Overview

from$2249Tour + Flights from$1949Tour Only 5days

price per person, double occupancy,* based on Jul 12, 2024 departure from MIA

$300 – $400 Instant Savings. Expires Jun 6, 2024.*   All prices reflect savings.

$199 deposit. Lock in your spot for less.^††

Carefree Booking. Change your travel plans with no penalties. See details & restrictions.^†

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Style	Small Group TourTravel with a small, intimate group of no more than 16 likeminded travelers (and often much fewer), escorted by an English speaking guide and/or tour manager for some or all of your journey. (Some exceptions, including special promotional packages, may accommodate up to 30.) More of these packages Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout
Departures	July 2024 – January 2026	Group Size	16 travelers max
Themes	History & Culture,  Bucket List,  City Stays
Activity Level	Recreational
What to Expect	This fast-paced, escorted program includes a reasonable amount of walking and requires an average level of physical fitness. Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols.
Already booked?	Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more.

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Dates

Select a date Jul 12 - Jul 16, 2024 Sep 20 - Sep 24, 2024 Oct 11 - Oct 15, 2024 Nov 8 - Nov 12, 2024 Dec 6 - Dec 10, 2024 Dec 29, 2024 - Jan 2, 2025 Jan 10 - Jan 14, 2025 Feb 7 - Feb 11, 2025 Mar 7 - Mar 11, 2025 Apr 4 - Apr 8, 2025 May 9 - May 13, 2025 Jun 13 - Jun 17, 2025 Jul 11 - Jul 15, 2025 Sep 19 - Sep 23, 2025 Oct 17 - Oct 21, 2025 Nov 7 - Nov 11, 2025 Dec 5 - Dec 9, 2025 Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026 Apr 5 - Apr 9, 2024 Apr 19 - Apr 23, 2024 May 10 - May 14, 2024 Jun 14 - Jun 18, 2024

Travelers

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To book, we only require a per-person deposit, which you can pay with your credit card or PayPal account. This deposit will be applied towards the cost of your package. The balance is due 75 days prior to departure (or within 72 hours, if you're booking less than 75 days prior to departure), and can be paid by credit card, PayPal, check or money order.

Changes to your package, departure date, or flights may require an increased deposit. If you select our optional Trip Protection Plan, the premium will be added to your deposit.

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What to expect | Your Privacy

Our Authentic Havana tour brings you into the heart of a typical Cuban neighborhood with a four-night stay at a privately owned, colonial-style Cuban bed and breakfast. This lovingly restored and furnished B&B is managed by a small team of dedicated men and women who will be like a family away from home. Our centrally located bed and breakfast, just a ten-minute walk to Old Havana and even closer to shops, restaurants, and nightlife, offers a more authentic and intimate experience yet provides all the amenities and comforts you want and deserve. 

Thanks to reduced flights via more convenient scheduled air and great pricing at our "casa," we've managed to lower prices while maintaining our high standard of creative, culturally-focused itineraries. On Authentic Havana, you'll dive deep into the daily life of everyday Cubans, including a visit to a private studio of one of Cuba's budding artists.

We're still going to Cuba!

Our tours are still legal and compliant with recent changes in U.S. policy. Questions? See our Cuba FAQs.

Itinerary at a Glance

• 1 Miami/Havana
• 2 Old Havana
• 3 Havana & Cojimar
• 4 Havana
• 5 Havana/Miami

Videos

Dates & Prices

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Miami/Havana

• Depart the USA on your flight for Havana, Cuba
• Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local paladar

El Encanto de Perseverancia Dinner

Full Day Itinerary

¡Bienvenidos a La Habana! Upon arrival to Cuba's capital city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, our representative welcomes you with a Friendly Planet sign outside the arrivals terminal at the Havana Airport. Board your air-conditioned vehicle and transfer to the casa.

Check into the casa and enjoy a welcome drink. You'll meet your tour manager and have some time to rest a little or take a stroll to the nearby Malecon before dinner.

This evening, enjoy your welcome dinner at a local paladar (privately-owned restaurant).

Day 2 Old Havana

• Walk through Old Havana and engage with and support Cuba's growing private business sector
• Meet with staff at Clandestina, Cuba’s first online clothing retailer and renowned design shop
• Enjoy lunch at a local paladar
• Visit an artist’s private studio
• Step into Cuba’s world of dance with a private demonstration and lesson

El Encanto de Perseverancia Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, your expert guide will lead you on a leisurely walk through the labyrinthian streets of Old Havana. Immerse yourself in the vibrant colors of Cuba while walking along the cobblestone streets and explore the four beautiful plazas of the Old City – Plaza de Armas, Plaza San Francisco, Plaza Vieja, and Plaza de la Catedral - each a historic and architectural gem.

Among the private businesses you'll discover during your walk, Clandestina is one shop that is making plenty of waves both in Cuba and abroad. This shop was founded by Idania del Río and Leire Fernández, two creative, entrepreneurial women who believe in a sustainable, fair, and ethical fashion industry. Clandestina is the country's first online clothing retailer and has even appeared as a pop-up store in New York. Afterward, enjoy lunch at a local paladar or private restaurant.  

Then, visit the private studio of one of Cuba's talented independent artists.

Step into Cuba's world of music and dance with a private dance class. First, experience Cuba's most traditional dances through a demonstration by your talented and personable teachers. Learn how important music and dancing are to life in Cuba. Then, learn the basic steps and try Cuban dancing for yourself.

Return to the casa and enjoy dinner on your own. We recommend dining at a paladar for a delicious Cuban dinner. Please choose one from the list we provide or ask your guide for any additional recommendations. 

Day 3 Havana & Cojimar

• Travel to Cojimar, the local fishing village that was the setting for Hemingway’s "The Old Man and the Sea"
• Participate in a traditional Cuban cooking experience, from gathering ingredients to putting them to use in the kitchen
• Visit an inspiring community project
• Stop at the independent Artisan’s Market
• Learn about Cuban cigars through a rolling demonstration

El Encanto de Perseverancia Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, drive to the quaint fishing village of Cojimar, which served as the setting for Ernest Hemingway's masterpiece The Old Man and the Sea.

Then, learn the secrets of the Cuban kitchen and participate in a traditional Cuban cooking class. Begin your experience by meeting the staff of the paladar, Café Ajiaco, who will guide you on your culinary journey. First, stop at the paladar’s “organopónico” (organic garden) to see where their products and ingredients grow. Pick some for yourself and bring them back to the restaurant to create your dishes. Then, the experienced chefs of Café Ajiaco will teach you the process of making some of Cuba’s most delicious traditional food and an authentic Cuban mojito, and how to pair rum with cigars.

Enjoy lunch courtesy of your morning cooking activity.

This afternoon visit Muraleando, where art, music, and community spirit have transformed a once-drab neighborhood into one of beauty and color. See garden sculptures, paintings, mosaics, and recycled materials transformed into stunning and colorful artwork. It is remarkable how the project's beautiful murals have resurrected the neighborhood's appearance and pride. The center also provides free workshops for the community, including voice lessons, drumming, dance classes, ceramic art, painting, cinematography, and much more. In addition, Muraleando helps to inspire and cultivate artistic skills in children from the entire neighborhood and has won awards in Cuba for being the most effective community project in the country.

Stop at Havana's independent Artisans Market, where you will be able to engage with local private artisan stands and find plenty of souvenirs, including handicrafts, posters, and other collectibles.

Afterward, learn about the history of Cuban cigars as you witness a cigar-rolling demonstration. 

Day 4 Havana

• Explore Callejon de Hamel
• Walk Havana’s grand San Rafael Boulevard and visit with private business owners
• Stop by a local farmer’s market
• Have lunch at a local paladar
• Visit the famous community mosaic project known as “Fusterlandia”
• Visit a children's community project in Havana
• Take a ride in a classic American convertible to tour picturesque Havana in style
• Enjoy your farewell dinner at a local paladar

El Encanto de Perseverancia Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, visit Callejon de Hamel, the shortest street in Havana, decorated with fanciful objects referencing Santería, an Afro-Cuban religion fusing African beliefs and Christianity. Marvel at the murals by one of Cuba’s most famous artists, the late Salvador Gonzáles Escalona. A local guide will help you explore the area, introduce you to some of the artwork on display and explain Santería's beliefs, customs, and how it is part of Cuban culture.

Later, walk along Havana's renovated San Rafael Boulevard, visiting with multiple private entrepreneurs along the way. The boulevard hosts some of Havana's most innovative projects and one-of-a-kind shops. Behind every private business is a progressive individual or co-op excited to share a bit about their journey in the Cuban private sector and their passion and enthusiasm for what they do. After, experience one of Cuba's typical farmer's markets ("agromercados"). Glimpse into the daily life of Cuban people shopping for fruits, vegetables, beans, and spices based on what is available to them that particular day.

After lunch at a local paladar, take a walk in Jaimanitas, a neighborhood unlike any you have ever seen, where you'll discover a wonderland of mosaic art created by independent artist Jose Fuster. Known worldwide for his intricate works made of colorful tiles, Fuster has covered his house and an entire neighborhood in mosaic murals of cultural, historical, and whimsical designs. With a bit of luck, you might even encounter the often-barefoot artist on his house's glistening, multicolored patio, hard at work on his latest project.

Visit a children's community project in Havana before returning to your casa to rest before dinner.

Then, travel back in time by taking a tour in one of Havana’s classic American cars. You will get some picturesque views of Havana from your incredibly maintained automobile and arrive at dinner in style.

Tonight, join your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner at one of our favorite paladars. 

Day 5 Havana/Miami

• Transfer to the airport and board your flight back to Miami

Breakfast

Hotel

El Encanto de Perseverancia

Tourist Class

El Encanto de Perseverancia is ideally located in the Centro Havana neighborhood adjacent to Old Havana and just north of Chinatown. This non-touristy neighborhood delivers an authentic, friendly Cuban experience. The casa is located next to a primary school, and close to some of Havana’s best paladars, and only a short drive away from Havana's main attractions, including the Capitol Building, Cathedral Square, Gran Theater of Havana, Malecon, Central Park and museums.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

Reviews & Photos

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 12 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about Cuba? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.

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