In the shade of palms
and to the rhythm of the mañana
(12 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 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. Return to your casa particular for a rest. Dinner on your own, or for those willing, dinner with the Buena Vista Social Club concert (additional charge).

After breakfast, 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 also see the Paseo del Prado and have a daiquirí at one of Hemingway’s favorite bars – El Floridita. After some free time on the Obispo street, which has numerous souvenir stores, we will go to one of the local markets to learn about Cuban fruits and vegetables and how the islanders get the alimentary products they need. Then we will reach the home of our friends, where over a drink the hosts will tell us a bit about the history and traditions of local cuisine and where, under the supervision of specialists, we will prepare (and eat) a traditional Cuban meal. Return to the casa particular to rest. 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 transfer to visit the Rum Museum and Finca Vigía – the former home of Ernest Hemingway, which is now the oldest and largest museum in the world dedicated to this writer. We will also go for a walk through the fishing village of Cojimar, which inspired him to create the novella „The Old Man and the Sea” and head towards Soroa – a town with a beautifully situated botanical garden specializing in orchids, where we will also learn about other numerous species of Cuban flora. A few steps further we will find a charming small waterfall, giving the opportunity to swim in natural pools. In the afternoon, drive towards the province of Pinar del Río to one of the most beautiful corners of Cuba. On the way, we will stop for photos at Los Jazmines viewpoint, from where you can admire the majestic limestone mogotes and have a dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation in a casa particular in Viñales and overnight stay.

After breakfast, we will set off to explore the Viñales Valley, famous for its tobacco plantations, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. First, we will go on horseback or by oxcart (your choice) to a nearby tobacco plantation, where we will learn the secrets of rolling Cuban cigars (with the option of tasting and shopping). Then, we will explore one of the mogotes limestone rocks from the inside, visiting the Indian Cave and taking a short boat tripe on an underground river. After checking out of our casa particular, we’ll have lunch at a local restaurant and drink a piña colada under the Mural of Prehistory – one of the largest wall paintings in the world. We will spend the afternoon on the picturesque Cayo Jutías beach, from where we will travel to Las Terrazas for the night. Dinner is on your own.

After breakfast, check-out and walk around Las Terrazas and a former coffee plantation, then drive towards Zapata Peninsula National Park. A visit to the crocodile farm, where we will see both several-month-old crocodiles and adults, and we will have a lunch with a crocodile meat. In the afternoon we will look for hummingbirds and have a time to swim in the Bay of Pigs (Caribbean Sea) or in a nearby cenote (possibility of renting snorkeling equipment for a fee). In the afternoon, time for photos at Playa Girón – site of the 1961 American invasion of Cuba – and transfer to a casa particular in Cienfuegos. For those willing, dinner at a local restaurant (extra fee).

After breakfast, visit in Trinidad – the most typical and best preserved colonial city of Cuba (UNESCO World Heritage Site). We will go for a walk along the cobbled streets to one of the palaces of the sugar barons (visiting the interior), and then to the main square – Plaza Mayor, near which we will find other historic buildings, including the Church of the Holy Trinity and the former Franciscan monastery. After lunch with seafood at the local restaurant, visit to the Afro-Cuban temple of santería and the famous Canchanchara bar, where we will taste a drink based on honey, lime and aguardiente. Time to buy souvenirs and in the afternoon, transfer to the beach on the Caribbean Sea on the Ancón Peninsula. Return to Trinidad, dinner (extra 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) and go to Santa Clara – a town which capture by Che Guevara was decisive for the triumph of the Cuban revolution. During a short visit, we will see the monument of the armored train and the Memorial del Che (the burial place of the famous revolutionary). Lunch at the local restaurant and transfer to Varadero. Accommodation in a 5 * all inclusive hotel and farewell to the guide.

All-inclusive hotel stay: sunbathing, swimming in the ocean and pools, use of bars, restaurants, water sports equipment and hotel animation and sports programs. Example hotels: Grand Memories, Melia Peninsula, Iberostar Laguna Azul, Iberostar Bella Vista. For an additional fee, it is possible to extend your stay in Varadero by additional days or book a higher standard hotel and go on a catamaran excursion to the paradise island.

After breakfast, check-out from the hotel (by 12.00) and transfer to the airport in Havana 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 – Soroa – Viñales = approx. 250 km
Day 5. route: Viñales – Cayo Jutías – Las Terrazas = approx. 255 km
Day 6. route: Las Terrazas – Zapata Peninsula – Cienfuegos = approx. 150 km
Day 7. route: Cienfuegos – El Nicho – Trinidad = approx. 150 km
Day 8. route: Trinidad – Ancón Peninsula – Trinidad = approx. 30 km
Day 9. route: Trinidad – Sugar Mills Valley – Santa Clara – Varadero = approx. 320 km
Day 10. day off
Day 11. day off
Day 12. transfer from Varadero to Havana airport = approx. 165 km

The entire route = approx. 1620 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 (7 nights: Havana x 3, Viñales x 1, Cienfuegos x 1, Trinidad x 2), in a 4* BB hotel in Las Terrazas and in a 5* all inclusive hotel (Varadero x 3 nights), meals: 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 2 dinners, 3 x all inclusive in Varadero, 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.), meals not mentioned in the itinerary (approx. 20 EUR / meal), „Havana Rooftops” package – from 45 EUR / pers., dinner with the Buena Vista Social Club concert – 60 EUR / pers., show at the Tropicana cabaret – 75-95 EUR / pers. (transport paid additionally), snorkelling equipment rental in the Bay of Pigs – approx. 5 EUR / pers., canopy tour in the Sugar Mill Valley – 10 EUR / pers., catamaran cruise to a paradise island – 115 EUR / pers., tips (in restaurants, attractions, for drivers and guides), own expenses and purchase of souvenirs. Single room surcharge – 310 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. 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).