This is a sample itinerary from one of my January 2025 tours. Each tour is a different, depending on the interests of the tour participants, and the availability of tour guides and venues. All group meals are included, but you are also welcome to take time off from group activities and go explore on your own, or just chill out.
| Day 1: |
| early afternoon arrival in Havana |
| meet tour guide, transfer to casa particular |
| walk to a nearby restaurant |
| overnight at a casa particular |
| Day 2: |
| breakfast at our casa particular |
| coffee and conversation with Liliana Fernandez, professor at the University of Havana |
| Classic Convertibles car tour of Havana |
| Walking tour of Habana Vieja: Understand Cuba with a Sociologist |
| salsa lessons (optional) |
| dinner at a waterfront restaurant |
| visit to Fabrica de Arte Cubano, Havana’s most exciting art and music venue |
| Day 3 |
| Drive to Cienfuegos |
| visit to the Playa Giron Bay of Pigs museum |
| swimming and snorkeling at Caleta Buena |
| sunset on the beach at Playa Rancho Luna |
| dinner and music at a top local restaurant |
| Day 4 |
| Drive to Trinidad |
| art tour of Cienfuegos, with visits to artists collective and studio of Lizzette Perez Castro |
| Topes de Collantes and El Cubano waterfall |
| music at Casa de la Musica |
| Day 5 |
| History and Art tour of Trinidad |
| free time to explore |
| beach time at Playa Ancona |
| music at Casa de la Trova |
| Day 6 |
| Drive to Havana |
| lunch and farm visit at Finca del Medio slow food farm in Taguasco |
| private concert at El Madrigal with Hera de Cuba |
| Day 7 |
| San Jose Artists and Crafts Market |
| visit to artist Jose Fuster’s Fusterlandia, a neighborhood full of fantastical art installations inspired by Antoni Gaudi. |
| farewell dinner |
| Day 8 |
| guided tour of Regla, working class neightborhood across the bay from Habana Vieja, and home visit with a Santeria babalawo |
| Departure for the airport |
This is the itinerary for one of my January 2023 tours. The exact details ofeach will depend on the preferences of the tour participants, and the availability of the casas particulares, etc.
| Day 1: Arrival in Havana | |
| transfer by private van | |
| Ice Cream at Comic | privately owned ice cream and pastry shop |
| Welcome dinner at Grados | dinner at innovative privately owned paladar featuring local ingredients |
| Fabrica de Arte Cubano | innovative Cuban artists and musicians co-op |
| Luxury Villa Casa Nostra | private casa particular |
| Day 2: Havana | |
| Cuban coffee at neighbor’s coffee stall | (some participants) talked to proprietor about current situation in Cuba |
| tour of Havana in classic convertibles | privately owned cars, operated by independent entrepreneurs |
| Understand Cuba with a Sociologist | walking tour with independent guide Claudia, discussed Cuban economy and prospects for change |
| lunch at La Esquina de Oro | purchased lunch sandwiches and snacks at privately owned cafe |
| visited local galleries and artist shops | (some participants) purchased art at Brava Designs |
| Dinner at Habana Mia 7 | discussed current living conditions at private restaurant with Cuban friends |
| Jazz music at Bar H y 23 | private bar to hear jazz musicians |
| Luxury Villa Casa Nostra | |
| Day 3: Havana to Cienfuegos | |
| Afro-Cuban culture tour with Miguel and Patricia | private guides discussed Afro Cuban history and race relations in Cuba today |
| drinks and lunch at outdoor cafe | discussed current situation with our Afro Cuban history guides |
| walking tour of Cienfuegos | walking tour with guide Danys, discussed current situation in Cuba |
| Casa Prado Paladar | dinner at independent restaurant; gratuities for staff and musicians |
| Hostel Maikel House | stayed at independent casa particular owned by entrepreneur |
| Day 4: Cienfuegos to Trinidad | |
| art walk in Cienfuegos | private guide Beatriz introduced us to independent artists and galleries |
| visit to Arte Moda fashion shop | met with the artist / fashion designer Lourdes Trigo |
| visit to art gallery | Lizzette Perez Castro – purchased art and heard about life for women in Cuba, expressed in many of her paintings |
| Lunch at El Bosque | privately owned beachfront restaurant |
| walking tour of Trinidad | walking tour with guide, discussed current situation in Cuba |
| Jazz Cafe Trinidad* | dinner at privately owned jazz cafe |
| Casa Elio | privately owned casa particular – donated health care and school supplies to owner Elio, |
| Day 5: Trinidad | |
| walking tour of Trinidad with Duviel | discussed and current political and economic situation, visited art galleries and (some participants) purchased art from individual artists, talked with them about ifr in Cuba |
| lunch at Bar Cafe Trinidad | met with owner (parents of recent Cuban refugee) |
| beach visit at Playa Ancona | rented beach chairs and purchased beverages from independent businesses |
| Dinner at Doña Clara | family restaurant, hosted a Cuban family |
| Dancing at Club Ayala (The Cave) | purchased drinks/tickets and socialized with Cubans |
| Casa Elio | privately owned casa particular |
| Day 6: Trinidad to Santa Clara | |
| Slow food ecological farm Taguasco | visited Casimiro family, privately owned self-sufficient ecological farm, discussed agricultural history and present challenges |
| visited city center of Santa Clara w. guide | discussed Santa Clara life today |
| Dinner at Ranchito Aqua Viva | privately owned restaurant, hosted our driver who shared his life story |
| Bar Museo de la Revolucion | socialized with local Cubans at privately owned bar-museum |
| Club Mejunje LGBT-friendly community center | socialized with local Cubans |
| Hostel Yakelyn | privately owned casa particulares |
| Day 7: Santa Clara to Havana | |
| Bar Museo de la Revolucion | donated a variety of health care and school supplies, talked with artists and (some participants) purchased art and collectibles |
| Lunch at Fusione | lunch at private restaurant, with performance by local musicians who we tipped |
| Farewell dinner at Grados, Havana | private restaurant that buys from local purveyors, heard about local food movement |
| Bought ice cream at a local cafe – Comic | private cafe |
| Villa Casa Nostra | privately owned casa particulares |
| Day 8: Havana | |
| Murals tour with art historian Claudia | heard about neighborhood revitalization project and artists’ social commentaries |
| visit to Galeria Lilia | visited a local artist in his gallery and purchased art from him |
| Departure from Havana | |