8 Day Original Tour
Itinerary Summary
Day 1 | Arrival day Havana | |
---|---|---|
Day 2,3 | Viñales | |
Day 4 | Cienfuegos via Bay of Pigs |
|
Day 5,6 | Trinidad | |
Day 7 | Havana via Santa Clara |
|
Day 8 | Departure day |
Awarding Winning Tour
The 8 day Original tour is the only tour in Cuba to win tourradar's Tour of the Year for Latin America. Tourradar is a popular tour review site, and our 8 day tour won this award 3 years in a row (2016, 2017 and 2018).
Tour description
If your time is limited, and you are more interested in Cuba's culture and its people than all inclusive beach resorts, then we highly recommend this 8 day Cuba tour package. In one short week, it's an optimised way to sample some of the most interesting areas of Cuba within a day's drive from Havana.
The tour takes your from the bustling and vibrant Havana, to the historic Santa Clara, and gives you the chance to experience the more traditional and rural sides of Cuba, with stays in Trinidad, Cienfuegos and Viñales. These places in Cuba are common favourites for travellers who have come to Cuba seeking authentic cultural experiences. While Trinidad presents us with beautiful white sand beaches, colonial architecture, waterfalls, and a charming village atmosphere, Viñales offers stunning mountainous scenery, sprawling tobacco fields and friendly locals. A local Cuban tour guide accompanies the tour group throughout, and all accommodation is in guesthouses, which are small private businesses in Cuba that are typically owned and run by local families.
Tour Summary
style | O Original. Small groups. Standard guesthouses
|
---|---|
duration | 8 days / 7 nights |
group size | Minimum 2 / Maximum 16 / Average 12 |
accommodation | Cuban Guesthouses. Rooms are air-conditioned with ensuite bathroom. Twinshare. |
single supplement | Single Room for the tour - £151 GBP GBP extra (read more) |
transport | Private air-conditioned transport throughout: mini-bus, micro-bus, or taxi depending on group size |
activities included | Walking tour of Old Havana, Che Guevara Museum |
other inclusions | 7 breakfasts, airport arrival transfer, local guide throughout |
suggested combinations | Combine with the Eastern Cuba Short Stay, or a Beach stay package! |
Can Americans join this tour? | Yes! This tour forms a great base for a legal trip to Cuba. Read more about how to make your trip to Cuba legal. |
Itinerary Details
Day 1 - Arrive Havana
Havana has to be one of the most exciting cities in the world. It's definitely intriguing and unique. Your included airport arrival transfer will take you to your Havana guesthouse for the first night. If you arrive early today, you'll have time to do some exploring on your own before meeting the rest of your tour group, and your tour guide, tonight. Your guide will leave you a note at your guesthouse with details about the group meeting time and place. Your accommodation in Havana for the tour will either be in Old Havana, Central Havana, or Vedado. The neighbourhoods of Old Havana and Central Havana are some of the places where you will feel Cuba at its most intense - narrow streets with old crumbling buildings and full of locals who are not placed there for the tourists but rather because this is their home. You will see them working, going to school, socialising, and going about their daily lives. Simply wandering the streets will give you a new experience and fill you with many questions about how Cuba functions as a country. Vedado is another interesting part of Havana where there is a concentration of restaurants, bars, majestic mansions, and historic mafia built hotels.
The tour package itself does not include much time in Havana, so we recommend that you book an extra night or two in Havana, either before or after the tour. After the tour is probably preferable, as by then, you will have learnt a bit about how things work in Cuba and how to get around. Plus you'll have the chance to talk to your tour guide and get some recommendations of what to do and see in Havana. When you book the tour you can request these extra nights on your booking form.
Day 2,3 - Viñales
Before departing Havana, we have a guided walking tour of the historic center of Havana (approx 2 hours).
From Havana to Viñales it's about a 4 hour drive, and on the way we usually stop for lunch. Surrounded by picturesque limestone pincushion hills (“mogotes”), Viñales is a small and culturally rich village, with friendly and welcoming residents and wide variety of outdoor activities available. Exploring caves, hiking, biking, horseback riding or simply enjoying the views of the valley and sprawling tobacco fields below are all options. Viñales is one of the more agriculturally productive areas, so an abundance of local seasonal fruit and vegetables is always on offer such as enormous avocados and mangoes, pineapples, papaya, guava, and a several varieties of sweet potatoes. It's one of the cooler areas of Cuba, so it's also a nice escape from the hotter parts of the country. The nightlife is very active in this village with the local residents more than willing participants in dancing to the local live music.
Day 4 - Bay of Pigs / Cienfuegos
We head back past Havana to the French founded city of Cienfuegos through the densely vegetated Peninsula de Zapata swamp-lands, and along the beautiful Bay of Pigs. This is where the landing of counter-revolutionary exile militia occurred in 1961. There is a museum here that recounts the events of this conflict which resulted in the first defeat of a U.S backed take-over in Latin America. We will also make stops at a beautiful swimming hole (cenote) which resembles a huge natural tropical fish tank, and if the conditions are favourable, at beach for snorkelling.
Cienfuegos appeal lies partly in the European flavour of its colonial hub, with a wide Parisian-style boulevard and elegant colonnades, and there is an ambience to inspire Cuba’s most celebrated Son singer to write the words “Cienfuegos is the city I like best”.
Day 5,6 - Trinidad
For many visitors to Cuba, Trinidad is their standout favourite destination. No other colonial city in Cuba is so well preserved, and the local residents are extremely friendly and festive. Trinidad is steeped in religiosity, none the least of which is Santeria, which is one of several Afro-Cuban religions.
The thing however that visitors most love about Trinidad is the nightlife. There are no less than 10 live music venues all within a short walking distance. Many of these have lovely outdoor settings, in courtyards, and within the walls of old colonial ruins.
Not far inland is the Valley of Sugarmills. This area of rich fertile soil is where the Trinidad colonists got most of their ludicrous wealth from. A 10 minute drive in the opposite direction will get you to a beautiful calm Caribbean beach called Playa Ancón. If the weather is fine, your tour guide might propose a dinner bbq here to witness the sunset over the ocean. Other optional activities in Trinidad are snorkeling, scuba diving, and a popular trek to a waterfall where you can swim in the fresh clear water spring.
Day 7 - Havana
On the way back to Havana we stop in at the town of Santa Clara, a key city in the Cuban Revolution. Upon entering Santa Clara, there is a huge statue of Ernesto Ché Guevara, to commemorate his death and that of the revolutionaries who died along with him in Bolivia. There is also a museum here dedicated to his amazing life
It's one final night of the tour in Havana, and your tour guide will have some suggestions for a farewell dinner and fun night out.
Day 8 - Depart Havana
Today you are free to depart at anytime.
Summary of Travel Times
Havana to Viñales | 3 hours |
Viñales to Cienfuegos via Bay of Pigs | 8 hours |
Cienfuegos to Trinidad | 3 hours |
Trinidad to Havana via Santa Clara | 7 hours |
Arrival and Departure Accommodation in Havana
The first and last nights of the tour in Cuba will be in Guesthouse Accommodation, centrally located in either Old Havana, Central Havana, or Vedado.
- We include an arrival transfer from the Havana airport (or from anywhere else in Havana if you are already in Cuba) to the joining Guesthouse Accommodation.
- On the booking form, you can request extra nights before or after the tour in the same guesthouse you will have for the tour. Click here to see prices.
We also offer other accommodation options in Havana for before or after the tour.
Late arrivals or Early departures
Late Arrival - If you plan to arrive on Day 2 or after, we can arrange for you to catch up to the group. This may involve you paying transport costs to do so.
Early Departure - The group will arrive back in Havana, around midday on Day 7, so a departure from Cuba in the evening of Day 7 is possible. An earlier departure than this is also possible and may involve you paying transport costs for us to send you back to Havana by yourself.
Spending Money
We estimate you will need between €420 and €560 EUR (£360 and £490 GBP) for local expenses during the tour, such food and optional activities. Click here to see details of expenses you will have while on the tour in Cuba.
Not Included in the Tour
- International Flights
- Visa and passport fees
- Insurance (Travel Medical Insurance is required to participate on the tour)
- All meals (except for 7 breakfasts)
- Drinks
- Tips
- Optional activities / day-tours / excursions
- Airport departure transfer
Traveller Reviews
Explainer: Why are there no Cuba tours on tourradar?
With our flexible bookings' policy, you can book your place on a tour for only 100 USD and change your departure date anytime at no cost. Read more...
Tour Dates & Availability
Two (2) travelers required to guarantee departure
One (1) more traveler is needed to guarantee departure
Space is still available for more bookings
A space may become available
Tour Dates | Places Available |
Price GBP per person USD AUD EUR |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Closed |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Apr 24 - May 1, 2024 April 24 - May 1, 2024 |
No spaces available
|
|||
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W May 2 - May 9, 2024 May 2 - May 9, 2024 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
3 places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original Tour
CC May 8 - May 15, 2024 May 8 - May 15, 2024 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
8 places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original Tour
CC May 22 - May 29, 2024 May 22 - May 29, 2024 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
2 places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Jun 6 - Jun 13, 2024 June 6 - June 13, 2024 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Jun 19 - Jun 26, 2024 June 19 - June 26, 2024 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
6 places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Jul 4 - Jul 11, 2024 July 4 - July 11, 2024 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Jul 10 - Jul 17, 2024 July 10 - July 17, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Aug 8 - Aug 15, 2024 August 8 - August 15, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Aug 14 - Aug 21, 2024 August 14 - August 21, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Sep 5 - Sep 12, 2024 September 5 - September 12, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Sep 11 - Sep 18, 2024 September 11 - September 18, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Oct 10 - Oct 17, 2024 October 10 - October 17, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Oct 16 - Oct 23, 2024 October 16 - October 23, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Nov 6 - Nov 13, 2024 November 6 - November 13, 2024 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
7 places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Nov 7 - Nov 14, 2024 November 7 - November 14, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Nov 13 - Nov 20, 2024 November 13 - November 20, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Nov 20 - Nov 27, 2024 November 20 - November 27, 2024 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
4 places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Dec 4 - Dec 11, 2024 December 4 - December 11, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Dec 18 - Dec 25, 2024 December 18 - December 25, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Dec 19 - Dec 26, 2024 December 19 - December 26, 2024 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Dec 25 - Jan 1, 2025 December 25 - January 1, 2025 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Jan 1 - Jan 8, 2025 January 1 - January 8, 2025 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Jan 8 - Jan 15, 2025 January 8 - January 15, 2025 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Jan 9 - Jan 16, 2025 January 9 - January 16, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Jan 15 - Jan 22, 2025 January 15 - January 22, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Jan 29 - Feb 5, 2025 January 29 - February 5, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Feb 12 - Feb 19, 2025 February 12 - February 19, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Feb 13 - Feb 20, 2025 February 13 - February 20, 2025 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Feb 19 - Feb 26, 2025 February 19 - February 26, 2025 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Feb 26 - Mar 5, 2025 February 26 - March 5, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Mar 5 - Mar 12, 2025 March 5 - March 12, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Mar 12 - Mar 19, 2025 March 12 - March 19, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Mar 13 - Mar 20, 2025 March 13 - March 20, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Guaranteed |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Mar 19 - Mar 26, 2025 March 19 - March 26, 2025 |
Guaranteed to depart
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Mar 26 - Apr 2, 2025 March 26 - April 2, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Apr 2 - Apr 9, 2025 April 2 - April 9, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Apr 3 - Apr 10, 2025 April 3 - April 10, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Apr 9 - Apr 16, 2025 April 9 - April 16, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
On Hold |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Apr 16 - Apr 23, 2025 April 16 - April 23, 2025 |
Awaiting booking from 1 more person to guarantee departure
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Apr 23 - Apr 30, 2025 April 23 - April 30, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W May 1 - May 8, 2025 May 1 - May 8, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC May 7 - May 14, 2025 May 7 - May 14, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC May 21 - May 28, 2025 May 21 - May 28, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Jun 4 - Jun 11, 2025 June 4 - June 11, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Jun 12 - Jun 19, 2025 June 12 - June 19, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Jun 18 - Jun 25, 2025 June 18 - June 25, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Jul 2 - Jul 9, 2025 July 2 - July 9, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Jul 17 - Jul 24, 2025 July 17 - July 24, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Jul 23 - Jul 30, 2025 July 23 - July 30, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Aug 6 - Aug 13, 2025 August 6 - August 13, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Aug 14 - Aug 21, 2025 August 14 - August 21, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Aug 20 - Aug 27, 2025 August 20 - August 27, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Sep 10 - Sep 17, 2025 September 10 - September 17, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Sep 11 - Sep 18, 2025 September 11 - September 18, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Sep 24 - Oct 1, 2025 September 24 - October 1, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Oct 15 - Oct 22, 2025 October 15 - October 22, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Oct 16 - Oct 23, 2025 October 16 - October 23, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Oct 29 - Nov 5, 2025 October 29 - November 5, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Nov 5 - Nov 12, 2025 November 5 - November 12, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Nov 12 - Nov 19, 2025 November 12 - November 19, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Nov 13 - Nov 20, 2025 November 13 - November 20, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Nov 19 - Nov 26, 2025 November 19 - November 26, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Nov 26 - Dec 3, 2025 November 26 - December 3, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Dec 3 - Dec 10, 2025 December 3 - December 10, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Dec 10 - Dec 17, 2025 December 10 - December 17, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Dec 17 - Dec 24, 2025 December 17 - December 24, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original for Women
CCW W Dec 18 - Dec 25, 2025 December 18 - December 25, 2025 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £600 £600 GBP | Book Now |
Available |
8 Day Original Tour
CC Dec 31 - Jan 7, 2026 December 31 - January 7, 2026 |
No bookings yet
|
10+ places available | £570 £570 GBP | Book Now |