8 Day Original Tour

$705 USD Per Person
$705 USD
A view over the the city of Trinidad in Cuba, with the Sierra Maestra in the background

Itinerary Summary

Day 1 Arrival day Havana
Map for 8 Day Original Tour
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

CC Awards

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 TrinidadCienfuegos 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 - $187 USD USD 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

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 HavanaCentral 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.

A yellow classic American car in front of the Capitolio in Havana

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.

A view over the Vinales valley in Cuba

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”.

Bay of Pigs

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.

Calle Cristo in Trinidad, Cuba heading past the Casa de la Trova and towards the Plaza Mayor

On the way back to Havana we stop in at the town of Santa Claraa 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.

Tourists visit the Che Guevara museum and monument in Santa Clara, Cuba

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

Guesthouses 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 €410 and €550 EUR ($450 and $600 USD) 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

Explainer: Why are there no Cuba tours on tourradar?

Flexible Bookings
Flexible Bookings!
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

Available
Dates open for bookings, no traveller has booked yet
Two (2) travellers required to guarantee departure
On Hold
One (1) traveller is already booked on the tour
One (1) more traveller is needed to guarantee departure
Guaranteed
These tour groups are guaranteed to depart
Space is still available for more bookings
Wait Listed
Group is full but not all travellers have confirmed
A space may become available
E
Special Event included in this tour.
W
Women's only departure
Tour Dates Places
Available
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Guaranteed 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Mar 27 - Apr 3, 2024 March 27 - April 3, 2024
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Guaranteed 8 Day Original Tour
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Apr 3 - Apr 10, 2024 April 3 - April 10, 2024
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Guaranteed 8 Day Original for Women
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Apr 11 - Apr 18, 2024 April 11 - April 18, 2024
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Guaranteed 8 Day Original Tour
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Apr 24 - May 1, 2024 April 24 - May 1, 2024
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3 places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
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May 2 - May 9, 2024 May 2 - May 9, 2024
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May 8 - May 15, 2024 May 8 - May 15, 2024
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Guaranteed 8 Day Original Tour
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May 22 - May 29, 2024 May 22 - May 29, 2024
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3 places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original for Women
CCW W

Jun 6 - Jun 13, 2024 June 6 - June 13, 2024
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Guaranteed 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Jun 19 - Jun 26, 2024 June 19 - June 26, 2024
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Guaranteed 8 Day Original for Women
CCW W

Jul 4 - Jul 11, 2024 July 4 - July 11, 2024
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Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Jul 10 - Jul 17, 2024 July 10 - July 17, 2024
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original for Women
CCW W

Aug 8 - Aug 15, 2024 August 8 - August 15, 2024
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10+ places available $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Aug 14 - Aug 21, 2024 August 14 - August 21, 2024
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Sep 11 - Sep 18, 2024 September 11 - September 18, 2024
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Oct 16 - Oct 23, 2024 October 16 - October 23, 2024
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Guaranteed 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Nov 6 - Nov 13, 2024 November 6 - November 13, 2024
Guaranteed to depart
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Nov 13 - Nov 20, 2024 November 13 - November 20, 2024
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Guaranteed 8 Day Original Tour
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Nov 20 - Nov 27, 2024 November 20 - November 27, 2024
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Available 8 Day Original Tour
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Dec 4 - Dec 11, 2024 December 4 - December 11, 2024
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
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Dec 18 - Dec 25, 2024 December 18 - December 25, 2024
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original for Women
CCW W

Dec 19 - Dec 26, 2024 December 19 - December 26, 2024
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10+ places available $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Dec 25 - Jan 1, 2025 December 25 - January 1, 2025
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Guaranteed 8 Day Original Tour
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Jan 1 - Jan 8, 2025 January 1 - January 8, 2025
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Guaranteed 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Jan 8 - Jan 15, 2025 January 8 - January 15, 2025
Guaranteed to depart
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original for Women
CCW W

Jan 9 - Jan 16, 2025 January 9 - January 16, 2025
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10+ places available $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Jan 15 - Jan 22, 2025 January 15 - January 22, 2025
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
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Jan 29 - Feb 5, 2025 January 29 - February 5, 2025
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Feb 12 - Feb 19, 2025 February 12 - February 19, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original for Women
CCW W

Feb 13 - Feb 20, 2025 February 13 - February 20, 2025
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10+ places available $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Feb 19 - Feb 26, 2025 February 19 - February 26, 2025
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
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Feb 26 - Mar 5, 2025 February 26 - March 5, 2025
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Mar 5 - Mar 12, 2025 March 5 - March 12, 2025
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Mar 12 - Mar 19, 2025 March 12 - March 19, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Guaranteed 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Mar 19 - Mar 26, 2025 March 19 - March 26, 2025
Guaranteed to depart
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Mar 26 - Apr 2, 2025 March 26 - April 2, 2025
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Apr 2 - Apr 9, 2025 April 2 - April 9, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Apr 9 - Apr 16, 2025 April 9 - April 16, 2025
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Apr 16 - Apr 23, 2025 April 16 - April 23, 2025
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Apr 23 - Apr 30, 2025 April 23 - April 30, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original for Women
CCW W

May 1 - May 8, 2025 May 1 - May 8, 2025
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10+ places available $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

May 7 - May 14, 2025 May 7 - May 14, 2025
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
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May 21 - May 28, 2025 May 21 - May 28, 2025
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10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Jun 4 - Jun 11, 2025 June 4 - June 11, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Jun 18 - Jun 25, 2025 June 18 - June 25, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Jul 2 - Jul 9, 2025 July 2 - July 9, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Jul 23 - Jul 30, 2025 July 23 - July 30, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Aug 6 - Aug 13, 2025 August 6 - August 13, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Aug 20 - Aug 27, 2025 August 20 - August 27, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Sep 10 - Sep 17, 2025 September 10 - September 17, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Sep 24 - Oct 1, 2025 September 24 - October 1, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Oct 15 - Oct 22, 2025 October 15 - October 22, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Oct 29 - Nov 5, 2025 October 29 - November 5, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Nov 5 - Nov 12, 2025 November 5 - November 12, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Nov 12 - Nov 19, 2025 November 12 - November 19, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Nov 19 - Nov 26, 2025 November 19 - November 26, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Nov 26 - Dec 3, 2025 November 26 - December 3, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Dec 3 - Dec 10, 2025 December 3 - December 10, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Dec 10 - Dec 17, 2025 December 10 - December 17, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Dec 17 - Dec 24, 2025 December 17 - December 24, 2025
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD 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 $740 $740 USD Book Now
Available 8 Day Original Tour
CC

Dec 31 - Jan 7, 2026 December 31 - January 7, 2026
No bookings yet
10+ places available $705 $705 USD Book Now

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