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Beautiful Cuba 8 Days Tour
SUPPORT FOR THE CUBAN PEOPLE LEGAL TOUR FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS

     

OCTOBER 28 -NOVEMBER 4  2023    NOVEMBER 4 -11  2023
JANUARY  6 -13 2024

Day 1  Havana

Arrival at Havana International Airport 

Collect your bags and go through customs.

You're welcomed at the airport lobby by your bilingual guide and professional  driver.

Private transfer to your Casa Particular 

Check-in with assistance from your guide 

General information briefing.

Dinner tonight will be at a local paladar, a privately owned restaurant and a great example of Cuba’s incremental shift to a more free-market economy. We might have the opportunity to meet the owners of the Paladar. Paladar means “palate” and is named after a chain of restaurants in a Brazilian soap opera popular in Cuba.

-Walking tour at the Malecón, Havana's magical water front wall, meeting place for Cubans and foreigners where music and art takes place.

-Visit to the iconic Hotel Nacional de Cuba built in the 1930's. Enjoy a historic tour where the Havana conference took place, an infamous mob summit run by Meyer Lansky, Lucky Luciano and attended by Santo Traficante, Albert Anastasia, Frank Costello, Vito Genovese and many others.

Following the Cuban Revolution of  1959, Fidel Castro nationalized the hotel and finally closed the casino in October 1960, almost two years after his overthrow of Batista. Browse photographs and memorabilia of the hotel’s esteemed guests in the Hall of Fame like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, 

Ava Gardner, Ernest Hemingway, Errol Flynn, Gary Cooper etc.

* Accommodation La Habana 

 

 

Day 2 Havana

Breakfast at Casa particular 

Ernest Hemingway tour.

Hemingway lived in Cuba on and off for 20 years. His house, "Finca Vigia", was where he wrote (among others) his novel "The Old Man and the Sea", for which he received the Pulitzer Prize in 1953. A year later he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for his body of work. When receiving the Prize, Hemingway declared that the prize belonged not to him, but to Cuba. Indeed: he gifted the medal to Cuba upon receiving it. 

 

After breakfast at your Casa particular the excursion starts with a drive to “La Finca Vigía”, the former residence of the prolific American writer. Next stop is Cojimar (14km from Havana), where Hemingway was inspired to write “The Old Man and the Sea”. A walking tour takes you to Hemingway’s statue, made from old anchors, props, and tools salvaged by local fishermen to cast his statue. Here, you’ll visit the restaurant Las Terrazas, the preferred Cojimar hangout of the author and the late Captain of his boat (Pilar); Gregorio Fuentes

 

From here, return to the capital to follow Hemingway’s trail in Old Havana, having a peek at room 511 in Hotel Ambos Mundos - where Hemingway used to stay in the 1930s. Breathe the atmosphere of those days, in the restaurant-bars “la Bodeguita del Medio” and “Floridita”, famous for its superb mojitos, the other for its Daiquiris.

Lunch at a typical paladar, complete menu with one drink included.

Walking tour Old Havana

 Habana was founded in 1515 by conquistador Diego Velazquez as a trading port and became the capital of the Spanish Colony of Cuba in 1607.

-It includes visits to sites of major interest starting with a walking tour through the main streets and squares of the Historical Centre, declared UNESCO World Heritage Site:

-Plaza de la Catedral (Cathedral Square), named after the masterpiece of Cuban baroque architecture: the Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana built by the Jesuit order. The Cathedral's baroque facade is simultaneously intimate and imposing, and one of the two towers is visibly larger, creating a pleasing asymmetry. As with many churches in the city, the building material of Havana Cathedral includes coral, cut and hauled from the edge of the sea by slaves. Look carefully and you'll see fossils of marine flora and fauna in the stone of the cathedral.

Plaza de Armas (Square of Arms), ancient military parade ground for Spanish soldiers and surrounded by impressive buildings

such as:

Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the former official residence of the governors (Captains General) of Havana, Cuba.          

It is home to the Museum of the City of Havana. It houses exhibitions of art and historical artifacts and many of the

rooms are preserved with their original Colonial decoration.

Palacio del Segundo Cabo (Palace of the Second Lieutenant) dates from 1770, the seat of the second authority of the island. Today it houses important publishing concerns.

Castillo de la Real Fuerza. The second oldest fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies. The castle was recently renovated and reopened in June 2008 to hold the impressive maritime museum. Well laid out exhibits a chart of Spain and Cuba's naval history.

-Plaza de San Francisco de Asís (San Francisco Square), named after the Convent of San Francisco, this square was conceived in 1628, with the objective of supplying water to the ships trading with the metropolis. For many years it also served to stockpile the goods arriving from the harbor. Chronicles of the time say that the square had a busy commercial life. The people, in humble carts or afoot, sold and bought a variety of goods. It’s important to know that through this place the Spanish immigrants arrived to Cuba.

Plaza Vieja (Old Square), the only civic square of colonial times. Notice it doesn't have a church or government building and is in contrast surrounded by opulent aristocratic 17th century residences. Here we will visit important institutions for visual arts.

Rest of the evening at leisure. 

 

Dinner at one of many delicious paladars, private businesses owned by Cuban families. 

* Accommodation La Habana 

 

 

Day 3 Las Terrazas

Breakfast at Casa particular   

Departure to Las Terrazas community which is a UNESCO biosphere status, the area is an example of eco-tourism at its very best. Las Terrazas, Cuba’s pioneering eco-village is a beautiful natural playground just begging to be explored. Walk to hidden waterfalls, get to know the forest on foot and discover how coffee is grown. 

Dinner at a paladar in Havana. 

Evening at leisure

 

* Accommodation La Habana 

 

 

Day 4 Cienfuegos

Breakfast at Casa particular 

Departure to Cienfuegos known as the Pearl of the South. Check in at our casa particular upon arrival and Lunch at local Cienfuegos Paladar.

Departure to Laguna Guanaroca (Guanaroca Lagoon protected area). Walking and navigating through it, we can see one of the largest colonies of pink flamencos in Cuba that remain a long period of the year in the region. when they fly towards other areas of the island.

After checking into our next Casa Particular, we will have the pleasure of meeting a local guide who will share their knowledge of Cienfuegos' stunning architecture. Meeting a local guide offers another fantastic  opportunity for Support for the cuban people interfacing at a

UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cienfuegos is unique in that it is the only city in Cuba founded by French colonist.  Our day will include another great meal at a local Restaurant followed by a night of Cuban music.

 

*Accommodation Cienfuegos 

Day 5 Bay of Pigs

 

Day 5 Playa Girón - Punta Perdíz - Playa Larga (Bay of Pigs)

 

Breakfast at Casa particular 

Departure to Península de Zapata National Park (Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar Site) where the biggest insular Caribbean humid marsh lies. It's located in Cuba's south coast.

Our first stop is at  the small town of Playa Girón to visit the Museum of the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The town’s name comes from the French pirate Gilbert Girón. Girón’s decapitation at the hands of angry locals has been remembered by history through his Playa namesake.

Snorkeling at Punta Perdiz which is an exclusive attraction of Playa Girón and unknown diving and snorkeling destination in Cuba. The area holds 10 diving sites, where corsairs and pirates arrived centuries ago and where visitors can enjoy crystal clear waters and large variety of tropical fish offering fantastic snorkeling and diving conditions, incredibly there are colorful fishes right up to the water edge in surrounding bays and natural pools.

Snorkeling is included so you will enjoy swimming among schools of  tropical fish. 

Lunch at Punta Perdiz. Complete menu with drinks included.

 

Dinner at casa particular

Meet the local band Son por siempre and enjoy a private concert and practice your salsa dancing moves! 

 

*Accommodation Playa Larga

 

 

Day 6 Playa Larga 

 

 

After a hearty breakfast  we start our day driving 25 minutes to the southwestern side of Bay of Pigs in Zapata Peninsula. This route is a harmonious combination of hiking and swimming at ancient cenotes . You set out hiking from a trail that parallels the western shore of the Bay of Pigs. On the way, you will go through several wooded areas and types of vegetation and will have the chance to swim at ancient cenotes. Tour Led by local naturalist.

Picnic Lunch at the beach 

After the wonderful hike at Sendero Enigma de las rocas we head back to Playa Larga and stop on route to snorkel at La Cueva de Los Peces. A very popular site where certified divers can dive at the coral reef just 30 feet from the shore. (Diving is optional) and others can snorkel with the company of the local guides.

Visit Museo Giron, which displays a collection of ,photographs, artefacts and military vehicles that tell you the story of the Bay of Pigs invasion. In 1961 1,400 Cuban exiles invaded the bay in an attempt to overthrow their leader, Fidel Castro, during the Cold War. An attack backed by the U.S during John F Kennedy administration, the museum weaves together the history of the invasion from the Cuban perspective. Explore outside the museum and find the British Hawker Sea Fury aircraft and ruins of an American aircraft carrier, reminders of the bay's very recent past.

Return to our Casa particular and rest of the afternoon at leisure. You may go for a walk to the beach 20 yards from our casa or enjoy the beautiful ocean view from the terrace, read a good book with mojito in hand and around 7:00 pm we will enjoy another delicious dinner in our casa particular.

*Accommodation Playa Larga

 

 

 

Day 7 Habana

 

Breakfast at Casa particular.

After breakfast we will have time to enjoy a relaxed morning at the warm waters of the Bay of pigs, you can swim , go for a walk along the beach. Then around 11:00 we will drive to Havana but before leaving  the Bay of Pigs a must do is visiting Bernabe's House in Palpite Cienega de Zapata.

The exotic lush tropical flora dotting Bernabe's backyard provides a kaleidoscope of colors where the world's smallest bird, the bee hummingbird resides, an endemic bird of Cuba. Another stop will be for lunch at another delicious Restaurant in the town of Jagüey Grande.

Visit to the famous Handicraft Market of Old Havana, and meet local Cuban artists. The market is located inside the Almacenes de Depósito San José, an old warehouse on the harbor side.

Check in at your Casa particular and time to explore Havana on your own

Private city tour in convertible vintage cars.

Experience the glamor of the 50´s during our  exclusive tour. A private chauffeur will drive you in a nostalgic classic car through the city of cities: Havana. 

Dinner at local restaurant. 

Visit to the Fábrica de Arte Cubano a club, bar and art gallery that occupies the heart of Vedado nightlife and the Cuban art scene. was opened in the renovated old Oil factory in late 2013 and has gone on to become a corner stone of Cuban culture. The gallery space is used to exhibit Cuba's youngest and most hip artists, alongside a theatre and film space. Fábrica de Arte Cubano very much preaches the ethos of living and engaging with art, making the gallery space a part of the nightlife encourages everyone to integrate themselves with art, making it less elitist, more popular and more accessible. The temporary exhibitions are available to buy from individual artists.

 

*Accommodation Havana

 

Day 8

 

Breakfast at Casa Particular 

Private transfer to the airport 

Have a nice trip back home!

Thank you 

 

  The Program includes:

* Meet and greet at Havana International Airport

* All Meals with 1 drink included starting at dinner day 1 and until breakfast day 8

* Transfers Airport/Hotel/Airport.

* 7 Accommodation nights.

* Attractions and sightseeing fees as per itinerary.

* Private transportation in air conditioned Van.

* English speaking guide.

* Local Representative.

 

Not Included:                                                                            

* Airfare Cuba. Round Trip.                                                      

* Cuban Visa Tourist Card (50 - 85 USD Miami airport or 15 USD at Mexico city or Cancun airport) * Personal Incidentals and Tipping

* Activities and excursions outside the above Program.

PRICE:  $2,600 USD BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FEE 400 USD

La Habana.jpg
walking tour to El Floridita bar
IMG_5982.JPG
La Bodeguita del medio
flamingos in Guanaroca Lagoon
Bay of Pigs - Playa Larga
Enigma de las rocas Hike in Bay of Pigs Cuba
Classic convertible cars tour in Havana
Musicians
cuba map

 

ACCOMMODATIONS

CASAS PARTICULARES

Cuban B&B

 

Staying in a casa particular is undoubtedly one of the best ways to experience authentic Cuban life, immerse yourself in its vibrant culture, and enjoy the warmth of its people. After years of organizing trips to Cuba, we have developed a network of top-quality casas particulares, featuring excellent service and comfortable rooms with private bathrooms that meet the highest standards.
 

Casa colonial 1930
Casa colonial año 1923
Casa Enrique Playa Larga
Casa Particular
Modern B&B Havana
Casa Particular Nuvia
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