Caribbean

¡ Bienvenidos a La Habana! Upon arrival to Cuba's capital city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, you are welcomed by our representative holding a Friendly Planet sign outside the arrivals terminal at the Havana Airport. Board your air-conditioned vehicle and transfer to your hotel.

Stroll through Old Havana, stopping at the used bookseller's market, Hotel Ambos Mundos (Ernest Hemingway's first home in Havana), and at various private enterprises to engage with and support Cuba's growing private business sectorVisit an artist's private studio Meet with staff at Clandestina, Cuba's first online clothing retailer and renowned design shop. Walk Havana's grand San Rafael Boulevard and visit with private business owners to learn more about how private enterprises work in Cuba. Take a ride back in time in a classic American auto

Grand Hava San Rafael bpulevard

Experience the world of art in Cuba by visiting one of Santa Clara's dynamic community projects. Take the opportunity to visit with the artists and musicians, experience their work, and engage with the process by asking questions or participating yourself. Continue to the picturesque town of Trinidad. It is one of the original seven cities founded in Cuba by the Spanish five centuries ago, and one of the best-preserved colonial cities in all of Latin America and a World Heritage Site since 1988 for its architectural and historical importance. Check in to your hotel. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own. We recommend dining at a paladar. Feel free to choose one from the list we provide, or ask your guide for alternative recommendations. A great option for an authentic after-dinner activity is to head to Casa de la Música to experience a typical evening in Cuba. Here, people from all walks of life and generations come to eat, drink, dance, build friendships, and discuss community issues or current events.

Havana Capital

Visit Casa del Alfarero, a pottery house. Stop by a casa particular (a private bed and breakfast) and learn from local business-owners . Learn about the religion of Santeria at the Templo de Yemaya. Explore Trinidad’s historic city center along its cobblestone streets, with landmarks waiting for you at every turn. Visit the local artisan’s market

Trinidada Town

After breakfast, hop back into your comfortable vehicle for the drive to one of Cuba's most beautiful cities, Cienfuegos. Walk through the French Colonial Cienfuegos, "the pearl of the south," surrounded by its beautiful architecture and feeling of community. Your guide will share the significance of Cuba's only triumphal arch, found here in town, and the history of different ornate buildings, statues, and palaces.Hop back in your bus and drive out to the beautifully unique Coincidencia Farm, where you’ll enjoy lunch. This farm was founded in 1987 by Héctor Correa, an agriculturist with an interest in preserving certain native species of fruit that he knew and loved as a child. With a cart full of seedlings, he began to plant his farm and even created a seed bank so that any interested farmer could do the same. In addition to farming, Correa created the first ceramics workshop in Matanzas, blending art with nature, essential sources of inspiration for any artist. Correa’s children have kept the family tradition, studying and working hard both on the farm and in the workshop. Engage with the family and staff in a discussion about opportunities both in Cuba and the U.S. for creative expression, farming, and the art-nature connection. Continue on to picturesque Varadero, the most famous beach town on the Cuban mainland, and check into your hotel.

Varadero beach , Cienfuesgos city ,

Learn about Cuba's national dance and musical genre at the private Danzón Club. Visit a local farmer's market. Stop at the one-of-a-kind craft workshop of artist Mariela Alemán Orosco. Explore the Varadero artisan market .

After breakfast, depart for Havana! Visit the quaint fishing village of Cojimar, which served as the setting for Ernest Hemingway's masterpiece, The Old Man and the Sea. Learn the secrets of the Cuban kitchen by taking part in a traditional Cuban cooking class experience. Meet the staff of the paladar Café Ajiaco, who will guide you on your culinary journey, starting with organically-grown ingredients and transforming them into Cuba’s most delicious traditional food. Top off the experience with a lesson in preparing an authentic Cuban mojito. After lunch, visit the mechanic workshop and privately-owned classic car company, NostalgiCar. Meet with the owners and hear their engaging origin story, see where they restore and maintain their vintage autos, and learn from them, two of Cuba’s most successful private entrepreneurs, on their experience managing these cars and their company. Enjoy one last ride in one of Havana's classic old American autos, and arrive to your farewell dinner in style. Tonight's entertainment features live, traditional Cuban music and salsa dancing, reminiscent of the Buena Vista Social Club, so make sure you wear your dancing shoes!

Cuban dance ,night life

Transfer to the airport and board your flight back to Home