Highlights
- Old Havana and fortifications declared by UNESCO world heritage site.
- Visit worldwide famous havano cigar factory Partagás.
- Know beautiful Viñales Valley with the rare “mogotes” hill declared Biosphere Reserve of the planet.
- Know rural Cuba and interact with Cuban locals and farmers.
- Visit best tobacco farm in Vuelta Abajo, western Cuba.
- Talk with Cubans with private business in western Cuba.
- Private guesthouse accommodation throughout the 7 days private tour.
Places you will visit:
Havana, Viñales Valley, Vuelta Abajo, Soroa and Las Terrazas
- DAY 1 HAVANA
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Arrival at Havana International Airport Jose Martí.
Meet and Greeting at the Airport.
Private Transfer to accommodation.
Check In at the private guesthouse centrally located in Old or Central Havana, Vedado or Miramar.
If times allow, after some relax, get ready to initiate a panoramic tour of Havana, visiting main avenues and sites in Old and Central Havana, as well as the in Vedado neighborhood, entrance to the Hotel Nacional de Cuba and visit its photo gallery with picture of many famous people who has been guest of hotel in the 90 years of National Hotel existence many famous artist from Hollywood and from the world.
Returning to the lodging, free time to have dinner and goes around to experience the City at the evening.
Hardly recommended is show of the Cannon Fire , a Havana tradition that has been followed for many years resembling the event took place at 9 PM every night during the colonial time when the guard of the Fortress of Cabañas fire a cannon to advise the inhabitants of the city the time in which the doors of the wall was going to be close to protest the citizens from the pirates and corsairs´ attack which were abundant in the Caribbean Sea looking to assaults and robbery easy Spanish targets possibilities of assaulting colonial Spanish cities and ships).
Also different options to enjoy night life in Havana like going to spectacular Tropicana Show or to Parisien Cabaret or going to El Guajirito or Havana Café where best Cuban musician who played with the Buena Vista Social Club perform.
- Day 2 HAVANA
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08:00 Breakfast.
09:00 Full walking tour of Old Havana, starting from the Templete where it is believe , according to the available written information and research, San Cristobal de la Habana villa was founded by the Spaniards on Nov 19, 1519, which last year celebrated its 500´s Anniversary of foundation.
From there you will be visiting Plaza de Armas, oldest Square of Old Havana, entrance to Capitanes Generales Palace which is considered most representative building of the Cuba´s Barroco architecture . It was built in 1792 after 16 years of construction. At that palace were rooted the spanish colonial government of Cuba and was home of 67 governors from Spain since its existence. After Spanish rule the Capitanes Generales Palace was transformed into Presidential Palace of Cuba after independence until 1920.
Today is one of the most important and famous Museum in Havana to appreciate the history, culture and architecture of the colonial times.
Also on one of the corner you will appreciate Palace of Segundo Cabo, headquarter of the Spanish guard and army during colonial time in charge of the security of the capital.
After you will walk to the following Square , San Francisco de Asis Square, the second oldest square where you will see important buildings like San Francisco de Asís Convent, the Lonja del Comercio, center of trading in Cuba during the XX Century , and significant Palaces which nowadays has been converted in boutique hotels.
Visit the Old Square also with significant buildings and palace, of a great ambiance during days and nights in Havana´s today and finally the Cathedral Square where imponent Havana´s Cathedral stance.
Few steps from Havana Cathedral you will visit the Bodeguita del Medio´s famous bar and restaurant from the fifties , a bohemian restaurant and bar meeting point of intellectual generations of intellectual Cubans , artist, writer since is creation in the 40´s and 50´s and where the Mojito´s cocktail was created. Walking on the Obispo Boulevard where hotel Ambos Mundos is located you will reach worldwide famous restaurant El Floridita , preferable bar of Hemingway in Havana, where Daiquiri cocktail based on white rum , lemon, sugar and soda water was created.
After that you visit the famous Marti Park in Old Havana at the center of Avenida Paseo del Prado one of the most beautiful in the Old City, see the Grand Theater of Havana, and majesty Capitol of Havana building , very impressive construction recently refurbished which is considered by some experts as one of the six most relevant palaces in the world.
From there you will get a classic old American vintage car with driver and your local guide to travel through Old, Central and Modern Havana starting from the Capitol which is the point of cero kilometer in Havana driving through elegant Paseo del Prado´s avenue with lovely central boulevard and many interesting buildings to enjoy Malecon Habanero a 7 kms way see front . This promenade is most visited place by habaneros, and everyone travelling to Havana, a place to enjoy Havana and romance Havana. Move into Miramar residential area , an aristocratic area of Havana where most of rich people before 1959 had their residence , moving through fifth avenue you will reach west town of Siboney residential exclusive area ( also name in the fifties as the Country Club area because there used to me most exclusive private club for rich people and their family before 1959.
Then return to Vedado area where you will see Revolution Square and Memorial Marti ( you will drop off to take pictures) as well as main government buildings.
You will see then Colombus Cemetery , one of the greatest and historical beautiful Cemetery in América and in the world with more than 500 mausoleums, chapels and family vaults; then visit President and Paseo Avenues with their lovely parks full of trees, and green as well as statues of greatest latin american personalities; visit the University of Havana, La Rampa area on famous 23 Street , the must-visited Coppelia ice cream parlor , the first Hilton Hotel built outside USA , the art center of Pabellon Cuba, one of the Habana´s handcraft and art fair until you reach Hotel Nacional de Cuba , one of the Cuba´s historical hotel built in 1930 which has been witness of many historical events through out its 90 years of existence.
Visit the Hall of Fame where you will be seeing pictures of many world leaders and world famous people including Hollywood artist and American boss mafia people who has been guest of the Hotel over the years.
You will return to the hotel or will stay free on your own.
20:00 Welcome Dinner at one of the best family restaurant in Old Havana.
Accommodation in B & B at first class private guesthouse centrally located with old modern conditions to live.
B,D (Breakfast and Dinner included).
- Day 3 HAVANA
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After breakfast, leaving to visit the Hemingway museum at Finca Vigía, south of Havana city, bought by Hemingway in 1940 to establish his residence in Havana until 1960 when he left definitely Cuba for USA..
It is considered one of the best and most complete museum about life of legendary novelist Ernest Hemingway. You will see there lot of things who belongs to him and his wives, books, prizes from his world adventures . Apart from house itself you will see its Pilar Yacht on which together with his Cuban friend and captain Gregorio Fuentes he navigate through the waters of the Gulf surrounding Cuba including keys and small island he discover or visit during those adventures.
After that you will visit Cojimar fishermen town, who he used to visit very often specially when writing his master novel piece Old Man and the Sea which tell story about the experience of fishermen at the high Sea , along trying to catch fish for leaving , fighting adversities. You will see the many pictures of these times on the wall of Las Terrazas de Cojímar, the restaurant-bar where he had more chats with Cojimar´s fisherman who came here after work to tray selling the catch fishes of the day.
After driving through Cojimar´s town you will visit on a day time the Morro Cabañas Fortress external area from where you will have an spectacular view on Havana City and the promenade ( Malecón Habanero) from the other side of the harbor great for taking pictures of Havana.
Then you will move into Casablanca town and see the Christo of Havana and the Institute of Meteorology.
Going into Guanabacoa town, one of the oldest in Havana, which played an important role in defending Havana from the attack of british army in the XVIII Century. You will visit the Museum of Orishas where you will learn about afrocuban religion and culture in Cuba. If time allows you will see an exhibition of dancing ritual of afrocuban religion.
From there you will visit Fusterlandia on Havana´s west town of Jaimanita, where famous painter Jose Fuster, also known as the Picasso of the Caribbean has implemented around his home a sort of life gallery of popular art painting façade of many houses providing a very nice artist atmosphere in the neighborhood.
Free time in Havana.
Accommodation in B & B at first class private guesthouse centrally located with old modern conditions to live.
B (breakfast included).
- Day 4 HAVANA- VIÑALES VALLEY
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07:30 Breakfast.
08:00 Departing for tour of Viñales Valley´s wonderful land , caves and mogotes declared by UNESCO a world biosphere reserve, located in the western part of Cuba.
10:30 Entrance to the Indian Caves including a boat ride inside the cave, visit the painting wall Mural de la Prehistoria, an optional horse ride through Valley for 1 or 2 hours to get a really inside view of the marvels of Viñales Valley.
14:00 Luncheon at agroecology project Paraiso , interacting with farmers about development of small business and land property in Viñales.
Walking through the town, visit some of the private restaurants and bars, talk to locals about what tourism has brought to prosperity in Viñales Valley town and rural area.
At leisure.
Accommodation in B & B at private guesthouse with all modern conditions and air condition and private bat at the room.
Optional dinner, go out and enjoy the town of Viñales at evening and different night life´s venues to enjoy salsa music, campesino (countryside) music.
B,L ( breakfast and lunch included).
- Day 5 VIÑALES VALLEY-VUELTA ABAJO-VIÑALES VALLEY
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Before breakfast, trekking the Viñales Valley countryside for an 1 hour and so, appreciating the rural Cuba, how farmers prepare land for crop with the oxen which save gas and keep clean the atmosphere and rivers.
After that back to the Guesthouse for breakfast.
Then departing to nearby Vuelta Abajo region, land of best havano tobacco in Cuba, visit one of the most important and worldwide known tobacco farm , the Robaina farm known for the many havano´s brand they produced.
Lunch at the farm´s restaurant.
Departing for Jutia Cay , one of the hidden jewel beach of Cuba, enjoy and relax at your own path.
Back to the town of Viñales and enjoy your free time and evening.
Accommodation in B & B at private guesthouse with all modern conditions and air condition and private bat at the room.
B,L ( breakfast and lunch included).
- Day 6 VIÑALES VALLEY-SOROA- LAS TERRAZAS COMMUNITY-HAVANA.
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After breakfast, check out and depart to Soroa in the way to Havana. Soroa is known to be the Rainbow of Cuba due to frequency rainbow appears on the blue sky at top of the mountain.
Here in Soroa you will entrance to see one of the botanical garden most famous in Cuba, full of orchids from different part of the world, which were collected by the owner and brought into his farm in Soroa.
Also trekking through the area and know the Poza del Amor ( small yet pretty water falls) as well as Castillo de las Nubes building now prepared for receive international visitors.
Continuation to Las Terrazas Community , declared in 1985 by UNESCO as first Cuba Biosphere Reserve project with a total of 25,000 hectares of land in the Sierra del Rosario range in the western part of Cuba, the area was reforest to keep the habitat and endemic flora and fauna. The beauty of the community and its surroundings was a great cultural and human value , and the perfect context to develop rural and farm tourism.
Visit the Interpretation Center where an explanation of the entire project is provided to visitors, then move with a tour guide around the project, visit hotel La Moka, casa de Maria La Guajira to try its Cuban coffee , time to go to the ruins of a French coffee plantation, then to the river San Juan.
Optional dinner.
Continuation in the afternoon to Havana.
Check In at the private guesthouse, accommodation in B & B.
Free last evening in Havana.
Enjoy any of the many options you have to get a memorable remembering of your trip to Havana, Viñales Valley and western Cuba.
B (breakfast included).
- Day 7 HAVANA DEPARTURE.
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Breakfast.
Available transfer out upon request..
B (breakfast included).
Travel Itinerary
END OF SERVICES
Minimum 2 persons travelling and maximum 16 persons.
For SOLO traveler apply a supplement.
Tour recommended for small and medium size groups as well as families, friends travelling together, honeymooners.
Included:
- Accommodation at First class, centrally located private guesthouse with all modern conditions to live in including fresh homemade breakfast each morning.Lodging 4 nights in Havana and 2 nights in Viñales Valley.
- Visit Havana, Viñales Valley , San Juan y Martinez county, known as Vuelta Abajo in Pinar del Rio.
- Tour guide service in English during the whole program.
- All the visits and tours with the entrances indicated in the program.
- Comfortable and safe transportation with driver for all the visits and tours. It could be private transportation or public depending on the request and number of persons in the tours.
Not included:
- Airfare.
- Entry Visa to Cuba
- Medical nor travel insurance (medical insurance is mandatory in Cuba).
- Tips
- Other services not describe in the program.
- Personal expenses