A Taste of Cuba
8 Days Starting and ending in Havana
Visiting: Havana, Vinales, Cienfuegos, Trinidad
Tour operator:
Tour code:
AUW
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTour Overview
Explore Cuba, a land known for revolution and rum, salsa and cigars, classic cars and crumbling colonial towns. The whole truth, however, is far more eye-opening and evocative. Guided by an expert tour leader, we unpack it all. Of course, there’s the essential experiences: dancing salsa, making mojitos and relaxing on the Caribbean sands of Playa Ancón. But it’s through our countless interactions with the local people and nightly stays in Cuban guesthouses that we truly understand a culture forged under unique circumstances: welcoming, sociable and resilient, despite daily adversities. This itinerary is valid for departures from 1 Aug, 2024 to 31 Dec, 2024. For other departure dates, please contact us.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Havana
Location: Havana
Accommodation: Hotel
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. Meet your tour leader and fellow passengers today at the start accommodation.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Day 2 : To Viñales Valley; Walk Through Tobacco Plantations
Location: Vinales
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, we travel to the Viñales Valley in the west of Cuba. Famous for its rolling tobacco plantations and collection of limestone karsts, it’s easy to see why Viñales was awarded World Heritage status. Joined by a local resident, we walk through the Valley of Silence to soak up rural Cuban life as farmers tend to their crops using traditional farming methods. We also visit a tobacco farm to learn about the famous Cuban export and meet with a tobacco farmer to understand the growing process. After checking into our casas particulares, we visit a farm in the Viñales hills for a sunset dinner overlooking the valley.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Day 3 : To Cienfuegos Via The Bay Of Pigs
Location: Cienfuegos
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we have a long drive eastward to Cienfuegos. We stop for lunch at a small beachfront restaurant at the Bay of Pigs, where the speciality is fish freshly caught just off the coast by local fishermen. Time permitting, enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea. We are joined by a local nature expert who introduces us to the natural landscape and characteristics of the area. We also have time to explore the Girón Museum, which exhibits items from the failed invasion by CIA-backed Cuban Americans. Afterwards, we continue to Cienfuegos, a city full of architectural delights and Cuban spirit with a beautiful main square and restored buildings. On arrival, we check into our casas. Tonight, we enjoy a Cuban-themed evening with a creole dinner followed by dominoes, rum and music.
Today’s travel time is approximately seven hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Day 4 : Bici-Taxi Tour Of Cienfuegos; To Trinidad World Heritage Site; Walking Tour Of Trinidad
Location: Trinidad
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, we start with a tour on bici-taxi, a fun and more sustainable way to see the city. Each can accommodate two people and is pedalled by a local resident (most of whom like to introduce their guests to reggaeton music!). The bici-taxi tour is a great time to talk to Cienfuegos residents and refine your Spanish.
After, we depart Cienfuegos and drive down the coast to Trinidad, a World Heritage site since 1988 and perhaps the best-preserved colonial town on the island. 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 old colonial buildings and music drifts through the streets and plazas, bringing the town to life. We have a walking tour with a local resident who provides an insider perspective of what it’s like to live in Trinidad. The tour also includes a visit to Casa Templo de Santeria de Yemaya where we learn about Santeria, an Afro-Cuban religion.
Our dinner is at a private paladar where a local collective of musicians performs interpretations of classic Cuban trova songs. This is sure to be a lively evening and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the distinct rhythms of Cuban music.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Day 5 : Discover Playa Ancón; Cocktail And Salsa Class In Trinidad
Location: Trinidad
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we transfer to Playa Ancón, making a short stop to visit the picturesque fishing village of La Boca. This is a popular spot with local fishermen, who we meet and speak to about the fishing industry in Cuba. Then we carry on to Playa Ancón and enjoy time at the beach. It is a great place to swim or you can simply dip your toes in the water and relax. After, we have an authentic Cuban lunch prepared for us. Back in Trinidad, we join the Santander family for a pottery-making class. Here we learn skills passed through several generations of this Cuban family before making our own pottery with the guidance of a family member.
Also this afternoon, we meet a Cuban barman who is an expert at making the perfect mojito! After a mojito-making lesson, everyone can mix their own in the authentic Cuban way. We then take part in a salsa class, learning the fundamentals with Cuban dance partners. Trinidad is known for its nightlife, so after we’ve learnt the salsa basics, we visit Casa de la Trova, a legendary live music venue, to listen to local musicians playing authentic Cuban music. This venue is always lively and sociable, with plenty of Cubans keen to let us improve our moves with them!
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Day 6 : To Manaca Iznaga And Che Guevara's Mausoleum In Santa Clara; To Havana
Location: Havana
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we visit a project in Trinidad that showcases the skilled process of making textile handicrafts. Then, leaving Trinidad, we head to Manaca Iznaga, where we learn about the sugar-growing history surrounding the Valle de los Ingenios, a hugely important industry for Cuba during the 18th and 19th centuries. As we have a long transfer today, we take packed lunches from our accommodation.
We also visit a country farm where you can enjoy a cafecito (Cuban coffee) and learn about the crops grown in the area. As well as being welcomed into their house for a cafecito, we have a short walk around the property with the owners, learning about small-scale agriculture techniques and industry in rural Cuba.
Our next stop is Santa Clara, the site of the last battle of the Cuban Revolution in December 1958, just before Fidel Castro took Havana. Che Guevara and his troops ambushed an armoured train carrying arms to Santiago de Cuba and this was a major turning point in the Revolution. We visit the Mausoleum of Che Guevara and his comrades who died in Bolivia before driving back to Havana. Dinner is at a private paladar, run by an entrepreneurial chef who pioneers a fusion of Cuban and Asian cuisine.
Today’s travel time is approximately five hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Day 7 : Havana City Tour On Foot And By Classic Car
Location: Havana
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, we have a walking tour of Havana, the capital and largest city in Cuba. It includes a tour of Old Havana, which is often described as a living museum with magnificent monuments, cathedrals and palaces. During our tour, we visit a ration store, food market and artisan market.
We then explore the capital a little more… and there is no better way to see Havana than by classic car. Visiting both the old and new areas of the city in pristine classic cars, we discover the distinct areas of the capital, stopping at points of interest for explanations and stories.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Day 8 : End Havana
Location: Havana
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning is free to relax or do some last-minute sightseeing in Havana Old Town before we bid a fond farewell to each other and begin our return journeys home.
What's Included
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2024: All breakfasts, three lunches, five dinners
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2025: All breakfasts, two lunches, four dinners
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All accommodation
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All transport and listed activities
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Tour leader throughout
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Free arrival and departure transfers on trip start and end date
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Cuban tourist card for most UK/Ireland residents
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
Accommodation
We 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
ight-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.
Food
In 2024, all breakfasts, three lunches and five dinners are included. In 2025, all breakfasts, two lunches and four dinners are included.
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 that 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.
Check out our Q&As
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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