14 Day Private Cuba Tour

14 Day/13 Night Private Cuba Tour

Below is a great example of the type of itinerary you can follow if you have 14 days in Cuba. However, our specialty and strength as an organization is creating tailor-made private Cuba Tour itineraries that focus on your interests and expectations.

14 Days/13 Nights Private Air-Conditioned Transportation Upgraded B&B's and/or Hotels Local English-Speaking Guide Group Booking Discounts Available

Tour Pricing

Please enquire now for information about pricing and accommodation options. We can book a range of accommodation options including authentic, upgraded or superior Casa’s/B&B’s.

Tour introduction

If you have 14 Days/11Nights in Cuba we think this itinerary form the perfect base from which to tailor your private Cuba tour experience . Please note that we can be 100% flexible with the activities and accommodations included. We can tailor the itinerary to focus on your interests and budget. To make the very most of all that Cuba has to offer, its best to spend as much time on the Caribbean island as possible. Our 14 day private Cuba tour gives you enough time to experience the real, authentic, Cuba without rushing, and includes visits to many of the countries most important and interesting destinations.

Included Activites

⭐ Guided orientation walk (dependent on arrival time). ⭐ Convertible Classic Car Trip to El Morro Fort and El Cristo de La Habana ⭐ Old Havana Walking Tour. ⭐ Classic Car Havana Tour. ⭐ 1 x drink at Hotel Nacional over-looking Malecon OR Salsa Lesson OR Mojito making lesson. ⭐ Rum and Cigar Experience OR Market Visit and Cooking Class ⭐ Museum of the Revolution OR Museum of Fine Arts OR Finca Vigia. ⭐ Callejon de Hamel. ⭐ Fusterlandia ⭐ Explore the Las Terrazas Township ⭐ Visit Cafetal Buenavista ⭐ Visit the Soroa Waterfall and Orchid garden ⭐ Los Jasmines Look-out Point ⭐ Vinales Township and Farmland guided walk or cycle ⭐ Mural de la Prehistoria ⭐ Organic Farm Lunch ⭐ Tobacco Farm and drying house ⭐ Che Guevara Memorial (closed on Mondays). ⭐ Trinidad township guided walk including Palacio Cantero, Canchanchara, Palacio Brunet, Plaza Mayor, Museo Romantico, Pottery workshop. ⭐ Casa de la Musica. ⭐ Playa Anco ⭐ Valley of the Sugar Mill ⭐ Sierra del Escambray Excursion. ⭐ Palenque de los Congos Reales. ⭐ Cienfuegos Guided City Walk. ⭐ Bay of Pigs Museum. ⭐ Swim/ Snorkel at the Bay of Pigs.

A Selection of Activities and Excursions

We have hand selected some of the best and most interesting activities for you to participate in, while in Havana. There is also the flexibility to choose from a number of options, based on your interests and expectations.

Local English-Speaking Guide

If you don’t speak Spanish that won’t be a problem. Your local English speaking guide will be on hand to share their magical country with you.

Your Choice of Accommodation

We think you’ll love our authentic pick of superior casa particular bed and breakfasts, family-run establishments unique to Cuba. There is also the option to upgrade to hotels as well.

Meals Included

Where meals are included we aim to showcase the best of Cuban cuisine by frequenting the growing number of privately-owned paladares restaurants. Where meals are not included, your guide and our Havana office team will be happy to make recommendations and reservations as required.

Private Air-Conditioned Transportation

All transport on our 14 day private Cuba tour is via private air-conditioned vehicles and is included between tour destinations, as well as for activities and excursions in your itinerary that require transportation. Any extra transport requirements can be organised through your guide and paid for locally in Cuba.

Airport Transfers

Forget having to worry about how you’ll get from the airport to your accommodation and vice versa, we’ve got your airport transfers sorted on both arrival and departure.

Start building your perfect tailor-made Cuba tour itinerary today

About This Tour

Tour philosophy:

“Locally Sourced Cuba Tours is dedicated to providing you with an authentic and unforgettable Cuba tour experience. We can help you achieve in one adventure what has taken us years – to go inside the country in a deeper, more personal way. With Locally Sourced Cuba Tours you will have unrivalled access to local people from all walks of life while you experience an island that simply has so much to offer. Our tours are focused on introducing you to the Cuba that we know and love. You will spend time getting to know the locals, immersing yourself in Cuban culture, and supporting the Cuban people through your responsible tourism efforts.”

Why we love this trip:

  • A comprehensive full day tour of Havana will give you the lowdown on this beguiling capital city.
  • You’ll get to visit the final resting place of revolutionary Che Guevara, interred near Santa Clara in a specially constructed mausoleum and museum.
  • You can explore the historic Valley of the Sugar Mills in Trinidad, the centre of the world’s sugar production during the eighteenth century and to visit Cuba’s best south coast beach – Playa Ancon.
  • Get an insight into the world of cigars, seeing how tobacco is cultivated in Viñales and visiting a cigar factory in Havana.
  • Always looking to give you as authentic an experience as possible, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in Cuba’s music and dance scene while on your 14 Day Private Cuba tour.
  • See the colourful streets and work of prominent and emerging Cuban artists in the Callejon de Hamel area.
  • Receive a guided orientation walk to get your bearings at each destination you visit.
  • Experience true Cuban hospitality at wonderful specially chosen upgraded family-run casa particulares (Cuban bed and breakfasts) or historic hotels.

Is this trip right for you?

We believe our 14 day private Cuba tour gives the right balance of informative cultural experiences and periods of relaxation, giving you the freedom to explore on your own without missing out on vital sights of interest. Being a private tour means you’ll never feel lost in the crowd as your local Cuban guide shows you around and the tour can travel at a pace suitable to your fitness levels.

Start building your perfect tailor-made Cuba tour itinerary today

Estimated travel times:

Cuba is the Caribbean’s largest nation, and our 14 day private Cuba tour aims to show you as much of the island as possible. However, we will never rush you, and longer journeys between destinations will include stops for a bit to eat or to stretch your legs and take in your beautiful surroundings. The sorts of travel times you can expect on the 14 day private Cuba tour are:

  • From Havana to Viñales: 3 hours
  • From Havana to Trinidad (via Santa Clara): 5 hours
  • From Trinidad to Cienfuegos: 1 hour
  • Cienfuegos to Havana (via Bay of Pigs): 4 hours

Travel to Cuba from the U.S.:

For those traveling to Cuba from the U.S. (regardless of nationality), please note that the documentation we will include with your booking ensures your compliance with current U.S. travel restrictions (515.574 Support for the Cuban People). In addition to retaining your itinerary, please keep records of your booking receipt, airline receipt, and any supplemental insurance purchased. You should retain these copies for 5 years after your travel. Some of our travelers have been asked to furnish these upon application for Global Entry, Pre-Check, and other programs with TSA oversight.

Tour Itinerary

Bienvenido! Welcome to Cuba!

Cuba has welcomed everyone from Christopher Columbus to Ernest Hemingway to its sunny shores, and we’re sure you’ll find your time on the island just as alluring. The capital boasts layer upon layer of history going back 500 years since the Spanish founded Havana during their several centuries of colonisation of the island as a whole. As a result, it is one of the finest places in the Americas with which to explore the region’s colonial history, both good and bad. But Havana is also synonymous with the more recent history of the Cuban Revolution and its aftermath, and its fair to say that you’re never far from reminders of this period when staying in the vibrant, life-loving streets of the Cuban capital.

Part of Havana’s charm is undoubtedly its time-warp feel. Gently crumbling baroque and neoclassical masterpieces dot much of Habana Vieja – Havana’s ancient UNESCO-listed Old Town – alongside the city’s iconic vintage taxi fleet, cigar-smoking grandma’s, and a way of life little changed since the early 1960s. Things are steadily changing in the Cuban capital, but while relations between the US and the Caribbean nation remain strained, it looks as those Havana will remain a world away from its near neighbour for some time to come.

So you’ll want plenty of time to explore Havana during your 14 day private Cuba tour, which starts as it means to go on. From your very first evening in Cuba you’ll start to get acquainted with the city, with an orientation tour around the area immediately around your accommodation. Here you’ll find a very different Cuba than you might imagine from the news headlines, with live music a way of life, bright clothing the norm rather than the exception, and photographic opportunities on every street corner.

Your 14 day private Cuba tour begins, however, on your arrival at Havana’s José Martí International Airport, where you’ll be met for your airport transfer to your accommodation in the city. During these first hours of your Cuba tour, you will have the chance to meet your guide and discuss the finer details of your 14 day private Cuba tour itinerary before they escort you on the orientation walk of the local area (dependent on your arrival time).

If you arrive early enough, there will also be time for a classic convertible car journey to the fort of El Morro and El Cristo de La Habana (which will otherwise be incorporated into day two). The journey provides the perfect introduction to the Cuban capital, and offers ample opportunity for those first Facebook-friendly photographs too, particularly as the sun sets over the long seaside promenade known as the Malecon.

A NOTE ABOUT YOUR EVENINGS IN CUBA

Evenings are generally free time, allowing you to explore at your latest Cuban destination at leisure. If you want some ideas of what you can do in the evenings, your guide will have plenty of ideas, and will be more than happy to organise tickets or reservations, or even accompany you out should you prefer.

On your first night in Cuba you might like to visit Casa de la Musica, a live music venue in the suburb of Miramar. There are many places in Cuba called the “House of Music”, but the Miramar House of Music is one of the liveliest, with an atmosphere that manages to be both animated and sophisticated at the same time. Housed within a renovated old Havana mansion, a trip here blends together many of Cuba’s greatest assets.

INCLUDED

  • Transfer from the airport
  • Introductory meeting with your guide, and orientation walk (arrival time permitting)
  • Convertible classic car tour to El Morro Fort and El Cristo de La Habana (If you arrive later in the day this will be incorporated in Day Two’s schedule)

Day Two of your 14 day private Cuba tour provides an entire day in which to take in many of Havana’s most important sights. At the very heart of the capital for centuries is Old Havana (Habana Vieja), a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site which you’ll explore on foot during your guided Old Havana Walking Tour.

There’s an abundance of cultural riches to marvel at as part of this tour, and as you tackle the cobbles in this part of town, you’ll be told some of the history of buildings such as the El Capitolio, the Museo de la Revolución, and the Gran Teatro Habana. You’ll also take in some of the most stunning squares in the Americas – including the Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral, and Plaza Vieja, public spaces that are simply perfect for people watching.

Rest assured, there will be plenty of time to give your feet a rest, including during lunch at an authentic Cuban Paladar, one of the growing number of small privately-run restaurants which offer fantastic Cuban hospitality and tasty authentic island cuisine.

Now’s your chance to explore slightly further afield in the Cuban capital on a Convertible Classic Car Tour. An iconic part of the Havana landscape, these vehicles date back to pre-revolutionary days and are kept running out of practically as much as the style they bring to the streets. Working taxis, your classic car will transport you to the newer districts of Havana Vedado and the faded grandeur of Miramar, passing the Colon Cemetery, Revolution Square, and the Malecon as you do so.

Next you have the choice of one of three options:

  1. Make a stop at the Hotel Nacional in Havana Vedado for a drink and a wonderful view of the Malecon in time for sunset.
  2. Take to the dance floor for a Salsa Lesson suitable for all levels and led by an experienced dance teacher to learn some of the key moves in Cuba’s traditional dances – danzon, son, cha cha cha, and rumba among them.
  3. Take in the view at a rooftop bar in Havana’s Old Town for a mojito making lesson. You’ll be taught how to make a classic Cuban cocktail with an unbeatable view over the rooftops of the city.

In the evening you will have some free time to make the most of Havana’s lively nightlife. You can choose to do this independently, or your local guide will be available to host you. Your local guide will be able to recommend a range of options and organise tickets and transfers (paid for locally).

INCLUDED

  • Old Havana walking tour
  • Lunch at an authentic Cuban Paladar
  • A Tour of Havana in a convertible classic car

1 x drink at Hotel Nacional or Salsa Lesson or Mojito Making Lesson

You remain in Havana for day three of your 14 day private Cuba tour. In the morning you can choose between a rum and cigar experience or a cooking class.

RUM AND CIGAR EXPERIENCE

The Havana Rum Museum gives you the chance to learn about the rum making process from beginning to end, and even enjoy some tastings, all within the stately surrounds of this converted old palace.

You’ll then continue to the Partagas Cigar Factory to uncover the mystique behind cigar making, allowing you to gain a sense of the significance of these beauties to the country’s culture and heritage. You will also witness first hand the amount of effort, care and tradition that goes into making these Cuban treasures, and come away with a new appreciation for Cuban cigars even if you’re a non-smoker.

COOKING CLASS

Your second option for the morning is an authentic Cooking Class in a local casa particular bed and breakfast. Not only will you get to taste some wonderful cuisine, but also interact with ordinary Cubans with a wonderful backdrop over the rooftops of the city.

Your cooking class will include:

  • A visit to a local market to source ingredients
  • Demonstration and involvement in preparing local dishes
  • Instruction on preparation of the Cuban mojito at the bar, followed by making your own version of this, one of Cuba’s three signature cocktails

In the afternoon your have the option to choose one of three impressive museum collections:

1.) It’s not difficult to be enraptured by the exhibits in Havana’s Museum of the Revolution, housed within a grand building that was once the country’s equivalent of the White House. This all changed after the dictatorial government of Batista was overthrown by Fidel Castro in 1959. It became the home of the Government and the Council of Ministers until 1965, and then the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. In 1974, it was converted into the museum, being awarded national monument status in 2010.

2.) Equally enthralling is the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Arte Cubano). Dedicated exclusively to displaying Cuban artworks, this gallery is where the crème de la crème of Cuban art is to be found. The works are displayed in chronological order starting on the third floor, making it superbly easy to observe the development of Cuban art throughout the centuries. Amongst the artists featured are works by Guillermo Collazo, considered to be the first truly great Cuban artist. There are also works by Rafael Blanco, with his cartoon-like paintings and sketches; and Raúl Martínez, a master of 1960s Cuban pop art.

3.) Take the short drive to La Finca Vigía on the outskirts of Havana. This sprawling estate was the Cuban home of heavyweight American author Ernest Hemingway, where he wrote some of his most important novels. This tour also takes in Cojimar (14 kilometres from Havana), where Hemingway was inspired to write The Old Man and the Sea, and where you can see the statue of Hemingway funded by local Cubans themselves, and restaurant Las Terrazas, the preferred Cojimar hangout of the author and the late Captain of his boat (Pilar); Gregorio Fuentes.

You will end the day in the small psychedelic alleyway of Callejon de Hamel, where the Capital’s artist fraternity congregate. Its a wonderful place to experience day-to-day Cuban life, albeit with an artistic twist, since the art quite literally spills out of the studios and onto the street.

In the evening you will have free time to make the most of Havana’s lively nightlife. You can choose to do this independently, or your local guide will be available to host you. Your local guide will be able to recommend a range of options and organise tickets and transfers (paid for locally).

INCLUDED

  • Cigar and Rum Experience OR Booking Class
  • Finca Vigia OR Museum of the Revolution OR Museum of Fine Arts
  • Callejon de Hamel

After a couple of activity packed days, today is a free day to relax, visit independently, or explore Havana with the support of your local guide. Your guide will be available to recommend and organise a range of optional activities for you that can be paid for locally.

Some optional activities you might be interested in, include:

  • Almacenes de San José Arts and Crafts Market (1 – 2 hours)
  • Visit Hemingway’s former residence, Finca Vigia and Cojimar (Weekdays and Saturdays only) (2-3 hours)
  • Visit Hemingway Sites in Old Havana (Ambos Mundos, Floridita and Bodeguita del Medio)
  • Salsa Lesson (1 hour)
  • Museum of Fine Arts (2-3 hours, closed on Mondays)
  • Visit Playas del Este, Havana’s local beach (2+ hours)
  • Cooking Lesson (3+ hours)
  • Cigar Rolling Demonstration (30 minutes, Monday to Friday)
  • El Capitolio/ National Capitol Building Tour (1 hour, Closed on Mondays)
  • Gran Teatro de la Habana Tour (1 hour, Closed on Mondays)
  • Visit an organic garden/ urban farm (2 hours)
  • Visit Havana Boxing Gym (weekdays only, not always guaranteed)

Las Terrazas and Soroa are located in the beautiful surrounds of Pinar del Rio province. Incredibly, this region was once the hub of the island’s logging industry, but was brought back to its original lushness as the result of a project spearheaded by Fidel Castro himself in the 1960s. The restoration worked so well it’s now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

However, the day starts not in Las Terrazas or Soroa but in the fishing village of Jaimanitas, and this unassuming part of Havana that has been utterly transformed by the artist Jose Fuster. Fuster has made his home in Jaimanitas, and a great deal of the surrounding neighbourhood, into one giant artwork using tiles in mosaic form. This public art installation is lovingly known as Fusterlandia and has now spread to encompass more than 80 homes, all decorated with ornate murals and domes to reflect the personality of each of Fuster’s neighbours. Furster has also contributed a chess park with giant boards and tables, a theatre, and public swimming pools, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the area.

Continuing on to Las Terrazas Township you’ll take part in an orientation walk where you’ll be able to meet the friendly locals and to admire the pretty San Juan mountain stream. As you walk, you’ll have time to stop at the township’s many artist’s studios – the perfect places to find a unique souvenir to take back home.

Cafetal Buenavista is Cuba’s oldest (now partially restored) coffee plantation, built in 1801 by refugees from Haiti. Much of the property (such as the dormitories that housed the slaves who worked the plantation) is now in ruin, but this adds to its haunting quality. The Cafetal Buenavista can be seen on the Sendero las Delicias hike, which also takes in lush, green landscapes and bright, coloured houses before arriving at the small village of Soroa. Often referred to as The Gate to The Garden of Eden, this picturesque village is the starting point for many hikes to the soaring Sierra del Rosario.

In an effort to accentuate the natural beauty of the Soroa village, the Spanish landowner Thomás Felipe Camacho established some 700 different types of orchids to start an Orchid botanical garden, which is a wonderful landscape in which to spend an hour or so. You’ll want to save some time for Salto Arco Iris too however. This magnificent waterfall forms part of the Rio Manantiades as it cascades 22 metres into an enclosed pool which is the perfect spot for jumping in and cooling off.

For those feeling adventurous, there’s also the Zip-line Canopy Tour in Las Terrazas to consider. The Canopy Tour is a nearly 2km long aerial tour using steel cables to whiz above Las Terrazas’ fascinating scenery. Here, you will find highly trained personnel and professional equipment, although this activitiy is weather dependent, and can be paid for locally.

A private transfer to Vinales will bring the day to an end, but not before you’ve been taken to the Los Jazmines look-out point to admire Vinales and the Pinar del Rio province in all its splendour.

INCLUDED

  • Fusterlandia
  • Explore the Las Terrazas Township
  • Visit Cafetal Buenavista
  • Visit the Soroa Waterfall and Orchid garden
  • Los Jasmines Look-out Point

The landscape around Vinales is unique in Cuba due to its magotes – steep rounded hills that contrast the flat plains around them. A rich, fertile valley in Pinar del Rio province, this compact and authentic Cuban village is one of the most breathtaking spots in all of Cuba for many. In the heart of Cuba’s prime tobacco growing region, Viñales is deceptively industrious, and many of Cuba’s trademark cigars are made from tobacco that is grown here. Upon arrival you will have the chance to have a look around the township and experience the lively music and dance scene that Viñales excels in.

In case you were wondering if the town was a type of rural fantasy-fulfilment, allow us to set you straight. That farmer using an oxen and cart to transport his crops would be doing it with this method regardless of whether you were watching or not. Life simply moves at a slower pace here, and is unbothered and not particularly influenced by the modernity of the rest of the world… or the rest of Cuba, for that matter. The perfect opportunity to experience an authentic slice of Cuban rural life.

Walking is definitely one of the best ways in which to discover compact little Vinales, although a cycling tour of the Vinales township and surrounding farmlands is also an option. As you spend time in the Viñales Valley you will visit the many different plantations of the region, growing manioc, arrowroot, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, banana, mango and pineapple. Crossing small private farms, you can see the farmers working with their oxen and their traditional methods of cultivation. You’ll also have the opportunity to taste delicious sugar cane juice mixed with grapefruit juice, known as guaratón.

You’ll lunch at an organic farm with stunning views of your surroundings. El Paraiso is a slice of paradise in the Valley of Silence, and incorporates family-run restaurant owned by Wilfredo and his daughters.

But that’s not the end of your 14 day private Cuba tour four the day, which continues four kilometres west of Viñales, at the Mural de la Prehistoria, a 120 metre long painting designed in 1961 by Leovigildo González Morillo, a follower of Mexican artist Diego Rivera. On a cliff at the foot of the 617 metre high Sierra de Viñales, the highest portion of the Sierra de los Órganos, this massive mural took 18 people and incredible four years to complete. The huge, brightly-painted snail, dinosaurs, sea monsters and humans on the cliff symbolize the theory of evolution and are either impressively psychedelic or a travesty for the beautiful landscape, depending on your point of view.

Your time in Vinales continues with a visit to a tobacco plantation, where the process of harvesting and drying the leaves in a secadero (drying house) will be explained. You then have some free time to relax or choose from a range of our optional activities.

In the evenings it’s time to enjoy Vinales’ limited but lively nightlife. Vinales’ tranquil natural beauty sits comfortably alongside a lively and jaunty nightlife, which will surely make your stay in Viñales a memorable one. You can choose to explore in the evenings independently, or your local guide will be available to host you. Your local guide will be able to recommend a range of options and organise tickets and transfers (paid for locally).

INCLUDED

  • Township and Farmland guided walk or cycle
  • Mural de la Prehistoria
  • Organic Farm Lunch
  • Tobacco Farm and drying house

You’re 14 day private Cuba tour today takes you to Cienfuegos and the Bay of Pigs, the first a beautiful French built city and the second infamous for the failed CIA-backed counter-revolution designed to force Fidel Castro from power, but also a magical water world for swimming and snorkelling.

The sandy arc of Playa Girón and Playa Larga nestle peacefully on the eastern side of the infamous Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs), backed by one of those gloriously old-fashioned Cuban villages where everyone knows everyone else. Notorious as the place where the Cold War almost got hot, the beach is actually named for a French pirate, Gilbert Girón, who met his end here by decapitation in the early 1600s at the hands of embittered locals. In April 1961 it was the scene of another botched raid, the ill-fated, CIA-sponsored invasion that tried to land on these remote sandy beaches in one of modern history’s classic David-and-Goliath struggles. Lest we forget, there are still plenty of propaganda-spouting billboards dotted around rehashing past glories.

These days Girón, with its clear Caribbean waters, precipitous offshore drop-off and multitude of private home-stays, is one of the best places in Cuba to go snorkelling and diving. There is also the local Girón Museum to visit that tells of the history of the region and its importance in recent Cuban history.

After some time spend exploring the Zapata Peninsula, it’s time to make your way to Cienfuegos.

While Cuba is synonymous with colonisation by the Spanish crown, its little known that the island also saw colonisation by other European powers, including France. Cienfuegos is the result of this French colonisation, with French subjects escaping the harsh conditions of other French territories including Louisiana to a new life on the island. Noticeable different to Cuba’s other major city’s as a result, Cienfuegos exudes a definite Parisian air, in its wide boulevards, parkland, and architectural style. Its little wonder the city is also called ‘the Paris of the Caribbean’.

You’ll experience this for yourself with your guide, as you explore the wide streets and promenades, visit Parque Jose Marti and enjoy a walk along the city’s own version of the Malecón. It is in fact the longest promenade on the island, and not to be confused with the Malecón which snakes along the waterfront in Havana. You also won’t want to miss the ostentatious structure of the Palacio de Valle, built in 1917. Used for varying purposes throughout its more than 100 years of existence, the Palacio de Valle is now an (aspiring) upscale restaurant with an inviting terrace bar.

INCLUDED

  • Swim/Snorkel at the Bay of Pigs
  • Visit the Giron museum
  • 1 x Drink at the Palacio de Valle

Cienfuegos is also regularly referred to as La Perla del Sur (the Pearl of the South) and today this pearl is yours for the taking. Your guide will lead you on a Cienfuegos guided city walk before taking in the grand, crumbling architecture over a cocktail at the very impressive yacht club.

Amongst many other marvels, your walk will include observing the Terry Theatre, Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción (a church with supremely beautiful stained glass work), Ferrer ́s Palace, the former City Hall, and Cuba’s only triumphal arch. You will have plenty of time to walk along the boulevards and visit Punta Gorda (the aristocratic quarter of the city in the early 1900s), and Hotel Jagua too.

Walking of another sort will take you to the mountains of El Nicho, where you can hike through caves, take a dip in natural pools beneath waterfalls, and observe the mountain’s exotic native flora and fauna, or which the birdlife is particularly popular with bird watchers.

In the evening there is plenty to do when the sun goes down, if you don’t much feel like an early night. With just over 160,000 residents, Cienfuegos is a city, although not a bustling metropolis like Havana. There is a club in the city that was named in loving tribute of Benny Moré, but it might not be what you expect. El Benny Club is more of a cheesy disco (which is not without its charm) than a place to hear traditional Cuban music. You’re better off heading to the Cienfuegos Casa de la Musica (there is an identically named place in many Cuban cities and it’s a safe bet for a good night out) for something that feels more authentically Cuban. Which is not to say that cheesy disco music cannot be Cuban! And as always, please ask your guide if you need any tips about where to go for a fabulous night out.

INCLUDED

  • Cienfuegos City tour including Terry Theater, Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción, Ferrer ́s Palace, former City Hall, Marti Park and the triumphal arch.
  • El Nicho Waterfalls

Next on your 14 day private Cuba tour you will travel to Trinidad, the favourite destination for many a traveller to Cuba. 

Trinidad was founded in 1514 by Diego Velázquez and is considered a jewel in Cuba because of its colonial architecture. The town is sublimely beautiful and (much like Havana’s Old Town) the area has been maintained as a result of its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city’s heyday was during the 1800s, when it was a popular place to live for the rich merchants who ran the nearby sugar plantations. Unfortunately, the labour used in these plantations was slave labour, and once slavery was abolished on the island the production of sugar was no longer a viable concern, and the sugar mills of the Valle de los Ingenios fell into ruins.

On your guided walk of the Trinidad Township you will get to discover just what makes Trinidad so special, including Palacio Cantero, Canchanchara, Palacio Brunet, Plaza Mayor, Museo Romantico, and a pottery workshop among other sights. You will then undoubtedly come to understand why the term “living museum” is so often used to describe Trinidad. It really is like time has stood still here.

Your time in Trinidad could never be said to be complete without at least one evening sitting on the steps outside the open air Casa de la Musica. Every night the area beside the Cathedral in Plaza Mayor comes to life with a live salsa band. There is no cost (although tipping is generally encouraged), the drinks flow freely and inexpensively, and this all takes place under a beautiful, balmy, starry sky.

INCLUDED

  • Trinidad Guided Township walk
  • Visit Casa la Musica for a fantastic evening of Cuban dance and music

Over the next two days you will have the opportunity to explore Trinidad and its surroundings further.

Explore the Valle de los Ingenios and Manaca Iznaga

We will take you to the Valle de los Ingenios, which translates as the ‘Valley of the Sugar Mills’. It was here that the bulk of Cuba’s sugar production took place, although this came to an end around the time that slavery was outlawed in Cuba. There are dozens of old sugar mills from the 19th century, along with slave quarters and manor houses, all dotted throughout the valley, which gives you an idea of the scope of the sugar production that once took place in the valley. You’ll get to see Manaca Iznaga, an estate purchased in 1795 by Pedro Iznaga, who became rich by trafficking slaves. It’s both deeply interesting and somewhat unsettling.

Explore the Sierra del Escambray Mountain Range

It wouldn’t be a valley without a border of mountains, and you will venture into the rugged, impressive peaks of Topes de Collantes. They are part of the Sierra del Escambray mountain range, which run for some 90 kilometres, and are located just 20 kilometres from the centre of Trinidad. Whatever your levels of fitness and mobility, there is a way to explore the Topes de Collantes, including:

  • The easy to complete, 3km La Batata Trail to Casa de Café, taking in caves, underground rivers and a small waterfall with natural swimming pool.
  • Alfombra Mágico Trail to Finca Codina, a former coffee estate and orchid garden, which is also not very physically demanding.
  • The 3km Centinelas del Río Melodioso Trail, incorporating a coffee plantation, Río Melodioso (Melodic River), and El Rocío waterfall as part of this undemanding path.
  • The 5km Salto Caburní trail, leading to a 200-foot (62-m) waterfall with swimming hole. More physically demanding than the other options listed, it has a medium level of difficulty.

Visit Playa Ancon

You then travel from the mountains to the sea to visit Playa Ancón, and feel that magical white sand beneath your feet. One of the most beloved beaches in Cuba, and considered to be the best on the southern coast, Playa Ancon can be reached in less than 15 minutes in a car, although if you can muster the energy, you might want to ride a bike from Trinidad (which will take about 40 minutes, depending on your pedal power). Less developed than some of Cuba’s beach resorts, it has the feel of an authentic beachside village, while the nearby sleepy fishing village of Casilda, 6km south of Trinidad is also worth the visit.

Come evening, you will sample the delights of Palenque de los Congos Reales. A must for rumba fans, this open patio on Trinidad’s music alley has an eclectic menu incorporating salsa, son (Cuban popular music) and trova (traditional poetic singing). The highlight, however, is the 10pm rumba drums with soulful African rhythms and energetic fire-eating dancers. You might also be perfectly content to simply sit in Trinidad’s main plaza and watch the city life unfold around you.

INCLUDED

  • Visit the Valley of the Sugar Mills
  • Trek in the Sierra del Escambray
  • Visit Playa Ancón
  • Palenque de los Congos Reales

Today you will make your way back to Havana via Santa Clara as your 14 day private Cuba tour nears its end.

Given its role in Castro’s ultimate victory, it’s not surprising that there are many tributes to the Cuban Revolution in Santa Clara, and while it’s a troubled past, the events here are what cemented the success of the revolution and led the country to where it is today. Sometimes referred to as The City of the Heroic Guerrilla, while it’s not as visited as Havana or many better-known spots in the city, its place in modern Cuban history cannot be denied.

Contemporary Santa Clara is an important commercial hub and home to one of Cuba’s largest universities (giving the whole town a youthful and energetic vibe), but is probably best known as the resting place of Che Guevara. It was Che Guevara who led the revolutionary forces in that final victorious Battle of Santa Clara that saw President Batista flee the country.

Naturally then your first port of call will take you to the Che Guevara Mausoleum and Memorial, a structure built to honour and tell the story of perhaps Cuba’s most iconic adopted son (Guevara was born in Argentina). The Che Guevara Mausoleum and Memorial was originally intended as a memorial only, since El Che’s final resting place was still a mystery when it was constructed. He was executed in Bolivia in 1967 instigating revolutionary zeal there, and his body was placed in an unmarked grave beside a military landing strip, where it would remain for 30 years until it was rediscovered. It was only then that Guevara was returned to Cuba under the orders of Fidel Castro, and interred with great ceremony in the memorial that already bore his name. The memorial also includes an interesting museum, where you can learn about the vital role played by Guevara in the ultimate demise of dictator Batista and the rise of Fidel Castro, a turning point in the Cuban revolution.

You can also visit the Tren Blindado, a train full of arms that was attacked in the decisive moments of the Cuban Revolution by Guevara’s men, before traveling to the centre of Santa Clara for a panoramic walk of the city and then returning to Havana for the evening.

In the evening you will have some free time to make the most of Havana’s lively nightlife. You can choose to do this independently, or your local guide will be available to host you. Your local guide will be able to recommend a range of options and organise tickets and transfers (paid for locally).

INCLUDED:

  • Che Guevara Memorial (Closed on Mondays)
  • Armoured Train Museum
  • Santa Clara Guided City Walk

We will organise your airport transfer to ensure you get to the airport in plenty of time for your flight home.

INCLUDED

  • Airport Transfer for departure

Tour Pricing

Please enquire now for information about pricing and accommodation options. We can book a range of accommodation options including authentic, upgraded or superior Casa’s/B&B’s.

Meet our locally sourced team

Airport transfer:

Your 14 Day Private Cuba Tour includes being picked up at Havana’s José Martí International Airport and delivered to your accommodation in the city. Your transfer back to the airport on your departure is also included.

Your evenings in Havana:

For your evenings, we leave the itinerary flexible. You guide will be able to organise you transfers and tickets to the best of Havana’s nightlife including the Tropicana Cabaret, world-famous Buena Vista Social Club at La Taberna, Parisien Cabaret at Hotel Nacional, Cannon Shooting Ceremony, Gran Teatro Habana, and Vixen and Crow Jazz Café to name just a few.

You can learn more about the evening options available to you by downloading our ‘Things To Do in Havana Brochure here.

Not quite what you looking for?

Please note that it is possible to modify the activities and excursions included as part of this tour. For more ideas about what you might like to do in Havana during the day and in your evenings, please download our ‘Things To do in Havana’ brochure here.

A note about our restaurant choices for your tour:

We like to include a range of different restaurants (paladares) that showcase the best of Havana’s burgeoning private restaurant scene. Your guide will also help select the best restaurants for the tour based on consultation about your tastes and dietary requirements. Some of our favourite restaurants include Mercaderes, Café Laurent, O’Reilly 304, Alta Habana, Vista Mar, El Cocinero and El Atelier.

Accommodation on tour:

The upgraded Casa’s we have hand selected are more expensive than the standard Casa’s you will find in Cuba. They are run more like your traditional B&B’s but still offer a unique cultural experience. While they shouldn’t be compared to modern Western hotels, the rooms will have air-conditioning, private en suite facilities, hot and cold water and have generally been recently renovated to a beautiful standard.

Cuba’s accommodation is very special. Until recent regulatory changes, it wasn’t possible to stay anywhere but a government owned and run hotel. But all that has now changed and a growing number of casas particulares, bed and breakfasts owned and run by ordinary families rather than the government, are opening up.

This change allows visitors to stay in a more welcoming environment than most hotels are able to offer. You’ll have privacy while still being able to interact with the locals as much as you want. You will truly be made to feel welcome, and might just forget that you’re a paying guest and not a long lost member of the family.

You can learn more about staying in upgraded boutique Casa’s/ B&B’s/ Guesthouses here.

Some of our preferred Boutique Casa’s/B&B’s in Havana and Trinidad include:

  • Casa Alta Habana
  • Hostal San Juan
  • Casa Maletas
  • My Proud Havana
  • Havana Dreams
  • Casa Vivien y Pablo
  • Casa Osmary Alberto

Not sold on staying at a Casa?

That’s OK, we can certainly look to upgrade your accommodation to 4* or 5* properties, depending on your budget. It is worth noting some accommodation providers are to be found in older buildings without elevators. If you believe that your physical capabilities will make it difficult to climb stairs, simply let us know. We will be able to find you a suitable alternative.

Start building your perfect tailor-made Cuba tour itinerary today

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