USA LEGAL LUXURY AFFORDABLE CUBA TOUR

Highlights

• Old Havana tour, a wonder city chosen by the free vote on Internet from worldwide traveler.
• Classic American vintage car ride, an authentic experience in Havana.
• Havano Cigar experience in beautiful Viñales Valley.
• Visit Bay of Pigs biggest wetland in Cuba and the Caribbean main land.
• An architectural walk through the city of Cienfuegos, world heritage city.
• Explore charms of Trinidad, a colonial and artisanal city, well colonial legacy preserved in the Americas.

Places you will visit:

Havana, Viñales Valley, Bay of Pigs, Trinidad, Cienfuegos , Santa Clara

Itinerary

DAY 1 HAVANA

Welcome to largest island in the Caribbean.

On arrival at Havana International Airport you will be met by friendly cuban representative who will provide you a private comfortable transfer to the premium private guesthouse where you be staying next 3 days in Havana.

Since you most probably be arriving from USA at daytime, if not too tire, you may be interesting in having first encounter with enigmatic Havana. Your tour guide will be at disposal to initiate your havana urban adventure indicating where to go and if you prefer going with you .

Will be suggesting restaurant where to dine, explaining attractions you see.

Accommodation in B & B at centrally located premium-first class private guesthouse.

Day 2 HAVANA

After a tropical delicious fresh breakfast be ready to meet tour guide to initiate a colorful adventure at Old Havana declared world heritage city by UNESCO in conjunction with the fortifications built by Spain Crown to protect the city from the attack of pirates and corsairs in the XVI, XVII and XVIII Centuries.

You will have chance to learn about life in Havana, what is Cuban regular life in the city, will see markets where they bought food, popular transportation in Old Havana´s square , local customs. A real urban adventure where visitors will get immerse in a cultural learning experience not just a common tourist sightseeing tour. You will be interacting with the locals, seeing Afro Cuban faith believers, kids at schools and teachers taking care of them, construction workers, private entrepreneurs.

Starting from Plaza de Armas Square you will see “Templete” , place where Havana born 500 years ago on November 19, 1519. From there you will explore the Square seeing the Capitanes Generales Palace, built in the XVIII Century, which served until 1902 as the headquarter of the Spanish governors rule in the Island of Cuba.

Nowadays the Palace hold one of the most important History and Arts Museum about Spanish colonial time in Cuba.

By the side of the Palace you will find another very important building Palacio del Segundo Cabo where it was located the Spanish Guard of Havana during the colonial times.

From there you walk to next Square San Francisco de Asís , which take the name because there is located the San Francisco de Asís Convent built by the Franciscans Order in Cuba and one of best example of Baroque´s architecture in Cuba. The Convent was inaugurated in 1575 but it was not until 200 years later that its full construction finished. Here at this Square you will also find the Lonja del Comercio building which was Center of Merchandise Trade. You will appreciate the beautiful Lions Fountain, one of most pretties in the country as well as the Palace of San Felipe and Bejucal now converted in a 5* boutique Hotel.

Walking to the next square name Old Square which today is considered the more active and elegant with class ambiance due to many enjoyable coffee shops , restaurants, music venues, hotels and private guesthouse. It was the third square built in Old Havana in the XVI century, 100 meters close to the San Francisco de Asís Square. Old Square is made of great colonial residences all refurbished now which were the home of most rich family people in the colonial times.

Finally will visit the Cathedral Square in honor of lovely fantastic Havana Cathedral which you will have the chance to visit it if open. Here in the square there are arts galleries , restaurants, arts center like the famous Wilfredo Lam´s artist.

Also will visit the Bodeguita del Medio Bar restaurant where a welcome a Mojito cocktail wait for you. It is one of the restaurant-bar preferred by the intellectual class elite in Havana during the 40´s and 50´s , the mojito cocktail was created at the Bodeguita del Medio and today has conquered a great famous world wide mixology. It was one of must-visit Bar restaurant by American novelist Ernest Hemingway during his 21 years live experience in Havana.

From here you will go to admire other section of Old Havana in particular the Central Park and prestige Paseo del Prado Avenue, where amazing buildings will be found in particular the Grand Theater of Havana and Capitol of Cuba, considered by some architect and specialist one of the 6th most recognized Palace in the world.

You will visit then the Yoruba Association of Cuba where you will appreciate the relevance of the afro Cuban religion in the Cuban culture.

Then will jump into the American vintage classic car for touring Central and Modern Havana visiting the Havana Malecon ( Sea Promenade), the Revolution Square were most important government building are located and the Jose Marti Memorial, the Christopher Colombus Cemetery second most important in Latin America. Then reaching Vedado neighborhood with its lovely Avenues President and Paseo as well as great constructions were the residences of high Cuban class during the 30´s, 40´s and 50´s . Here you will be seeing very active 23 Stree, the University of Havana , the Tryp Havana Libre building-hotel, first Hilton built outside USA in 1957, the Napoleon Museum, ice cream parlor Coppelia , the Arts Exhibition Pavilion, going into Miramar residential area where most aristocratic sector of rich people live in the 40´s and 50´s , moving through Cuba´s Fifth Avenue and finally reaching the Hotel National de Cuba which you will explore . They have a nice hall of fame gallery where you will find pictures of many familiar known americans personalities who have been guest of this Hotel during its 90 years of existence.

Tonight you will enjoy a nice welcome dinner at one of best Cuban owned private restaurant in Havana where you will be able to chose from the Menu any dish including lobster . Enjoy your meal and evening.

Accommodation in B & B at centrally located premium-first class luxury private guesthouse.

B,D (Breakfast and Dinner included).

Day 3 Havana hidden: out of beaten path visit

08:30 Breakfast.

09:30 Leaving for Hemingway Museum at Finca Vigía farm located in the town of San Francisco de Paula 15 kilometers southeast of Havana. It was the residence of Hemingway in Havana, Cuba since 1939, he bought the farm following year in 1940 when he married his third wife Martha Gellhorn. It is considered one of the most complete Hemingway´s museum in the world. There you will see the Hemingway´s Yacht El Pilar , which he used for all his fishing adventures in the Cuban´s see. While leaving in Havana, Cuba Hemingway wrote his masterpiece Old Man and the Sea novel based based in real stories told by fishermen of Cojimar, a fishermen town east to Havana.

He won the Novel Prize literature award in 1954 and dedicated his medal to the Cuban people leaving the medal at the Sanctuary of Virgin Caridad del Cobre , patron of all Cubans .

You will also visit Cojimar and La Terraza de Cojimar restaurant where you will see pictures on the wall of Hemingway fishing and at this restaurant very famous at the time.

From Cojímar will visit the external area of Morro Cabaña fortress to have an excellent view over Havana City and the Promenade from the other side of the harbour, also will visit the small harbour´s town of Casa Blanca where you will see the Havana Christ and the Institute of Meteorology, then will go through Guanabacoa and Regla, two other important Havana´s town.

Then you will visit very interesting and populated towns of Cerro and Marianao with some interesting buildings to see, now very popular towns, mainly working class.

After a pause for lunch on your own, you will visit the preferable Bar restaurant of Hemingway in Havana, El Floridita where Daiquiri cocktail was created in the 30´s.

You will go directly to Jaimanita´s town , west of Havana where you will visit the Fuesterlandia painting project developed by Cuban painter Jose Fuster qualified by some experts as the Picasso of Caribbean.

After that you will visit the Hotel Nacional de Cuba where you will enjoy a mojito when you discover the many pictures of world leaders and famous personalities who has stayed in this emblematic hotel of Cuba since it was built in 1930.

Back to residence.

Free evening.

It is recommended to visit Ceremony of Cannon Fire which take place at 9pm at La Cabaña Fortress every night in Havana resembling old time tradition from colonial times when a cannon shut advise inhabitants of Havana that doors of the walled city was going to be close and no citizens could move in or out of the City. That all was built to protect Havana from attack of pirates and corsairs.

You could also enjoy nigh life in Havana , a very colorful and musical city with many venues to listen good music including Jazz, traditional Cuban music played by musicians who played at the Buena Vista Social Club group, even going to dance to best dancing venues in Havana from Casa de la Música to world famous Cabaret Tropicana or Parisien, or in many other Disco´s club in the capital.

Accommodation in B & B at centrally located premium-first class luxury private guesthouse.

B ( breakfast included).

Day 4 Havana- Las Terrazas- Viñales Valley

After breakfast we head to the western region of Cuba, known for its wonderful landscape and land of world best Cigar: Havano Cigar.

First stop will be at the ecological project Las Terrazas Community declared by UNESCO first Cuban Biosphere Nature Reserve, here you will get a detail explanation by specialist of Curujey Research Center of what has been achieve at this project, which cover 25,000 hectares of land in the Sierra del Rosario Hill´s range.

Visit the community and the ruins of a french coffee plantation , continuation to Viñales Valley , one of the wonder nature of Cuba.

Before reaching Viñales visit a cigar farm Montesinos where you will get a first hand experience of how the tobacco crop is kept generation after generation for hundreds of years talking to specialist and farmers.

Having lunch at the eco project Paraiso , from farm to table restaurant will be serving to you what is produce at the farm by private entrepreneurs.

Continuation to lookout Los Jazmines to get a fascinating view over the Viñales Valley and a visit to the fantastic art project at known Mural de la Prehistoria reflecting how life was looking at in prehistorical time.

Free evening to enjoy the nigh life ambiance of the town where you will be staying for today in a very comfortable first class private owned guesthouse.

Dinner on own, breakfast included today.

Day 5 : Viñales -Bay of Pig - Cienfuegos

Wake up early to participate in a one hour trekking tour inside the valley to get a sense how life and work is at the cuban countryside , see the farmers wor,ing the land, talk to them, visit their farm, appreciate rural schools.

Back to the guesthouse where after enjoying your breakfast, you will be departing toward central Cuba , first visiting Bay of Pigs (Península de Zapata) where you will have a free snorkeling 1 hour experience on the coastal caribbean waters.

You will also learn about historical events took place in this region in 1961 when brigades of cuban exiles disembarked in Bay of Pigs supported by CIA with the aim to topple Castro regime . This attempt failed in 72 hours battle in the zone but it had great impact in the USA-CUBA relations still lasting almost 60 years later.

Then you will visit Cienfuegos City, declared by UNESCO as a Cultural Heritage Site of Humankind arriving in the late afternoon.

You will check in at your boutique hotel/hostal centrally located.

A nice dinner will be offered to you at one of the best private owned restaurant in Cienfuegos.

Accommodation: Hotel boutique .

Meals included: Breakfast & dinner

Day 6 Cienfuegos-Trinidad .

This morning we explore the city of Cienfuegos. Founded in 1819 by French colonists it boasts a beautiful setting on a sweeping bay and two long pedestrian promenades with neo-Classical architecture. We start with a walking tour through Joe Marti Park, the historical center of Cienfuegos. Here you will appreciate one of rare Arcs of Triumph built in Cuba , the great Terry Theater. From there will see the beautiful Alameda and best neoclassical architecture example in Cienfuegos: Palacio del Valle and seaboard over the pretty Cienfuegos Harbor.

Last visit in Cienfuegos before continuing to Trinidad is social project Trazos Libres (Free Strokes), a community private cultural project which work with local cuban artist to help the development of culture and traditions in the community keep.

Departing to Trinidad City, 1.20 hour drive distance.

Arrive and check in at accommodation at boutique type premium private guesthouse .

Accommodation: Hotel/hostel boutique type in centrally located Trinidad.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Day 7 TRINIDAD

After breakfast, you will start a walking city tour of Trinidad, established by the Spaniards in 1514 and lined with cobblestone streets and colorful houses, the town of Trinidad offers great photo opportunities at every turn. Visit Santa Ana and Major Square , the Cathedral as well as Cantero Palace.

Going to traditional Canchanchara bar and try best local cocktail Canchanchara based in Cuban Aguardiente ( sugar cane brandy with honey and lemon) , You will keep walking through the tiny alleys and streets to reach private pottery workshop of Santander family, one of the most traditional family in Trinidad specialize in the production of pottery and handcraft for centuries. Also will visit the Santeria House to learn about the relevance of afrocuban culture in this region of Cuba.

After own lunch you will go to Manaca Iznaga Tower and Sugar Mill valley to learn importance of the valley in sugar mill production in XVIII Century which was the main support of richness and opulence in Trinidad can be appreciated today after refurbishing of the old city. You can climb the 7 store Tower to have a fantastic unique view of the Valley.

Try the guarapo ( sugar cane juice).

Leave back to the city.

Tonight you will enjoy an special dinner at one of best privately owned family restaurant ( Paladar) in Trinidad.

After dinner, free time to enjoy night life in very romantic Trinidad City, another great example of what private entrepreneurs and tourism can do for local development and prosperity.

Accommodation: Hotel/hostel boutique type in centrally located Trinidad.

B,D ( breakfast and dinner included).

Day 8 TRINIDAD –SANTA CLARA- HAVANA.

After breakfast chack out, departing to Havana.

I the way see historical City of Santa Clara where you will walk the historical center Vidal Park, see the Cathedral and main buildings , then going to see the Memorial Monument and Mausoleum of Che Guevara, a national hero of the modern Cuban revolution. After a stop for lunch you arrive back in Havana to a free afternoon and last evening in Havana.

Many options to enjoy your latest evening in Havana, enjoying a romantic nice dinner and if energies keep high after dinner, enjoy one of the great havana nights abundant of culture, music and dance.

Accommodation in B & B at centrally located premium-first class private guesthouse.

Meals included: Breakfast & lunch.

Day 9 Tour ends.

Breakfast.

Your tour ends today with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Meals included: Breakfast.

END OF SERVICES

Included:

• Accommodation in first class , luxury type private guesthouse centrally located in Old Havana or Central Havana , Vedado or Miramar area.
• Transportation with professional driver at disposal of clients 24 hours during the whole trip.
• All tours and entrances indicated on the Itinerary included.
• First best class tour guide with experience in luxury trips in full command of English language.
• 100% full staff participation in guaranteeing activities including in the tour and a free-trouble visit to Cuba.
• Bottles of mineral waters during the trip.
• 24 hours emergency phone number.

Not included:

• Airfare.
• Medical Insurance
• Tips
• Personal expenses.