HAVANA, LAS TERRAZAS, CIENFUEGOS & TRINIDAD
Explore Cuba’s highlights as we travel through Old Havana to a sustainable community in the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve and onward to the colorful towns of Cienfuegos and Trinidad. We’ll have the chance to ride in classic cars along Havana’s Malecón (or Esplanade along the waterfront) and learn to make a great mojito. Throughout our journey, we’ll gain meaningful insight into the history, culture, and Cuban people as we meet with local artists, hear musical performances, learn about agricultural practices, uncover Cuba’s biodiversity, and more.
Itinerary at a Glance
2025 Tour Itinerary:
- 3 nights in Havana
- 2 nights in Trinidad
- 1 night Havana
Tour Highlights
- Mojito Cocktail Class
- Old Havana Walking Tour
- Meet with artists at the Graphic Artists workshop
- Muraleando Community Art Project
- Ride in American classic cars (Havana)
- Eco-Community of Las Terrazas
- Rancho Curujey Children's Project
- Lunch & dinner at a family-run paladar
- Studio visit of Cuban artist, Ariel Gato
- Afro-Cuban Musical Performance
- Valley of the Sugar Mills where farmers discuss their production process
- Cienfuegos Botanical Garden
Your Tour Includes
- Ground transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Accommodations at first class hotels
- 13 meals: 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 4 dinners
- Comprehensive Support for the Cuban People experiences and cultural tours including entry fees as per itinerary, following U.S. regulation CFR CFR 515.574
- Experienced, English-speaking Cuban Tour Director 515.573
¡Bienvenidos a Cuba! This evening we'll meet our tour director for an orientation briefing followed by a cocktail reception and welcome dinner where we'll learn how to make a great Mojito!
Accommodations: Grand Aston La Habana or similar
Meals: Dinner
This morning we'll take a walking tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 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. After some free time, 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.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
We'll start the day with breakfast at the hotel and then depart for Las Terrazas, an eco-community in Pinar del Río, located within the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve. This 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 also visit with local artists and have a delicious lunch at a local café.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll depart for Cienfuegos. Upon arrival, we'll enjoy lunch and then tour the city. We'll see the Terry Theater, along with other art studios where we'll meet with the artists to learn more about their work, their artistic influences, and the life of an artist in Cuba. After this, we'll take in a performance by either the Guitar Orchestra of Cienfuegos or the Choir of Cienfuegos. Later, we'll continue to our hotel in Trinidad. This evening, we can participate in optional excursions and activities offered by our Tour Director. These may include baseball games, or music and art events at various Cuban institutions.
Accommodations: Meliá Trinidad Península or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we'll have an exciting day in Trinidad! Our first stop will be the Valley of the Sugar Mills where we'll learn about the importance of the area's sugar production through discussions with local farmers and workers. We'll enjoy live music at Barrancon before taking our walking tour of the town. We'll visit a museum (either Palacio Cantero or the Architecture Museum) followed by a trip to the local agricultural market. Afterward, we'll delight in an Afro-Cuban musical performance at the Congos Reales with some free time for lunch. Later, we'll return to our hotel where we'll enjoy dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After we enjoy breakfast at our hotel, we'll visit the Botanical Garden of Cienfuegos, which is considered a National Monument in Cuba. Here, we'll learn more about Cuba's interesting varieties of tropical plants and trees. Next, we'll enjoy lunch at a private restaurant (paladar). After lunch, we'll continue onward to Havana. This evening, we'll come together for a farewell dinner at a paladar. This evening, we can participate in optional excursions and activities offered by our Tour Director. These may include baseball games, or music and art events at various Cuban institutions.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
It's time to say ¡adios! as our visit to Cuba comes to an end after breakfast.
Meals: Breakfast
Plan ahead to maximize your savings!
|
|
From
$2,899
$2,599 |
Book Now |
|
|
From
$2,899
$2,599 |
Book Now |
|
|
From
$2,899
$2,599 |
Book Now |
|
|
From
$2,699
$2,399 |
Book Now |
|
|
From
$2,699
$2,399 |
Book Now |
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 90 days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability.
Please see the
smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete
booking information.
Featured Accommodations
Calle 1a y D, Vedado, Havana, Cuba
Website
Playa María Aguilar, Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
Website
Pre- & Post- Night Stays
Slow the pace of your tour with a pre- and/or post-night stay so you can
arrive refreshed, acclimate to the time zone if needed, and depart leisurely,
ensuring a seamless transition into and out of your journey.
-
From $179 per person based on double occupancy
Start our tour off on the right foot! Arrive a day early and enjoy more time to recover from travel, adjust to any time differences, and feel well-rested on our first day of touring.
Note: When in Cuba independently, travelers must have a full-time schedule of activities that enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society, or promote the Cuban people's independence from Cuban authorities. These activities include eating in Private Restaurants (Paladares), purchasing from local vendors, engaging with local businesses, or participating in cultural activities such as music, dance, and art supporting local artists and cultural organizations.
-
From $179 per person based on double occupancy
Extend your stay by one night at the end of our tour to make the most of additional free time for exploring our final city, shopping for last-minute souvenirs, or dining at that restaurant you’ve been wanting to try.
Note: When in Cuba independently, travelers must have a full-time schedule of activities that enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society, or promote the Cuban people's independence from Cuban authorities. These activities include eating in Private Restaurants (Paladares), purchasing from local vendors, engaging with local businesses, or participating in cultural activities such as music, dance, and art supporting local artists and cultural organizations.
What to Expect
Max Group Size: 30 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.
Reviews
Susan E
4 years ago
I took this tour in February 2020. This tour was very informative about the Cuban history, people, and culture. We had two tour guides with us throughout the tour; one from the US (Doug) and the other from Cuba (Claudia). Both tour guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and organized. Kudos also to our amazing bus driver. We were able to tour many places throughout the week, starting with Havana, next to Cienfuegos, and ending in Santa Clara. The tour provided us with many opportunities to be enriched by the Cuban people: Entertainers, medical staff, senior citizens, and naturalists. Only one meal was not provided through the tour group which offered an opportunity for us to explore on our own. Surprisingly, we were provided with lots of "welcome" and complimentary beverages......the mojitos were amazing!! Our tour group consisted of 23 people and everyone seemed to get along well and have an enjoyable time. Highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in learning more about Cuba.
NANCY L
4 years ago
A group of about 20 of us went on this tour February 5-12 2020. With one exception, the tour was great. I traveled with a couple of friends; the others we met were pleasant and on-time! Cuba is eye opening, once clearly a beautiful place and now deprived of most but the basic necessities--decent education system notwithstanding. Well traveled by other tourists, just not those from the US. Really interesting to learn about life under a communist dictatorship. Two of the three hotels are top notch; the third adequate for the one night we were there. Bathrooms throughout except in hotels were pretty awful. Good tour leaders. Saw a lot in the six days (not a minute at the beach or pool).. Now the major downside: two-thirds of the group, at least 15 people, got violently ill with a stomach virus about 22-26 hours after leaving Cuba, we assume from the food at the final hotel (breakfast and a box lunch). A timely and dramatic lesson on how quickly a virus can spread. All recovered in 48 hours. The real rub--not getting sick, but the complete lack of response by Smartours when multiple people brought this to their attention multiple ways. Very surprising that no indication of concern or, to our knowledge, any investigation as to source was forthcoming. At this point, the lack of response/concern is actually more troubling than the illness itself and not a good indicator of "corporate culture." Something to consider...
NANCY L
4 years ago
A group of about 20 of us went on this tour February 5-12 2020. With one exception, the tour was great. I traveled with a couple of friends; the others we met were pleasant and on-time! Cuba is eye opening, once clearly a beautiful place and now deprived of most but the basic necessities--decent education system notwithstanding. Well traveled by other tourists, just not those from the US. Really interesting to learn about life under a communist dictatorship. Two of the three hotels are top notch; the third adequate for the one night we were there. Bathrooms throughout except in hotels were pretty awful. Good tour leaders. Saw a lot in the six days (not a minute at the beach or pool).. Now the major downside: two-thirds of the group, at least 15 people, got violently ill with a stomach virus about 22-26 hours after leaving Cuba, we assume from the food at the final hotel (breakfast and a box lunch). A timely and dramatic lesson on how quickly a virus can spread. All recovered in 48 hours. The real rub--not getting sick, but the complete lack of response by Smartours when multiple people brought this to their attention multiple ways. Very surprising that no indication of concern or, to our knowledge, any investigation as to source was forthcoming. At this point, the lack of response/concern is actually more troubling than the illness itself and not a good indicator of "corporate culture/customer service." Something to consider...
Deborah
4 years ago
Just got back from Cuban Highlights tour Jan 2019. Our local guide, Ned Enedis was wonderful. She was so passionate about her country. She was very informative and gave us so much information. It was a very educational tour. However the hotels had a lot to be desired. Hotel Melida Cohiba in Havana was good. Hotel Jagua and Hotel Los Americas was a lot to be desired. Very poor.
We spent too much time in the van/bus and not enough time exploring the areas.
Never got to the cigar factory. Cuban cooking class was a joke. Valley of the sugar mills was poor. Walking tour of Trinadad was not very good. Not enough time to explore own our on.
Overall, quite a disappointment.
Judy
4 years ago
Excellent tour, a must do for those who Love good culture,lovely people, great value for the money, quality experiences.
