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One Week in Cuba

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One Week in Cuba

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Description

This week-long fun, fast and colourful trip through Cuba takes you right to the beating heart of a fiercely independent nation. Cycle through the streets of rocking, retro Havana, swing through Playa Larga for a dip in the crystal-clear Caribbean, soak up the sunshine on the beaches of Trinidad and sip on Cuban cocktails with the locals in Vinales. Your leader will provide you with heaps of local insight, you’ll have fun, included activities to get your bearings and you’ll also get heaps of free time to explore at your own pace and travel your way – do you want to go snorkelling and bike riding or just kick back and people-watch with a churro? It’s up to you! From vintage cars to fragrant cigars and plenty of salsa in between – lose yourself in the rhythm of this emerging Caribbean hotspot.

Trip Name
One Week in Cuba
Last Updated
2024-08-07
Days
8
Capacity
16
Highlights
  • Cycle through the culture-soaked streets of Old Havana and immerse yourself in the eclectic history of Cuba’s capital on a half-day walking tour of the city.
  • Venture to the village of Vinales, where the small-town charms are many. Spend your time smoking fat cigars with locals and exploring hidden caves in the mountains.
  • Enjoy loads of free time – perfectly balanced with included activities and local insight – to kick back on the white sands of Trinidad, go snorkelling among tropical fish or hike the Sierra del Escambray mountains.
  • Sip on Cuba’s famous liquor on a visit to a local bar for a rum tasting – as far as the rum world is concerned, Cuba is home to some of the best out there!
  • Wander cobblestone streets alongside cowboys, vintage cars and farmers and clock the best-preserved buildings in Cuba – Trinidad is the best spot for photos whether you’re an amateur film photographer or just love taking photos on your phone!
  • 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.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

Day 1 - Havana
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Cuba. Kick off your adventure in Havana, the gloriously old-school capital. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you have time before, you might like to visit Museo de la Revolucion – a museum focusing on the events leading up to, during and immediately after the Cuban revolution – or maybe check out one of Havana’s many cool cafes and bohemian bars as you stroll the Malecon and grab a cheeky mojito. Tonight, why not dig into some delectable street snacks or join the group for some traditional Cuban cuisine at one of the many street vendors – churros anyone? Tonight, you’ll spend the night in your first Cuban casa – totally unique to Cuba, the accommodation here is in locally-run guesthouses, giving you an authentic insight into how the locals live.
Day 2 - Havana / Bay of Pigs / Playa Larga
This morning, head out on a leader-led walking tour of Old Havana – one of the Caribbean’s most impressive historical city centres. Wander through the oldest square in town, Plaza de Armas, and explore the architecturally eclectic buildings that line the 16th century Plaza Vieja. Admire the San Francisco de Asis Basilica and visit the Cathedral, with its elaborate baroque facade. Fuel up at one of Havana's trendy restaurants this afternoon for lunch, then hop in a private transfer to the Bay of Pigs. Learn some local lingo along the way from your leader with an informal Spanish lesson. If time permits, you can enjoy an afternoon swim in Playa Giron or Cueva de los Peces (Cave of Fishes) before travelling to Playa Larga, where you’ll spend the night.
Day 3 - Trinidad
Enjoy a sleep-in this morning before travelling to Trinidad – one of Cuba’s standout destinations. Trinidad is everything you imagine Cuba to be, from the horses that trot down cobblestone streets to the old men strumming guitars on doorsteps. Join your leader for a short orientation walk then the rest of the afternoon is free to explore the streets or the stretches of white sand. Why not climb the bell tower of Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra Bandidos for epic city views or sip on a canchanchara – an invigorating Cuban cocktail invented by guerrillas during the war of independence. Tonight, your leader will take you to a local bar for a rum tasting – an integral experience here, as Cuba is known as the home to some of the best rum in the world!
Day 4 - Trinidad
Trinidad is a bucket-list destination for many, due to the friendly people, old-fashioned feeling and exceptionally well-preserved colonial buildings. The Santeria religion (a voodoo-like Afro-Cuban tradition) is practised here, making the town even more intriguing. Today you can enjoy a free day to explore at your own pace. You might like to hire a bike to discover the local area on wheels (just a heads up – Cuba's bicycles, like its cars, are vintage.) Wherever you wander, there are photo ops at every turn! Tonight, why not throw yourself into the Trinidad culture with an informal music lesson, a casual salsa class or a folklore show at one of the town's numerous open-air venues?
Day 5 - Vinales
Prepare for a long day of travel to Vinales today – grab a window seat if you can or get stuck into a good book. The travel will be worth it when you arrive – from quaint bars to fragrant cigars, Vinales is known for being one of the most scenic parts of the country. This is where tobacco and sugarcane fields lie side by side and the mojitos are made with honey. This small and charming rural village is probably the easiest place in Cuba to mingle with the locals (who are very sociable and love nothing better than to drink rum and dance the night away). Tonight, your leader might suggest that you grab dinner at an ecological farm with sweeping views of the valley.
Day 6 - Vinales
Enjoy free time in picturesque Vinales – today is yours to soak up rural Cuba’s slow, old-world pace. The valley feels like something out of Jurassic Park, with huge mounds of rock covered in vegetation thrusting out of the earth at random. For a culture fix, maybe stroll to the main square, the 19th century Casa de la Cultura and the next door Galeria de Arte with its collection of paintings by local artists. If you're itching for something outdoorsy, you might like to hire a bike, hike through the tobacco fields, take a day trip out to the picturesque beaches or visit Gran Caverno de Santo Tomas (one of the biggest cave systems on the American continent). If you can’t decide, just ask your leader for their recommendations on how to make the most of charming Vinales.
Day 7 - Havana
Journey back to the vibrant capital this morning in Havana. Arrive at the guesthouse, then get on your bike and push your pedals through the streets of Havana on an included bicycle ride to Revolution Square. This famous plaza is a historic symbol of Cuba and has been home to some seriously important speeches. Later tonight, maybe drop by the legendary Buena Vista Social Club and take the chance to toast to your trip and fellow travellers with a mojito. You can also join the hundreds of locals lining up to eat a Coppelia ice cream before shaking the night away with a salsa lesson at Casa de la Musica.
Day 8 - Havana
No activities are planned for today, so you’re free to leave any time after checkout. You might like to head out in a classic 1950s convertible on a Classic American Car Tour of Havana with Urban Adventures. Ride through the streets in style as you cruise through the capital and wind up with a Cuban cocktail at the swinging Hotel Nacional. For more information – visit urbanadventures.com.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
22-10-202429-10-2024AUD $ 784-
19-11-202426-11-2024AUD $ 914-
03-12-202410-12-2024AUD $ 1,021-
24-12-202431-12-2024AUD $ 1,075-

Accommodation

Casa Particular (7 nights)

Transport

Private vehicle,Public bus,Taxi

Map