Cuba half and half
(15 days)

Arrival in Havana, airport check-in and transfer to a casa particular in the city center. Accommodation, dinner on your own, overnight stay. In case of arrival in the morning hours, you can add to your itinerary a cooking lesson – „Flavors of Havana” or an excursion of the city’s panoramic terraces – „Havana rooftops” (additional fee).

After breakfast, meeting with your local guide and exploring the capital of Cuba – Havana. The program includes, among others: photos at Callejón de Hammel – a colorful street with numerous murals inspired by Afro-Cuban culture and religion, the wide boulevards of Vedado district and an entrance to the legendary National Hotel, visited by celebrities, where we will have a drink. From here, an American convertible will take us on a ride around the city: Malecón – Havana’s emblematic seafront promenade and meeting place for its inhabitants; the exclusive Miramar neighborhood with its Fifth Avenue full of embassies, El Bosque de La Habana (Havana Forest), Revolution Square and the area around El Morro fortress with a wonderful panorama of the city. After lunch at the local restaurant, we will walk around Habana Vieja (old town) with its historical squares and places associated with Ernest Hemingway: La Bodeguita del Medio bar, Cathedral Square, Arms Square – the place where Havana was founded, with the oldest fortress in the city and the Governor’s Palace, Ambos Mundos Hotel. Then we will take a salsa class with Cuban instructors near Saint Francis Square and sit in one of the pubs in the Old Square with its beautiful colonial architecture. From here we will go to dinner with Buena Vista Social Club concert. Return to the accommodation place on your own.

After breakfast, we’ll visit a cigar factory, from where a coco-taxi will take us through the Havana’s Center and Chinatown to Central Park, where we will see the Grand Theatre building, National Museum of Fine Arts and the oldest hotels on the island and visit the interior of the Capitol – a monumental building created as the seat of the Cuban parliament. We will have a daiquirí at one of Hemingway’s favorite bars – El Floridita and go for a lunch at the local restaurant. In the afternoon, free time on the Obispo street, which has numerous souvenir stores and a walk along Paseo del Prado to the former Presidential Palace, which now houses the Museum of the Revolution (from the outside). We will sit down for a coffee in one of the many cafes in the vicinity of Angel’s Hill and return to the casa particular. Dinner on your own or, for those willing, dinner and show at the famous Tropicana cabaret, which before the revolution delighted the eyes of many an American mafioso (additional charge).

After breakfast, check out and we will head towards Pinar del Río province to one of the most beautiful corners of Cuba. The Viñales Valley, famous for its tobacco plantations, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. We will start the excursion with photos at Los Jazmines viewpoint, from where you can admire the majestic limestone mogots. Then we will explore one of these rocks from the inside during a visit to the Indian Cave and a short boat trip on an underground river. After lunch at the local restaurant, we will visit a nearby tobacco plantation, where we will learn the secrets of rolling Cuban cigars (with the possibility of tasting and shopping). For those willing (for an additional fee), a short horse ride around the Viñales area. At the end, we will drink a piña colada under the Mural of Prehistory – one of the largest wall paintings in the world – and we will check-in at a casa particular in Viñales. In the evening, a short walk around the town, and for those willing, dinner (extra fee).

After breakfast, check out and transfer to Soroa – a town with a beautifully situated botanical garden specializing in orchids, where we also learn about other numerous species of Cuban flora. Then we will visit a former coffee plantation and drink a great coffee in Las Terrazas, from where we will drive towards Zapata Peninsula National Park. Upon arrival, lunch with a crocodile meat, followed by a visit to a crocodile farm. At the end, we will look for hummingbirds and check-in in Playa Larga. In the evening, going out for a dinner (extra charge).

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the Bay of Pigs, where we will swim in the Caribbean Sea and in a nearby cenote (possibility of renting snorkelling equipment for a fee). All-inclusive lunch with drinks included. In the afternoon, time for photos at Playa Girón – site of the 1961 American invasion of Cuba – and transfer to Cienfuegos – a city called the „Cuban Pearl of the South”. We will visit the center of the town: the main square with the buildings of the town hall, cathedral and the Tomas Terry Theater, the boulevard and the monument of Benny More. Then we will drive through Paseo del Prado (the longest promenade in Cuba) and Malecón for a drink at the beautiful Palacio del Valle. Accommodation in a casa particular and overnight stay. For those willing, dinner at the local restaurant (extra fee).

After breakfast transfer to the beach on the Caribbean Sea on the Ancón Peninsula. Lunch at the local restaurant. In the afternoon, free time in Trinidad or (optionally and for an additional fee) a horseback riding excursion through the surrounding villages to the foothills of the Sierra Escambray Mountains and time to swim in the natural pools. Coffee tasting along the way. Return to Trinidad, dinner (additional fee) and overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the Sugar Mills Valley. On the way, we will stop at a viewing point, where those willing will be able to try their hand at a canopy tour – zipline above the Valley (additional fee). Then we will visit the Manaca Iznaga estate (a hacienda of sugar cane planters, a viewing tower and freshly squeezed cane juice – guarapo). From here it is not far to the provincial capital – Sancti Spíritus. A walk from the main square to the oldest stone bridge in Cuba, built over the Yayabo River, lunch and a short visit to Remedios, famous for its „Parrandas” (local carnivals) and the oldest church on the island. Transfer to the island of Cayo Santa María. Accommodation in a 4* all inclusive hotel and farewell to the guide.

All-inclusive hotel stay on one of the most beautiful Cuban beaches: sunbathing, swimming in the ocean and pools, use of bars, restaurants, water sports equipment and hotel animation and sports programs. For an additional fee, it is possible to book a higher standard hotel and take advantage of optional excursions sold at the hotel (e.g. catamaran cruise and interaction with dolphins; diving).

After breakfast, check out and drive towards Havana. On the way, a short stop at the Memorial del Che (the burial place of the famous revolutionary) in Santa Clara – a town which capture by Che Guevara was decisive for the triumph of the Cuban revolution. Accommodation in a casa particular and time at your own disposal in Havana. Lunch and dinner on your own.

After breakfast, free time for your own disposal, check-out (by 12.00) and transfer to Havana airport depending on departure time.

Day 1. transfer from Havana airport to the city center = approx. 25 km
Day 2. sightseeing in Havana = approx. 40 km
Day 3. sightseeing in Havana = approx. 20 km
Day 4. route: Havana – Viñales Valley = approx. 200 km
Day 5. route: Viñales Valley – Soroa – Las Terrazas – Zapata Peninsula – Playa Larga = approx. 380 km
Day 6. route: Playa Larga – Bay of Pigs – Cienfuegos = approx. 120 km
Day 7. route: Cienfuegos – El Nicho – Trinidad = approx. 150 km
Day 8. trip from Trinidad to the Ancón Peninsula = approx. 30 km
Day 9. route: Trinidad – Sugar Mills Valley – Sancti Spíritus – Remedios – Cayo Santa María = approx. 220 km
Day 10. day off
Day 11. day off
Day 12. day off
Day 13. day off
Day 14. route: Cayo Santa María – Santa Clara – Havana = approx. 400 km
Day 15. transfer from Havana city center to the airport = approx. 25 km

The entire route = approx. 1610 km

passports and other required documents, cash in euros or dollars and credit cards, medicines and medical supplies, American-type power adapters, comfortable shoes, sun protection (cap / hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), men long pants for the Tropicana show, suitable trousers or leggings for horse riding, repellents, swimwear, beach towels and snorkeling equipment. Read this before your travel

local guide service (languages: English / Spanish / Polish / French / German) from day 2-9, transport during the entire itinerary, including airport transfers, accommodation in a casa particular double rooms with breakfast (9 nights: Havana x 4, Viñales x 1, Playa Larga x 1, Cienfuegos x 1, Trinidad x 2), in a 4* all inclusive hotel (Cayo Santa María x 5 nights), meals: 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, dinner with a Buena Vista concert, 5 x all inclusive in Cayo Santa María, entrance fees and attractions described in the itinerary, TU Europa Travel World Standard Plus travel insurance, contributions to the Tourist Guarantee Fund and the Aid Fund

airline tickets, Cuban visa (tourist card – order from us now for 25 EUR / pers.), dinners (apart from 1 included in the itinerary, approx. 20 EUR / meal), „Flavors of Havana” package – cooking class – from 65 EUR / pers. or „Havana Rooftops” package – from 45 EUR / pers., dinner at the Tropicana cabaret – 105-125 EUR / pers. (transport paid additionally), horse riding in Viñales Valley – 15 EUR / pers., snorkelling equipment rental in the Bay of Pigs – approx. 5 EUR / pers., horse riding in Trinidad – 20 EUR / pers., canopy tour in the Sugar Mill Valley – 10 EUR / pers., optional excursions in Cayo Santa María (the offer will be presented by the guide on site), tips (in restaurants, attractions, for drivers and guides), own expenses and purchase of souvenirs. Single room surcharge – 350 EUR / pers.

the order of the tour is subject to change depending on the availability of accommodation and opening days / hours of the facilities visited. The price of the tour includes airport transfers for the Havana airport. In the case of other airports – the price may vary. Cigar factories in Cuba are closed on weekends and from 25/12-15/01 and from 23/07-19/08. Children are not allowed to visit the factory. In such situations, another attraction agreed with the Customers is carried out. The price of the package includes TU Europa Travel World Standard Plus travel insurance. You should familiarize yourself with its General Terms and Conditions (GTC) and – if it does not meet your needs – buy insurance with a broader scope of protection on your own. Optionally, you can purchase Cancellation Costs insurance (check the details here).