The Best of Cuba Tour

After a welcome at Havana airport, a transfer will take you to your accommodation confirmed for the tour, well located in Old Havana.

Depending on the time of arrival, you may be able to wander through the local area and sample Havana’s amazing street life before retiring to bed ready for the tour ahead.

Overnight in Havana.

Breakfast at accommodation.

After breakfast, you will meet our guide for the first time at your accommodation at 8.30/9.00am and head to one of Havana’s fascinating working cigar factories, to see where Cuba’s famous cigar brands are still hand made by the local workers. Experience first-hand the stages in production from the dried tobacco leaves to the famous branded boxes being ready for export around the world.

You will then continue to the City Museum, housed in the beautiful former Governor’s palace known as the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the museum depicts the history of life in Havana.

Lunch will be served in one of our favourite traditional restaurants in Old Havana.

After lunch, there will be a fascinating, guided leisurely walk-through Old Havana, visiting the four famous historical squares, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de San Francisco, Plaza Vieja, and Plaza de Armas. Absorb the atmosphere and amazing vibrancy of Old Havana and explore the narrow bustling streets which many have described as walking through a film set. Experience an interesting insight into Old Havana where your guide will ensure you have seen the sights but also some hidden, but fascinating locations away from the normal tourist routes.

In the afternoon you will explore the other areas of central Havana in Old American vintage cars. Be chauffeur driven through the city in fantastic vehicles dating back to the 50s, a thrilling way to enjoy this unique city.

The cars will take you to the impressive Revolution Square overlooked by the mural of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara,through the downtown Vedado district of the city, and then on a spectacular drive along the Malecon, Havana’s seafront promenade. Next, past the elegant mansions and embassies in Miramar district as the tour then heads further into fascinating residential areas that are far from the main tourist areas. You will then enter the ‘Bosque De La Havana’, a beautiful tropical woodland and park area with the Almendares River running through and known as the lungs of Havana. This area of parkland is a beautiful place to drive through and you can stop to take photos and explore the area.

Your old American cars will drop you at bustling and vibrant tapas bar, where there will be an authentic Cuban cocktail making lesson and homemade tapas will be provided for a light meal. With great food and service, it is a fitting end to a fabulous day.

For those that would like to visit the world-famous Tropicana open air cabaret show that dates back to the 1930’s, you can pre-book your tickets before arriving in Cuba (or on arrival in Cuba, subject to availability). For those guests adding this optional extra, after dinner you can head off to the show.

Your guide can also recommend bars and music venues in the city for those that might want to enjoy the evening independently.

Overnight in Havana.

Breakfast at accommodation.

After breakfast, you will leave Havana and head west to the immensely picturesque Vinales Valley, an area protected by UNESCO as a world heritage site for its outstanding natural beauty, dominated by unusual limestone mountain formations called ‘Mogotes’.

The valley is also the home of Cuba’s tobacco plantations and during your time in Vinales, there will be a subterranean boat ride through the El Indio cave system, and a visit to a typical tobacco drying house to see how the tobacco crops are turned into the world’s best cigars.

A fabulous unique lunch will be served at a local organic farm affording wonderful views across the valley and you can learn a little more about the farm and its organic methods, which attracted the attention of President Obama when he visited Cuba.

In the late afternoon you will leave Vinales and head to Las Terrazas National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty which is protected as one of Cuba’s most important National Parks. After settling in at the Moka Hotel for the night, there will be a short tour of the National Reserve, local village and an introduction to the eco-activities and farming practices that take place here.

There will be free time this evening for you to enjoy an early night or enjoy a walk down to the local village for a drink and bite to eat, or just relax in this very peaceful location.

Overnight in Las Terrazas.