Cuba Discovery Tour

Cuba Discovery Tour tour map

• Depart to Cuba via your own arranged flight.

  You should plan to arrive in Cuba by mid-afternoon of your first tour day. Your guide will have your flight information and be monitoring your flight arrival in case there is a delay. Your first tour activity will be the Welcome Dinner and your guide will finalize details with you on arrival at your hotel.

• On airport arrival proceed through Cuban Immigration. Your carry-ons will be scanned.

• Collect your bags and go through Customs.

• You will met be at the airport, after Customs, by our representative holding a "Cuba Explorer" sign.

  A quote paraphrased from Lonely Planet: "No one could have invented Havana. It's too audacious, too contradictory and - despite 65 years of withering neglect - too damned beautiful. How it does it is anyone's guess. Maybe it's the swashbuckling history still almost perceptible in atmospheric colonial streets; the survivalist spirit of a populace scarred by two wars of independence, a revolution, and a U.S. trade embargo that has lasted longer than any in history; or the indefatigable salsa energy that ricochets off walls and emanates most emphatically from the people. Don't come here with a long list of questions. Just arrive with an open mind and prepare for a long, slow seduction."

• Transfer to your hotel with free time to settle in and get oriented.

  Hotel Palacio De Los Corredores is situated on Plaza de San Francisco, one of the four main historic plazas in Old Havana. It’s a prime location to wander and discover.

• At 7:00 pm meet in the lobby of your hotel to depart for dinner.

• Enjoy a wonderful Welcome Dinner at Atelier, a private restaurant in a home built in 1928. When President Barack and Michelle Obama visited Cuba the First Lady hosted lunch at the paladar for Cuban businesswomen. (Included)

• Your hotel is on San Fransisco Plaza in La Habana Vieja (Old Havana). In a short and easy walk is Plaza Vieja (Old Square). It will be active with live music and refreshments from several fun venues. Enjoy.

• Breakfast in your hotel. (Included)

• Stroll Old Habana.

  Hola, La Habana Vieja [Hello, Old Havana], “In terms of beauty, only Venice and Paris surpassed Havana,” penned Ernest Hemingway. He was alluding to Havana’s incredible architecture, art, and, of course, the joie de vivre by the city’s engaging people. Old Havana’s four colonial plazas are full of color and personality, with a mix of palatial buildings, monuments, museums, galleries, churches, lively entertainment, restaurants, and bars. Together, the four plazas of Old Havana contain the most extensive collection of Spanish colonial-era architecture in Latin America. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, restoration and care of Old Havana’s wonders lies with the Office of the Historian of Havana.

  Plaza de San Francisco [San Francisco Square] is one of the oldest plazas in the historical quarter. It was christened after the magnificent Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco de Asís, Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, with its construction beginning in 1548. The basilica is a striking example of Cuban baroque architecture.

  Cathedral Square is the most beautiful 18th-century colonial plaza in Latin America. Its centerpiece is the baroque masterpiece Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana erected in 1748 by the Jesuit order and showcases towers of unequal height. Christopher Columbus’ remains laid in the cathedral between 1796 and 1898 before they were taken to Seville Cathedral, Spain. The Cathedral of Havana celebrates mass on Sundays at 10:30 am and Thursdays at 6:00 pm.

  Plaza de Armas [Square of Arms] was a military parade ground for Spanish soldiers and is surrounded by such impressive buildings as Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the former seat of the colonial government. Dating from 1776 it now houses the Museum of the City.

  Plaza Vieja [Old Square] was the only civic square of colonial times. In contrast to the churches and government buildings of the other plazas, only opulent aristocratic 17th-century mansions surround the ‘Old Square.’ Today, with its small cafes, it is a buzz for nightlife.

• Visit Taller Experimental de Grafica (Experimental Graphics Workshop), Cuba's oldest print making studio.

  Paraphrased from Smithsonian Magazine: “Lithography arrived in Cuba to protect the integrity of the country’s cigar industry. By the early 1800s, Cuban cigar exports had a prestige that made them valuable throughout the world, and they wanted to protect the Cuban industry from counterfeiters. Using lithography, they could make seals and rings that both decorated their products and distinguished them from those of competitors. Cuba imported thousands of lithographic limestones from Germany in the 1800s. In the 1950s, shortly before the Revolution, aluminum replaced lithography, and the stones fell into disuse.

  Campesinos (farmers) used the stones to make walking paths through muddy fields. During the Cuban Missile Crisis Habaneros (people from Havana) laid the lithographic stones and other rocks around the city to serve as barricades against an invasion.

  Cuban lithography would have died but for the few artists who lobbied the new Revolutionary government to protect the stones. In 1962, as minister of industry and in the name of art, Che Guevara signed a mandate to provide materials, space, and machines to Cuban lithographers. The Taller Experimental Graphics Workshop was born.

  As you stroll the historic cobblestone streets of Old Havana you will experience the sensations Ernest Hemingway felt amongst century’s old architecture.

• Time to shop for souvenirs at Cultural Center Old San Jose Warehouses (Centro Cultural Antiguos Almacenes de Depósito San José), a large craft market offering some of the most recognizable objects of Havana: garish-colored paintings by local artists, guayaberas (short-sleeve, open-neck Cuban shirts), sculptures, leather, jewelry, and various trinkets & gadgets bearing the image of Che Guevara. The souvenirs are high quality, which is why you will see as many locals as tourists among the shoppers. The metal-framed structure itself, an old, fully renovated maritime warehouse, very retro and Art Deco, is worth the visit alone. (Included)

• Stop at a premium cigar shop in the Castle of the Three Magi Kings of Morro (el Moro), by the lighthouse which was built in 1845. The official shop has a broad selection of cigars, rum, and coffee. You will have an opportunity select your Habanos with the friendly advice of a Cuban aficionado.

  El Moro was built in 1589 as a fortress to guard the entrance of Havana harbor. At night the Spanish would place a heavy chain over the water across the harbor entrance. The fortress was captured by the British in 1762 during a surprise land attack. Spain regained Havana 11 months later in exchange for Florida.

• Lunch at El Rum Rum de la Habana, a private restaurant with wonderful seafood in the heart of Old Havana. You will enjoy live music and friendly staff. (Included)

• Road trip in a 1950’s Vintage American car, a nostalgic experience. You will cruise the Malecon (a broad esplanade, roadway, and seawall), El Bosque (the forest), Revolution Square, and stop for photos. (Included)

• Visit the Studio of William Acosta & Roger Toledo, two noted artists of Havana’s contemporary art scene.

  Acosta was born in Havana in 1984. His paintings are layered with detailed architectural elements, alluring iconography, and the human form. Referencing glamorous photographs from advertising and Instagram, the artist’s intent is to convey the expectations built in our modern landscape of social media. He reminds us how imbedded imagery informs our subconscious. Acosta’s larger than life beautiful women superimposed over cityscapes are as thrilling as the myth itself.

  Toledo was born in Camagüey in 1986 and lives and works between Cuba and Mexico. His work, despite its versatility, maintains a strong coherence thanks to two constant elements throughout his production: the pattern (a simple geometric element used to segment the space) and color. His paintings explore conceptions about the image and its conformation, with recurring references to the universal and Cuban pictorial tradition. His work is found in numerous private collections in Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

• Visit the Galería Raúl Corrales. This boutique gallery displays the photography works of Raul Corrales, Fidel Castro's official photographer from 1959 to 1961. He was one of the best of a small group that became known as Cuba's "epic revolutionary photographers". His photos of Castro, Ché Guevara, the guerrillas, and peasants before, during and after the Cuban Revolution established him. Among his early subjects was Ernest Hemingway, who lived in Cuba for almost twenty years.

  Your visit will be hosted by Claudia Corrales, granddaughter of Raúl Corrales. An accomplished photographer in her own right, Claudia serves as a resource person for National Geographic Photographic Expeditions in Cuba. Gallery Limited Edition prints of Raul Corrales’ works are available and come with the Gallery Stamp and a Certificate of Authenticity. Also, available are works by other contemporary Cuban photographers.

• Optional drop-in at the Floridita, perhaps the most famous bar in Cuba. It's the cradle of the Daquiri and homage to Nobel Prize winner, Ernest Hemingway. In 1932 the American novelist fished swordfish off the north coast of Cuba. The same year, he settled at the Ambos Mundos hotel in Old Havana, just a few hundred yards from the Floridita. There he began the final version of his work, "For Whom the Bells Toll". One morning, Hemingway was walking on Obispo Street, where both the Floridita and the Ambos Mundos are located. Hemingway came into the bar to go to the toilet. The drinks everyone was having attracted him. He tasted one and said: "That's good, but I prefer mine without sugar and double rum". Since then, Hemingway came each morning to the Floridita at about ten o'clock to settle on his corner stool at the bar, where his driver brought the morning newspapers, and have his daquiri.

  Hemingway shared the Floridita with his friends the Duke of Windsor, Gene Tunney, French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, Gary Cooper, Spanish bullfighter Luis Miguel Dominguin, Ava Gardner, Tennessee Williams, Katharine Hepburn, Errol Flynn, and Spencer Tracy. Even when Ernest Hemingway lived in the Finca Vigía and no longer in the Hotel Ambos Mundos, he drove from his home to the bar just to drink his beloved daiquiri. According to legend, after 2, 3, 4 daiquiris he came up with the idea for his book "For Whom the Bell Tolls".

  Enjoy live music, have a daiquiri, and take your picture with the life-sized bronze statue of Ernest Hemingway sitting at the writer's original ‘regular place’.

• Return to hotel.

• Dinner. (Not Included) This is a perfect evening to explore Old Havana’s paladars or visit one of the many cafes within easy walking distance of your hotel.

• Attend El Canonazo, a Havana tradition which first started hundreds of years ago. At 9 o’clock, a cannon was fired from the colonial Fortress of San Carlos de Cabana to indicate the gates of the Old City were about to close. A large chain was then raised from the water and put across the entrance to the Harbor to keep pirates from sailing in. You will go to the fort for the ceremony where the tradition continues, other than the chain which is no longer used. (Included)

• Breakfast in your hotel. (Included)

• Morning departure west to the rural agricultural province of Pinar del Río.

• On the outskirts Havana, you are going to have an ‘under the hood’ experience at the workshop of a family-owned and operated business dedicated to the restoration of American classic cars from the 1950’s. During the visit you will see the workshop, meet the mechanics, and pose behind the wheel with the likes of Lola (a pink 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air), Nadine (a blue 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air), or Benny (a black 1959 Chevrolet Impala convertible). You will meet Julio, the owner, and enjoy his stories that are not just about Chevys from the ‘50s. (Included)

• During travel you will have a discussion with your Cuban guide about the distribution of food to restaurants, the slaughter of the cattle and the food ration book for Cuban citizens.

• Brief stop at Las Barrigonas, a clean, staff friendly rest stop with fresh squeezed fruit juices, one of the best Pina Coladas, a snack grill and gift shop.

• Drive through the picturesque Viñales National Park, many consider the most beautiful nature spot on the island, in the heart of Cuba’s prime tobacco growing region. The small town of Vinales, population 29,000, sits in the center of a flat valley surrounded by stunning formations known as mogotes.

  You will be joined for lunch by Cesar Albo, a young man who’s family has been multi-generations from the Valley. He will tell his story of life in rural Cuba and serve as your local host while in Vinales.

• Lodging check-in.

• Visit the family farm which supplies organic vegetables and produces the goat cheese used by El Olivo paladar, where you will be having dinner. There is a lake stocked with fish, including tilapia. You will see the baby goats and the goats for milking. After viewing the cheese making process you will head to the veranda for wine and hand-crafted cheese to enjoy while watching the sunset on the mogotes. (Included)

• Dinner at family owned El Olivo, a celebrated farm-to-table restaurant on main street Vinales. The paladar gets most of its ingredients from their organic farm run by the family. The goat cheese is hand crafted, and the well-nurtured garden supplies the fresh vegetables. (Included)

  Evening to enjoy the small-town nightlife.

• Breakfast in your Vinales lodging. (Included)

• Your morning horseback/ horse drawn cart ride will be in the National Park, surrounded by the mogotes formed during the Jurassic period. You will be accompanied by Cesar and an experienced horse guide going amongst fields where oxen still pull the plows. A demonstration of cigar rolling is first up, and during the leisurely ride you will stop to see honey and coffee production. The morning excursion delivers a real memory maker. (Included)

• Your horse will take you directly to Finca Agroecológica, overlooking the Valley. Your lunch will be a family style bounty with the opportunity to sample all. Walking the grounds you will see how the family claimed part of a rocky mountain side to grow vegetables and herbs and get some of the best photos of terrace gardening. (Included)

• Return to your lodging to freshen & relax.

• Stroll main street Vinales. Cesar will accompany you. There is a government ‘convenience’ store which takes the USD MLC card, and next door is a private store which has more offerings and takes Cuban pesos.

• Motorcoach tour the Vinales Valley and see the mogotes, up close. They are irregularly shaped steep-sided hills that can rise as high as 985 feet and have bases as much as a mile in length. The mogotes were once underwater and during the Jurassic Age, about 200 million years ago, they were the first formations to emerge from the Atlantic Ocean during the creation of Cuba. Many consider this the most beautiful nature spot on the island. (Included)

• Dinner (Not included)

• Breakfast in your Vinales lodging. (Included)

• On departing Vinales, drop by the open-air craft market.

• To be efficient on time, lunch of freshly made sandwiches will be enjoyed while traveling on board your motorcoach. Let Cesar know the kind you want the day before. There will be 4 choices: ham & cheese, cheese & ham, ham, or cheese. (Included)

• Visit Finca Vigía, home and farm of Ernest Hemingway, southeast of Havana in the small town of San Francisco de Paula. He lived longer in his Cuba residence more than any of his other homes, almost twenty years. It was there he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature and wrote portions of A Moveable Feast, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Islands in the Stream and much of The Old Man and the Sea. You will meet the docents and curators who affectionately look after original furniture, artwork, personal memorabilia, & other objects collected by the author. Of special importance is the author’s library containing thousands of irreplaceable letters & telegrams, photographs, scrapbooks, manuscripts, & galley proofs. His boat Pilar made famous from Papa’s Marlin fishing and hunting German submarines off the northern coast of the island is on the grounds. This ghost-white Spanish-colonial home was where Papa penned some of his greatest novels. (Included)

• Visit the Studio and Workshop of Beatriz Santacana, located in the trendy neighborhood of Ambassador Residences, Miramar. Her work depicts everyday people as the main characters. In a unique exhibition of her ceramic sculptures, paintings, and drawings you will have a relaxing visit in her spectacular studio. (Included)

• Check into your Havana lodging.

• Dinner at Ivan Chefs Justo, a private restaurant with wonderful décor and ambiance. Chef Ivan studied in Montreal and was once Fidel Castro’s chef. The restaurant has a series of levels, and an eclectic collection of trinkets, photos, and knickknacks like from your grandmother’s house. Highly recommended on TripAdvisor. The restaurant has hosted the likes of Mick Jagger, Chef Guy Fieri, and learn why two chairs are hung from rafters. (Included)

• OPTIONAL EXCURSION: The Tropicana is a Cuban international icon. The cabaret dates to 1939 and served as the center of Cuba's jet-set nightlife during the 1940s and 1950s. It’s a glimpse of pre-revolution Cuba, where Carmen Miranda, Josephine Baker, Nat King Cole, and others dazzled wealthy guests with Latin dance numbers performed by women with 10-pound headdresses. It is located on a tropical six-acre garden estate in the Miramar neighborhood, the most glamorous section of Havana during the 1950s. 

  The Tropicana helped spread Cuban culture globally and the performers created the showgirl-era. The lavish costumes and vibrant dance styles quickly spread from Cuba to Las Vegas, New York, and Paris. 

  A full orchestra, loud colors, sultry rhythms, contortionists & acrobats provide a stunning production of more than 200 singers and dancers that will entertain you under the stars. There is a dress code of ‘casual elegance’ at the Tropicana. Women should not wear shorts, and men are asked to wear long pants (not jeans), a collared shirt and closed shoes. (This is an optional excursion and details on booking will be sent to you when you register.)

• Breakfast in your hotel. (Included)

• Travel a short distance to Cojimar, a charming fishing village east of Havana. This quaint coastal enclave held a special place in Ernest Hemingway’s heart, as it was his favorite fishing port in Cuba and served as the inspiration for his iconic 1952 novel, The Old Man and the Sea. The novel itself achieved great acclaim, earning the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1954. In a generous gesture, he donated the Nobel medal to the Cuban people, emphasizing his deep connection to the island.

  As you arrive at Cojimar’s harbor, you’ll find yourself standing where Hemingway’s legendary boat, Pilar, was once moored. It was from this spot that Papa (as Hemingway was affectionately known) and Cojimar native Gregorio Fuentes, his trusted companion, would set sail on daring expeditions—whether in pursuit of marlins or even on covert missions to track German submarines during World War II.

  At the water’s edge, a metal bust of Hemingway stands, a tribute lovingly donated by the local fishermen. Capture this poignant moment with photos against the backdrop of the 17th-century Spanish Lookout Fort, which has witnessed centuries of maritime history.

  But there’s more to Cojimar than historical landmarks. La Terraza, a rustic fisherman’s bar nestled along the Bay of Cojimar, played a pivotal role in Hemingway’s life. Here, he would dock his beloved boat, Pilar, and spend countless afternoons in the company of the local fishermen. Among them was Fuentes, who some believe served as the real-life inspiration for the novel’s central character—Santiago, the old man of the sea.

  And then there’s the intriguing connection to Manolo, the young boy in Hemingway’s tale. Some say that Manolo was modeled after the young son of La Terraza’s owner, aptly named Manolito.

• Explore the charming organic garden tended by brothers Jesus and Julio. Here, they unveil the art of cultivating herbs, vegetables, and fruits, most destined for the private restaurant where you’ll soon be and to the local senior center. You’ll see Mangos, their golden skins ripe with tropical sweetness, Bananas, curving gracefully from sturdy stalks, Plantains, versatile and awaiting transformation into dishes, Squash, in the sun-kissed soil, Avocado trees, their leaves casting dappled shade, Coffee plants, their glossy leaves promising a rich brew, and if fortune smiles, perhaps even a glimpse of the Cuban Emerald Hummingbird, a tiny marvel flitting amidst the foliage.

  The organic garden, nestled within a quiet residential neighborhood, serves as both a vital supplier for the local restaurant and a source of produce for the family. Witness firsthand how sustainable practices flourish, bridging the gap between nature’s bounty and culinary creativity.

  And here’s a thoughtful touch: If you have items to donate, consider the gardening brothers and their families as worthy recipients.

• UNIQUE: In this picturesque fishing village, just a few blocks from the bay, you’ll find yourself at the paladar El Ajiaco, where a culinary experience awaits. It wears its humble charm with pride, a place where flavors matter more than frills. Food networks from around the world have sought out its unassuming warmth, and even notable celebrities like Kevin Bacon and Sigourney Weaver have stepped through its doors.

  Your cooking and mojito-making lessons take center stage. Imagine working side by side with humorous and talented chefs, shaping multiple dishes that celebrate Cuba’s flavors: Lobster, succulent and brimming with ocean essence, Ropa vieja, the tender shredded beef stewed in aromatic spices, and Ajiaco soup, a hearty blend of root vegetables and herbs. But there’s more—the barkeep beckons. You’ll craft a special Cuban mojito, balancing mint, lime, honey, and rum. Sip it slowly, savoring the moment.

  Roll up your sleeves, stir the pots, and raise your glass. This experience isn’t just about food; it’s about connecting with Cuba’s soul, one delicious bite at a time.

• En route back to Havana, pause atop a hill in Casablanca, a small hamlet which traces its origins to 1762. Here, shipbuilders toiled, shaping vessels that would sail across oceans. These sturdy ships served the mighty Spanish galleons, laden with spoils from South America, destined for the royal court of Spain.

  Atop the hill, overlooking the Bay of Havana, stands the Christ of Havana—Cristo de La Habana. A colossal figure that carries a tale of its own—a promise made by President Fulgencio Batista’s wife. After an assassination attempt on the US-backed leader in 1957, she vowed this monument, a symbol of faith and protection.

  Irony dances in the details: On Christmas Day 1958, the statue emerged from its shroud, bathed in sunlight, just one week before the dictator fled as the Revolution surged. Yet, there stood the Christ, created in Italy, its 67 white marble blocks blessed by Pope Pius XII himself.

  So, as you gaze at the panoramic view of the city, remember the echoes of a tumultuous era. The Christ of Havana stands as a silent witness—a beacon of hope, resilience, and the enduring spirit of Cuba.

• Return to your hotel.

• Dinner. (Not Included) With all the great food you have experienced, this is your chance to visit a privately owned restaurant you may have heard about. Your guide will be of assistance.

• Independent optional: Enjoy the evening at Fabrica de Arte Cubano, Cuban Art Factory (FAC), a former cooking oil plant, built in 1910, in the Vedado area is one of Havana’s finest nightclubs and art galleries, combined. It is a unique night spot energized into the early morning, attracting young Cubans and foreign nationals. There is live theater, jazz, contemporary dance, concerts, DJ's, exhibitions, and intranet chatting going on all the time. They offer wine and tapas. Note: F.A.C. is open Thursday – Sunday, 8:00 PM – 3:00 AM.

• Your last night in Cuba. Disfruta de la noche (enjoy the night)!

• Breakfast in your hotel. (Included)

• Transfer to José Martí International Airport in Havana for flight home. (Included)

• Airlines recommend you be at your departure airport 3 hours before takeoff. Please prepare accordingly. Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel.

• After you clear Cuban Immigration, you will be screened and your carry on will be scanned. In the departure hall there is a duty-free shop, places to buy snacks and drinks, as well as souvenirs. You may log in for a free half hour of Wi-Fi.

• When you arrive at your U.S. entry airport you will need to clear U.S. Immigration and U.S. Customs. If asked by an Immigration Officer about your trip to Cuba, note that you were on a sanctioned Support of the Cuban People tour. If asked what you did, tell the truth, and explain it was an opportunity to directly engage and support the Cuban people, to learn about their life and country. To be clear: You were not on a vacation. You were not there for Tourism.

• Memories of a wonderful visit to the Pearl of the Antilles: Cuba! (Included)

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