One Week in Cuba
8 Days Starting and ending in Havana
Visiting: Havana, Havana / Bay of Pigs / Playa Larga, Trinidad, Vinales
Tour operator:
Tour code:
QUYF
Specialist Group:
18-30 Somethings
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 16
Age range:
18-35 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
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.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Havana
Location: Havana
Accommodation: Casa Particular
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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 2: Havana / Bay Of Pigs / Playa Larga
Location: Havana / Bay of Pigs / Playa Larga
Accommodation: Casa Particular
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Trinidad
Location: Trinidad
Accommodation: Casa Particular
Meals Included: breaksfast
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!
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 4: Trinidad
Location: Trinidad
Accommodation: Casa Particular
Meals Included: breaksfast
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?
Optional Activities:
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Day 5: Vinales
Location: Vinales
Accommodation: Casa Particular
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 6: Vinales
Location: Vinales
Accommodation: Casa Particular
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Optional Activities:
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Day 7: Havana
Location: Havana
Accommodation: Casa Particular
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 8: Havana
Location: Havana
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Optional Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Casa Particular (7 nights) -
Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
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Havana - Leader-led walking tour of Old Havana
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Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
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Bay of Pigs - Coastal swim stop
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Trinidad - Leader-led orientation walk
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Trinidad - Rum Tasting in a Local Bar
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Vinales - Leader-led orientation walk
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Havana - Leader-led Bicycle Ride to Revolution Square
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Meals
1 lunches
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Complimentary Arrival Transfer
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Included Activities
- Havana - Leader-led Walking Tour of Old Havana
- Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
- Bay of Pigs - Coastal Swim Stop
- Trinidad - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Trinidad - Rum Tasting in a Local Bar
- Vinales - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Havana - Leader-led Bicycle Ride to Revolution Square
Transport
- Private vehicle , Public bus , Taxi
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.
- For this itinerary, the standard guesthouse rooms will have an ensuite and air-conditioning however will not necessarily have a split system, an in-room or in-house safe or imported bedding.
- PRE-TOUR ACCOMMODATION
- We aim to confirm the first night of your tour in Old Havana however occasionally due to availability we will confirm it in either Central Havana or Vedado. If you book pre-tour accommodation through us we will also aim to book these nights in Old Havana. Late requests and requests of 3 nights or more have a lower chance of being confirmed in Old Havana.
- POST-TOUR ACCOMMODATION
- The final night of your tour may be booked in either Vedado, Central Havana or Old Havana. If you book post-tour accommodation through us, we aim to confirm it at the same property (regardless of the area we have secured) to avoid the inconvenience of you having to move. If you specifically prefer your post accommodation to be booked in Old Havana you must inform your booking agent and we will request this. You will need to make your own way between the final guesthouse and your post-tour guesthouse. Late requests and requests of 3 nights or more have a lower chance of being confirmed in Old Havana.
- 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 single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 2. 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.
- 3. Please advise bedding configuration requests to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel to aid guesthouse and rooming allocations, which are finalised 10 days prior to departure based on the configuration of each travelling party. You may request your confirmed guesthouse name and address inside 7 days of departure from your booking agent. Rest assured, the transfer driver will know the address of your assigned guesthouse.
- 4. A visa or tourist card, organised prior to arrival, is required for all nationalities visiting Cuba.
- 5. The Cuban government has declared that travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers. Proof of insurance may be requested at Havana Airport by immigration officials.
- 6. 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. 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.
Mode of Transport
- Private vehicle , Public bus , Taxi
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
The guesthouses (casas) used are much nicer than your average Cuban dwelling, and each room is unique. Regardless of where you stay, power cuts and breaks in the hot water supply are sometimes unavoidable, as in any developing country – but we believe this is all a part of the local experience. To help set your expectations, please read the ‘Accommodation’ section of the Essential Trip Information.
Luxuries such as air conditioning, plush pillows and fly screens are often scarce. Part of the experience here is learning to appreciate everyday Cuban resourcefulness.
You might have to save your status updates and photo posts for when you get home, as internet connection can be hard to find, unreliable and expensive. Treat Cuba as a holiday from being online! -
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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