Cuba Beach Holiday

Thanks for choosing our 7 days Cuba tour itinerary! Upon your arrival at Havana Jose Marti International Airport (HAV), you will see your English-speaking guide waiting for you with a board reading your name at the Arrival Hall. Then, we will transfer you to the hotel for check-in. Spend the rest of the day as you please.

While Cuba’s tropical nature, cultures and arts offer unlimited surprises, we can’t deny the fact that the airport, road conditions, electricity, among the old infrastructure, might cause inconvenience to you for the lack of improving funds given Cuba’s bleak economic reality. Cuban locals themselves are even grieving over food shortages – their monthly salary on average is only 20 USD, which compels them to rely on the rationing system put in place six decades ago. You may get an insight from the state-owned “bodega” stores, which ration low-priced but very limited food resources to each household. But this is not to say that material life here is desperate, as lights are already coming in: the government is loosening its control on the economy to allow private businesses to join the cause for a better future. Casa particularers (private accommodations), paladares (private restaurants) and recent mipymes (private stores) are all powerful evidences to show Cuba is on its way to embrace change.

➤ Don’t Forget to Pack These Things:
a. Bring daily-used items, particularly sunscreen and mosquito repellent. You will spend days in Varadero enjoying one of the most acclaimed beaches in the world, so exposure to sun rays and mosquitos are inevitable. Other items include medicine for diarrhea and fever, portable charger, and even toilet tissues.

b. Bring enough cash, for both consumption and tipping. Cash is king in Cuba. Credit cards and debit cards issued by US banks are inaccessible here; you might also not want to count on Visa and MasterCard, which are unreliable, either. Locals are willing to take currencies apart from their Cuban Peso (CUP), particularly US dollars, euros, Canadian dollars, and Pound Sterling (US dollars are valued the same as euros here). There is also no need to worry about currency exchange, as your guide will provide enough information for your reference. Just note that the official exchange rate here is 1 USD=120 CUP and the rate in informal market is 1 USD≈250 CUP. Moreover, you should prepare enough small bills, as Cuban also expect tips for thanks whenever they provide a service at hotels, museums, restaurants, or stores for you. Normally, it’s a standard to tip 10%-15% of the total bill.

➤ Special Note:
As we have mentioned above, Cuba is still yet to be able to improve its infrastructure, which manifests in many aspects that you need to take a note of. For example, if you arrive early today and are checking out what the world outside of your hotel is like, there is a possibility that you will meet foul discharges on the streets from the old residential buildings, reflecting how defective the plumbing is. Another is the worrying quality of the tap water - please don’t use it directly before it’s boiled.

Accommodation: Hotel NH Capri La Habana

The driver and the tour guide will pick you up on time from hotel and take you to Old Havana. We will start with a walking tour from El Templete, the church built in 1828 to celebrate the founding of the town of Havana. Continue onwards to Plaza de Armas, Plaza de San Francisco de Asís, Plaza Vieja, and Plaza de la Catedral, the squares emblematic of Old Havana, where you will immerse in a historical ambience oozed from colonial architecture, as well as observe locals, tourists, buskers, and vendors that breathe life to it. Of those buildings, we will check out Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, now the City Museum, whose grand double-arcade façade and colonial-era décor among other exhibitions are there for us to admire. A tour inside Museo del Ron Havana Club with a tasting session is also in store – you will unravel the mystery behind Cuban rum. Your guide will also introduce you to other age-old architectural wonders, like the Baroque Palacio del Segundo Cabo and Havana Cathedral.

Afterwards, we will walk for several minutes to taste mojito at La Bodeguita del Medio, Ernest Hemingway's favorite restaurant when he lived in Havana. Besides mojito’s unique flavor, there’s a lot to tell about it, like what the word “mojito” really means. Some say it derives from the Spanish word “mojar”, which means “to moisten”; others say it’s a morph from “mojo”, which translate as “to work a little spell” in African. Looking back at Cuba’s history woven with Spanish colonization and black slavery, we might be justified to say that the word “mojito” was a combination of the two, since it indeed implies both. Out of the restaurant, after a walk through Obispo Boulevard and Central Park, you will arrive before and appreciate Grand Theater of Havana and National Capitol of Cuba - it’s interesting to know that the gardens of the capitol was built by the same architect who created the park by the Eiffel Tower. If today falls on a weekday, Partagás Cigar Factory is also on our itinerary.

For lunch, trust us to try Restaurante 5 Sentidos, just a few hundred meters away from the capitol. The upscale service and varied choice of well-prepared Cuban food have made it “the best” and “amazing” restaurant among visitors.

A visit to Havana without enjoying a ride on an American vintage car is like avoiding the Eiffel Tower while traveling in Paris. Out on the streets crowded with old buildings on either side, seeing those antique motors - most can date to the early phase of last century - swishing by one after another, you would think “am I really in the 21st century?” In the afternoon, we will have you jump in one of these vintage cars, to move through modern Havana and drop by landmarks. We will stop at Malecón to take pictures and the guide will leave you some time to admire Morro Castle. Continue to University of Havana, Colón Cemetery and Revolution Square, where the giant likeness of Che Guevara is hung. Please note that, while driving onto the Malecón, please remind your driver to slow down for safety, as from experience sometimes they would speed up to 90 – 100 km/h; considering how old the car is, you won’t want to put your life at risk - not to mention there is no seatbelt! With your heart content, let’s transfer back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel NH Capri La Habana

After breakfast, we will drive 3 hours to Viñales Valley. The valley is particularly famous for its karst landscape that was shaped 150 million years ago, when prehistoric creatures were still thriving. And that involves the cause of the fertile red soils of this land, where some of Cuba's finest tobacco are bred. Now, Viñales has been known beyond Cuba – it has become a UNESCO site for its cultural tapestry, which was spun by the indigenous, the African slaves and the Spanish colonists, the cigar-making tradition that passed down for generations, as well as unusual natural beauties like the mogote hills. Today, you will witness all of these for yourself. On arriving, we will first visit a tobacco farm (the drying house is included) to learn about how tobacco is cultivated, cured, and rolled into the best cigars in the world. A garden-to-plate lunch will be served at the organic farm Finca Agro-Ecological El Paraiso, where you can also enjoy a sweeping view of the surrounds.

After lunch, we will dive into Indian Cave and take a boat to visit the stalactites and stalagmites inside. Go on to Mural de la Prehistoria to see the giant mural on a cliffside. If time permits, before transferring back to Havana we recommend you tackle your dinner here at Restaurante Bar Razones; can’t miss their lobster dish, sold at less than half the price than in Havana! After that, drive back to Havana.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel NH Capri La Habana

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Varadero with a 2.5 hours’ drive. Greetings from the town by the Caribbean Sea! Located on the slender Hicacos Peninsula, Varadero is a paradisiacal resort for water sports fans, attracting people all over the world to its sunny beach - also known as the Blue Beach - and turquoise sea water, to dive, sail, skydive, among other activities. Upon arrival, your guide will first help you check into the hotel. Enjoy and get the most of today’s remaining time at your own pace! You will have three days to relax and unwind while soaking up Varadero’s beauty.

To begin with, you might want to get yourself acquainted with the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus, which stops at all the points of interests on this peninsula and one trip takes about one hour and a half. The bus runs every 30 minutes, with a full-day transfer charging 5 USD/person. You can consult its route map to make your excursion itinerary. The private horse-drawn carriage is an alternative way for sightseeing. If you need such information as how to buy the ticket, you can seek information from the hotel staff.

★ Privilege of Our Guests: Stay at an All-Inclusive, Adults-Only Hotel
Blau Varadero Hotel we selected for you offers the most reassuring service on this peninsula. It not only includes almost all facilities you’d like to experience, but also is available for adults only, which means you will immerse in a worry-free, peaceful atmosphere. There are four restaurants and five bars - including a pool bar and a beach bar, each with unique features. Of course, if you are with kids, we will change it to a kid-friendly hotel. 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Blau Varadero Hotel

Today you will enjoy another free day in Varadero. This morning, how about learning about the town’s history and traditions at Museo Municipal? The house where it is hosted was once inhabited by Spanish, so there are also antique décor and furniture to appreciate. With what you’ve learnt from the museum, perhaps next you will want to discover how it is affecting the real local life. We recommend you to take a look at local markets and hang out in bars to experience cultures for yourself.

The peninsula of Varadero has over 30 established diving spots around it for you to explore. If you just want to laze and are not a plan person, maybe you should simply go for a catamaran cruise, which takes you to the islet Cayo Blanco and offers an all-in-one service; lunch on beach, rum, snorkeling, and an interacting session with dolphins are all covered. For skydivers, Varadero Skydiving Club would satisfy you with the excitement of the buffered free fall. As the sun sets, perhaps the best thing to do is to do nothing - lie on the beach, drink cocktail, and idle your time away amid sea breeze.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Blau Varadero Hotel

It’s true that Varadero is mainly appealing for its beach, but we’d be remiss if not recommending some inland natural spots for you. The cave system here is phenomenal; you might want to check out scores of black-red primitive murals in Ambrosio Cave, or take a refreshing dip in the pool of Saturno Cave. If you decide to visit Ambrosio Cave, add the nearby Varahicacos Eco Reserve into your itinerary, where you can spot endemic flora and fauna; a cactus aged over 600, various species of birds, and reptiles like iguana are in the cards.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Blau Varadero Hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, your guide and driver will pick up you from the hotel and drive 2 hours back to Havana’s airport according to your flight timetable. May you have a pleasant trip home!

➤ Special Note:
Considering the low efficiency of the airport infrastructure, normally it’s suggested we drop you off at the airport 3 hours before your departure, in case of any great delays that result in you missing the flight. The unreliable facilities and the inquisitive working personnel - they are expecting a gratuity - at the check-in counter are all contributing factors.

➤ Insider Tip:
Technically, today is your departure day, but if you have much free time, why not seize the chance to stay longer to enjoy more of Varadero? Have you tried the seafood offered here? It’s no big surprise that some of the best seafood restaurants of Cuba can be found on this sea-surrounded region, though the price might be a little more expensive.

Meals: Breakfast