The Ultimate Havana Getaway - Art, Cooking, and Cocktails
Spend five days immersed in the flavors and arts of Havana on this comprehensive tour discovering what makes Cubas cation city flavorful. You’ll explore Cuba’s flavors through iconic cocktails and authentic dishes. Highlights include a guided walk through the UNESCO-listed historic district, a visit to the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, and stops at Hemingway’s favorite spots, La Bodeguita del Medio and El Floridita, for signature mojitos and daiquiris; all before enjoying an unforgettable night out at the Fabrica de Art.
During the tour, you’ll have the chance to admire the Alicia Alonso Grand Theater, considered a temple of Cuban dramatic arts, and marvel at the Art Deco exterior of the Bacardi Building.
For a uniquely local experience, discover what it’s like to shop for groceries in Cuba at a produce market and a rations store, then travel by classic car to the fishing town of Cojimar to participate in a hands-on cooking class. This four-night itinerary includes accommodations at casa particular guesthouses and several opportunities to dine at local paladars, private restaurants renowned for their homemade Cuban fare.
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Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival
This tour begins upon arrival at Jose Marti International Airport, where your local guide and drivers will be waiting with a sign with your name to greet you and provide a brief orientation before you head to your accommodations to freshen up & get ready for your night out.
Prior to dinner, walk along the malecon and stop at the National Hotel to get a pre-dinner cocktail in the gardens.
We will have a tasty dinner at 8 pm in one of Havana’s Paladares: Tierra inside FAC, Havana’s most iconic nightclub, the Fábrica de Arte Cubano is its most entrepreneurial. Not just a nightclub, Fábrica de Arte teems with artists and musicians who don’t simply entertain but press the boundaries of Cuban culture. Take in the sights, mix and converse with the locals, and move to the beat in this stunning performance space before returning to our accommodations for the evening.
Day 2
Arts and History
“My mojito in La Bodeguita, My daiquiri in El Floridita”—Ernest Hemingway
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up for a walking tour of Habana Vieja visiting the main 4 squares and stopping in the area for lunch. Colonial Havana’s colonnaded streets are as colorful as our cars. Along the way, we will stop at La Bodeguita del Medio, which may translate to the unassuming name of “the little bar in the middle of the block,” La Bodeguita’s claim to fame lies in being one of Hemingway’s endorsed haunts where he discovered the mojito.
We will enjoy lunch in the area. After lunch, we visit the Museum of Fine Arts and walk some more in Old Havana and explore Prado Boulevard, Central Park, Alicia Alonso theater, Bacardi building and another of Hemingway’s illustrious watering holes: El Floridita. Hemingway sat in a corner seat, drank daiquiris, and conceived then wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls there. Hemingway must have been a trend setter because the bar also saw visits from Ava Gardner, Tennessee Williams, Spencer Tracy, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Gary Cooper. Papa Hemingway remains their favorite, and his seat remains forever unoccupied and chained off. Hemingway drank here a lot and drank a lot here.
We return to our accommodations for a brief rest and for a chance to prepare for another fun-filled night in Havana.
Day 3
Cojimar, Ernest Hemingway Museum and Salsa Lesson
Your guide picks you up in your Classic Car after breakfast to begin our day of all things Hemingway. It’s a short drive east to the small fishing town of Cojimar, which inspired The Old Man and the Sea and saw frequent visits of Hemingway and his boat, Pilar. We walk through the town and stop at some of his favorite sundowner spots before joining our friends at El Ajiaco restaurant. We visit the gardens where some of their vegetables and herbs are grown, then have a lesson in how to make some Cuban dishes and a stunning mojito. With our minds ablaze and stomachs prepped, we sit down for a delicious lunch in Cojimar.
After lunch, we continue our exploration of Papa Hemingway’s Cuba as we make our way to his former estate at Finca Vigía and the recently renovated Museo de Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway lived in the Moorish-style home with his third wife, Martha Gellhorn, and wrote nine novels within its walls. Wander the rooms and the grounds of the estate and see where Hemingway lived his life as a man while writing novels that made him a legend.
After our tour, we head to one of our favorite dance studios for an hour salsa lesson.
We return to our accommodations for a brief rest and for a chance to prepare for another fun-filled night in Havana.
Day 4
Farmers market, Cocktail Class and Happy hour in a local’s home
This morning, we begin with a trip to a mercado agropecuario (produce market) where you’ll see what fruits and vegetables are available to local Cubans and chat with the friendly vendors. Then we’ll head next door to a ration store where you will observe how basic staples are procured in very specific quantities. Next up is a visit to the local supermarket. Cuban supermarkets are different than what you might expect and will give you a stark sense of what is, and is not, available to everyday Cubans. Experience what it is like to go shopping in Cuba and buy some of the ingredients for the tapas tonight.
Then enjoy a cocktail class to learn to prepare 3 Cuban classic cocktails to impress family and friends back home.
Return to your accommodations to prepare for the perfect way to cap off your five days in Havana with a happy hour at your guide’s home. Your guide and their family will warmly invite you into their home for tasty tapas (some of which you will learn to prepare) and cocktails. Then enjoy home-cooked tapas for dinner, great conversation, and more than a few laughs with our hosts before heading back to your casa or out to enjoy your last evening in Havana.
Day 5
Adios Havana
Departure. Transfer to the airport
Dates & Rates
Dates | Adult (USD) | Child (USD) |
---|---|---|
Jan 01, 2025 to Dec 31, 2025 Lowest Tier Price | $1,795£0€0$0$0 | $1,795£0€0$0$0 |
Supplementary Information
2025 Tiered Pricing:
- 2 people - $1945 per person
- 4 people - $1795 per person
*Please note: Prices are based on double occupancy in standard accommodations in Havana.
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FAQ & More
Can US citizens travel to Cuba?
Yes, you can travel to Cuba as a US citizen! Although, the United States is the only country that restricts its citizens from traveling to Cuba for touristic reasons, however, the U.S. does allow travel to Cuba under one of 12 permitted travel categories. Of these categories, most of our travelers are traveling under either "Support for the Cuban People" or "Educational People-to-People" travel.
For more information on Cuba travel entry requirements, please see here.
What is a Casa particular?
This is something you'll hear in Cuba a lot. A casa particular is a private accommodation or private homestay in Cuba, very similar to a bed and breakfast, although it can also take the form of vacation rental. On ROW's Cuba Unbound tour, you can expect to stay in a mix of traditional accommodations and casas particulares, making for a full and authentic visit to Cuba. To read more about casa particulares check out our blog here.
Can I drink the Water in Cuba?
Generally it's best to drink filtered tap water or bottled water. In an effort to reduce the use of single-use plastic, we encourage you to pack a wide-mouth water bottle with a filter built in. There are many brands available.
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