Authentic Cuba

Upon your arrival at Havana International Airport, you will be welcomed by a Rahhalah representative.
Notes:

• Recommended arrival time before 2 pm. If your flight arrives later than 2pm, arriving on day earlier is recommended. Extra night in Havana can be arranged at extra cost.
• One group airport transfer is included. Additional can be arranged at extra cost.

Transfer from Havana airport to the charming town called Vinales. Vinales is located in Cuba’s western mountain range and in the heart of the world-famous tobacco valley.
Stop just before Vinales on a high lookout to capture the stunning beauty of this valley and mountain-scape. Truly a stunning sight.

Check into our Villa Casa and freshen up before our dinner.

7:00pm welcome dinner / sunset experience from “The Balconies” restaurant (included).

After dinner, free-time to wander the main street of Vinales. Music, cafes and plenty of charming sights to take in.

Accommodation: Villa Boutique Casa Liana y Lily or similar.

7:30am breakfast at our Villa casa (included)

8:30pm depart to our horse-back excursion

9:00-12:30pm visit local Tobacco and Coffee farmers on horse-back in the most beautiful valley in Cuba.

There is nothing better than experiencing the local way of life in a setting that is breathtaking. The best way to see the Vinales Valley is by horse-back. No experience is required on this casual ride. Just bring your sense of adventure, a camera and a cowboy hat.
We will stop at a local farm to learn all about the famous cigars of Cuba and how they are made. Coffee is also grow in the shade in Vinales Valley and we will enjoy a demonstration regarding the process of coffee production. Life in these fields has remained largely the same for the past 300 years.

1:00pm lunch at Finca Agro-ecologica El Paraiso. Arguably the best authentic dining experience in Cuba overlooking the entire Valley. (not included)

3:00–7:00pm free-time to enjoy Vinales Village or local excursions. Your guide will give you local options. Cave boat tour, marketplace, zip-lining, visit to painted rock etc…..

7:00pm Dinner at our Villa casa served by our family hosts (not included)

Accommodation: Villa Boutique Casa Liana y Lily or similar.

8:00am breakfast at our Villa casa (included)

9:00am – 12:00pm check out and transfer to Old Havana

12:30pm lunch at the best taco restaurant in Cuba. (not included)

1:30pm check into hotel

2:30-6pm an interpretive walking tour of Old Havana.

You will walk by old squares, the marketplace, the shipwreck museum, the Obispo street and several other interesting spots. Your guide will explain the rich history of the city and share stories about the founders, the heroes, the sites, and the evolution of the town over time. Spanish explorers named Havana: “The key to the new world” and it quickly became a vital trading hub for many nations.A visit to a ship wreck museum will help you to understand the rich history that Cuba has.

9:00pm evening walk to Jose Marti main square

Old Havana is beautiful to see and experience at night. Your guide will take you on a casual walk for approximately 45mins to an 1hr to enjoy the sights, sounds and ambiance of this 500-year-old city.

Accommodation: 5-star Hotel in heart of Old Havana – Hotel Paseo Del Prado or similar.

7:00-9:30am breakfast at hotel (included)

10:00-11:00am classic convertible car tour of Central and Old Havana.

Today you will jump in a classic convertible car,and you will go for a one-hour tour around Central and Old Havana. Cuba is known for its 1000 classic American cars from the ‘40s and ‘50s, so this tour offers you the opportunity to explore the city with the style of a bygone era while taking some fantastic photos.

11:00am after the classic car tour the cars will drop you at San Jose arts and craft market place. From here you are free to check it out and / or wander the streets of old Havana with some free-time.

Free afternoon to self-explore old Havana. Your guide is available with ideas and tips to enjoy your afternoon.

Accommodation: 5-star Hotel in heart of Old Havana – Hotel Paseo Del Prado or similar.

7:30am breakfast at hotel (included)

8:30am-12:00pm transfer to Cienfuegos City

12:00-1:00pm Cienfuegos City stop and talk

Cienfuegos city is also known as the pearl of the south. With it’s mix of French architecture, markets, boutique shops, beautiful sea-side malecon and location on the bay makes it one of the most beautiful cities in Cuba. Here we will visit the main square, drive the malecon and stop at the famous sugar palace. Enjoy the roof-top view of the bay and see if you can spot our lunch spot on the south-side of the bay. Your guide will be there to point out spots of interest from this high advantage point.

1:30pm Lunch (not included)

3:00-4:00pm stop at Rancho Luna beach. Wander the beach or jump in for a swim! Change-room on sight.

5:30pm check into our Villa Casa

7:30pm dinner at Villa Casa (not included)

Evening wander in Old Trinidad. Get yourself acquainted with the area and sights to see and do. You will have more free-time in this unique and amazing city over the next couple days.

Accommodation: Villa Boutique Casa Osmary y Alberto Miguel Calzada or similar.

7:30am breakfast at Villa casa (included)

8:30am depart to Guajimico Trail

9:30-2:00pm hike, cave, snorkel, and rock-climb (we will all hike but other activities are optional)

Enjoy an amazing hike across ancient coral cliff-tops that meander through spectacular caves. Nature at it’s finish away from the crowds. The hike is approximately 2 hours with some free-time to enjoy snorkeling and swimming in a hidden cove with towering cliffs and aqua blue waters. The reefs are healthy and fish are abundant. On our return hike we will stop and enjoy some easy sport-route rock-climbing overlooking the ocean. No necessary experience required, just a sense of adventure and willingness to try something new and exhilarating.

3:00-5:00pm freshen up and get ready for a walking tour of old Trinidad

5:00-7:00pm walking tour

Your guide will take you on great walk around the oldest part of this 500-year-old city. Trinidad has so much character and is the 3rd most visited city in all of Cuba. It’s cobble-stone streets, live music, art galleries, open markets and rich history have adventure seekers drawn to this City to experience “real” Cuba. Trinidad has it’s roots in the “Sugar Boom” movement that exploded onto this area hundreds of years ago. Your guide will share the stories and history that developed the city into what it is today. Be sure to wear good stable shoes for walking on the cobble-stone streets.

7:00pm dinner at Vista Gourmet over-looking Trinidad city (not included)

9:00pm Learn the basic steps of salsa with your guide in a private setting. Don’t be shy and give it a try. Location will be determined on site with the group.

Free-time in the evening to enjoy the live music, dance and buzz of Old Trinidad at night.

Accommodation: Villa Boutique Casa Osmary y Alberto Miguel Calzada or similar.

7:30am breakfast at Villa casa

Today you will have the day at leisure.

OPTIONAL: 9:30am – 4:00pm Catamaran tour to Cayo Blanco Island/8:30am depart to Marina

This catamaran trip to Cayo Blanco Island runs from 9:30am to 4:00pm with lunch and drinks included. Approximately 1:15 hours of sailing out, 45mins of snorkeling off the catamaran, lunch, 2-3 hrs of white-sand beaches, wildlife viewing (many different birds, lizards included large iguanas and curly-tail, friendly tree-rats and 1000’s of hermit crabs), exploring by foot or swim in the warm shallow water off the beach. The return sail back will take roughly the same time. A very Caribbean experience! Don’t forget your sun-hat and sunscreen.

Accommodation: Villa Boutique Casa Osmary y Alberto Miguel Calzada or similar

7:30am breakfast at the Villa casa

8:30am check-out and depart to Topes de Collantes

9:30am connect with our Russian 4 by 4 mountain truck

This is a unique way to enjoy the scenic drive up and through the mountains. The truck is open on the sides and has a roof over-top. It gets breezier and cooler as you gain elevation, so a light wind jacket or wind-proof sweater is recommended for the tour. Along the way, you will stop a couple of times for photos.

10:30am-1:00pm Nengoa Trail hike / water cave swim / coffee plantation visit / lunch

One of the highlights of this tour is to hike this remote trail to a hidden cave with beautiful waterfall hidden with-in. The water is cold but it’s worth it to swim into the cave to see this unforgettable place. Words can’t describe this hidden treasure. Along this easy trail we will visit the remote, simple and charming dwelling of the Nengoa family. The Nengoa family have lived here their whole lives and survive as coffee farmers in the lush jungle. Learn all about the process of farming coffee and more importantly enjoy a cup or two. We will have the opportunity to buy roasted coffee on site to take home with us. Also, donations to these amazing people would be greatly appreciated. They live a very simple but hard life and I feel we could help them out with a little generosity. As we get closer to the trip date we will send out a list of recommended gift ideas to help the family. The Nengoa family will also be preparing a simple but very special lunch for us. We are the only group that they do this for which is very thoughtful. This is the “real” Cuba. An experience you will never forget.

1:00-2:15pm mountain truck ride to the south dam of Hanabanilla Lake

2:15-2:45pm boat ride 14km to the north-end of the lake.  Enjoy the wonderful views and have your camera ready to capture this scenery.

3:00-3:30

3:30 pick up PCR results

7:30pm farewell dinner will be at the hotel (not included)

Free-time in the evening

Accommodation:  Villa Boutique Casa Osmary y Alberto Miguel Calzada or similar

7:00–9:30am breakfast will be served at the hotel (included)

Transfer to Havana Airport for your out-going flight (4 hour transfer)

Notes:

• Afternoon departure recommended.
• One group airport transfer is included. Additional can be arranged at extra cost.