Museum and “Palacio del Valle”. The last drive will bring you to Trinidad where, after checking-in at your B&B you’ll have  dinner at a private restaurant. Overnight at your B&B. [B/L/D]

Day 5: Trinidad

After breakfast start a walking city tour of Trinidad, a city founded in 1514, that has some of Latin America’s best preserved colonial era houses.  Stops at the “Plaza Mayor,” the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Plaza Santa Ana and “Tres Cruces” (three crosses), the Palace of Count Brunet which, currently houses the “Museo Romantico,” and more. By now you must be hungry so we have scheduled lunch at a private restaurant.

In the afternoon join a Cuban History Workshop covering the early years of the Cuban Revolution, and specifically the combat that took place near Trinidad in the Escambray Mountains from 1961 through 1965.  An attempt is always made to include an actual combatant in this workshop, however, due to their advanced age and other issues, their participation is not guaranteed. After the workshop you’ll have some time to relax before dinner at private restaurant followed by a live music show. Return to your B&B for overnight. [B/L/D]

 

Day 6: Trinidad, Camagūey

Good bye Trinidad and welcome Camagūey! After breakfast be ready for today’s drive to the city of Camagūey where you should arrive in time for lunch at a private restaurant. In the afternoon enjoy a tour of the city founded in 1514 and known, at the time as “Villa de Santa Maria del Puerto del Principe” and now a World Heritage Site.  It is the birthplace of many notable Cubans, including Ignacio Agramonte – a Cuban revolutionary who participated in the Ten Years War -, Gertrudis Gomez de Avellana – a Cuban born Spanish writer -, Dr. Carlos J. Finlay – the Cuban physician who discovered that mosquitos carry the Yellow Fever from human to human - and Nicolas Guillen – A journalist and activist known as the national poet of Cuba.  Your tour of Camaguey includes a walking tour of the colonial section, and visits to Agramonte Park, Ignacio Agramonte’s home, the Church of the Sacred Heart, Soledad Church, and the “Plaza del Carmen”. Enjoy some free time before dinner at a private restaurant. Overnight at your B&B. [B/L/D]

 

Day 7: Camagūey, Santiago de Cuba

After breakfast continue your way to Cuba’s eastern part with a drive to Bayamo and a stop en route for lunch at private restaurant. Mid afternoon arrive in Bayamo a city known as the cradle of the nation, “Cuna de la Cubanidad” that played a prominent role in Cuban history.  Bayamo was the second city to be founded in Cuba,  the second most important city on the island for most of the 16^th Century and mother of the Cuban National Anthem written there in 1868. Its inhabitants burned down the entire city the following year so that it would not be useful to the approaching Spanish forces.  Your visit of Bayamo will include a walking city tour of the colonial section, a ride on a horse drawn carriage, and a visit to the Cuban House of Nationhood, and the former home of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, who is considered the father of the nation. Continue to Santiago de Cuba arriving around 6 pm in time to check-in at your B&B and have a little time to rest. Then, have dinner at a private restaurant followed by a live music show at a venue to be determined. Return to your B&B for overnight. [B/L/D]

 

Day 8: Santiago de Cuba

Hopefully you rested well after yesterday’s drive and enjoy breakfast at your B&B. This morning we have scheduled a tour of the City of Santiago de Cuba, which was founded in the year 1515 by Diego Velazquez, and was once the capital of the island.  Santiago contains a large number of sites that are considered UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the San Pedro de la Roca Fortress and Baconao Park.  Your visit of Santiago will include a walking tour of the colonial section of the city, with stops at Cespedes Park, Diego Velazqueze’s House, the Cathedral and the Bacardi Museum.  You will also visit “La Casa de la Trova” which is dedicated to all Cuba’s musicians, and the terrace of the Casagranada Hotel. By now it’s time for lunch that you’ll enjoy at a private restaurant. In the afternoon, visit to the “Morro de Santiago” fortress, and the Bacardi Museum after which you will be free for the rest of the afternoon. In the evening have dinner at a private restaurant followed by a live music, show at venue to be determined. Return to your B&B after the show for overnight. [B/L/D]

 

Day 9: Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Baracoa

Breakfast at your B&B and a drive of about 2 hours to Baracoa. Stop at El Cobre, a town just outside of Santiago to visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity (“La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre”), which is Cuba’s patron saint. The next stop will be the city of Guantanamo, and will include a driving tour of the city including stops at “La Villa de Guantanamo”, la “Tumba Francesa,” and “La Casa de Changui”. Have lunch at a private restaurant before starting your drive to Baracoa arriving around 6 pm to check-in at your B&B. Some free time to settle down before dinner at a private restaurant followed by a live music show at a venue to be determined. Overnight at your B&B. [B/L/D]

 

Day 10: Baracoa

After breakfast at your B&B start the tour of Baracoa, the oldest town in Cuba and the island’s first capital.  The coastal area, which eventually became Baracoa, was first sighted by Cristopher Columbus on November 27, 1492.  Your tour of Baracoa will include visits to the Matachin Fort and Archeological Museum, which houses artifacts related to the history of the island from the precolonial era to the 1950’s.  The Church of Our Lady of the Asuncion, which houses the Vine Cross, that is believed to be the cross that Columbus had on his original voyage to the New World, Seboruco Fortress, and the Chocolate Museum.  Chocolate has been cultivated for hundreds of years in and around Baracoa, and is still produced and processed there. At the end of the visit have lunch at a private restaurant. In the afternoon join an Afro-Cuban religion workshop that gives a brief overview of the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria, covering the syncretism of Catholicism and African religions, and the role and significance of drums in the religion. Santeria has been present on the island of Cuba since colonial times, and is currently practiced by more Cuban’s than at any time in history.  This workshop covers the main deities of the religion, their origin myths, the colors and vestments associated with them, and their roles in human life.  Guests are usually amazed after attending this workshop, when they realize that the many interesting decorations worn by Cubans on the street, which are associated with the religion. Tonight have dinner at a private restaurant and then return to your B&B for overnight. [B/L/D]

 

Day 11: Baracoa, Santiago de Cuba, USA

All good things come to an end! Today is the last day of your tour. After breakfast at your B&B be ready for your transfer to Antonio Maceo International Airport in Santiago to board your return flight to the USA. [B]

 

[D] = Dinner | [B] = Breakfast | [B/L/D] = Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Tour prices:

 

Season	Double	Single*	Single**	Triple
First Class
May-Jun & Aug25-Oct31	$5,955	$6,425	$5,519	$5,049
Jul01-Aug24	$5,979	$6,425	$5,519	$5,075
Nov01-Dec21	$6,295	$6,795	$5,885	$5,385
Dec22-Jan02 '18	$6,375	$7,105	$6,199	$5,465
Deluxe
May-Jun & Aug25-Oct31	$6,229	$6,669	$5,765	$5,325
Jul01-Aug24	$6,249	$6,669	$5,765	$5,345
Nov01-Dec21	$6,435	$6,995	$6,089	$5,529
Dec22-Jan02 '18	$6,775	$7,335	$6,429	$5,869

 Option

 

 

Description	Price
[1] Immersion in nature and rural life in Cuba	$45

 

Single*: Passenger traveling alone - Single**: Third passenger in a single room

Prices are per person and may change without notice.

Prices are valid up to January 2018

 

Tour Code: CU06HAV17FFV

 

 

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