Havana, Las Terrazas & Viñales Valley
Discover what makes Cuba so captivating on this tour that takes you from the gorgeous city neighborhood of Old Havana to a sustainable community in the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve to the beautiful countryside where we’ll stay with host families at our Casas Particulares, or Cuban bed and breakfasts. Along the way, we’ll gain meaningful insight into the history, culture, and people of Cuba through opportunities to meet local artists and performers, gain a better understanding of Cuban history and U.S./Cuba relations, see unique farming methods and the organoponics movement in practice, and more.
Did you know you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options
for groups of 10 or more travelers.
Itinerary at
a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 2 nights in Havana
- 2 nights in Viñales
- 2 nights in Havana
Tour Highlights
- Old Havana Walking Tour
- Artecorte Community Project
- Classic Car Ride on the Malecón
- La Colmenita Children's Project
- Eco-Community of Las Terrazas
- Viñales Valley
- "Fusterlandia" Art Workshop
- Habana Compas Dance Company
- Organic Garden Farm-to-Table experience
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from Miami (MIA) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Ground transportation in an air-conditioned motorcoach
- Accommodations at first-class hotel and bed and breakfast
- Porterage (1 bag per person)
- 13 Meals: 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours and entry fees as per itinerary
- Experienced, English-speaking Tour Director
Max Group Size: 20 travelers
Activity Level: Intermediate
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature light hiking, and/or stairs on some hilly and/or uneven terrain. Learn More
Pacing Level: Moderate
Expect full-day tours most days with some limited free time at specific sites, for meals, and/or in the evenings. You can expect several early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 2+ nights (with limited 1-night stays). Learn More
Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. There are entry requirements for U.S. passport holders. Please visit our Passports & Visas page to learn more about any required actions, next steps, and additional costs.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
Passengers who purchase flights will depart the same day as the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.
For flight details, see Before You Depart.
Bienvenidos a Cuba! Late this afternoon, we'll arrive in Havana. After customs and luggage collection, we'll meet our Tour Director and driver who will accompany us throughout our journey through Cuba. On the way to our hotel, we'll stop at the first English-language bookstore in Cuba. After we check into our hotel, we'll have an orientation briefing about the week ahead and enjoy a cocktail reception before our welcome dinner.
*Passengers who did not purchase flights will join the tour in Havana on Day 1.
Accommodations: Valentin Quinta Avenida Habana Hotel
Meals: Dinner
This morning, we'll take a walking tour of Old Havana and learn about the restoration projects that are integral to preserving this famous neighborhood's history and architecture. We'll meet young artists at the Graphic Artists Workshop, stop at the Rations Store, hear about the roots of Afro-Cuban Culture at Casa de Africa, and learn about the link between private business and serving the community at Artecorte, a special community project. This evening, we'll enjoy a performance by the world-renowned youth development project, La Colmenita. Then, we'll end this exceptional day with a drive in antique cars down Havana's Malecón to our dinner at a top Cuban paladar, or private restaurant.
Accommodations: Valentin Quinta Avenida Habana Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, we'll depart for Viñales Valley, stopping en route in Las Terrazas, a unique sustainable community started in 1968 as a part of the Green Revolution within the UNESCO-designated Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve. We'll visit the reforestation projects, a small community school, a polyclinic to learn more about the healthcare system in Cuba, and the local art studio of Ariel Gato. We'll top off our visit with a Cuban Cafecito (or coffee) at Cafe Maria Cafeteria, and after lunch we'll have a chance to swim in the San Juan River or speak with local residents in this special eco-community. Later, we'll meet our hosts and check into our Casas Particulares, or Cuban bed & breakfasts in Viñales Valley.
Accommodations: Casas Particulares (Bed & Breakfast Home-Stay)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we'll explore Viñales Valley, known for its mogotes, a series of tall rounded hills that rise abruptly from the valley; its tobacco farms and cultivation; and the rich mix of cultural heritage and traditions! First, we'll visit a tobacco farm where we'll learn from farmers and their families about their unique farming methods. We'll take a boat tour through Cueva del Indio (the Indian Caves), an ancient indigenous dwelling. After a visit with lunch at Mural de la Prehistoria, we'll experience the living museum of Palenque de los Cimarrones and hear the legends and history of the passage of Afro-descendants through western Cuba. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore, hike, or simply relax in the Cuban countryside independently.
Accommodations: Casas Particulares (Bed & Breakfast Home-Stay)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we'll bid our hosts farewell and return to Havana. This afternoon, we'll visit the captivating Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba and enjoy a specialized tour. Afterward, we'll visit the community of Guanabacoa, which is sometimes referred to as "Pueblo Embrujado" for its strong Santeria traditions. This community has historically been one of the centers of Afro-Cuban culture in Havana. We'll visit the church, museum, and meet with community residents.
Accommodations: Valentin Quinta Avenida Habana Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, we'll meet with representatives of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the People (ICAP) at the Friendship House to learn about Cuban history and U.S./Cuba relations. Next, we'll visit the art workshop and community project of José Rodríguez Fuster, also known as the Cuban Picasso. Afterward, we'll go to an organic farm and garden where we'll learn about the organoponics movement in Cuba with a chance to taste their farm-to-table delicacies firsthand. We'll have some free time this afternoon. This evening, we'll come together for a rehearsal of the Habana Compas Dance Group with time for a Q&A before we enjoy our farewell dinner at a local Cuban paladar.
Accommodations: Valentin Quinta Avenida Habana Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our trip to Cuba wouldn't be complete without a visit to Finca Vigía, the Hemingway Museum. Here we'll learn more about Hemingway's famed relationship to Cuba with a specialized guided tour. It's time to say "adios" as our visit to Finca Vigía comes to an end.
Meals: Breakfast
Book by Mar. 31, 2023 to get the best price.
Prices listed as “with flights” below include
round-trip airfare from one or more airports
in the USA.
Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only,
and arrange their own arrival in destination.
Please note this may change your tour start date.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a
date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please
contact us here
or call us during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9:00am - 5:30pm EST)
at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone
(1.800.337.7773)
and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable,
non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the
time of reservation.
Deposits are $300 per person.
Full payment is due 95 days prior to departure.
Space and prices subject to availability.
Please see the
smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete
booking information.
Featured Accommodations
The group will stay at several bed and breakfasts with amenities like air conditioning, a private bathroom, and breakfast daily with our host families. This homestay will allow us to better immerse ourselves in the Cuban culture and support and connect with locals like our host families, allowing us to learn more about the Cuban people and what their daily life is like.
Andi m
There is very little not to love about this particular trip. While my husband and I have been in Mexico numerous occasions, we’d never stayed in mexico City. We learned a great deal about the Aztecs and then moving to Oaxaca, a gorgeous city, We learned a lot about delicious foods, in particular mole, and finally enjoyed a couple of days on the beaches of.Playa Del Carmen..
The extraordinary variety of Mexico was illustrated in this wonderful trip. To be sure, for some, it was rather arduous. There was lots of walking on-a few Days, and a good bit of climbing (if you chose to do so) on Mexican ruins.
The weather was glorious. The hotels were more than adequate, the food just wonderful.
And our guide was simply the best -always making sure that everyone was happy, that every desire was fulfilled, and that everybody stayed safe and happy at all times.
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