Individual Trip: Authentic Cuba, 9 days

Day 1: Athens/Thessaloniki – Flight to Havana

Departure from Athens via intermediate stop and arrival in Havana, where our representative will welcome us. After the necessary formalities, transfer to our hotel, check-in, and free time.

Day 2: Havana – Tour of the old and modern city and a ride in vintage American cars

After breakfast, a pleasant surprise awaits us at the entrance of our hotel. We will start the tour with a panoramic ride through modern Havana and the iconic suburb of Miramar in classic vintage American cars from the 1950s. Before the revolution, Miramar was the aristocratic suburb of Havana and the residential area for wealthy Cubans, as evidenced by the beautiful low-rise buildings and their architecture. Today, the area, which fully retains its old-world glamour, hosts most embassies and offices of major companies.
Crossing the main artery, the beautiful Fifth Avenue, which reminiscently evokes that of New York, and after passing by the area of Havana’s cemetery with its grand architectural entrance featuring a marble sculpture of the biblical composition of Faith, Hope, and Charity at its top, we will arrive at the historic Revolution Square. This is the place where Fidel, especially in the early years of the revolution, gave his hours-long speeches to crowds of a million adoring Cubans. Here lies the José Martí Memorial, next to the so-called Palace of the Revolution (the seat of government) and the buildings of the Ministries of Interior and Communications featuring the portrait of Che.
Crossing the Vedado area, we will see the historic building of the University of Havana, and via the famous seaside drive of Malecón, we will end up in Old Havana at Capitol Square, where the Capitolio building stands, featuring similar architecture to that of Washington, D.C. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Old Havana is a unique example of neo-colonial architecture, with its colorful buildings and five iconic squares that we will discover during our tour: Cathedral Square, Plaza de Armas, Old Square (Plaza Vieja), Plazuela de Santo Domingo, and the Square of St. Francis of Assisi, where the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas is located (which we will visit), before concluding at El Templete. Our next stop is the Havana Club Museum, where during the tour we will learn the history of sugarcane cultivation and the secrets of producing and aging the national drink of the Caribbean, and at the end, we will have the opportunity to taste the famous Cuban rum.
Return to the hotel. For the evening, our representative will be at your disposal with recommendations for your night out.

Day 3: Havana – Free day or optional excursion to Viñales

The Viñales Valley in the Pinar del Río province is one of the most impressive sights on the island, located west of Havana, and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The unique landscape of limestone hills, known as Mogotes, combined with countless Royal Palm trees (Palma Real, which dominates Cuba), creates a unique landscape of natural beauty. We will have the chance to admire this scenery from the Jazmines viewpoint, which offers panoramic views of the valley and the surrounding area, making it an ideal spot for souvenir photos.
Our next stop is the Indian’s Cave (Cueva del Indio), which we will cross with a short boat ride in groups, taking a mystical route among stalactites and stalagmites. Next, we will see the famous mural measuring 120 x 160 meters, which depicts the evolution of life in Cuba and the evolution of species. It was painted in 1961 by Leovigildo González, a disciple of the great Mexican artist Diego Rivera.
After lunch and during our return to Havana, we will stop at the Finca Montesino farm to observe the cigar-making process by one of Cuba’s finest artisans. The same estate houses the curing barns and the cultivation fields of some of the best tobacco in the world. Arrival in Havana and free time.

Day 4: Havana – Free day

A free day for your personal wandering in the atmospheric city of Havana, filled with the charm of a bygone era and the scent of the romantic ’60s.
Every step and every corner offers abundant material for unique photographs, bars with live music where we can enjoy authentic cocktails, and dozens of small local shops for last-minute shopping.

Day 5: Havana – Santa Clara – Trinidad – Cienfuegos

Leaving atmospheric Havana behind, we head to the historic city of Santa Clara, famous for the decisive battle of the revolutionaries on their march to capture Havana. There, we will visit the museum and mausoleum of Che, where in October 1997 his remains were laid to rest alongside those of his 29 comrades who were assassinated in Bolivia in 1967. Your tour leader will share the story of Che and details of his life, while the museum houses dozens of his personal items. Departure for Trinidad. Upon arrival, we will begin our tour of this city, which resembles an open-air museum due to its unique architecture and is declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the third-oldest city in Cuba, founded in 1514 by Diego Velázquez, and is the most authentic example of colonial architecture. The city’s central square with its restored buildings, the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, the Romantic Museum, and the Brunet mansion are the city’s key landmarks. At the end of our tour, we will enjoy the namesake local drink made of lemon, rum, and honey—traditionally drunk by slaves—at the local Canchánchara tavern, accompanied by live music. Afterwards, we will depart for Cienfuegos, a city of French influence founded in 1819 by French colonists, and one of the country’s most important ports. It is often called the “New Orleans of Cuba” due to the strong influence of French-inspired architecture. Arrival at the hotel, check-in, and rest.

Day 6: Cienfuegos – Guamá – Varadero

After breakfast, we will begin our tour of the city from its historic center, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the beautiful central square with its numerous government buildings of French architecture and the famous Tomás Terry Theater, a masterpiece of French-Italian architecture that has hosted legends of global art, such as Enrico Caruso, Jorge Negrete, Alicia Alonso, and Anna Pavlova. Next, we will take a panoramic tour of the city, stopping at the Palacio de Valle, a masterpiece of eclecticism overlooking the sea and the Bay of Cienfuegos, before departing for Varadero. Crossing the Cuban countryside with its countless citrus orchards, we will arrive in Cárdenas, located 20 kilometers from Varadero. This city boasts colonial architecture and a rich history, being the place where the Cuban flag was raised for the first time during the War of Independence. We continue to the Guamá National Park, designated by UNESCO as an important biosphere. Near the Bay of Pigs, famous for the historic 1961 battle between Cubans and counter-revolutionaries, it is a unique habitat formed by river estuaries connecting with the sea. We will begin with a visit to the crocodile breeding farm, established for the protection of the species, where you can optionally taste their flavorful meat. Then, we will board the complex’s speedboats for an unforgettable exotic tour through the park’s canals. On the islets formed between the canals, the architecture of the Taíno Indians dominates, alongside sculptures depicting scenes from their daily activities. We will disembark at one of these islets to see a replica of a Taíno Indian village with its huts, take part in a mystical initiation ceremony, and admire the twenty-five statues depicting their life, created by the famous Cuban sculptor Rita Longa.
And our day ends in Varadero, with hotel check-in and free time.

Day 7: Varadero

A free day on Cuba’s “golden coast,” a nickname earned because of the beach’s fine golden sand. At the hotel, we can enjoy all the comforts of our All-Inclusive stay, the crystal-blue sea, and the golden sand, and just relax and unwind.

Day 8: Varadero – Havana Airport for the return flight

Breakfast at the hotel and free time for one last dip while enjoying the hotel’s amenities. Departure for Havana Airport, traveling along the island’s northern coastline. Along the way, we will pass through Matanzas, known as the “city of poets/intellectuals”, see the outdated oil extraction pumps, and finally arrive at the airport for our return flight.

Day 9: Athens/Thessaloniki

Arrival in Greece via an intermediate stop, with the memories of a uniquely atmospheric journey and the hope of returning to this extraordinary country.

Travel Notes