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.
Itinerary at a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 2 nights in Havana
- 2 nights in Viñales
- 2 nights in Havana
Tour Highlights
- Old Havana Walking Tour
- Muraleando 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)
- 14 meals: 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours and entry fees as per itinerary
- Experienced, English-speaking Tour Director
Passengers who purchase flights will depart the same day as the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.
Note: Flights are not available on departures.
You must book your own flights to the tour destination and you are responsible for making your own way to the tour starting point, where you will meet your Tour Director. This is normally the first hotel in your itinerary.
You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.
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. 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 where we'll learn how to make a great Mojito! Salud!
*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, and visit a special community project, Muraleando. Afterwards, you’ll have time to enjoy lunch on your own. 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, Dinner
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! 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 in the Viñales Valley farewell. Before departing for Havana, we’ll visit the Montesino Farm, one of Cuba’s most renowned tobacco producers, where we'll have a chance to meet some of the local farmers. This afternoon, we'll visit the captivating Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba and take a specialized tour. Afterward, we'll enjoy a performance by the Habana Compas Dance Company.
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 stop for lunch at El Aljibe, followed by a performance and special exchange with the La Colmenita Community Project. This evening, we’ll have our farewell dinner at Jardin de los Milagros private restaurant and organoponico, which will also include a discussion about the organoponico movement in Cuba.
Note: La Colmenita greatly appreciates donations of small school supplies (pens, pencils, notebooks). This can be a great way to support their mission and show appreciation for their hospitality while we are there.
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
Explore savings of up to $800 per person to dream destinations! Book by Mar. 29th.
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 (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern)
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.
What to Expect
Max Group Size: 20 travelers
Activity Level: Level 2
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.