Western Cuba is a must for first comers to the island. Crowned by Havana, Cuba’s mots fantastic city and the jewel of the Caribbean. This region hosts two other UNESCO World Heritage sites (Viñales and Trinidad) and the town where Che Guevara remains rest. Western Cuba is a journey that will take you to the soul of the land of Che and the Revolution, the birthplace of salsa, the home of the world’s best cigars, and exquisite rum, tailored for expert travelers.
Included
- Accommodation
- VIP Arrival
- Private Transfer IN/OUT
- A personal guide from Day 2 to Day 3
- A 4×4 Jeep with a guide-driver from Day 4 to Day 11
- Custom guided tours and activities
- Restaurant Reservations and entry fees according to the itinerary
- Visas
Snapshot of your Journey
Day 1: Welcome to Havana
Upon leaving the plane, you will be met by an airport rep that will take you through customs into the VIP lounge. Our airport representative will meet you after going through Customs and will lead you to your guide. In the city, you will check in at Alameda Suites, a big colonial house revamped and turned into a Luxury B&B Boutique accommodation with views of the old town and the harbor.
Your private concierge/contact person on land will welcome you at the Hotel. Then she will go through your itinerary with you and make suggestions of places to see and things to do. Later you will enjoy dinner at Más Habana restaurant. This is an excellent new addition to the Havana Food Scene, centrally located in the Old City.
Day 2: Exploring the city
Walk in the footsteps of Havana’s colonial past visiting the four key squares of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with our expert guide offering insights into the history and present of the city and the country. Take lunch at La Vitrola, considered one of the most typical bars/restaurants in Old Havana, has lively live music in the afternoons. In the afternoon, enjoy a Salsa lesson with our expert teacher so you can salsa during the rest of your journey. For the evening, Paladar Los Mercaderes, romantic and refined, this place serves excellent Cuban and international food with charming service in a luxurious first floor dining room.
Day 3: History and Arts
Start the morning with a Hemingway tour visiting the Ambos Mundos Hotel in Old Havana, his Finca Vigia in San Francisco de Paula, south of Havana, and, by the end, the Floridita Bar, the cradle of the Daiquiri, the writer’s favorite cocktail. Then you will enjoy lunch at Fajoma, a new bar/restaurant across 4 floors with an excellent roof terrace and good drinks. Traditional Cuban food with a twist. Enjoy an Art Tour and Bellas Artes: accompanied by our expert guide, you will visit 2 Cuban artist’s studios and the Bellas Artes (Havana’s fine arts museum). For the evening, fine dining at La Guarida, the Cuban most celebrated paladar since 1996, when the government allowed to open private restaurants.
Day 4: Viñales
Your guide will pick you up in a 4X4 jeepto take you West of Havana, to the land where the best Tobacco is grown on the island. You will start with a Tobacco tour with our expert in Viñales (includes lunch). This is the in-depth tour of Tobacco from seed to cigar. You will visit the tobacco plantations where they still plough with oxen, see the famous drying houses, and have a tobacco farmer show you how to roll a cigar. If you fancy, you can also smoke one! After that, check in at Country Villa, Rustic elegance set amidst one of the most beautiful sceneries in all of Cuba. After refreshing and relaxing, we suggest dinner at El Cuajani. This restaurant does not have a menu because they use what is fresh and available – that alone is a refreshing concept, plus the creative touch on typical dishes.
Day 5: Trekking and horse-ridding experience
Start the day with a Trekking tour of Los Aquaticos (the Water People) in Vinales (Includes lunch). This trek is named after the local traditions of a small number of residents that live in the Viñales Valley and believe in the healing properties of water. The walk itself is around 4kms long, and along the way, you will see the dramatic landscape of this stunning natural area declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1999. In the afternoon, enjoy the Horse-riding experience of Viñales. Our local guide will take you horse riding in the stunning Valley. In the evening, relax at Tapas at 3J Bar.
Day 6: Cienfuegos
Your driver will collect you at Vinales and transfer you to Cienfuegos. The transfer time is approximately 5.5 hours for a distance of about is 424 Km. You will arrive right on time for lunch at 2212 Restaurant and Bar, located in the heart of beautiful Cienfuegos and overlooking its famous Malecon, with great seafood.
In the afternoon, our local specialist will give you a tour of the city of Cienfuegos, visiting the Jose Marti Park with insights on the history and architectural style of the town; Tomas Terry Theatre, local markets around the Boulevard, and the Palacio del Valle. After you can check in at Casa Buenavista, this beautiful colonial house has been re-designed to exceeds expectations in any one visit to Cienfuegos. Then you can enjoy an evening at leisure in Cienfuegos. For a nice local dinner: Finca del Mar, a fine restaurant by any yardstick in service and food – seafood, including lobster and octopus.
Day 7: Trinidad
Your driver will collect you at Cienfuegos and transfer you to Trinidad. Transfer time is approximately 1/30hrs for a distance of 85 KM. Our local guide will receive you for the Trinidad City Tour, introducing you to this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The history of the town, architecture highlights, all spiced up with insights into its fascinating history in the colonial era and the years after the Revolution. Wear comfortable shoes for the cobblestone city center streets. Restaurant La Marinera is a favorite with the locals, off any beaten track! Later check in at Casa Carlos Gil Lemes, a charming colonial house built at the beginning of the XIX century. In the evening, we recommend a seafood restaurant and bar in a traditional colonial house from the 1800s, La Redacción.
Day 8: Topes de Collantes
This is the day to go into the mountains on a trip to Topes de Collantes. You will ride up to the Escambray mountains in 4X4 SUVs, up to Guanayara, and trek through the tropical forest of Topes. Bird watching and the opportunity for swimming at the waterfall make this a must for nature lovers. (Remember to bring your swimsuit, mosquito repellent, and water). You will have a typical Cuban lunch at Restaurant El Manantial in the mountains. This will take most of your day, so we suggest some free time before dinner to rest. Dinner in town at San Jose, the latest paladar in Trinidad, with a Cuban-Fusion inspired menu.
Day 9: Art in Trinidad
Go deeper into the culture of the region through the Trinidad Art and Artisan Tour. Home to important artisan craft producers, you will see some of the best handmade crafts on this tour. Along with a vibrant art tradition, too, our guide will take you to the best of both worlds. For a light lunch, Bar Pizzeria Adita Café,a relaxed atmosphere, surprisingly good food, and excellent service. After two full days in town, have a relaxing afternoon at leisure. To continue relaxing, have dinner a little off the beaten track at Bistro Trinidad; the lovely house serves fresh local food on a beautiful terrace a little away from the tourist scene.
Day 10: Back to Havana
Your driver will collect at Trinidad and transfer you to Havana via Santa Clara. The transfer time to Santa Clara is about 2hrs, then 4hr to Havana. For about 395km in total. In Santa Clara, visit the Che memorial. No trip to Cuba is complete without visiting the mausoleum of this charismatic leader of the Cuban Revolution. Light lunch at Cafe Museo Revolucionhis new cafe pays homage to Cuba’s revolutionary past with photos, old uniforms, and other ephemera lovingly curated by the owner. Then continue to Havana. In the city, you will check in at Alameda Suites. For the evening have a nice dinner in the Old City at Cinco Sentidos. From the quality of the food to the exceptional service, one of the best new restaurants in town.
Day 11: Departure
Morning at leisure in Havana before departure.
Here you are some advice about things to know before a trip to Cuba
