Experience Overview
You already know the headlines: vintage cars and premium cigars; punchy rum and revolutionary icons; salsa rhythms and minty mojitos. The whole truth, however, is far more evocative and eye-opening. This immersive trip captures the very best of Cuba, while also uniting you with the people to hear their tales and witness first-hand what life is like on this beautiful yet complex Caribbean island. This itinerary is valid for departures from 1 Aug, 2024 to 31 Dec, 2024. For other departure dates, please contact us.
Profile
— Accommodation: 14 Classic nights (Cuban guesthouses known as Casa Particulares) — Travel by comfortable air-conditioned private coach — Free arrival and departure transfers for everyone — Tour enables legal travel to Cuba for US citizens under the Support for the Cuban People program
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 14 Classic nights (Cuban guesthouses known as Casa Particulares) — Travel by comfortable air-conditioned private coach — Free arrival and departure transfers for everyone — Tour enables legal travel to Cuba for US citizens under the Support for the Cuban People program
Trip For You
This trip has been rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
Pace: This is a busy itinerary with plenty of activities each day, but all participants with a reasonable level of fitness can take part.
Walks: There is a short walk on Day 8 of the trip to see the Monument to the Runaway Slave. This walk is steep and can be hot (there is no shade on the route), and appropriate footwear for walking should be used. There is a 4.3mi (7km) hike on Day 9 to see Fidel Castro and Che Guevara’s mountain hideout in the Sierra Maestra mountain range. This is a moderate hike that we do not recommend for people with mobility issues – it is possible to miss the hike and rejoin the group afterwards.
Understanding Cuba: Cuba’s famously turbulent history and economic stagnation has resulted in daily difficulties: supermarket shelves can be bare, finding a working ATM is often tricky and wifi is unreliable. However, our tour leader helps to unravel the nuances and red tape of island life, allowing you to truly absorb this fascinating destination. We strongly recommend reading the Trip Notes carefully, there’s plenty of information in there that will enhance your experience!
Transport: We travel in a private air-conditioned coach. The longest journey is seven hours on Day 3, and there is another long distance to cover on Days 4 and 6. Travel times can vary depending on traffic and weather.
Phone signal: Phone networks don’t make or receive calls particularly well in Cuba, and coverage may not be available in many locations. There is 4G but not all phone networks work in Cuba, so please check with your service provider before travel. Data roaming from your home network can be incredibly expensive – we recommend switching this off. There are several ways to connect to the internet using a mobile device, but it’s best not to expect a reliable internet connection. Most casas particulares have free wifi which, while much slower than your usual connection, is adequate for keeping in touch with friends and family via WhatsApp or email. If you have time, you could consider buying a Cuban sim card so you can access roaming; however, service is slow and it may take a couple of hours to buy and register your sim card.
Group Description
The trip is led by an English-speaking Cuban guide, accompanied by a driver.
Eating Drinking
In 2024, all breakfasts, 10 lunches and 10 dinners are included. In 2025, all breakfasts, 10 lunches and five dinners are included, allowing the option to try local restaurants on the other evenings.
The paladares are likely to be a highlight of any visit to Cuba – they are one of the few types of private enterprise allowed (although still heavily regulated). Think soul food – rice, black beans, slow-roast pork or chicken, fresh fish, lobster and plenty of tropical fruit. The atmosphere in private paladares and the opportunity to integrate with Cubans will absolutely enhance your stay!
In general, Cuba is not renowned for its culinary excellence (although it is improving) and some ingredients are just not possible to acquire. Food tends to be simple and relatively expensive – in no small part due to the long trade embargo implemented by the US. Dishes tend to be simple, with most mealtimes consisting of meat or fish accompanied by rice and salad or vegetables. Seafood is widely available on the coast, including cheap and abundant lobster! Vegetarians will find choices are limited, but it's still possible to eat well. Snacks are not freely available in Cuba so you may wish to bring some with you – particularly energy snacks, as food shops, cafes and restaurants are scarce in many of the rural areas we visit. It can be difficult to find quick lunches on the go as Cubans typically eat two meals a day – we provide packed lunches during the day and there are plenty of water and fruit refreshment stops. While food choice can be basic, on the plus side there is absolutely no shortage of rum! Havana Club, Black Tears, Ron Santiago, Caney… after your visit, you will be an expert.
Some drinking water is available on the bus, but we ask that you bring a filter water bottle to refill at public fountains and taps along the way. This helps to cut down on plastic and the need to buy water.
Transportation
We use a private, air-conditioned coach throughout the tour.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start accommodation: Casas particulares in Havana
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. The welcome briefing often takes place in the morning of Day 2, due to the evening arrival of many flights
Airport: Havana (HAV)
Getting to the start accommodation
The start accommodation is approximately 35 minutes from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start accommodation from the airport for all customers.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Havana Airport (HAV) from the end accommodation.
Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start accommodation and from the end accommodation and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Weather Information
The dry season runs from November to April (with December to March being the peak months for traditional tourism). It is very humid between May and October, with heavy rains at times and the possibility of hurricanes. July and August are some of the most popular months to visit Cuba but are hot (average 28C/82F) and wet. Cuba averages six hours of sunshine per day with a more or less constant humidity of 62 percent. Water temperatures normally range from 24C to 28C (75F to 82F).
Spending Money
Drinks are generally around €2-€5.
Many travellers find Cuba more expensive than they expect (particularly Havana) and we recommend you bring more spending money rather than less. We recommend €800 per person in total (not including tips for the guide and driver). Small denominations are preferred and can easily be spent in restaurants and bars.
Tipping
If you are happy with the services of the guide and driver, we recommend a tip of around €70 per passenger for the trip, which you can divide in favour of the guide.
Tipping is at your own discretion but is part of the culture in Cuba and usually expected. Your tour leader will offer to arrange and look after a group tipping kitty which will be used to tip local guides at individual museums and attractions, musicians and waiting staff for included meals etc. throughout the trip. The guide will usually collect €50-€60 from each group member at the start of the trip to cover this.
Tipping is also expected in restaurants – add about 10 percent to the bill.
Highlights
- — Cruise Havana in a classic car — Join Cuban cowboys for an immersive afternoon at a working farm — Explore isolated Baracoa on Cuba's eastern tip — Get moving on a drumming workshop led by local musicians — Shake things up with a cocktail-making class — Hike to Castro and Guevara's hideout in the Sierra Maestra
Trip Details
Product Code: 4060
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: the tour.
Guide Language: English
Supplier Code: AUB
Starts: Havana, Cuba
Finishes: Havana, Cuba
Duration: 15 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical rating: Unknown
Includes
- — 2024: All breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners — 2025: All breakfasts, 10 lunches, 5 dinners — All accommodation — All transport and listed activities — Tour leader throughout — Free arrival and departure transfers for everyone — Cuban tourist card for most UK/Ireland residents
Accommodation
Casas particulares: a uniquely Cuban experienceWe stay in casas particulares, guesthouse-style accommodation that provides a unique insight into local life – an experience you just wouldn’t get in a traditional hotel! Understanding casas Casas are privately owned homes with rooms to rent. Some call them Cuba’s answer to the B&B, but the truth is they offer a far more personal experience. Typically, the owner (and often family) will live at the property, meaning you have meaningful interactions with them as soon as you wake. The hosts are warm, welcoming and gracious – expect generous breakfasts, plenty of smiles and friendly conversations in Spanglish. Who knows, you may make a friend or two! The properties we use have been handpicked by our local team and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, reflecting the personality and lifestyle of the owners. As family homes, they tend to have a maximum of three or four bedrooms each, so we often use several different properties in close vicinity to accommodate our group. We do our best to ensure those in single-room accommodation are within a house where other group members are staying. The rooms are often vibrant, simply furnished and with tiled floors, sometimes with wooden shutters in place of windows. All have air conditioning and a private bathroom. Worth knowing Power cuts are part of daily life in Cuba, so please prepare for blackouts that may last several hours. Torches (flashlights) are readily available for evening/night-time occurrences. Also pack mosquito repellent for these periods – you’ll want to open your window, too.Internet connections can be unreliable.Hot water supplies are not always guaranteed and water pressure can be temperamental.Casas do not have lifts (elevators) so you should be able and prepared to carry your luggage up stairs.Many casa owners can help with laundry for a small fee.Most casas do not have hairdryers.There are often pets (a cat or dog) at the casas – please advise at the time of booking if this is problematic.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 5700 (CAD 380 /day)
Itinerary
Welcome to Havana, the lively capital of Cuba. Founded by the Spanish in the 16th century, it is now a soulful mix of colonial architecture, street troubadours and classic cars. We check into our first casas particulares of the trip; today is all about settling in and unwinding after your flight. The welcome briefing typically takes place tomorrow. Accommodation: Casas particulares
This morning, we have a tour of Old Havana, stopping at El Capitolio, which bears a resemblance to the Capitol building in Washington DC, and at Revolution Square. We also visit KCHO studio, which showcases local art and the relationship between Cuban art and the government. We then set off for Santa Clara, stopping on the way for lunch at our first paladar (family-run restaurants that form the soul of Cuban dining). Arrive into Santa Clara this afternoon, where the last battle of the Cuban Revolution took place. In December 1958, Che Guevara and his troops ambushed a train carrying arms to Santiago de Cuba – the major turning point in the revolution. We visit the mausoleum of Che Guevara and his comrades who died in Bolivia. The attached museum has many of his belongings – a fascinating insight into a 20th century icon. After, we check into our casas particulares before heading to a paladar for dinner. We also visit El Mejunje, the first openly LGBTQ+ bar in Cuba, founded in 1990. Today’s driving time is approximately four hours. Accommodation: Casas particulares
Today is a long driving day as we head to Bayamo in the south of the island. We pass through agricultural towns and sugarcane plantations as we go, learning about the importance of sugar in Cuba’s history. We stop in Camagüey, the fourth-largest city in the country, to break the journey and have lunch in a paladar. On arrival in Bayamo, we enjoy an orientation tour before checking into our guesthouses for the night and having dinner at a paladar. Today’s driving time is approximately seven hours. Accommodation: Casas particulares
After breakfast, we leave Bayamo and drive to Tortuguilla Beach, where we stop for a light lunch and a chance to swim in the Caribbean waters. We then continue to Baracoa, a quaint town surrounded by lush, tropical mountains and gold-sand beaches. Founded in 1512, Baracoa was the first Spanish settlement in Cuba and served as the capital for three years. Its location on the easternmost tip of the island left it open to attacks from pirates, smugglers and the English, so three forts were constructed in the 18th century for protection. The city has only been accessible by road since the 1960s and this has left it largely off the tourist route. However, the area is renowned for cocoa growing and chocolate production, while the Malecon on the northeast side of town is considered the first ocean drive in the Caribbean. There is also a strong indigenous influence here and El Yunque (an anvil-shaped mountain mentioned by Christopher Columbus in his diaries) used to be home to various indigenous communities. We arrive in the late afternoon and enjoy a walking tour before checking into our casas particulares. This evening, we head to a paladar for a hands-on cookery class and dinner, uncovering the secrets of traditional Baracoan cuisine. Due to its isolation, Baracoa has developed a unique gastronomy that has been heavily influenced by indigenous and Haitian cooking. Today’s driving time is approximately five hours. Accommodation: Casas particulares
This morning, we visit a family who are dedicating their lives to the conservation of the endangered polymita snail, whose beautiful red, yellow, white and black shells have been used in crafts and jewellery. The family now breeds them to protect their numbers and teaches others about this unique species. Afterwards, we enjoy a fish lunch on the beach with a local family – a great chance to learn more about their lives in this part of Cuba. This afternoon, we return to Baracoa and enjoy a short walking tour, where there’s time to visit locally owned craft shops and cafes. We also stop to listen to live Cuban music in a casa de la trova, a musical hotspot where troubadours play traditional songs. Accommodation: Casas particulares
Leave Baracoa after breakfast and travel towards Santiago de Cuba, known as the City of Heroes for the important role it played in the independence and revolutionary struggles. Santiago rivals Havana for literature, music and politics, and is rich in traditions, folklore and legends. Along the way, we stop in the busy city of Guantanamo to visit a dance school, where we learn more about the cultural heritage of Cuba, digging into the danzón, son and salsa styles. We also stop to talk to a priest of the Vodù religion, before enjoying a Haitian-influenced paladar lunch. On arrival in Santiago, we stroll through the city, where the local son music provides a lively soundtrack to our adventures, and enjoy dinner at another paladar. Today’s driving time is approximately four hours. Accommodation: Casas particulares
Explore Santiago this morning, visiting the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, where Fidel Castro is buried, Revolution Square, El Morro Castle and Moncada Barracks, where the opening shots of the Revolution were fired on 26 July 1953. After, we enjoy lunch in a paladar. The afternoon is dedicated to music and dance – Santiago is not only considered the cradle of the Revolution but, as the home of the Afro-Cuban genre son cubano, it is also the most important city musically. We enjoy an afternoon guided tour and performance at the Museo del Carnaval, which showcases songs and dances brought to Cuba by enslaved people from Africa. We finish the afternoon with a salsa lesson, which took its modern form in Cuba at the turn of the 20th century. Later in the evening, we visit Casa de la Trova. While many towns have a casa de la trova, this particular spot is a musical institution and offers a chance for us to enjoy traditional Cuban music played by experienced hands and rising stars. Former performers here include members of legendary Cuban band Buena Vista Social Club. Accommodation: Casas particulares
Leaving the city, we drive towards the green mountains of the Sierra Maestra, stopping to visit El Cobre, the most sacred pilgrimage site in Cuba. Upon arrival, visit the Church of La Virgen de la Caridad, Cuba’s patron saint, and learn how African and Catholic religions have intertwined in Cuba to create Santería. We then climb a short distance to see the Monument to the Runaway Slave, an iron-and-bronze hillside sculpture dedicated to one of the earliest and most important revolts by enslaved people, which took place in 1731. After, we continue into the Sierra Maestra and stop for a picnic lunch along the way. We reach our destination, Villa Santo Domingo, in the early afternoon. This evening, we stay in casas particulares in a humble mountain village. Accommodation is simple but the welcome is warm. This evening, we head to Junco’s Farm in the village, where Junco and his family welcome us for a traditional Cuban country dinner. The food is served with plenty of stories about Junco’s life and the history of the region. After dinner, we join the family for rum and a game of Cuban dominoes – a classic Cuban experience and an unforgettable bonding moment. Today’s driving time is approximately three hours. Accommodation: Casas particulares
Spend this morning in the Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra, a spectacular national park within the highest mountain range in Cuba. This region is well known as Fidel Castro’s base of operations during the Cuban Revolution. High in the sierra is Comandancia de la Plata, the secret hideout of Castro and Che Guevara, which was used for planning the revolution in the 1950s, and as the base of Radio Rebelde, which provided information for the revolutionaries. Accompanied by a local guide, we hike to the base and may have time to paddle in the Yara River. We enjoy lunch in a paladar, and then continue to Camagüey where we spend the night. After almost continuous attacks from pirates, the original city (founded on the northern coast as Santa Maria del Puerto del Principe around 1515) was moved inland in 1528. The new city was built with a confusing layout of winding alleys that made it easier to defend. After checking into our casas particulares, we enjoy dinner together at a paladar. Today’s driving time is approximately three hours. Accommodation: Casas particulares
Explore this historic city by bici-taxi this morning, each peddled by a local. On our three-wheeled vehicles, we travel through the winding streets of Camagüey and pass by the Church of Soledad, the historic centre and the old convent of Ursuline Mothers. Depending on availability, we visit a local artist who is a sculptor, painter, illustrator, engraver and ceramicist. We visit her studio workshop, where she showcases her work and speaks about how her life in Cuba, and in Camagüey in particular, influences her creations. Alternatively, we may visit an initiative that focuses on dance and helps young people discover performing arts in Cuba. We then continue to Trinidad, a World Heritage site since 1988 and perhaps the best-preserved colonial town on the island, where we enjoy a walking tour. Exploring Trinidad is like stepping back in time; the cobbled streets and horse-drawn transportation whisking you back to the Colonial era. There are many interesting museums in colonial buildings to visit during the day, but Trinidad really comes alive as the sun sets, when the bars and paladares kick into action. This evening, we take part in a cocktail-making class, visiting a paladar to learn how to make the perfect mojito from a local bartender. Today’s driving time is approximately four hours. Accommodation: Casas particulares
Take a short walking tour of Trinidad this morning before heading to the nearby Valle de los Ingenios, one of the largest producers of sugarcane in the 18th and 19th centuries. Our first visit is to the Santander family, whose pottery-making heritage stretches back generations. We see their workshop and even have the chance to throw a pot ourselves. It’s then on to Manaca Iznaga, a one-time sugarcane estate, where we learn about the local sugar-growing history, a hugely important industry for Cuba during the 18th and 19th centuries, before visiting the plaza where there is an artisan market showcasing locally made crafts, souvenirs as well as fruit and honey. Finally, we visit a local project that teaches young people about textile making, art and dance. Returning, we take a short drive to Playa Ancón where we have a fish lunch on the beach and enjoy the beautiful Caribbean Sea. In the afternoon, we head back to Trinidad. After freshening up, we join a local drumming group who take us on an evocative and joyful journey from Africa to modern Cuba through the pulsating Afro-Cuban rhythms of a drumming workshop. After, we enjoy dinner in a paladar. Accommodation: Casas particulares
Set off for Finca La Lima after breakfast for a Cuban cowboy day on a working farm. We join farmers for a walk to the creek for a swim, use a press to squeeze our own sugarcane juice, and milk the cows before lunch at the hacienda. We then carry on to Cienfuegos, the Pearl of the South, where our local guide gives us a tour of this colonial city, first settled in the 19th century by French immigrants. We visit some of the most important plazas, including Plaza José Martí, and learn of Beny Moré, a Cuban musical legend who often sang of his adoration for Cienfuegos. We then check into our casas particulares, followed by dinner in a paladar. Accommodation: Casas particulares
Today we visit the Bay of Pigs, site of the attempted US invasion in 1961, and drive through the Zapata Peninsula back to Havana. We visit the museum at Playa Giron, which focuses on the invasion, and stop for lunch and to swim at Punta Perdiz, a promontory jutting into the Bay of Pigs and a great snorkelling spot. We are joined by a marine expert who chats to the group about sea life and the conservation of local coral. If time permits, we make a brief stop in the village of Palpite to visit a local who usually has many zunzuncitos (bee hummingbirds) living in his garden. After arriving back to energetic Havana, we have a walking tour of Old Havana – a living museum, with magnificent monuments, cathedrals and palaces. Today’s driving time is approximately four hours. Accommodation: Casas particulares
This morning, we have more time to explore Old Havana with our guide. We start with a classic car tour, cruising through the streets of Old Havana and along the Malecón towards the more modern part of town. As we travel in our vintage cars, we stop along the way to hear stories and explanations of Havana’s highlights and learn how these cars became an iconic part of Havana. We then enjoy a walking tour of Old Havana, visiting both historic points of interest and meeting its current residents. It is the finest surviving Spanish colonial complex in the Americas, preserved by a combination of minimal war damage, post-revolution restoration and the millions of dollars invested since it was declared a World Heritage site in 1982. We spend the afternoon at a screen-printing workshop with some of the finest graphic designers in Havana, before heading down to the Malecón for rum cocktails, spontaneous music and conversation on the iconic seafront boulevard. Tonight, we enjoy our final dinner in a paladar. Accommodation: Casas particulares
The adventure ends today. Bid a fond farewell to Cuba and catch a free transfer to Havana Airport for your return flight home. See the Joining Instructions for more information on booking your transport to the airport.
Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
In Business Since 1974
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