12 Days • 11 Nights
Grand Cuba: West to East
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Havana, the Malecon and classic cars
- Vinales tobacco valley and mogotes
- Colonial Cienfuegos and Trinidad
- The cowboy city of Camaguey
- Santiago de Cuba, cradle of son and revolution
- Music, forts and warm Cuban hospitality end to end
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 12-day journey.
Met at Havana airport and transferred to your hotel or casa, you stroll the Malecon and enjoy a welcome dinner at a lively paladar.
A walking tour of Old Havana's plazas and a vintage convertible ride along the seafront, ending with live music.
A free day for cigar factories, museums, Hemingway's haunts or the city's art and nightlife.
Drive west to the Vinales valley for a tobacco-farm visit and the dramatic mogote scenery, overnighting in the countryside.
After a morning in the valley you cross the island to colonial Trinidad, arriving for an evening of rooftop music.
A walking tour of Trinidad and an excursion to the Valley of the Sugar Mills, a UNESCO site telling the story of Cuba's sugar-and-slavery past, with free time for Playa Ancon.
You travel east to Camaguey, a labyrinthine colonial city of winding streets and clay tinajones, with its own cowboy culture and lively arts scene.
Continue east to Santiago de Cuba, the island's sultry, mountain-ringed second city and the birthplace of son. Settle in and feel its distinct Afro-Caribbean energy.
A city tour of Santiago, taking in the Moncada barracks, the grand cathedral, the Morro castle guarding the bay, and the Santa Ifigenia cemetery where Marti and Fidel Castro lie. In the evening, live music in the Casa de la Trova.
An excursion to the Basilica of El Cobre, Cuba's most revered shrine, and the surrounding Sierra Maestra foothills, with a free afternoon and evening for Santiago's incomparable music scene.
A domestic flight returns you to Havana for a final free evening in the capital, perhaps a last vintage-car ride or rooftop cocktail.
After breakfast you are transferred to Havana airport for your onward flight, having journeyed the length of this extraordinary island.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 11 nights accommodation in hotels or casas particulares
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and a classic-car city tour
- Airport transfers
- Touring and activities as per itinerary with English-speaking guides
- Ground transfers between cities
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
- Havana, Vinales, Trinidad, Camaguey and Santiago guided touring, and a domestic flight Santiago to Havana
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Tourist card: Almost all visitors need a Cuban Tourist Card (visa) to enter, which we help you arrange before travel, along with a passport valid for at least six months. Requirements vary by nationality and by the country you fly from
- US travellers: US citizens and residents face specific restrictions and must travel under one of the authorised categories rather than general tourism, and US-issued bank and credit cards do not work in Cuba; we will advise you carefully if this applies to you
- Cash is king: Cuba is largely a cash economy and many foreign cards, especially those linked to US banks, do not work; bring enough cash (euros, pounds, Canadian dollars or US dollars) to exchange for local currency and cover your trip
- Currency: The local currency is the Cuban Peso. Exchange rates and rules change frequently, so we brief you on the current situation before you travel and recommend carrying cash in good condition
- Medical insurance: Proof of travel medical insurance is required to enter Cuba and is strongly recommended in any case; we can advise on suitable cover
- Internet: Internet access is limited and can be slow, typically via wifi in hotels and public squares using prepaid cards; embrace the chance to disconnect and enjoy Cuba's music and street life
- Best time to visit: The dry season from November to April offers the most pleasant weather and is ideal for sightseeing and beaches; the summer is hotter and wetter and falls within the Atlantic hurricane season
- Casas particulares: Staying in a casa particular, a licensed private guesthouse, is a wonderful way to meet Cubans and enjoy home cooking; we can mix these with hotels to suit your comfort and style. Tipping in cash is customary and appreciated
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the domestic flight included?
Yes — a domestic flight from Santiago de Cuba back to Havana is included to avoid a very long drive, so you finish in the capital ready for your onward departure.
How different is Santiago from Havana?
Very — Santiago in the east has a stronger Afro-Caribbean and Jamaican-Haitian influence, a hotter climate, a mountainous setting and an even more intense music scene. Many travellers find it the most vibrant city in Cuba.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included throughout, along with any meals named in the itinerary such as a welcome dinner. Cuba's paladares (private restaurants) and casa home-cooking are a highlight, so most lunches and dinners are left free, and we are happy to recommend the best.
Do I need a visa for Cuba?
Almost all visitors need a Cuban Tourist Card, which we help arrange before you travel. US citizens and residents face additional rules and must travel under an authorised category; we advise you fully based on your nationality.
Can I use my credit card and ATMs in Cuba?
Cuba is largely a cash economy, and many foreign cards, especially US-linked ones, do not work. Bring enough cash in euros, pounds or Canadian dollars to exchange; we brief you on the current money situation before departure.
When is the best time to visit Cuba?
The dry season from November to April is the most comfortable and popular, ideal for Havana, the colonial towns and the beaches. Summer is hotter, wetter and within the hurricane season.
Is Cuba safe for travellers?
Cuba is generally very safe for visitors, with low levels of violent crime and warm, welcoming people. As anywhere, take normal precautions with valuables, and your guides are on hand throughout to help.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of city, colonial towns and beach, mix hotels and casas particulares, add regions like Santiago or the cays, and tailor the pace to your interests.
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