An authentic tour in Cuba

Discover Cuba in its most authentic form. Immerse yourself in the local population and festive atmospheres, marvel at the rich tropical landscapes, relax and go snorkeling; you will be won over by the new tour! Two weeks by car in Cuba await you.

Day 1: Arrival in Havana

You are welcomed by our representative. They organize your transfer to the accommodation. The style of the accommodation is a colonial boutique hotel in the old center of Havana. You are immediately in the colonial setting of the Old Town. Breakfast included.

Day 2: First visits

The French-speaking guide meets you at 9am and accompanies you for a city tour: they will orient you to the city and the country. Departure with 2 hours of driving in a 1950s American convertible car, to tour the Vedado, Miramar, and Centro Havana neighborhoods. This is followed by a walk in the Old Town through the various squares and colonial alleys.

Day 3: Free day; discover Havana

• Try a salsa dance lesson at Casa del Son
• Take the Hemingway route with his house Finca Vigia, the village of Cojimar, or visit the many bars he frequented in the Old Town
• Discover Cuban art at the Museum of Fine Arts and visit galleries or workshops of contemporary painters
• Follow the Cuban Revolution route with the museum in the Old Town, the José Marti memorial at Revolution Square, or Che Guevara's command post at La Cabaña Castle
• Take an architecture tour with many recently restored buildings such as the Capitol or the Grand Theater
• Or simply tour the bars of the Old Town for music and mojitos

In the afternoon, you meet our representative for explanations about the tour. You accompany them to pick up your rental car.

We advise you to download the http://maps.me app with maps of Cuba. Same use as a GPS without the need for Internet access on site.

Day 4: Start of the tour with car

You have 3 hours of driving to Viñales.

Suggestion on the way: visit Las Terrazas Park, a reforestation project in a mountainous area. Also visit the village, the reconstruction of a 19th-century French coffee plantation, the waterfalls of the San Juan river (possibility to swim). (Entrance 10 euros per person)

In Viñales, you will see beautiful valleys in the tobacco area of Cuba.

You stay with locals in a house in the city center. You have your room with private bathroom and air conditioning. Breakfast included.

You can choose to eat in the village but you can also eat at your accommodation.

Day 5: Free day in Viñales

Suggestion: go on foot to discover the valley, the mogotes, and especially the tobacco farmers with a horseback ride in the fields. The 3-hour walk ends at Finca Paraiso, an organic farm that can be visited (superb view of the valley). Here, lunch is offered with, of course, food from the garden. (Horseback ride 15 euros per person for 2 to 3 hours / meal at Finca Paraiso 15 euros)

Other options: bike tour, canopy (zipline circuit), or enjoy the bars in downtown Viñales.

Free evening.

Day 6: Bay of Pigs (5 hours of driving)

Today, head to the famous Bay of Pigs where the young Cuban Revolution fought against an invasion supported by the United States. You will see many monuments. The region is popular with snorkeling enthusiasts.

Suggestion: upon arrival, visit a crocodile breeding center under scientific control.

You stay in a house at Playa Larga near the beach. Breakfast included.

Suggestions:

• Here, it's paradise for a diving trip. You need to show up in the morning at one of the diving centers on the coast (Playa Larga hotel, Caleta Buena, Cueva de los Peces, Hotel Playa Giron, ...)
• A walk in nature around the bay. You will observe birds and the flora of this marshy area. The walk ends in a cenote, a natural pond in the middle of the forest where you can swim
• Visit the museum on the Bay of Pigs Attack or go to Cueva de los Peces. Possibility to snorkel right off the coast

Day 7: Free day at the Bay of Pigs

Day 8: Visits in Cienfuegos

Head to Cienfuegos, a colonial city founded by French settlers 200 years ago. Visit the city center with its authentic style of Martí Park, Terry Theater, Prado boulevard, Palacio Valle, and the Punta Gorda district. In the afternoon, head to Trinidad, a colonial city and a "highlight" of your trip.

On the way, we recommend a stop at the Cienfuegos dolphin center for a swim. (2 hours of driving)

In Trinidad, you stay with locals in a house in the city center. You have your room with private bathroom and air conditioning. Breakfast included.

Day 9: Free day in Trinidad

Suggestions: visit the historic city center with entry to one of the city's museums. Continue the visit in the Valle de los Ingenios with Manaca Iznaga or another 18th-century hacienda, active in sugar cane production.

Other suggestions: go to the mountains to visit Topes de Collantes park. You can take walks in the forest that lead to a wild waterfall.

Day 10: Departure to Cayo Cruz

You continue by discovering the cities of Sancti Spiritus and Camaguey, other colonial city gems less visited than Trinidad. After Camaguey, you continue north to reach Cayo Cruz. Cayo Cruz is an island of Jardines del Rey in northern Cuba, wild with only 2 hotels operating in front of the superb beach. (Today, 6 hours of driving)

You stay, for the next 3 nights, at Marina Plaza SPA, a 4* all-inclusive hotel. Located in front of the Cayo Cruz beach, the hotel is relatively small with only 60 rooms.

You can visit the other islands: Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Paredon (accessible by car).

Days 11 – 12: You stay at Cayo Cruz (drinks and meals included)

Day 13: Heading to Remedios

You hit the road again passing through Cayo Coco and go back down to the main island of Cuba. By a northern road, you arrive at Remedios, a village full of colonial charm. You stay at the charming Barcelona hotel in the center (4 hours of driving).

Suggestions:

• Little steam train that goes from Remedios to a sugar mill transformed into a museum
• The fabulous church of Remedios with golden tabernacles
• The village and its famous Christmas Eve festivities (Parrandas). You will find a museum about them

Day 14: Departure for Havana

Head to Havana (last 4-hour drive). We suggest passing through the city of Santa Clara. Here, you will see the mausoleum of the hero of the international socialist Revolution Che Guevara. You can also visit a museum about his life.

Upon your arrival in Havana, you return your rental car. You stay again in the boutique hotel in the Old Town. Breakfast included.

Day 15: Free day in Havana

You have a transfer to the airport in a private taxi from 2:00 pm for your return flight.