Cuba Uncovered

Day 1: Start in Havana. Take an included airport transfer upon arrival to your first “casa particular” in the heart of Havana: B&B's that are unique to Cuba. Meet your group this evening and enjoy a night out together!

Day 2: Havana and Viñales. Explore Old Havana on a walking tour with a trip to the whimsical Fusterlandia neighbourhood included. Visit a vega (tobacco plantation) in Viñales this afternoon to learn about world-famous Cuban cigars. 

Day 3: Viñales free day. The stunning region of Viñales is easily Cuba’s best-kept secret and today you’ll have all day to explore it independently. Hike over the limestone hills, explore a few caves or try some adventure sports!

Day 4: Bay of Pigs and Playa Larga. Today you’ll have the chance to go snorkelling in secluded, crystal-clear waters among a variety of colourful reefs and fish. Make mojitos this afternoon in Playa Larga and finish the masterclass sipping cocktails!

Day 5: Remedios via Santa Clara. Visit the city of Santa Clara today to learn a little more about the Cuban Revolution. Arrive in the peaceful town of Remedios off the tourist trail and enjoy some free time here.

Day 6: Cuban road trip. Journey eastbound across the island to the Cuban Oriente - a hidden gem region featuring some of Cuba’s finest nature. Reach Bayamo for the evening, a town older than Havana!

Day 7: Baracoa via Playa Imias. Visit the gorgeous Playa Imias for some time to chill and go for a swim in the Caribbean Sea. After arriving at Baracoa, take a walking tour around this island-like town, which is the oldest in the Americas and couldn’t be reached by the outside world for decades.

Day 8: Baracoa culture & wildlife. This morning we’ll visit some community projects inside Baracoa’s rural villages, before stopping at a local farm to try organic Cuban chocolate. The rest of today is free time, so you can go hiking, enjoy the breathtaking beaches (including black sand beaches) or stay in Baracoa.

Day 9: Baracoa to Santiago. Kick back for a drive along the coast towards Santiago: Cuba’s second-largest city. Santiago is famous for its traditional music scene and salsa dancing, so enjoy a free evening of bar-hopping and soaking up the incredible ambience.

Day 10: Santiago free day. Explore Santiago at your leisure today. Santiago has a wide variety of museums, historical sights and lively city quarters worth exploring. 

Day 11: Santiago to Sierra Maestra. Stop at Bayamo for lunch today before travelling to the green outskirts of the Sierra Maestra mountains. 

Day 12: Famous hiking trail. Explore the Sierra Maestra’s lush scenery today and embark on a short hike that leads you to the top of Cuba’s cloud forest. Here you’ll find the abandoned buildings and secret rebel headquarters used during the Cuban Revolution. Then this afternoon, we’ll travel to Camaguey.

Day 13: Salsa lesson in Trinidad. Kick back in Camaguey this morning before heading to the charming and colourful town of Trinidad. Then put on your dancing shoes and get ready for a beginner-friendly salsa lesson, where the only thing you need to do is have fun and lose yourself in the music!

Day 14: Trinidad free day. Today you can freely explore the town or escape into the stunning nature surrounding Trinidad - like waterfalls or beaches to do some snorkelling. Enjoy a group dinner before a big night out in Trinidad! 

Day 15: Havana via Cienfuegos. Stop off at Cienfuegos today, a city nicknamed Cuba’s “Pearl of the South” after its magnificent architecture and beachy bliss. Return to Havana with a free evening for you to unwind or experience the famous nightlife again!

Day 16: End trip in Havana. Our Cuba journey finishes today. Depart at any time after breakfast. 

This trip starts on Day 1 in Havana, with a welcome meeting at around 5pm. If you fly into the José Marti International Airport, a transfer will be waiting to take you to your starting accommodation. 

The trip finishes on Day 16 in Havana this morning with breakfast included. Your guide can assist you with booking onward travel to the airport.

Accommodation and meals

This trip includes 15 nights’ accommodation, where travellers will stay in “casa particulares” for the majority of the trip. These are unique to Cuba and similar to a B&B or homestay. Typically, a family will rent one or two bedrooms with private bathrooms for guests to share. Groups are usually spread across multiple casas with a central meeting point to socialise in the evenings.

“Casa particulars” allow you to get a better sense of the local culture and are usually centrally located. Hotel service standards can be fairly low in Cuba, and so travellers can expect to find a higher standard of service and comfort in “casa particulars” compared to Cuban hotels.

Meals

15 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner are included in this trip. We highly encourage asking your trip leader for recommendations regarding meals purchased independently - as they’ll know all the best places!

This trip is designed for travellers between the ages of 18 to 39.

British citizens will need a tourist card before travelling to Cuba, which can be applied for through the Cuban Embassy in the UK. Your passport must have an expiration date of at least 6 months after the day you arrive in Cuba, and 3 months after your planned departure date from the country.

You will need proof of onward or return travel to enter Cuba, so it’s a good opportunity to extend your stay in Central America! Direct travel from Cuba to the USA is not recommended because of visa complications. 

For up-to-date information, always check with the relevant embassy websites before travelling.

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