14 Day Cuba Heritage Tour

Welcome to Cuba! Upon arrival in Havana you will be greeted by our representative at the airport then a private taxi or car service will take you to your guesthouse. Once you arrive to your guesthouse, look for a Welcome Note from your tour leader with the orientation meeting time. Dinner tonight will be at a local paladar, a privately-owned restaurant, and a great example of Cuba’s incremental shift to a more free-market economy. Paladar means “palate” and is named after a chain of restaurants in a Brazilian soap opera popular in Cuba.

Start your Havana experience by exploring the Old City, with the picturesque malecon and iconic architecture. In the morning we take a guided walking tour of the principal plazas of Old Havana. In addition to visiting historical sites, we will learn about the dual currency system and how it plays out in the local food scene, from Cuban street food to the finest restaurants. As we wander the city, sampling a few of Havana’s street stalls, we’ll discuss the way the legalization of private enterprise has made way for a culinary renaissance in Havana. In the afternoon we tour the outskirts of downtown with a ride in a classic convertible. We’ll cap off the night with centuries old tradition, El Canonazo. This is a traditional recreation of the cannon blast that used to signify the closing of the walled city of Havana.

Start the day with a morning visit to the home of legendary Ernest Hemingway, on the outskirts of Havana. After touring this well-preserved museum, we head to Cienfuegos with a swim/snorkelling stop in the infamous Bay of Pigs (gear available for rent). On arrival to Cienfuegos we meander through the city to learn its history. We visit the elaborately decorated Palacio del Valle where you can see beautiful bay views. In the evening we will eat at a family-owned paladar.

The beautiful colonial city of Trinidad is home to numerous churches and many beautiful colonial buildings, and on our first day in Trinidad, we will take a cultural walking tour around the city with a stop to sip on a traditional local cocktail. We will visit local art galleries and interact with artists. Afterwards, we will head to a local dance school for a demonstration and lesson in the dances of Cuba. A visit to Trinidad wouldn’t be complete without a night of dancing and music, and what better way to practice what you’ve learned!

Today's theme is local industry and biodiversity as we take a short hike to a waterfall outside of the city. On the way, we stop at a very simple campesino’s home to learn about life in the rural areas of Cuba. After cooling off in the natural pools, we return to Trinidad to relax before learning how to make famous local cocktails with a bartending demonstration and history lesson. Later in the day we head to the beautiful Ancon beach for a cultural exchange and live music (weather permitting). Tonight, we will have a special meal with live music and a delicious array of homemade Cuban specialties.

Departing Trinidad we will visit the Manaca Iznaga sugar plantation and learn about the industry that built Trinidad. We then head to Camaguey. Cuba’s third largest city lies about halfway between Havana and Santiago de Cuba. Camaguey was designed in the 17th century to disorientate potential invaders such as pirates and plunderers, so the street layout is a jumble of narrow alleys where no two streets are parallel. The guided tour will take you to the large parks, various private art galleries, and a thriving market garden. This is also a university town and has a rich cultural tradition, and like just about everywhere in Cuba, there is plenty of nighttime entertainment to be had!

Today we ride through the labryith of Camaguey’s streets on in a bicitaxi take an early morning visit to the Camaguey ballet school en route to Santiago de Cuba. Santiago is the place of origin to much of Cuba’s famed music, like the Son. Santiago also holds the title of “Hero City of the Republic of Cuba” for its leading role in significant events during the revolution. The city’s half million residents are also proud of their cultural traditions and you will find many museums and cultural associations and clubs around the city.

Today, we take an early morning visit to the Camaguey Ballet School en route to Holguin. Holguin was founded in 1752 and is a city known for its rich colonial architectural structures, its many lush green parks and spaces, and its vibrantly painted buildings. On arrival in Holguin, we will have a walking tour around town before heading to the Loma de la Cruz, a historic hill overlooking the city where we can enjoy breathtaking views.
Holguin has a great variety of restaurants for dinner tonight. Later in the evening, there are some popular venues for dancing and live music to discover.

The State of Holguin is famous for its beautiful beaches, and we will have a chance to see this beautiful coastline as we travel to Baracoa. After the long drive, you will need to stretch your legs; fortunately, the best way to get around town is on foot and we will visit places like the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, with the impressive bust of the Indigenous leader Hatuey (burned at stake for his refusal to accept either the Spanish or their Catholic religion).

When Christopher Columbus first encountered Cuba, it was here in Baracoa, and he duly noted in his logbook that this was the most beautiful land that human eyes could set upon. You will understand what he meant when you see the beaches and verdant mountains surrounding the city. Today, we visit one of the local farms, where you’ll get a lesson on all the plants and trees grown in Baracoa and their ingenious uses for them. In the evening, we will meet with a family for a delicious demonstration of Baracoan cuisine. Baracoa is known for its excellent creole cooking and seafood. Vegetarians can enjoy calalú, a typical Baracoan dish with vegetables and coconut milk.

Baracoa is known for producing the best chocolate on the island; you may even be served hot chocolate as part of your breakfast. Today, we will have a fun (and delicious!) chocolate-making demonstration from local farmers. Later take a relaxing ride down Yumuri River for a swim. Today, you’re free for dinner, and we suggest you feast on tetí, tiny fish that are a regional specialty unique to Baracoa. Save room for dessert or a chocolate mojito at Casa del Chocolate!

Today we depart for Santiago. On the way we pass by the city of Guantanamo and its infamous bay nearby. There is a lookout from where you can see the highly controversial U.S. Navy Base - Mirador los Malones – we’ll try to take a peek! We will also stop at a local home and learn about cucurucho, a sweet treat made of honey, nuts, and coconut that is as much fun to eat as it is to say! Santiago is the place of origin for much of Cuba’s famed music, like the Son. Santiago also holds the title “Hero City of the Republic of Cuba” for its leading role in significant events during the revolution. The city’s half million residents are also proud of their cultural traditions, and you will find many museums, cultural associations and clubs around the city. The day will end with an unforgettable night of music and dance with local Santiagueros.

Today we will explore Santiago’s museums, colonial churches and buildings of more recent historical importance. We will visit Cuba’s most famous cemetery, Santa Ifigenia, where famous musicians and revolutionaries are buried, and see the change of the guard. We explore the local music scene with visits to various venues and rehearsal spaces with a local specialist. We end our time together with a farewell dinner.

Fly home from Santiago today, stay a few more days to soak up the local culture, or add a return to Havana to your tour package. Contact us for pricing.