Travel Tours Cuba
Havana, Bay of Pigs & Viñales
- Tour Dates: On Request.
- Group Size: 8 min – 12 max
- View Cuba Map
- View Itinerary
- Tour Dates: On Request.
- Group Size: 8 min – 12 max
- View Cuba Map
- View Itinerary
- $3775/person (double occupancy)
- $675/person Single Room supplement
- $3775/person (double occupancy)
- $675/person Single Room supplement
What’s Included in Cuba Tour
- Cuban health insurance which is required
- Compliance with US Treasury Department for Support the Cuban People Visa.
- Cuban Airport Departure Tax
- Twelve nights in 3 & 4 star hotels and Casa Particulares (privately owned B&Bs) for two people sharing
- Transfers to and from airports in Camaguey and Santiago
- All local ground transportation with driver and English-speaking Cuban guide.
- Admission to venues as described in itinerary.
- Dance class in Santiago
- Breakfast everyday, two dinners.
- Full time Spanish speaking American Tour Leader and English speaking Cuban guide.
- A personalized packet of information including market buying tips, restaurant recommendations and information on places you will visit.
What’s Not Included
- Airfare to/from your home to Cuba.
- Cuban Tourist Visa ($85)
- Hotel Lodging in Miami, if necessary
- Airline baggage fees depending on the airline.
- Trip/Travel Insurance (Strongly recommended)
- Single Room Supplement for rooming alone. ($550)
- Some meals as per itinerary
- Beverages
- Tips at Meals
- Gratuities for Guides and Drivers.
- Taxis or other ground transport not included in the itinerary
- International airport taxes
Tour to Havana, the Bay of Pigs & Viñales
Overview. We will fly from Florida to Havana, which is the lively and colorful heart of Cuba. We enjoy a wide range of activities to Support the Cuban People. For example, we will walk through beautifully restored Old Havana, attend a private music concert tracing the history of Cuban music, enjoy a private curated tour of the Museum of Bellas Artes, and visit the grounds of the Institute Superior de Arte.
To fully understand the history of this region, we will visit the Bay of Pigs and spend the night after visiting the museum dedicated to the U.S government’s failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro. We will also visit the eco-village called Las Terrazas. Further west we drive to Pinar del Rio and the beautiful valley of Viñales, famed for its limestone mountains, called Mogotes, which rise majestically from the valley floor. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Viñales shows us how Cubans live and work in the countryside.
Detailed Cuba Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Havana, Cuba
Arrival in Havana, Cuba
Upon arrival in Havana, we will be met by our guide, driver and private vehicle. We will take a drive through Havana with stops at historical locations such as the Plaza de la Revolucion where Fidel Castro made many speeches to the Cuban people. Check into our casa particular located in the stylish Vedado neigborhood. Evening concert by Dr. Alberto Faya, noted musician, professor and researcher. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner on our first night in Cuba.
Lodging: Casa Particular
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2: Old Havana
Old Havana
We will enjoy a walking tour of Havana Vieja (Old Havana) led by noted architect Anibal del Prado. This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts an abundance of architectural jewels spanning 500 years. Mr. del Prado has been involved in a number of major restorations in this district and with his guidance we will learn of the accomplishments and the challenges still facing the preservation of Havana. We will also meet with a Cuban family living in Havana Vieja and learn how they get by despite the continuing sanctions of the American Embargo
Lodging: Casa Particular
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 3: Western Havana, Vedado & the Malecon
Western Havana, Vedado & the Malecon
Today we will enjoy visiting historical attractions of Hanoi. We will discover that Hanoi is a blend of the modern with the mystery and charm of past centuries; Hanoi offers an air of elegance and harmony with nature. We begin with a visit Ba Dinh Square to see Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum; then visit the Presidential Palace; see the simple cottage where he lived and worked and One Pillar pagoda or Chua Mot Cot originally built in 1049 A.D. We continue to Westlake and the Tran Quoc Pagoda. Also, we will visit Van Mieu or Temple of Literature, which dates back to 1070 and is dedicated to the cult of Confucius. We will have lunch in a colorful local restaurant where President Obama lunched with Anthony Bourdain. After lunch we will stop at the Ethnology Museum to learn about the many varied ethnic groups of Vietnam. Our final stop is the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton” by American prisoners-of-war during the Vietnam War.
Hotel: Lucien Hanoi Hotel & Spa
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 4: Havana to Las Terrazas
Havana to Las Terrazas
Today, we drive to Mai Chau, a region in the mountains in which various minority groups of ethnic Thai people live. The White Thai and the Black Thai tribes came from the southern part of China in the 7th – 13th centuries. Along the drive, we will stop to visit the Muong Tribe and also stop at the Thung Khe Pass for a spectacular view of the Mai Chau Valley. We will enjoy a typical lunch with a family of the White Thai tribe and then have free time to meet other villagers. In the afternoon, we will bicycle for a couple of hours through small villages with terraced rice paddies, set amidst the natural beauty of the valley. We will also visit the villages of Pom Coong and Na Phon. Then we will check into the Minh Tho Mai Hich Homestay and have time to relax at their small pool before dinner. In the evening we will have the opportunity to prepare and cook dinner with the family who own the Homestay.
Lodging: Minh Tho Mai Hich Homestay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Las Terrazas
Las Terrazas
Enjoy breakfast at the Hotel La Moka and then have a full day of optional outdoor activities, ranging from zip-lining, visiting the world renowned artist Lester Campa or visiting a former French coffee plantation.
Lodging: Hotel La Moka
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 6: Las Terrazas to Pinar del Rio to Viñales
Las Terrazas to Pinar del Rio to Viñales
We journey to meet Fernando Funes at his farm in La Finca Marta. Dr. Funes is a world-renowned agricultural specialist who has developed a revolutionary way of farming that he uses to supply much of the produce for the paladares all around Havana. We will also enjoy lunch on the farm.
Then we continue to Pinar del Rio for a stop at Proyecto Grabadown (Down’s Syndrome Community Center). The Grabadown Project was started 10 years ago by Jesús Carrete and his daughter Linianna, who was born with Down’s Syndrome. The project has evolved into a community center that allows families with special-needs children to receive the support they need while giving the children a space to express themselves through art, singing, and dancing.
Then we continue (45 min.) on to Viñales where we will meet our local guide Yaniel Luis. We’ll check into our casas and and then have dinner.
Lodging: Casa Particular
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7: Viñales and Havana
Viñales and Havana
This morning, Yaniel will greet us for a morning stroll through the Viñales Valley, as we take in the stunning beauty of Western Cuba. We will venture to a tobacco farm where we will be greeted by a local farmer who will take us through the process creating their world-famous cigars from seed to cigar. Artisan cigars will be available for purchase (highly recommended).
Lunch will be a farm-to-table meal served adjacent to the tobacco barn. This authentic home-cooked meal is sure to be a highlight. Following lunch, we will visit the house of painter Ramon Vazquez, known for his unique take on the Viñales landscape and the impact of tourism on the region. Later in the afternoon, we will return to Havana and check into our casa particular.
Lodging: Casa Particular
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Havana
Havana
This morning, we visit to the Instituto Superior de Arte (Superior Institute of Art), the most prestigious art educational institution in Cuba, from which many important artists of the nation have graduated. This tour is going to be hosted by art historian Gretel Medina and her colleagues, and/or Architect Dr. Universo Garcia.
Lunch at a local paladar with Jorge Mario Sanchez (on your own). Dr. Sanchez is a professor at the University of Havana, and holds 2 PhDs (History and Economics), and offers a unique take on the United States and the relationship between the Cuban and American people.
In the afternoon, we will visit Cuba Libro, an English language bookstore opened by American journalist Conner Gorry. A resident of Havana for 17+ years, she will share her thoughts about life in Cuba. Her view of what is happening in Cuba is fascinating. Also, she will also introduce 2-3 English speaking Cubans to share their perspectives with us.
Lodging: Casa Particular
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 9: Havana to Bay of Pigs
Havana to Bay of Pigs
After breakfast, we depart Havana to journey (2.5 hrs) to Playa Giron, or what we know as the Bay of Pigs. After arriving we will go to a local paladar for lunch . Following lunch, we will explore the Bay of Pigs Museum, and head down to the beach where the invasion took place. We’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the area while taking in the view one of history’s most famous battlefields. Dinner will be served at a Local Paladar
Lodging: Casa Particular
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 10: Bay of Pigs to Havana
Bay of Pigs to Havana
Check out of our casas and board the bus to journey back to Havana. We will lunch at a local paladar upon arrival. Following lunch, we will take a private curated tour of one of Havana’s most famous museums, the Museo de Bellas Artes. This stunning collection features work from Cuba’s most prominent artists from centuries past up through the Revolution to today. We will focus on the Modern and Contemporary collections. Following our tour, we will check into our casas in Havana and enjoy the rest of the afternoon on our own. In the evening we will enjoy a Farewell Dinner at an upscale paladar.
Lodging: Casa Particular
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Havana to U.S.
Hoi An – Da Nang
After breakfast at our casa particular, we will check out and go to Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport where we will catch our flight back to Florida.
Meals Included: Breakfast
