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Beautiful Cuba

8 Days | Follow the Cuban rhythm across this colourful Caribbean island

4.9 out of 5 based on 134 reviews submitted.
Explorer
From
GBP £1,114
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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 eight-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
  • Walk around Old Havana, which sheds lights on the difference between the lifestyle 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' and immerse yourself in local culture.
  • Stroll along the rural dirt roads of Vinales as tractors, vintage cars and horse-drawn carriages pass you by.
  • Step back in time in Trinidad – a real Cuban treat. Explore its old-world streets, then hit some fine palm-flanked beaches for a bit of rest and relaxation.
  • Marvel at the unique architecture of Palacio del Valle in Cienfuegos and ask your local leader for all the best local (and secret) spots.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries.

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.
  • 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

Map of Beautiful Cuba including Cuba

Inclusions

Meals

7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Comfortable Guesthouse (7 nights)

Activities
  • Complimentary 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 (from 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) - CUP12
  • Havana - National Museum of Fine Arts (entrance fee) - CUP250
  • Trinidad - Romantic Museum (entrance fee) - CUP120
  • Trinidad - Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra los Bandidos (entrance fee) - CUP70
  • 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 - CUP200
  • Havana - Buena Vista Social Club Performance (entrance fee & dinner) - USD35
  • Havana - Cigar Factory Tour (entrance fee and guide) - USD10
  • Havana - Half-day Ernest Hemingway Tour (guide and transport included 2 clients min required) - USD68
  • Havana - Morro Castle (entrance fee, no guide, no transport)10 am-9 pm - CUP200

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 134 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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Emer · Traveled February 2024
From start to finish our experience was top class. We had a great experience created by a great leader coupled with a great group of travellers in a great set of locations. We would highly recommend Emilio, Beautiful Cuba and Intrepid Travel.
Review submitted 27 Feb 2024

Mike · Traveled February 2024
See if you can get on a trip where Yummet is your guide, we all learnt so much from her.
Review submitted 15 Feb 2024

Tim · Traveled January 2024
Barbara (Adita) is an indefatigably professional and enthusiastic guide. Her affection and pride in the Cuban people was the through line underpinning the tour, and she offered a perspective and context for such a beautiful and unique country that we would never have otherwise had.
Review submitted 05 Feb 2024

TRIDIB · Traveled January 2024
Most satisfying trip I had since a long time . The official guide Ale was very well informed and extremely hospitable and helpful.
Review submitted 18 Jan 2024

Daniel · Traveled January 2024
Cuba is a different world and I feel like I discovered as much as possible during this trip
Review submitted 20 Jan 2024
Beautiful Cuba
From
GBP £1,114