Authentic Havana

Take in the heart & soul of this colorful & cultural island: Havana, Cojimar & Regla

Overview

Check prices & book now

Get updates about this package

Be the first to know about discounts, new departures, itinerary changes, and more.

Also get updates on:

What to expect | Your Privacy
from$1799Tour + Flights from$1449Tour Only 5days
price per person, double occupancy,* based on May 1, 2020 departure from MIA
$300 Instant Savings. Expires Jul 11, 2019.*   All prices reflect savings.
Style Small Group TourTravel with a small, intimate group of 15-24 likeminded travelers escorted by an English speaking guide and/or tour manager for some or all of your journey. More of these packages
Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout
Departures September 2019 – December 2020 Group Size 24 travelers max
Themes History & Culture,  Bucket List,  City Stays
Activity Level Recreational
What to Expect This fast-paced, escorted educational program includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness.
Already booked? Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more.

Package Includes

  • Flights
  • Coach
  • Transfers
  • Hotel
  • Meals
  • Guides
  • Non-stop round trip flights from Miami to Havana, including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees
  • U.S. Treasury Department, OFAC License Certification and Authorization Letter
  • Cuba Entrance Visa & Departure Tax
  • All land transportation, transfers & porterage in Cuba
  • 4 nights accommodations in Cuba at a well-located & completely renovated 'casa particular' (Cuban bed and breakfast)
  • 9 meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners
  • Comprehensive educational exchange program, including entrance fees
  • Friendly Planet Tour Manager
  • Professional, English-speaking local guide, who will facilitate the educational exchanges with Cubans
  • Health insurance in Cuba (mandatory)

Optional add-ons

  • Pre-Night stay in Miami
  • Post-Night stay in Miami
  • Casa Suite Upgrade (Very Limited: Call us for availability)

Why you'll love it

  • Stay in a home away from home with 4 nights at El Encanto de Perseverancia, a "casa particular", perfectly located in the heart of a typical Cuban neighborhood.
  • Let your expert guide bring the history of Old Havana to life as you travel along the cobblestone streets, surrounding yourself in the vibrant colors of Cuba.
  • Dive into the Cuban culture as you interact with locals and explore the Used Booksellers Market as well as the private studio of one of Cuba's talented independent artists.
  • Ever wonder how hand-roll cigars are created? Now's your chance to visit one of Havana's famous cigar factories and learn and observe how Cubans master the art of cigar making!
  • When you travel with Friendly Planet, we make sure you experience more than just site seeing, which is why we've included activities that few other travelers do not have the opportunity to do, such as visiting an Organopónicos in Alamar.
Authentic Havana itinerary

On our popular tour, Authentic Havana, we’ll bring 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 B&B has been lovingly restored and furnished and is managed by a small team of dedicated men and women who will be like 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 reduce 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. You’ll visit a private studio of one of Cuba's budding artists and tour a famous Cigar factory. And that’s just for starters. There's so much to love about our new tour to Cuba, so book your space today, because space is flying!

information
We're still going to Cuba!
Our People-to-People tours are still legal and not impacted by recent changes in U.S. policy. Questions? See our Cuba FAQs.

Videos

Video

Dates & Prices

Departure Dates & Prices

Instant Savings: Get $300 off if you book by Jul. 11, 2019!
Departures & Prices, with flights
per person, double occupancy*
2019 DEPARTURES
Depart / Return Price Instant
Savings		 Instant
Savings
Expire		 Your
Price
Departs: Fri, Jun 7, 2019
Returns: Tue, Jun 11, 2019
 		Jun 7 – Jun 11 $2199 – – – Departed
Departs: Mon, Jul 1, 2019
Returns: Fri, Jul 5, 2019
 		Jul 1 – Jul 5 $2199 – – – Closed
Departs: Thu, Aug 8, 2019
Returns: Mon, Aug 12, 2019
 		Aug 8 – Aug 12 $2199 – – – Closed
Departs: Thu, Sep 12, 2019
Returns: Mon, Sep 16, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Sep 12 – Sep 16 $2199 –$300 Jul 11 $1899 Select
Departs: Fri, Sep 20, 2019
Returns: Tue, Sep 24, 2019
 		Sep 20 – Sep 24 $2199 – – – Closed
Departs: Mon, Oct 7, 2019
Returns: Fri, Oct 11, 2019
 		Oct 7 – Oct 11 $2249 – – – Closed
Departs: Fri, Oct 11, 2019
Returns: Tue, Oct 15, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Oct 11 – Oct 15 $2249 –$300 Jul 11 $1949 Select
Departs: Fri, Nov 1, 2019
Returns: Tue, Nov 5, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Nov 1 – Nov 5 $2249 –$300 Jul 11 $1949 Select
Departs: Thu, Nov 14, 2019
Returns: Mon, Nov 18, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Nov 14 – Nov 18 $2249 –$300 Jul 11 $1949 Select
Departs: Fri, Nov 29, 2019
Returns: Tue, Dec 3, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Nov 29 – Dec 3 $2349 –$300 Jul 11 $2049 Select
Departs: Mon, Dec 23, 2019
Returns: Fri, Dec 27, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Dec 23 – Dec 27 $2549 –$300 Jul 11 $2249 Select
Departs: Mon, Dec 30, 2019
Returns: Fri, Jan 3, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Dec 30 – Jan 3 $2649 –$300 Jul 11 $2349 Select
2020 DEPARTURES
Depart / Return Price Instant
Savings		 Instant
Savings
Expire		 Your
Price
Departs: Mon, Jan 13, 2020
Returns: Fri, Jan 17, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Jan 13 – Jan 17 $2199 –$300 Jul 11 $1899 Select
Departs: Fri, Feb 7, 2020
Returns: Tue, Feb 11, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Feb 7 – Feb 11 $2199 –$300 Jul 11 $1899 Select
Departs: Fri, Feb 28, 2020
Returns: Tue, Mar 3, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Feb 28 – Mar 3 $2199 –$300 Jul 11 $1899 Select
Departs: Mon, Mar 16, 2020
Returns: Fri, Mar 20, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Mar 16 – Mar 20 $2199 –$300 Jul 11 $1899 Select
Departs: Fri, Apr 10, 2020
Returns: Tue, Apr 14, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Apr 10 – Apr 14 $2149 –$300 Jul 11 $1849 Select
Departs: Fri, May 1, 2020
Returns: Tue, May 5, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		May 1 – May 5 $2099 –$300 Jul 11 $1799 Select
Departs: Mon, Jun 8, 2020
Returns: Fri, Jun 12, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Jun 8 – Jun 12 $2099 –$300 Jul 11 $1799 Select
Departs: Fri, Jul 3, 2020
Returns: Tue, Jul 7, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Jul 3 – Jul 7 $2099 –$300 Jul 11 $1799 Select
Departs: Fri, Aug 14, 2020
Returns: Tue, Aug 18, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Aug 14 – Aug 18 $2099 –$300 Jul 11 $1799 Select
Departs: Fri, Sep 4, 2020
Returns: Tue, Sep 8, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Sep 4 – Sep 8 $2149 –$300 Jul 11 $1849 Select
Departs: Mon, Oct 12, 2020
Returns: Fri, Oct 16, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Oct 12 – Oct 16 $2149 –$300 Jul 11 $1849 Select
Departs: Mon, Nov 23, 2020
Returns: Fri, Nov 27, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Nov 23 – Nov 27 $2299 –$300 Jul 11 $1999 Select
Departs: Mon, Dec 14, 2020
Returns: Fri, Dec 18, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Dec 14 – Dec 18 $2199 –$300 Jul 11 $1899 Select
Departures & Prices, tour only
per person, double occupancy*
2019 DEPARTURES
Depart / Return Price Instant
Savings		 Instant
Savings
Expire		 Your
Price
Departs: Fri, Jun 7, 2019
Returns: Tue, Jun 11, 2019
 		Jun 7 – Jun 11 $1849 – – – Departed
Departs: Mon, Jul 1, 2019
Returns: Fri, Jul 5, 2019
 		Jul 1 – Jul 5 $1849 – – – Closed
Departs: Thu, Aug 8, 2019
Returns: Mon, Aug 12, 2019
 		Aug 8 – Aug 12 $1849 – – – Closed
Departs: Thu, Sep 12, 2019
Returns: Mon, Sep 16, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Sep 12 – Sep 16 $1849 –$300 Jul 11 $1549 Select
Departs: Fri, Sep 20, 2019
Returns: Tue, Sep 24, 2019
 		Sep 20 – Sep 24 $1849 – – – Closed
Departs: Mon, Oct 7, 2019
Returns: Fri, Oct 11, 2019
 		Oct 7 – Oct 11 $1899 – – – Closed
Departs: Fri, Oct 11, 2019
Returns: Tue, Oct 15, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Oct 11 – Oct 15 $1899 –$300 Jul 11 $1599 Select
Departs: Fri, Nov 1, 2019
Returns: Tue, Nov 5, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Nov 1 – Nov 5 $1899 –$300 Jul 11 $1599 Select
Departs: Thu, Nov 14, 2019
Returns: Mon, Nov 18, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Nov 14 – Nov 18 $1899 –$300 Jul 11 $1599 Select
Departs: Fri, Nov 29, 2019
Returns: Tue, Dec 3, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Nov 29 – Dec 3 $1999 –$300 Jul 11 $1699 Select
Departs: Mon, Dec 23, 2019
Returns: Fri, Dec 27, 2019
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Dec 23 – Dec 27 $1999 –$300 Jul 11 $1699 Select
Departs: Mon, Dec 30, 2019
Returns: Fri, Jan 3, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Dec 30 – Jan 3 $1999 –$300 Jul 11 $1699 Select
2020 DEPARTURES
Depart / Return Price Instant
Savings		 Instant
Savings
Expire		 Your
Price
Departs: Mon, Jan 13, 2020
Returns: Fri, Jan 17, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Jan 13 – Jan 17 $1849 –$300 Jul 11 $1549 Select
Departs: Fri, Feb 7, 2020
Returns: Tue, Feb 11, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Feb 7 – Feb 11 $1849 –$300 Jul 11 $1549 Select
Departs: Fri, Feb 28, 2020
Returns: Tue, Mar 3, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Feb 28 – Mar 3 $1849 –$300 Jul 11 $1549 Select
Departs: Mon, Mar 16, 2020
Returns: Fri, Mar 20, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Mar 16 – Mar 20 $1849 –$300 Jul 11 $1549 Select
Departs: Fri, Apr 10, 2020
Returns: Tue, Apr 14, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Apr 10 – Apr 14 $1799 –$300 Jul 11 $1499 Select
Departs: Fri, May 1, 2020
Returns: Tue, May 5, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		May 1 – May 5 $1749 –$300 Jul 11 $1449 Select
Departs: Mon, Jun 8, 2020
Returns: Fri, Jun 12, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Jun 8 – Jun 12 $1749 –$300 Jul 11 $1449 Select
Departs: Fri, Jul 3, 2020
Returns: Tue, Jul 7, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Jul 3 – Jul 7 $1749 –$300 Jul 11 $1449 Select
Departs: Fri, Aug 14, 2020
Returns: Tue, Aug 18, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Aug 14 – Aug 18 $1749 –$300 Jul 11 $1449 Select
Departs: Fri, Sep 4, 2020
Returns: Tue, Sep 8, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Sep 4 – Sep 8 $1799 –$300 Jul 11 $1499 Select
Departs: Mon, Oct 12, 2020
Returns: Fri, Oct 16, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Oct 12 – Oct 16 $1799 –$300 Jul 11 $1499 Select
Departs: Mon, Nov 23, 2020
Returns: Fri, Nov 27, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Nov 23 – Nov 27 $1949 –$300 Jul 11 $1649 Select
Departs: Mon, Dec 14, 2020
Returns: Fri, Dec 18, 2020
Book by Thu, Jul 11, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! 		Dec 14 – Dec 18 $1849 –$300 Jul 11 $1549 Select

Unfortunately, we don't offer late returns on this package. However, if you select the Land Only option, you're welcome to make your own arrangements to arrive early or stay later. Want to extend your trip?

Options & Fees

Authentic Havana
Rooming Selection1
Double Occupancy included
Single Room Supplement
Nov 29, 2019 unavailable
All other departures +$199

1. There is limited inventory of more spacious rooms with a king size bed for an additional $80 per person sharing double occupancy. Please call us to request availability.

Optional Pre-Night Crowne Plaza Miami
Pre-Night Crowne Plaza Miami, with breakfast
Oct 7, 2019;  Oct 11, 2019;  Nov 1, 2019;  Nov 14, 2019;  Nov 29, 2019;  Dec 23, 2019;  Dec 30, 2019;  Oct 12, 2020;  Nov 23, 2020;  Dec 14, 2020 +$100
Jan 13, 2020;  Feb 7, 2020;  Feb 28, 2020;  Mar 16, 2020;  Apr 10, 2020 +$115
All other departures +$80
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy included
Single Room Supplement
Oct 7, 2019;  Oct 11, 2019;  Nov 1, 2019;  Nov 14, 2019;  Nov 29, 2019;  Dec 23, 2019;  Dec 30, 2019;  Oct 12, 2020;  Nov 23, 2020;  Dec 14, 2020 +$100
Jan 13, 2020;  Feb 7, 2020;  Feb 28, 2020;  Mar 16, 2020;  Apr 10, 2020 +$115
All other departures +$80
Optional Post-Night Crowne Plaza Miami
Post-Night Crowne Plaza Miami, with breakfast
Oct 7, 2019;  Oct 11, 2019;  Nov 1, 2019;  Nov 14, 2019;  Nov 29, 2019;  Dec 23, 2019;  Dec 30, 2019;  Oct 12, 2020;  Nov 23, 2020;  Dec 14, 2020 +$100
Jan 13, 2020;  Feb 7, 2020;  Feb 28, 2020;  Mar 16, 2020;  Apr 10, 2020 +$115
All other departures +$80
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy included
Single Room Supplement
Oct 7, 2019;  Oct 11, 2019;  Nov 1, 2019;  Nov 14, 2019;  Nov 29, 2019;  Dec 23, 2019;  Dec 30, 2019;  Oct 12, 2020;  Nov 23, 2020;  Dec 14, 2020 +$100
Jan 13, 2020;  Feb 7, 2020;  Feb 28, 2020;  Mar 16, 2020;  Apr 10, 2020 +$115
All other departures +$80
Taxes & Fees
Cuba Visa Fee included
Airline Baggage Fee (per flight)1 (paid separately) +$25

1. Baggage fees must be paid at airport for each flight: $25 for 1st checked bag / $40 for 2nd checked bag.

So that we can offer you the best deals, our packages are, like most hotels and cruises, priced based on double occupancy rooms or cabins. We charge solo travelers an extra fee to cover the extra costs of single occupancy rooms or cabins. (Consider: if you booked a $200/night hotel room solo, you would pay the $200 yourself; but if a couple booked the same room, each one would pay only $100.) But you only pay extra for the rooms or cabins, nothing else, including meals, sightseeing, tips, etc.

Want to find a roommate and avoid single occupancy fees? We can help! Learn more Why are single rooms more?

Flights & Departure Cities

Departure Airports
Miami (MIA)1 included
New York City (NYC) +$50
Aug 8, 2019, Dec 30, 2019 unavailable

1. For flights from MIA, upgrades may be available to First Class starting from $250. For actual prices and availability from this or other cities, please make your request during the reservation process so that our air team can check the availability and provide you with the exact rate for your chosen travel date. Rates and space are subject to availability with the airline, an increased deposit may be required to confirm a seating upgrade.

This package offers round-trip flights from the cities listed above, subject to availability. Please review the flight schedule, especially if you're booking connecting flights.

Want to fly from another city? We can arrange flights from most major cities. Ask us for a quote for flights from your preferred city when you reserve, and we'll get back to you with the price and availability within 3 business days. Of course, you can also book your own flights. More information

Itinerary

Day 1: Miami/Havana

Accommodations: 4 nights El Encanto de Perseverancia, Havana. Included meals: Dinner.

  • Depart the USA on your flight for Havana
  • Welcome dinner at a local paladar

El Capitolio, Old HavanaFull Day Itinerary: Today, board your flight bound for Havana, Cuba's capital city and designated World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982.

¡Bienvenidos a La Habana! You are welcomed by a representative holding 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, the group will enjoy a welcome dinner at a local paladar.

Day 2: Old Havana

Included meals: Breakfast & lunch.

  • Visit the Fine Arts Museum (Cuban collection)
  • Leisurely orientation walk through Old Havana, including the Used Booksellers' Market
  • Visit private studio of one of Cuba's talented independent artists
  • Enjoy lunch at a local paladar
  • Learn about Cuba's two currency system at a local ration store
  • Walk along Paula promenade and stop at the Artisans Market

Used Booksellers Market, HavanaFull Day Itinerary: After breakfast this morning, experience the Cuban collection at the Fine Arts Museum. Here you can appreciate the evolution of the country's history through the work of its most famous artists. 

Enjoy a leisurely orientation walk in Old Havana with your guide through the vibrant cobblestone streets as you immerse yourself in the colors of Cuba which surround you. Explore the Used Booksellers Market, a cross-cultural treasure trove for readers of every genre. Meet local independent booksellers and engage in friendly conversation with Cuban readers about popular Cuban and American literature.

Visit the private studio of one of Cuba's talented independent artists. During your visit, you'll learn different techniques of printmaking, sculpture and other art forms from innovative Cuban artists and their teams.  

Enjoy lunch at a local paladar.

Scale, ration storeAfter lunch, visit a local ration store. Your Cuban host will explain the system of rationing and the two-currency system as well as the difference between Ration Stores, Cuban Peso Stores, and CUC stores.

Then, walk along the beautiful Paula Promenade by the waterfront to see the changes related to the program of transformation for the Bay of Havana. Stop at the Artisans Market, where you will find plenty of souvenirs, including handicrafts, posters and other collectibles.

Return to the casa and enjoy the rest of the day on your own. We recommend dining at a paladar for dinner. Feel free to choose one from the list we provide or ask your guides for recommendations.

Day 3: Havana

Included meals: Breakfast & lunch.

  • Visit Muraleando or another interesting community Project
  • Stop at Plaza de la Revolución
  • Tour the famous Christopher Columbus Cemetery
  • Enjoy lunch at a local paladar
  • Enjoy a cocktail at Bar la Fama in the Hotel Nacional

Plaza de la RevoluciónFull Day Itinerary: This morning, visit Muraleando, a neighborhood that has been transformed through large colorful murals and other unique works of art using repurposed materials. If a visit to Muraleando is not possible, we will include a visit to another interesting community project.

Continue on to stop at the Plaza de la Revolución, the most famous and politically important square in Cuba and fine example of the modern movement of architecture in the 1950’s. The square has witnessed many rallies and revolutions that have altered the course of Cuban history, where you'll view the 109-m tall tower and an 18-m statue of José Martí.

Christopher Columbus CemeteryVisit the famous Christopher Columbus Cemetery, a miniature city of mausoleums, crypts, family chapels, vaults, sculptures and ornate gravestones, which has been named a National Landmark.

Enjoy lunch at a local paladar.

Visit Bar la Fama at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, one of Havana’s most iconic, historical properties and enjoy a cocktail. You’ll have the opportunity to relax in the bar, on their beautiful outdoor terrace or peruse the shops in the hotel.

Afterwards, return to the casa and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 4: Havana, Regla, Alamar & Cojimar

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

  • Tour one of Havana’s famous cigar factories
  • Take the small ferry to Regla across the bay
  • Tour co-op community gardens in Alamar
  • Enjoy lunch in the fishing village of Cojimar
  • View the interior of Ernest Hemingway's home, Finca Vigia, from open doors and windows
  • Join your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner

Hand rolling a cigarFull Day Itinerary: After breakfast this morning, visit one of Havana's famous cigar factories where you will see hundreds of workers rolling Cuban cigars by hand. If the cigar factories are closed, a private cigar demonstration will be provided instead.

Then, transfer to the ferry terminal for a short ferry ride to the other side of the bay. Visit Regla, a settlement south of the bay, and the famous Virgin of Regla Church, where an interesting blend of Afrocuban creeds and the Catholic faith can be experienced.

Continue on to the district of Alamar on the outskirts of Havana. Started as an expansive social housing project in the 1970's, these Soviet-style pre-fabricated concrete apartment blocks are now home to roughly a hundred thousand Cubans. Among the buildings in Alamar are community gardens, called "Organopónicos," where residents grow fruit, vegetables and herbs for their own consumption and local sale. Similar to co-op and community gardens in the United States, these Organopónicos facilitate community development and offer Alamar's residents access to fresh produce. Enjoy a visit to one of these Organopónicos, which few visitors to Cuba have the opportunity to do.

Hemingway monument, CojimarYou'll continue on to the quaint fishing village of Cojimar, the setting for Hemingway's book, The Old Man and the Sea, and enjoy lunch at a local paladar. La Terraza Restaurant, where the book's character Santiago brings in the remains of his epic fish, still stands today, and the pier where Hemingway's fishing boat docked can be seen from the shore.

Drive to Hemingway's Cuba retreat. There are many historical and cultural ties between Cuba and the United States, and one of the best known is the legacy of Ernest Hemingway, who lived more than 20 years in Cuba, from 1939 to 1960. You'll visit Hemingway's beautiful mansion, Finca Vigía, (literally meaning "lookout farm"), now a museum. While visitors cannot enter the house itself, the large, open windows and doors around the entire property allow plenty of unobstructed views of his preserved 9,000 book library, as well as his animal trophies and famous fishing boat, Pilar.

Return to the casa to rest before dinner.

Tonight, join your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner, served in a privately owned restaurant. Be sure to wear your dancing shoes as you enjoy live, traditional Cuban music and salsa dancing, reminiscent of the Buena Vista Social Club.

Day 5: Havana/Miami

Included meals: Breakfast.

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

Full Day Itinerary: Today, bid farewell to Cuba as you transfer to Havana's Jose Marti International Airport and check in for your flight back to Miami. ¡Adiós, Habana! 

Note: Itinerary sequence and visits are subject to change based on local availability.

This itinerary provides a full time schedule of educational activities that will result in meaningful interactions between you and individuals in Cuba. U.S. law requires that all persons who participate in this program adhere to this full time schedule, and imposes on Friendly Planet the obligation to ensure such adherence.

Infrastructure in Cuba, including even the best hotels, may not always be up to U.S. standards. The hotels really do try to maintain quality accommodations, and in the properties we select for our tours, they generally do a good job. However, Cuba's resources and climate do sometimes impact a hotel's ability to keep up with maintenance and indoor air quality. For example, in Cuba's tropical climate, you might notice musty odors in some buildings, including hotels. We do our best to select the highest quality hotels, restaurants and paladars that Cuba has to offer, but we appreciate your flexibility and understanding when you encounter a minor imperfection. Cuba has a long way to go before its hotels, highways, public restrooms and other features reach U.S. levels, but all in all, you will not suffer any major difficulties in tolerating the small issues that may occur. If you have any medical or dietary concerns, however, please inform us when you make your reservation, so we can take whatever special precautions are required to assure your comfort and wellbeing.

Reviews

Check out independent, verified reviews from real travelers on Feefo.

Trip Details

Similar Packages

Small Group Tour Authentic Havana & the Scenic Viñales Valley
Authentic Havana & the Scenic Viñales Valley
$2599 w/ Flights $2249 Tour Only 7 days
per person, double occupancy*
See package dates
Small Group Tour Captivating Cuba
Captivating Cuba
from $3599 w/ Flights 8 days
per person, double occupancy*
See package dates
New Small Group Tour Havana International Jazz Festival 2020
Havana International Jazz Festival 2020
$3999 w/ Flights 7 days
per person, double occupancy*
See package dates