Day 1: Arrival in Havana, Airport pick-up
Welcome to join our Cuba small group tour! From the Havana Jose Marti International Airport, your English-speaking guide and driver will transfer you to a guesthouse, or what locals call “casa particular”, and help you check in. The rest of the day is free for you to rest. You can have a dinner with your guide and fellows to know each other if you want. ● Why should you stay at casa particular while traveling in Cuba?Simply put, to immerse in local life. Casa particulares are home-turned guesthouses legally run by Cuban locals, which means they have official licenses to operate and are paying taxes. It’s one of the biggest tourist drawcards of Cuba, and locals are actually proud of joining this still pioneering cause. You get to see what local house looks inside, eat homemade breakfast, interact with locals, and by the way support Cuba’s local communities; there is only one thing of particular note: you should boil the tap water before using it to wash your face or brush your teeth, to prevent you from getting infected. This would be the right place to stay especially for American travelers, as they are only allowed by the US government to support private businesses while in Cuba. Given Cuba’s planned economy, casa indeed represents the country’s initiative for itself to become more market-oriented. What was forbidden in the past now seems to be embraced, and what was considered normal before now seems against the trend. On one hand, casa and other private business are springing up; on the other, such antiquated structures as the rationing system are still working. You can check our photo gallery to imagine how the system actually works: at plainly-setup , locals are rationed basic foodstuffs like cooking oil or rice over a long counter, with a ration card to have the purchase recorded. This type of allocation might bring us back to the 1930s, when the Soviet Union used the same method to tide over the famine. But it’s said a reform is possibly underway; so instead of rationing the whole country, it might happen that the government will support the poorer only. There are many a change, perhaps you will want to talk with your casa owner about them and feel them for yourself! As an emerging industry, casa is still on its way to catch up with hotels, but casa owners are doing their best to provide guests with whatever is needed, and you will see their efforts! Of course there are also other options. If you want to stay at more expensive superior casas or hotels, we are glad to upgrade the service for you. Accommodation: Standard/Authentic Cuban B&B's
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Day 2: Drive to Cienfuegos through Bay of Pigs
Plaza José Martí, Cienfuegos Today, we will drive to Cienfuegos, “the Pearl of the South”. En route, stop by Bay of Pigs and visit Museo de la Intervención to learn a significant slice of history about the revolution the bay witnessed. You will have some time to wander on Playa Coco Beach, with a chance to swim or snorkel! Then continue to Cienfuegos. We will first head for the Spanish Jagua Castle, a lookout point onto the bay. You might spot the ruins of Juragua Nuclear Plant from here, a result of Cuba’s joint efforts with the Soviet Union. Later, dive deep into what was once the colonial town - initially designed by a French immigrant - and walk the streets packed with French-style buildings. You will love the coastal atmosphere which blends Caribbean and French cultures, just as UNESCO does! Here, we will visit Plaza José Martí and see some of the most classic buildings, including Tomás Terry Theater, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, and Ferrer Palace. We will enter Palacio Del Valle (now housing a restaurant) for a drink after a drive along an esplanade. With Arabic and even Gothic touches, you will find the villa distinctive from other buildings you’ve visited. Afterwards, stay at Malecón for a while to appreciate the beautiful coastal scene. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Standard/Authentic Cuban B&B's
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Day 3: Cienfuegos - Santa Clara - Trinidad
After breakfast, drive to Santa Clara. We just can’t miss Che Guevara Mausoleum, where Cuba’s most famous adopted hero was laid to rest. Continue on to Trinidad. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a guided township walk. This UNESCO-preserved town also has colorful colonial heritage, which was once backed up by the sugar industry, with a charm different than Cienfuegos. Must-see buildings include Cantero Palace and Romance Museum. Your guide will also make sure you won’t miss a stroll through Plaza Mayor, the central square oozing Caribbean warmth. If time permits, we will also arrange an informal lesson for you to learn salsa dance (or the lesson will take place in Viñales Valley). An interesting truth about salsa is that, it’s originally a street dance expressed freely for its hotch-potch nature. Just like its meaning “sauce” in Spanish, salsa is actually a blend of many ingredients. Taino dance provides the simple structure, while the Spanish and Africans respectively introduced partnered dancing and lively movements. It’s through many years later of mixing with other Latin dances that salsa was finally born. So, be confident when you move your body! Such an inclusive dance is more than willing to integrate your personal expressions. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Standard/Authentic Cuban B&B's
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With rich history and natural beauties, Trinidad has a magic catering to everyone, so we decide to leave a free day for you to explore whatever and wherever you like.
● Recommended Activities to Make the Most of Trinidad Trip
You can consider joining a tour to Valley of the Sugar Mills, the old center of sugar industry, and climb the Manaca Iznaga bell tower to enjoy sweeping vistas of the sugar plantations below. How about hiking at Topes de Collantes National Park to spot endemic flora and fauna, and be amazed by the Salto del Caburní waterfall? If you are a beach person and want some diving, Playa Ancón beach or a catamaran cruise from Trinidad Marina to Cayo Blanco offer great chances.
For culture explorers, check out the Municipal Museum or the Cantero Palace you’ve seen yesterday to learn about Trinidad’s history. Browse Arts & Crafts Market and La Casa del Alfarero Potter House to marvel at local pottery art. When the night falls, sit at the open-air Casa de la Música to hear live music and watch people dance.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Standard/Authentic Cuban B&B's
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Today, we plan to drive 8 hours to Viñales Valley. The long drive indeed can make one flinch, but it may depend. Your guide will see whether to return to Havana to overnight, in which case you will head for Viñales Valley (3 hours’ drive from Havana) tomorrow.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Standard/Authentic Cuban B&B's
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Day 6: Havana - Viñales Valley
Time to unravel the mystery of legendary Cuban cigars! Today we will arrive in Viñales Valley, one of the best lands in the world to grow tobacco leaves and where the best Cuban cigars are made. Upon arrival, we will visit a tobacco farm and see the tobacco drying process. Lunch over enjoying the scenic view of Viñales Valley at the organic farm Finca Agro-ecological El Paraiso, the dishes in which are all made with fresh vegetables from a nearby farmland. A free afternoon is in store. ● Recommended Activities to Enjoy Viñales Valley On this karst-formed land, you can expect visit to caves to escape tropical heat and appreciate prehistoric murals. Santo Tomas Caves was once the shelter for Cuban revolutionaries and fleeing slaves; an hour and a half would allow you to dive 1 km (0.6 mi). Another we recommend is Indian Cave, where you can have a subterranean boat trip. More of a hiker up than going down? The Coco Solo and Palmarito Magotes trail suits best, which rewards you a view of Valley of Silence and the bizarre Mural de la Prehistoria. For foodies, you can ask your guide where you can find a casa particular to learn how to make Cuban dishes; or, simply try Restaurante Bar Razones, whose lobsters with prices much lower than in Havana would make your mouth water! Just experiment and diversify your fun to enjoy this afternoon to the fullest! Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Standard/Authentic Cuban B&B's
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Day 7: Vinales Valley - Havana
Havana Local Bar with Live Music After breakfast in hotel, we will drive back to Havana. Upon arrival, continue to have a Havana City Tour on a classic American car. Of course you won’t miss the esplanade of Malecón and the beauty of Morro Castle - the fort built to defend Havana from pirates three centuries ago - just across a strait. As most vintage cars are not equipped with safety belts and roof, which might include yours, for safety you should never feel embarrassed to ask your driver to keep the speed down even on the broadest flat road. Let’s just go easy on those antiques, to prevent the slightest possibility for them to be cranky! For lunch, if you prefer some classy Cuban-style dining experience and service, the top-rated Restaurante 5 Sentidos in Old Havana would be your best choice. This afternoon, you will be taken to Old Havana to learn how to make a mojito on the rooftop of a casa particular, the favorite drink of Earnest Hemingway. Here is a preview: you will squeeze the essence from lime wedges and mint leaves, mix them with sugar and ice cubes, and pour in rum and club soda. Abracadabra! Now a glass of mojito is born! It sounds easy and simple to make, but the quantities of each ingredient? A local bartender, your teacher, will reveal the secrets. Tonight, you will enjoy a stunning farewell dinner with your guide and the other group members. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Accommodation: Standard/Authentic Cuban B&B's
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Day 8: Havana Airport see-off
Today is the last day of your 8-Day Cuba Vacation Package. We will send you to Havana airport and see you off at the airport according to your flight schedule. It's suggested we get you there at least three hours prior to departure, for you to go through the checking procedure on time. You should beware that the low efficiency at the check-in counter - the working staff may delay you with various questions in order for tips - and the anqituiated ticket machine would take you a lot of time. Wish you a pleasant trip home! ● Seize the Chance to Explore Havana Further in Your Free time: Technically, today is the day you are leaving Havana, but you don’t have to come back home too early. You get a whole day’s time to be on your own, so why not make more memories of Havana while you are still be able to? Have you tried the Coppelia ice cream, the brand established by Fidel Castro? Grab one on your way to Fusterlandia in Jaimanitas. Once a run-down neighborhood, with efforts and imagination of the artist José Fuster it has converted into a kaleidoscopic wonderland with buildings all covered with mosaic tiles. If you desire more knowledge about Che and the relevant history, the museum of La Cabaña de Che Guevara, where Che Guevara lived when he’s in Havana during the revolution, is the place to go. Intriguingly, just a hundred meters away stands the imposing white-marble Christ of Havana, erected by Batista’s wife to bless her husband. It’s also not a waste of time to see Old Havana again, and this time perhaps you want to explore the backstreets buzzing with real life. A heads-up: what comes along might include unpalatable scenes that are always avoided by tourism ads but actually part of everyday life. Occasionally you might encounter waste water discharged on the streets and unknown liquids dripping from tall buildings. Also keep an eye on potential threats on safety posed by . Meals: Breakfast
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