Beautiful Cuba

8 Days | Follow the Cuban rhythm across this colourful Caribbean island, from the eclectic streets of Old Havana to the platinum sands of Playa Ancon.

4.9 out of 5 based on 141 reviews submitted.
Explorer
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EUR €1,035
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From vintage cars to fragrant cigars, salsa your way from the colourful capital of Havana through the beautiful island of Cuba and surround yourself with history, music and mojitos in one of the world’s most unique places. Roll a cigar and sip rum with locals in the rural village of Vinales, feel the seaside breeze along the French-infused waterfront of Cienfuegos, surrender to the sultry salsa rhythms in perfectly preserved Trinidad and look behind the legend of Che Guevara on a visit to his memorial in Santa Clara. From the fresh mountain air that fills the streets of Soroa, to the crystal-clear waters that lap the shores of Playa Larga – experience a nation as endearing and diverse as its people on this 8-day adventure that immerses you in the colour, culture and natural beauty of this seductive Caribbean island.

Trip overview

Map of Beautiful Cuba including Cuba
Start
Havana, Cuba
Finish
Havana, Cuba
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Cuba
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Comfort
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
QUKA
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • A guided walking tour of Old Havana sheds lights on the difference between the lives of city and rural life in Cuba
  • Take in all the colours and aromas of Soroa, the stunning valley area known as the 'rainbow of Cuba'
  • Stroll along the rural dirt roads of Vinales as tractors, vintage cars and horse-drawn carriages pass you by
  • A visit to the Che Guevara mausoleum and museum allows you to learn about the iconic Cuban revolutionary in the right context
  • Trinidad is a real Cuban treat – step back in time on its old-world streets, then hit some fine palm-flanked beaches
  • Marvel at the unique architecture of Palacio del Valle in Cienfuegos 
  • Try your hand at traditional dance moves with an informal salsa lesson

Is this trip right for you?
  • The guesthouses (casas) we use are much nicer than your average Cuban dwelling and each room is unique. Regardless of where you stay, power cuts and breaks in hot water supply are sometimes unavoidable, as in any developing country – but we believe that this is all a part of the local experience. To help set your expectations correctly, please read the ‘Accommodation’ section of the Essential Trip Information.
  • Luxuries such as air conditioning, plush pillows, and fly screens, are often scarce. Part of the experience here is learning to appreciate everyday Cuban resourcefulness.
  • Internet access can be hard to come by, and when it's available it's often unreliable and expensive. Treat this as a great opportunity to take a break from modern devices and have a true holiday.
  • Cuba is different, and that's a big part of its allure. Things don't always go according to plan, and many things don't work the same way as back home. Patience and good humour will go a long way in this beautiful destination.
  • As this trip covers a lot of land, you'll be spending quite a bit of time travelling. It’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Map of Beautiful Cuba including Cuba

Inclusions

Meals

7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Comfortable Guesthouse (7 nights)

Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Havana - Leader-led walking tour of Old Havana
  • Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
  • Soroa - Orchid Garden (entrance fee and guide included)
  • Vinales - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Vinales - Half-day Valley tour on foot including Tobacco Farmhouse
  • Vinales - Farm-to-table dinner at an eco-friendly ranch
  • Bay of Pigs - Coastal swim stop
  • Cienfuegos - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Cienfuegos - Palacio de Valle (entrance fee)
  • Trinidad - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Trinidad - Salsa Dance Lesson (1 hour)
  • Santa Clara - Che Guevara Mausoleum and Museum (entrance fee)
  • Havana - Revolution Square
Add on activities
  • Havana - Camera Obscura by Leonardo da Vinci (entrance fee and guide included) - EUR2
  • Havana - Museum of the Revolution (entrance fee) - EUR8
  • Havana - National Museum of Fine Arts (entrance fee) - EUR5
  • Vinales - Live music venues (entrance fee) from - EUR2
  • Trinidad - Romantic Museum (entrance fee) - EUR5
  • Trinidad - Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra los Bandidos (entrance fee) - EUR3
  • Trinidad - Live Music Venues (entrance fee) from - EUR2
  • Trinidad - Ancon beach shuttle bus - EUR4
  • Trinidad - Massage - from - EUR24
  • Havana - Jose Marti Memorial tower entrance fee - EUR3
  • Havana - Buena Vista Social Club Performance (entrance fee) - EUR34
  • Havana - Cigar Factory Tour (entrance fee and guide) - EUR12
  • Havana - Morro CastleMorro Castle (entrance fee, no guide, no transport)10 am-9 pm - EUR8
  • Havana - Half-day Ernest Hemingway Tour (guide and transport included 2 pax min required) - EUR67

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 in Havana. There are no activities planned for the final day so you may depart at any time.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 5 days prior to travel. 
4. Please advise bedding configuration requests to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel to aid guesthouse and rooming allocations, which are finalized 10 days prior to departure based on the configuration of each travelling party. You may request your confirmed guesthouse name and address inside 7 days of departure from your booking agent. Rest assured, the transfer driver will know the address of your assigned guesthouse. 
5. A visa or tourist card, organized prior to arrival, is required for all nationalities visiting Cuba.
6. The Cuban government has declared that travel insurance is compulsory for all travelers. Proof of insurance may be requested at Havana Airport by immigration officials. 
7. We recommend travelling to Cuba via Canada, Europe, South or Central America. Please refer to the ‘Passports, visas and entry requirements’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details.
8. We recommend you bring enough cash to last your whole time in Cuba. This is currently the best option and will provide you with the best value for money. Please see the ‘Money Matters’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 141 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Olivia · Traveled November 2023
I couldn’t think of a better way to explore this colourful and complicated country than this trip. Wow, just amazing. Our tour guide, Adita, went above and beyond. I can’t wait to book another!
Review submitted 19 Nov 2023

Sharon · Traveled November 2023
What a great trip! Andy was our leader and went above and beyond to ensure we had the best time. Andy was very knowledgeable and honest giving us a real insight on what it’s like to live in Cuba. The itinerary was perfect with enough inclusions of tours and meals giving you flexibility and free time and enough time in each area we visited. (Although extend your stay in Havana as the tour only starts/ends here). Accommodation and transport were all comfortable. I’m already starting to think of my next intrepid tour.
Review submitted 14 Nov 2023

Joshua · Traveled October 2023
Beautiful Cuba with intrepid is an incredible way to see this amazing country. From the streets of Havana with their classic cars and Spanish architecture, to the countryside tobacco farms where you can watch a farmer roll a cigar and then even try some of you like. Just book it.
Review submitted 10 Nov 2023

Jayla · Traveled October 2023
This tour is great for people wanting to get very involved in the culture and lives of the beautiful Cuban people. Yanet our tour guide was amazing and we felt very safe the entire trip with him. He knew every question we threw at him. Please bring Euro/USD in cash over to Cuba, it is very hard to get cash out and the monetary system is very complex. We spent more than we expected overall, I recommend bringing at least 500USDpp in spending (if you like to drink a few cervezas)
Review submitted 10 Nov 2023

Elizabeth and Kevin · Traveled October 2023
Our trip to Cuba was a life changing experience. We were pleasantly surprised by the delightfully Cuban accommodation with air conditioning. The leaders knowledge helped us understand the complexities of this intriguing country with delicious food and warm welcoming people. We loved every moment of our Cuban holiday.
Review submitted 17 Oct 2023
Beautiful Cuba
From
EUR €1,035