Treasures of Cuba
Experience Overview
The melody of horns floating through the air, classic cars parked in colonial squares, revolutionary statues — get over the resort wall and discover the real Cuba! Travel east to Santiago de Cuba and Baracoa and encounter the birthplace of Cuban rhythms and revolutionary fervour. Soak in Spanish heritage while exploring churches, forts, and cobblestoned streets. Stay overnight in homestays for an immersive Cuban experience few travellers get to enjoy. Don't just walk down the road less travelled — dance down it. Viva la Revolución!
Highlights
- Salsa dance with the locals
- Walk in Che Guevara's footsteps
- Gain insight on Cuban life at casa particular stays
- Explore breathtaking beaches
Trip Details
Product Code: 1759
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Private vehicle, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: CCC
Starts: Havana, Cuba
Finishes: Havana, Cuba
Duration: 15 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Baracoa Community Experience, Baracoa Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Local Living Moment: Havana Homestay, Havana Your Hands-On Moment: Salsa Lesson, Trinidad
- Arrival transfer
- Che Guevara mausoleum and museum visit
- Beach time in Baracoa
- Comandancia de la Plata hike
- Havana city tour in vintage car
- Old Havana walking tour
- Orientation walks in Sancti Spíritus, Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa, Camagüey, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad
- Free time in Bayamo, Santiago de Cuba, Trinidad, Bay of Pigs, and Havana
- Informal Spanish lesson
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels/casas particulares (homestays) (14 nts).
- 14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Transport
- Private vehicle, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $1,949 ($130 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Havana
Arrive at any time. An arrival transfer is included to the tour's starting point, a "casa particular" (Cuban home used as a bed and breakfast), for an authentic Cuban experience.
Check into the Casa Particular and enjoy the city before an evening welcome meeting.
Day 2: Havana
Tour the city by vintage car before a walking tour of Old Havana with the CEO. In the afternoon, opt to visit museums, or attend a cabaret performance at the Tropicana.
Day 3: Havana/Sancti Spíritus
Travel to Sancti Spiritus today and enjoy an orientation walk of this beautiful, but often overlooked, colonial city.
Day 4: Sancti Spíritus/Bayamo
Travel overland across Eastern Cuba to Bayamo. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore – opt to hire a horsecart like the locals to tour the area or people watch in the pedestrian only Plaza de la Revolución.
Day 5: Bayamo/Baracoa
Continue on to Baracoa, and get the lay of the land with an orientation walk. The area offers everything from beaches to waterfalls to hiking opportunities and museums.
The best way to get around this colonial town, situated on the bay with mountains towering in the background, is on foot and with 2 1/2 days to explore the area, there's plenty of time to see it all.
Wander the malecón (boardwalk) and visit the forts built to defend the city from pirates.
Day 6: Baracoa
Explore Cuba's rural communities and small businesses in Baracoa, a G Adventures-supported project. Enjoy a free evening to wander the seaside boardwalk or to find a bite to eat in town.
Day 7: Baracoa
Take advantage of a full free day to enjoy everything that Baracoa and its surroundings have to offer. Opt to hike or explore one of the many breathtaking beaches nearby for which this area of Cuba is famous.
Take some time to visit the city then head further afield to the mountains or visit the striking black sand beaches.
Playa Maguana and the smaller Playa Nava are both nearby and accessible by bike or taxi. Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt is approximately 40 km outside of town and well worth a visit.
Day 8: Baracoa/Santiago de Cuba
Drive along the rugged coast towards Santiago de Cuba and take an orientation walk with the CEO on arrival. Enjoy free time to explore this Afro-Cuban city by visiting important revolutionary sites, like the Moncada Barracks.
Santiago de Cuba is the cradle of the Revolution and home of traditional son rhythms. Opt to visit museums, colonial churches and buildings like the Moncada Barracks. Santiago has a vibrant traditional music scene that will entice even the shyest dancer out to experiment with some salsa moves.
Day 9: Santiago de Cuba/Sierra Maestra
Travel into the heart of Sierra Maestra National Park, and stay in quaint wooden cabins next to the Yara River. Enjoy free time for hikes or relaxing in nature.
Day 10: Sierra Maestra/Camagüey
Hike through the Sierra Maestra mountains in the footsteps of Che Guevarra and Fidel Castro and learn more about Cuba's history. Arrive in the afternoon to Camagüey with some free time to explore. Opt to hop in the back of a "bicitaxi" (bicycle-taxi) and tour the local markets and plazas, or take in the city's nightlife.
Your journey will continue west across the Carretera Central to Camagüey, the third largest city on island. It retains much of its colonial heritage in its buildings, plazas and its tinajones, large clay pots traditionally used in Spain and in its New World colonies for collecting rain water. Explore the narrow winding streets and impressive sites.
Day 11: Camagüey/Trinidad
Enjoy an orientation walk and included salsa lesson in Trinidad.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery continuing on to the colonial city of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to lovely Spanish-style churches and great museums, Trinidad is a hub of cultural activity, never out of earshot from a group of musicians playing local salsa or son. Enjoy an included salsa lesson during your time in Trinidad.
Day 12: Trinidad
Enjoy free time in Trinidad. Opt to hike in nearby Topes de Collantes National Park to see the Salto del Caburni waterfall, or visit Ancón Beach for diving, snorkelling or lounging. Savour a local dinner as a group hosted by one of the homestay families.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Trinidad is a haven for activities. If a beach is in the cards, try snorkelling or diving in nearby Playa Ancón. Enjoy a local meal together with one of the host families on Day 10 or 11.
Day 13: Trinidad/Cienfuegos
Travel along the coast to colonial Cienfuegos. Detour along the way through Santa Clara to visit the Che Mausoleum. Then continue on to Cienfuegos and enjoy an orientation walk to learn more about this city.
Day 14: Cienfuegos/Havana
Drive along the picture-perfect Bay of Pigs, and learn more about the Cuban victory in 1961 at the Giron Museum. Enjoy free time for swimming and snorkelling before returning to Havana. Enjoy a final evening with the group in Cuba's vibrant capital.
Day 15: Havana
Depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Deborah G - Traveled, December 2023
I don't think the published itinerary reflected the actual itinerary accurately enough. I booked the trip due to the amount of free time in the itinerary but in fact there was very little.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Iuliana G - Traveled, December 2023
Great experience overall, good organization, fantastic guide, felt safe through the tour
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Andrew W - Traveled, December 2023
It was a good trip - ',trips', are new to me, so I can only base my score on this experience... BUT I think there are several opportunities to improve the score....
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Catherine C - Traveled, October 2023
The tour guide, Jorje, was amazing! He was so patient, and made me feel safe and comfirtable right from the start!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Karlene W - Traveled, October 2023
I would recommend G Adventures mainly because of our tour guide Jorge who was exceptional. Also this style of travel gave me the opportunity to go off the beaten track and meet local people and experience their traditional way of life.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Andrea K - Traveled, November 2023
I would certainly recommend G Adventures but not necessarily this particular trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Angela G - Traveled, October 2023
Very professional, well-informed guide who took care every step of the way to make the journey interesting and provide the feeling of understanding something of the real Cuba, it's history and people.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Martin J - Traveled, November 2023
Faultless. Any problems solved.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Joyce C - Traveled, November 2023
Experiencing a country is best done with a local guide and in a small group of tourists. This is what G Adventures really does well.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Devin C - Traveled, November 2023
Good value for money, varied itinerary, knowledgeable and engaging CEO.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Deborah M - Traveled, November 2023
More included activities than with other operators.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Elizabeth E - Traveled, November 2023
Lovely tour guide, very dedicated to his job, worked hard to look after us
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Diana B - Traveled, October 2023
Because you get to see and experience as near as possible to the real country you visit.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Wilfred C - Traveled, October 2023
I was very impressed by G Adventures organisation and tour leader.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Ramona P - Traveled, October 2023
Travelling in small groups gives the opportunity to travellers to get to know each other, the trips are fun, engaging, informative around history and reality and offer a real feel of life in Cuba.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/11/2023
Cyrille R - Traveled, October 2023
Good arrangements, great guides, local guides, support local communities and initiatives.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/11/2023
Jane M - Traveled, October 2023
It would only appeal to people who are prepared to be adventurous rather than luxurious or restful.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/11/2023
Jillian P - Traveled, September 2023
All my G Adventures tours have been enjoyable, well organised, and informative.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/11/2023
Maggie B - Traveled, September 2023
Because my experience of G Adventures as a tour operator are only positive. A great variation of trips and arrangement. Good and well educated CEO
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/11/2023
Ramona P - Traveled, September 2023
Travelling in small groups gives the opportunity to travellers to get to know each other, the trips are fun, engaging, informative around history and reality and offer a real feel of life in Cuba.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/11/2023
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