Cuba

Day 1:                                      Arrive Miami, FL
Let our friendly staff book your domestic airline tickets from your home to Miami, FL.  Meet your tour manager and overnight at a nearby hotel. 

Day 2:                                      Miami, FL / Havana, Cuba
After breakfast, transfer to the Miami International Airport for an early afternoon flight to Havana, Cuba.  After a short 1-hour flight, we are greeted by our local Rupiper Tours’ Cuban Guide and check-in to the Grand Aston Resort Hotel. Completed in 2022, you will find the Grand Aston to be modern and elegant, boasting views of the Havana Bay.  Enjoy a welcome dinner at a paladar (small, family-owned restaurant where traditional homemade local foods are served) and see for yourself that wonderful food is available in Cuba. B, D 

Day 3:                                      Havana
Enjoy the faded glamour of the 50s as well as the new carefully reconstructed architecture of the present, brushed in the vibrant and irresistible colors of Cuba!  Experience the Old Town on a walking tour, which takes you through the grand center squares to show-off the bustling capitalism that is so new to this country. Step inside the 360 Art Gallery, a studio where Cuban artists hone their craft and make available their works of art.  Following lunch at a paladar, we return to our hotel for a meeting with a representative from the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture. Gain insight into the history and current state of Cuban farming along with time for questions and discussion. Have a rest and freshen-up before dinner at another of our hand-picked paladar restaurants. You won’t believe the great food Cuba has to offer... as long as you know where to look! Following dinner, we celebrate our time in Cuba with a one-of-a-kind performance at the world-famous Tropicana Cabaret Show.  This “Paradise Under the Stars” open-air theater opened in 1939 and has changed little since its 1950’s heyday.  The program features authentic Cuban rhythms, music, and dance without ignoring the Hispanic and African heritage of Cuba.  You will love this unforgettable performance under a blanket of stars.  B, L, D 

Day 4:                                      Havana
By now you’ve seen some really cool, classic cars. Enjoy an introduction to Cuba’s historic past with a visit to A lo Cubano Antique Car Club and workshop. Interact with the president of the club and car owners to discuss the process of private ownership of these classic cars in Cuba, and what they do to keep them on the road.  Whether that involves swapping in a diesel engine or fabricating a custom part, Cubans have become resourceful mechanics out of necessity.  Following our discussion, witness a little Cuban Flair with a visit to Habana Compass Dance project, a troupe of talented dancers and artists that blend traditional and new dance with percussion, energy, and rhythm into an exuberant, infectious mix. Born from their Spanish and African-Cuban heritage, this upbeat performance will have your toe tapping!  Along with dance and music, Cuba’s African roots also have an important influence on the country’s culture and art.  Following lunch at a paladar, we visit Vi Humos, an exclusive private project where guests will get their first experience with cigar rolling and Cuban rum tasting. The tone is set for you to enjoy this beautiful historic building along with their hand rolled cigars and Cuban rums while shopping for handmade Cuban fashion accessories and learning the owner’s personal story in the world of high-end Habanos cigars!  Return to the hotel to relax and freshen-up. Take a step back in time and cruise through the heart of Havana in a classic 1950s car and relive the past.  Riding in our convoy of classics is truly a crowd favorite, as even locals stop to gaze at our parade.  This hour-long-ride is the perfect way to arrive to dinner in style.  By now you may be sensing a theme - Paladars offer the highest quality of food versus the nationally owned and operated restaurants, because the families take pride in their craft and want only the best for you. Take the guesswork out and let us show you our favorite restaurants! B, L, D 

Day 5:                        Havana / Pinar del Rio (Tobacco Country)  / Viñales Valley / Havana
After an early breakfast, we say goodbye to Havana and begin to see small patchwork farms as we travel west on a four-lane highway into the country.  Following the revolution, the government turned its attention to reclaiming some of the land that had been logged in earlier times. The land was terraced to control erosion and the terraces were planted with trees. Keep your eyes peeled – you may see oxen working the fields and a variety of horse-drawn “taxi” carriages. Today’s journey helps paint the picture of the true Cuban countryside.  Once in Pinar del Rio, you will see why this is the premier region for growing tobacco. Learn about Cuba’s famous crop as we visit the farm of Hector Luis Prieto, Quemado del Rubi. Born in the western Cuban town of San Juan y Martínez in 1972, Prieto grows tobacco on the same farm that his grandfather worked, a farm that was taken over by the Cuban government before he was born. However, the farm was given back to Prieto in 1995 and he and his father have continued the tradition of growing some of the best tobacco in the country. In addition, he is also the youngest person to ever win Havana’s prestigious Man of the Year Award for production, an honor he picked up in 2008 for having the largest yield of high-quality wrapper leaf. Following lunch on the farm, we enter the town of Viñales to visit the Mural de la Prehistoria.  Admire the beautiful view of Viñales Valley before returning to Havana. Dinner will be at the hotel upon our return.  B, L, D 

Day 6:                                      Havana / Caimito Farm / Veradero Resort
Travel about 45 minutes west of Havana to visit a farm in Caimito. Here a university-trained agronomist settled on a badly eroded, brushy hillside ten years ago and began digging a well into the rocky soil.  While other nearby farmers thought he was crazy, after seven months of using hand tools and 50 feet of digging, he finally struck a gushing spring of cool, clear water.  Today he is one of the most sought-after figures in Cuban culinary circles, providing over 60 varieties of vegetables, fruits, and herbs to Havana’s top rated paladars (private restaurants).  Visit the farm, and if his schedule allows, meet with the founder himself. It is always interesting seeing his progress and learning how he hopes to empower the next generation of Cuban farmers. Enjoy an incredible farm to table lunch before making our way east past Havana to the northern coast. Cross the Bacunayagua bridge, which was built between 1956 and 1959, and is one of the seven wonders of Cuban engineering!  Arrive at our resort hotel, where you can kick-back and relax. Situated on Varadero, this is the resort region where Europeans and Canadians have been vacationing to enjoy sandy beaches, great weather, and fun in the sun.  This is your perfect chance to take a dip in the ocean, pool, or have a fruity umbrella drink! Enjoy the all-inclusive amenities of your resort & overnight. B, L, D 

Day 7:                                      Varadero Resort
In this region, we are able to see more modern farming compared to our visit to the tobacco area.  Visit the Alberto Delgado Agricultural Production Cooperative, which was designed to strengthen the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) in the province of Matanza.  A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI) will also be available to answer our questions.  Here the Co-Op utilizes center pivot irrigation to grow corn, potatoes, pumpkins, and yuca on 2,000 acres. Learn how the Co-Op was formed and why it has been prosperous. This province is home to 55 of these Agricultural Production Cooperatives and 95 Credit and Service Cooperatives, and they have begun the process of unifying the boards of directors with the grassroots organizations of ANAP to better serve producers, which will increase food production, make better use of resources, and strengthen contracting and marketing. Despite the country’s economic limitations and their impact on agriculture, the organization encourages the development of productive farms.  Depart for the city of Cardenas for a quick look around, before we continue to the Sugar and Steam Train Museum. Learn about Cuba’s history growing sugarcane and see the steam train used to transport the product. Cuba’s sugar exports have drastically reduced since the breakup of the USSR, so many of these sugarcane processing facilities have been closed.  Next we make the short journey to the historic Casa Dupont (Xanadu Mansion). Dating back to 1928, this property has been carefully restored following its original construction plan. Enjoy a refreshing cocktail overlooking the ocean from this unique glimpse into Cuba’s past. Return to your resort in Varadero for a late lunch and to relax and enjoy the resort’s amenities. Dinner is included at the resort.  B, L, D 

Day 8:                                      Varadero Resort / Havana
We say goodbye to our wonderful resort and head towards Havana to begin tracing Hemmingway’s footsteps in Cuba. Head to San Francisco de Paula on the outskirts of the city, where Ernest Hemingway lived for twenty years. Visit Hemmingway’s winter home from 1939-1960, which was built in 1886 and now serves as a museum where visitors can see his 9,000-volume library, living quarters, yacht Pilar, as well as the actual typewriter on which he wrote some of his greatest works. Visit a real working cigar factory, where Cuba’s famous export is produced. See the effort that goes into each cigar and decide for yourself if it warrants the price!  Our final experience of the day will be The Angeles del Futuro project. Here young students strengthen their values such as altruism and modesty through a variety of circus techniques, such as acrobatics, juggling, contortions, balance, and trampoline acrobatics. Today, the project has a permanent pool of students who enter the National Circus School, and who later become part of the National Circus of Cuba. You won’t believe the amazing stunts these children will perform – some as young as 8 years old! Return to your Havana hotel to freshen-up before our farewell dinner at Mansion Castillo, where art combines with a gourmet Cuban fusion menu. B, L, D 

Day 9:                                      Havana / USA
Transfer to the Havana International Airport for our return flight to USA.  B

This tour is moderately paced, with full days of activities. Many events will require climbing stairs and walking the equivalent of three to five city blocks. Restaurants typically require walking up 1-3 flights of stairs. Please be honest with yourself regarding your mobility. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide in-depth assistance to individuals with mobility limitations. Rupiper Tours reserves the right to make minor adjustments to the itinerary if necessary.

Rupiper Tours offers this program under the auspice of a General License 31 CFR 515.560 for Support for the Cuban People CFR 515.574 authorized by the United States Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Those who register as participants in this program, are authorized to visit Cuba legally under the Support for the Cuban People category of travel CFR 515.574. Our itineraries provide a full-time schedule of activities that are intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people and result in meaningful interactions between our travelers and individuals in Cuba. United States law requires that all participants in our program adhere to the full-time schedule of Support for the Cuban People activities. Rupiper Tours reserves the right to make minor adjustments to the itinerary if necessary.