Premium Cuba
Premium Cuba
Premium Cuba
9 Days Starting and ending in Havana
Visiting: Havana, Vinales, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Havana
Tour operator:
Tour code:
QUPC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-90
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
This Premium adventure through Cuba takes you through colourful architecture, vast beaches and lush countryside. The colourful local history still dominates most aspects of daily life, and you’ll explore Havana in all its faded glory. See the beauty of rural Vinales, wander the cobblestoned streets of Trinidad and soak up the coastal vibe of Cienfuegos. Visit the home of a local family for dinner, learn some salsa moves and hop in a classic American car for a real Cuban experience.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Havana
Location: Havana
Accommodation: Grand Aston (Feature Stay) or similar
Meals Included: dinner
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Cuba. Your Premium adventure begins in Havana, the country’s capital. You’ll be met at the airport by a local representative and transferred to your Feature Stay hotel for a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, there are plenty of excellent museums to check out, including the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. After your meeting, head to a local restaurant for dinner. Tonight, your leader will introduce you to some classic dishes such as picadillo (a beef and tomato stew) and ropa vieja (pulled beef with vegetables).
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 2: Havana
Location: Havana
Accommodation: Grand Aston (Feature Stay) or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Start the day in style as you tour the city in a convoy of classic American vintage cars. Cruise down Havana’s grand old streets as your leader points out significant sights like the Malecon, Revolucion Square and Vedado. Finish your ride in Old Havana where you’ll continue your explorations on foot during a walking tour with your leader. Learn the history of the Havana cathedral and discover the city’s old-world charm when you stop by Plaza de Armas, San Francisco de Asis, Plaza Vieja and Central Park. You then have a free afternoon – maybe head to a rooftop bar for a cocktail or stroll around the colourful streets.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Vinales
Location: Vinales
Accommodation: Premium Guesthouse or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Before departing Havana, visit Deshidratados Havana – a local dehydrated fruit workshop founded during the pandemic to help with food scarcity. Learn about how the natural preserves are made without any sugar or preservatives, and try out some samples. Next, drive west to Soroa, where you’ll tour a beautiful orchid garden. Meet with a local guide for a private tour of the gardens and learn about the vibrant array of plant and bird species – it’s not hard to see why this valley is known as the rainbow of Cuba. Take some time out for lunch then continue to Vinales, where tobacco and sugarcane fields lie side by side and limestone outcrops dot the landscape. Use this travel time to take part in an informal Spanish lesson so you can converse with the friendly locals throughout the rest of your trip. Check in to your guesthouses, then take a short orientation walk with your leader to get acquainted with the town.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 4: Vinales
Location: Vinales
Accommodation: Premium Guesthouse or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Begin your day with a guided walk through the farmlands of Vinales, where your leader will talk to you about the geography that makes up the area’s spectacular scenery. Vinales is known for its tobacco farms which still use traditional growing methods – learn more about the longstanding tobacco industry and watch a farmer whip up a world class cigar in seconds. Take some time to find a local place for lunch, then regroup in the late afternoon for a salsa dancing lesson. Find your feet and learn a few steps while embracing the electrifying rhythm of Cuba. After working up an appetite, head to the top of the valley for dinner at an eco-farm. Here you’ll enjoy an exceptional farm-to-table meal made entirely from organic produce grown on site.
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Day 5: Cienfuegos
Location: Cienfuegos
Accommodation: Hotel Union or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Prepare for a long travel day as you make your way to Cienfuegos. Drive back through Havana before stopping in the Bay of Pigs for lunch. After lunch, you may like to take a dip in the crystal clear water, or unroll your beach towel and sit back as your leader shares stories of the botched USA Military counter-revolutionary invasion in the Bay of Pigs. Now a tranquil spot for relaxing, it’s hard to imagine the chaotic battle that took place here in 1961. Then it’s just a short drive to Cienfuegos, one of Cuba's prettiest coastal spots. Arrive in the early evening and join your leader on a short orientation walk before visiting the Palacio del Valle – Cienfuegos' architectural pride and joy.
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Day 6: Trinidad
Location: Trinidad
Accommodation: Premium Guesthouse or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Enjoy a free morning in Cienfuegos – maybe stop by a local cafe for a cup of Cuban coffee. Then make the journey to Trinidad. When you arrive, your leader will introduce you to the town’s history and architecture during a walking tour. Take in Trinidad’s eye-catching combination of cobblestone streets, colourful houses and old-fashioned locals. It's a great town to explore on foot, and almost every scene offers great photo opportunities – from residents relaxing with huge cigars on their doorsteps to old Chevrolets cruising by. In the evening take a trip out of town to a local house for a homely and festive dinner. Be welcomed with the local drink, Canchanchara, made from 'fire water' (local honey and lime juice). There will even be a musician or two serenading you and your fellow travellers as you dine.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Trinidad
Location: Trinidad
Accommodation: Premium Guesthouse or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
The day is yours to explore all that Trinidad has to offer. For some beachside fun and maybe a little snorkelling, head down to Playa Ancon (just be careful you don't stand on a sea urchin!). The town is dotted with open-air venues where you can check out a folklore show that nods to Cuba’s rich and varied music and dance tradition. With roots in Spain, Africa and France the show displays Cuba’s history.
Optional Activities:
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Day 8: Havana
Location: Havana
Accommodation: Grand Aston (Feature Stay) or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Head inland with a stop at the Valle De Los Ingenios Scenic Viewpoint, where you'll have a drink while soaking in the views of sugar cane plantations. Continue to the beautiful city of Santa Clara, where you’ll enjoy an included lunch followed by a visit to the Che Guevara mausoleum. Here, you’ll see the imposing statue of the iconic revolutionary leader. In the museum that accompanies the mausoleum, you'll find a spread of photos and other ephemera related to Che – letters, medical devices and firearms. Return to Havana and arrive at your hotel, one of the newest in Havana. Perhaps soak in the amazing views from the rooftop pool or indulge in a mojito at the bar.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 9: Havana
Location: Havana
Meals Included: breaksfast
Your Cuban adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. As there's a great deal to do in Havana, it’s recommended that you stay a few extra days to make the most of this exciting city. If you need help booking extra accommodation, just get in touch with your booking agent.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Comfortable Hotel (1 nights), Premium Guesthouse (4 nights), Feature Stay (3 night) -
Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
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Havana - Welcome Dinner
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Havana - Revolution Square
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Havana - Leader-led walking tour of Old Havana
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Havana - American Vintage Car Tour (guide and transport included)
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Soroa – Orchid Garden Tour (entrance and guide fee)
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Vinales - Leader-led orientation walk
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Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
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Havana - Deshidratados Havana Visit
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Vinales - Half-day Valley tour on foot including Tobacco Farmhouse
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- Private vehicle
Accommodation
- CUBA GUESTHOUSES
- We have classified guesthouse rooms into three standards for the comfort levels of our trips: standard, comfortable and premium. Most differences can be a little hard to tell at first, particularly when taking aesthetic into account which varies greatly not only between rooms but also between cities and provinces. Be assured though that the comforts to which foreign travellers are accustomed have been taken into account when classifying guesthouses.
- You can read more about the guesthouse we use here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/cuba-casa-particular/
- Stairs are prevalent in Cuban homes. If this presents a problem to you, then please advise us at time of booking so we can request rooms on or closer to ground level.
- Guesthouses used on Premium trips are the best possible quality. For this itinerary, the premium guesthouse rooms will be large with ample room for luggage and moving around. They will have an ensuite, split system air-conditioning, imported mattresses, cotton linens and modern appliances. An in-room or in-house safe is available for use.
- PRE/POST-TOUR ACCOMMODATION
- If the hotel does not have availability for your pre-tour or post-tour accommodation request, we can also offer you accommodation at a premium guesthouse in Havana. These are in both Old Havana and Vedado: If you have a preference for which area, please advise your booking agent at time of booking and we will try to accommodate your request. You will need to make your own way between the start/finish point hotel and the guesthouse.
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- 1. 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 14 days prior to travel.
- 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 of your trip?and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 3. Travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers entering Cuba. You may be asked to show proof of your travel insurance by immigration staff upon arrival at Havana Airport.
- 4. Please advise bedding configuration requests to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel to aid guesthouse and rooming allocations. You may request your confirmed list of accommodation inside 7 days of departure from your booking agent.
- 5. 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.
- 6. For non-US passport holders, 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.
- 7. For US passport holders this trip operates under the “Support for the Cuban People” category (§ 515.574) and requires a signed and countersigned travel affidavit. Our licensing agreement only allows one night of pre-tour accommodation to be booked and no post-tour accommodation. Please refer to the ‘Passports, visas and entry requirements’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details.
Mode of Transport
- Private vehicle
Accommodation
- CUBA GUESTHOUSES
- We have classified guesthouse rooms into three standards for the comfort levels of our trips: standard, comfortable and premium. Most differences can be a little hard to tell at first, particularly when taking aesthetic into account which varies greatly not only between rooms but also between cities and provinces. Be assured though that the comforts to which foreign travellers are accustomed have been taken into account when classifying guesthouses.
- You can read more about the guesthouse we use here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/cuba-casa-particular/
- Stairs are prevalent in Cuban homes. If this presents a problem to you, then please advise us at time of booking so we can request rooms on or closer to ground level.
- Guesthouses used on Premium trips are the best possible quality. For this itinerary, the premium guesthouse rooms will be large with ample room for luggage and moving around. They will have an ensuite, split system air-conditioning, imported mattresses, cotton linens and modern appliances. An in-room or in-house safe is available for use.
- FEATURE STAY
- The Hotel Capri is considered a symbol of history, culture and Cuban identity. With its privileged location in the middle of Vedado, the centre of Havana, its recently renovated rooms are some of the best in Cuba. Enjoy great views from the rooftop pool.
- PRE/POST-TOUR ACCOMMODATION
- If the hotel does not have availability for your pre-tour or post-tour accommodation request, we can also offer you accommodation at a premium guesthouse in Havana. These are in both Old Havana and Vedado: If you have a preference for which area, please advise your booking agent at time of booking and we will try to accommodate your request. You will need to make your own way between the start/finish point hotel and the guesthouse.
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
Hotels in Cuba are government-run, which means renovations are few and far between. As for the guesthouses (casas) we use, they are much nicer than your average Cuban dwelling, but keep in mind that each and every room is unique. These rooms may also be quite different than what you’re used to back home. That said, regardless of where you stay, power cuts, patchy wi-fi and breaks in hot water are sometimes unavoidable, as in any developing country. To help set your expectations correctly, please read the ‘Accommodation’ section of the Essential Trip Information.
Internet in Cuba can also be scarce, unreliable and expensive. Treat this trip as a holiday from emails and social media.
Cuba is different, and that's a big part of its allure, but it’s not a luxury destination. 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 country.
Cuba experiences significant electricity problems, so power outages are common. It’s recommended you travel with a flashlight. It’s also recommended you bring ear plugs as the walls are thin.
Your accommodations on this trip will likely have stairs with no elevators, so keep in mind that you’ll be taking the stairs more often than not. If you’re concerned about mobility, let your booking agent know and we can try to accommodate you with rooms closer to the ground level if possible. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions