Mi Casa, Tu Casa
Itinerary
Days 1-4 – Classic cars in Havana
Havana has a distinct, exotic personality that you won’t find anywhere else on the planet. During this trip, you’ll stay near the heart of timeless Old Havana and take a city tour by classic car and foot. It’s the perfect way to explore the mix of crumbling colonial beauty, peeling bygone glamour and colossal Caribbean soul.
Days 4-6 – Las Terrazas eco experience
In the morning you’ll either pick up your hire car, or be picked up by a private transfer, for the 1.5hr drive to the Eco-biosphere Las Terrazas. You’ll check into your the unique Eco-hotel La Moka, nestled in the beautiful Sierra del Rosario. The following day you’ll visit Cuba’s pioneering eco-village during your countryside excursion. This is a natural playground just begging to be explored – walk to hidden waterfalls, get to know the forest on foot and discover a unique biosphere saved from the brink of destruction. The area is an example of eco-tourism at its very best.
Days 6-8 – Rolling through tobacco hills
This morning you’ll travel to the tobacco town of Viñales either by hire car or by private transfer. Today’s travel time be around 1.5 hours. Horse ride through the rolling hills of Viñales, Cuba’s rustic cigar region. You can explore the valley on horseback or by foot, learning about the art of cigar-rolling and meet the local guajiros. If you’re looking for an authentic Cuban countryside experience, you’ve found it. Life isn’t staged in Viñales, it simply unfolds.
Days 9-12 – Cuba, the Cuban way – Trinidad
There’s a pretty long journey ahead of you today, as you travel to Cienfuegos around 6-7 hours away. If you’re travelling by hire car, it’s possible to stop at the Bay of Pigs, the scene of America’s ill-fated invasion of Cuba. If you’re travelling by transfer then we’ll usually book you a shared vehicle to keep your costs down, although you can travel privately if you’d prefer. Trinidad was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, and its cobbled streets and colourful buildings make it feel like snapshot in time. Music fills the central square each night, there are some nice local paladars (private restaurants) and even a nightclub in a cave nearby! Not far outside of the town you’ll also find some nice beaches, and to the north are the highlands of Topes de Collantes.
On the day after your arrival, you’ll head out for a bici-taxi tour of the town a local guide. He’ll take you on a voyage of discovery and show you life behind the facades of the coloured cobblestone streets. You’ll see schools, tobacco and cigar factories, local fruit markets and even the ration stations, giving you a fascinating insight into real life in Cuba. We can also arrange local classes and workshops here – just chat to your travel specialist.
Days 12-15 – Lazy days in Varadero
Today you’ll travel to Varadero by hire car or private transfer, it’s around 4 hours worth of driving today. Sometimes called the world’s greatest beach, tourists flock to Varadero like flamingoes to a lagoon. It’s easy to see why – a classic tropical paradise, it’s home to swaying palms, powdery sands and shimmery sapphire waters. Whilst it’s far from an authentic Cuban experience, it’s a great taste of the tropical highlife. Just 2 hours from Havana, what it lacks in castaway sensation, it makes up for in feel-good vibes.
After breakfast you’ll leave the immaculate white beaches behind as your Varadero beach trip comes to an end. If you’re travelling by hire car you’ll drop your car off in Varadero before heading to the airport. If you’re travelling by transfer, you’ll be collected from your hotel and driven the 2 hours back to Havana airport.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
Travel by hire car
For a little extra freedom, you can choose to travel by hire car. The signposts can be a little confusing at times, and you’ll have to avoid the occasional pothole on the rural roads, but there’s very little traffic around and we think it’s a really lovely and adventurous way to explore the country. You’ll have a modern car complete with a map and insurance cover, so you’re all good to go!
