It’s arrival day! Please aim to arrive to Havana before 5 p.m. today.

Upon arriving at the airport, one of our Trip Leaders will be waiting to escort you to our headquarters in La Habana Vieja. Once in La Habana Vieja, you will be checked into your casa particular (bed and breakfast) and be given a brief orientation of the city. If you need any assistance with any errands or visits to a nearby point of interest, your guides will be more than happy to accompany you.

Tonight’s welcome dinner at 7 pm will be a fun way to kickoff our time together!

Meals: D
Hotel: Casa Cuarteles

Explore La Habana and all of its magic as we immerse ourselves in Cuban history, lessons from the past, and how Cubans are looking towards the future. We’ll take you on a driving tour in classic convertible cars, before a short walking tour of the historic center stopping at all major plazas and points of interest.

This day provides you with a good lay of the land for independent exploration, as well as a general overview of the island’s history and current political and economic climate. We will also point out some of our favorite hidden gems such as shops, bars, cafés, galleries, and restaurants. At lunch, we will enjoy classic dishes with a modern twist at one of our favorite restaurants, Antojos, where we’ll dine al fresco.

After lunch, we’ll have some downtime because tonight we’re going out!

Dinner in Vedado Dinner at El Cocinero

Dinner tonight is in the Vedado neighborhood. Located adjacent to one of the coolest venues in La Habana, La FAC, El Cocinero is an old cooking oil factory that has been transformed into a stunning rooftop terrace and lounge. El Cocinero is an incredibly hip and modern establishment, especially by Cuban standards, and offers an extensive menu with everything ranging from freshly caught seafood, veggie dishes, and mouthwatering desserts.

La Fabrica de Arte Cubano

It’s hard to put into words just how incredible of a place La FAC is. You will view everything from photography to sculptures, fashion to architecture, as well as film, live music, and much more. This mixed-medium art space contains multiple galleries, stages, dance floors, and social areas for eating and drinking and is frequented by both locals and foreigners on a nightly basis.

Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Casa Cuarteles

After breakfast at our casa particular, we will begin the 2.5-hour drive to Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site known as the heart of the tobacco and coffee growing region in Cuba.

Upon arrival, we will enjoy a light horseback ride through the valley, where we’ll learn more about tobacco processing and farming at a local farmer’s home.

We’ll have lunch together at an organic farm with a beautiful view, where we’ll learn about sustainable food production in Vinales.

In the evening, we’ll check into our casa particular for some downtime, before having dinner as a group.

Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Casas Particulares

Roadtrip to Trinidad

Today we will travel in a comfortable, modern van with AC to Trinidad! This day can be a bit long (roughly 6 hours) but we will make stops along the way to use the bathroom, stretch our legs and grab a bite to eat.

Trinidad Walking Tour & Pottery Class

Once we have arrived in Trinidad and get settled into our new casas particulares, it’ll be time to hit the street. We will get to know this small town with beautiful colonial architecture and rich history of art and culture. During our tour, we will discuss the colonial period in Cuba, social classes and the economy, religious diversity, and of course, art! We will even finish our tour with a visit to the Santander family, heirs of a long tradition of pottery, where we will have fun creating a piece of pottery, guided by a pottery master.

Dinner at La Redacción

After working up an appetite on our walking tour and getting our hands dirty in our pottery workshop, it’ll be time to head to dinner! Tonight we will dine at La Redacción. Situated in an 1800s home this restaurant was inspired by the printing press. They also work closely with a select group of suppliers who include local fishermen, farmers, and butchers, as well as bake their own bread and grow their own vegetables and herbs to give you a healthy, natural, and local dining experience!

Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Casas Particulares

Today we will be exploring stunning Trinidad. We’ll start our day by traveling outside of the colonial center of Trinidad to explore the countryside, learning about the history of this area and how it’s shifted over time.

Once a major sugar-producing region of the island, we will visit a sugar mill and even learn how to use a “trapiche” to make fresh sugar cane juice.

Then, we’ll head back to town for lunch and we’ll do a short walking tour of Trinidad before allowing you free time to either rest, or continue exploring (and shopping) Trinidad.

Siesta

Take some free time to relax, rest or explore independently.

Salsa Class

It’s time to bust out your dancing shoes! Learn the basic steps of salsa with a private teacher in our one-hour dance lesson. Post lesson we will grab dinner and then head over to the local plaza to catch nightly live music and dancing.

Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Casas Particulares

Beach Clean Up & Barbecue

After quite a few days of adventuring, today we will take things just a bit slower. After a leisurely breakfast and some early morning free time, we will head to Playa Ancón. Here we can show some love and leave things better than we found them, by coming prepared to do some beach clean-up on or near our beach area.

You’ll then have time to relax and go for a swim or you can decide to hang with your local guides as they put together a picnic lunch for us to share as a group!

Siesta

Take some free time to relax, rest or explore independently.

Cuban Cooking Class

Today we will learn more about how the food production and distribution system works in Cuba and discuss the challenges that Cubans faced due to both internal issues and external factors, including the US embargo. We will discuss traditional Cuban dishes, and food-related issues on the island both pre and post-the 1959 revolution, as well as innovative solutions, because after all Cubans are nothing if not resourceful. After discussing these important topics, we will get our hands dirty as we make a traditional Cuban dinner and share it alongside our hosts and local guides.

Music & Cave

After a little post-dinner cafecito to perk us back up, we’ll head to an impossibly cool cave bar for music, drinks, and dancing! Note: getting to the cave requires walking in the dark over cobblestone and slick stones, often times uphill. If this is not in your ability, please sit this one out.

Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Casas Particulares

Final activities.

Once back in Habana we will have time for one final activity and we want to make sure you make the most of your final hours in Cuba so we can break into subgroups if needed. We will discuss optional activities with folks early on in the trip and make decisions by the morning of Day Four in order to coordinate. Possible options are:

*Pamper yourself the Cuban way: Get your hair or nails done, or even get a tattoo to remember your time in Cuba while supporting a small, privately-owned business.

*Learn about female entrepreneurs making artisanal soaps, honoring their roots, and fighting for a better future.

*Visit Clandestina, Cuba’s first-ever privately-owned fashion brand that upcycles old garments into fresh new pieces using 100% Cuban designs

*Get your heart rate up in a personal training session along the malecón

*Take a street art tour!

Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Casas Particulares

It’s departure day, and we’re bummed. We’re sad to see you leave, but so happy we had such an amazing time together! After breakfast together, we will begin airport dropoffs. Please ensure your flight home departs today before 5 p.m.

Meals: B
Hotel: —