- Overview
- Book Now: Dates + Pricing
- Itinerary
- Representative Accommodations
- Flight + Visa
- What's Included
- Experiences Gallery
- Before You Go
- FAQ
For questions or booking inquiries, call (305) 930-5194 or contact us.
Group Tour—All departures guaranteed, 14 persons maximum.
Private Tour—Flexible dates, fixed itinerary.
Custom Tour—Flexible dates, tailor-made itinerary.
Prices are $USD, per person and based on double occupancy.
We strongly encourage all travelers to book with a travel advisor to elevate their travel experience. Include your advisor’s name and email upon check-out to receive VIP treatment, a $100 personalized welcome gift, access to exclusive amenities and experiences AND free room upgrades at select properties upon availability.
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“When you look at itineraries of a Cuba trip, the focus is always on Havana. This wasn’t what we wanted. Instead, we wanted an introductory grand tour. We wanted to get beyond just one place. They didn’t just give us something off-the-shelf. In essence, we went from Havana to the western edge, and then from Havana to the the east, ending in Santiago de Cuba. At all times, we felt welcome no matter what we did. A great trip.”
Island Arrival: Your driver will meet your group at the airport, and you’ll be taken to your accommodation to freshen up.
Exploring Old Havana: Find your bearings and step back in time, as you immerse yourself in the iconic, colorful and historic Habana Vieja (Old Havana) with your local guide.
Welcome Drinks and Live Music: Welcome to Havana! Kick-off your cultural immersion with fresh-made mojitos and live local musicians playing Cuban classics.
Dinner: Sit down at one of Havana’s trendiest restaurants, located inside the VIP section of the famous Fábrica de Arte Cubano.
Private Tour and Night Out at La Fábrica: Enjoy a private tour of Fábrica de Arte Cubano, a must-see Cuban art installation and center of Havana nightlife! Enjoy a classic mojito as you explore three floors of art galleries, live music, DJs and more.
National Museum of Fine Arts: View historic Cuban art not found anywhere else in the world, in the visually stunning Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.
El Gran Teatro de La Habana: Explore an architectural beauty that offers some of the best Cuban music, theater, and classical dance.
Lunch: Enjoy a midday break at an authentic Cuban paladar.
Vintage Convertible Ride: Hop into a vintage classic American convertible car and cruise throughout Havana’s neighborhoods.
Dinner: Dine at one of Havana’s most beautiful restaurants, an architectural treasure with quintessential Cuban ambiance.
Cigar Factory Tour: Immerse yourself in the world of Cuban cigars, famous around the world, with a tour of a local cigar factor.
Hotel Nacional: View historic Cuban art not found anywhere else in the world, in the visually stunning Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts)
Lunch: Break for a mojito, delicious meal, and strong Cafecito.
Hemingway House: Famed novelist Earnest Hemingway lived at this sprawling mansion from 1940 – 1960. The home’s interior has been virtually untouched since the day that “Papa,” the U.S.- ambassador-in-spirit left.
Salsa Lesson: Learn salsa with one of our resident dance instructors, the most talented in all of Cuba!
Dinner in Havana: Enjoy a restaurant run by one of Cuba’s most renowned chefs.
Depart for Cienfuegos: After breakfast, you’ll depart with your private driver and guide to the town of Cienfuegos, a gem along the coast on the way to Trinidad.
Lunch in Cienfuegos: Enjoy lunch at a restaurant overlooking the sea. Savor the breeze, tropical climate, and traditional Cuban food.
Explore Cienfuegos: Witness the inspiring French influences of the city known as Cuba’s “Pearl of the South.”
Depart for Trinidad: Continue along your journey towards Trinidad, one of Cuba’s oldest cities, that remains lined with cobblestone streets and beautiful colonial architecture.
Arrival and Dinner in Trinidad: Settle into your accommodation and enjoy a relaxing dinner onsite.
Coffee Farm and Hiking Excursion: Spend the morning and afternoon exploring the lush region of Trinidad and stop at a local coffee farm to learn how the locals plant, grow, harvest and roast coffee beans. Taste Cuba’s freshest farm to table coffee. Lunch included.
Local Art Gallery Visit: Go behind the scenes of Trinidad’s art culture with a visit to an art gallery and meet a local artist.
Dinner in a Local Home: Experience true Cuban hospitality through dinner and music in a local home.
Depart for Santa Clara: After breakfast, you’ll depart Trinidad for the town of Santa Clara.
Lunch in Santa Clara: Enjoy a cafecito, authentic lunch and mojito in this historically significant city.
Che Guevara Memorial: Visit the memorial and mausoleum of one of the Cuban revolution’s most distinguished figures.
Local Live Music: Continue your exploration of Santa Clara through the sounds of a local musician.
Dinner in Cayo Santa Maria: After driving from Santa Clara to Santa Maria, settle into your accommodation and enjoy a relaxing dinner onsite.
Visit Old Sugar Factory Museum: Explore the abandoned historic sugar factory, the Sugar Museum Marcelo Salado.
Steam train to Remedios: Take an old steam engine locomotive ride from the historic sugar factory to the quiet town of Remedios.
Lunch at the accommodation: Return from the town of Remedios and enjoy lunch back at the resort in Cayo Santa Maria.
Free time: Spend the afternoon exploring the beautiful beaches of Cayo Santa Maria and fostering meaningful connections with locals.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at your leisure, included at the accommodation.
Free time: Spend your morning immersing yourself in the beauty of Cayo Santa Maria.
Lunch: Eat lunch at your leisure, included at the accommodation.
Afternoon at the beach: Enjoy the white sands and blue waters of the Caribbean.
Group Dinner: Have dinner with your group at a restaurant in the town of Santa Maria.
Depart for Remedios: After breakfast, check out and depart for the town of Remedios.
Exploring in Remedios: Spend the morning exploring Remedios, a lesser-known colonial highlight of the island. See the beautifully restored buildings and central plaza and learn about its famous annual firework festival.
Lunch in Remedios: Take a break for lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to Havana.
Depart for Havana: Begin the journey back to Havana after lunch, where you’ll spend your final evening.
Free Evening in Havana: Check in to your accommodation and enjoy a free final evening on the island to spend as you wish.
Departure: Group departure flight back to USA from Havana’s airport.
Flight: Flights are not included in Cuba Candela trips. You may book your flight to Havana from the U.S. or country of origin. Learn more.
Visa: The Cuba Tourist Visa is required for all travelers visiting Cuba and is not included in our standard tours. You may purchase a visa at the airport on the same day of departure or you may request a visa at checkout for an additional fee. Learn more.
- U.S. travel license
- 4-star accommodation*
- All meals; lunch and dinner provided at $20 each per meal
- All activities listed on the itinerary**
- Engaging bilingual local guide
- All transportation, airport and excursion transfers
- Compliance with all U.S. travel regulations
—Not Included—
- Flight and any airline fees
- Cuba Tourist Visa
- Discretionary tips for guide, driver and other activities
- Alcoholic beverages
- Trip insurance (highly recommended)
*Note: Accommodation standards are based on what is widely available in Cuba. 4-star accommodation is charming, clean and safe.
**Note: Itinerary is representative of your experience. Activities are subject to change based on availability and adjustments required due to the realities of island life in Cuba.
Cuba has mild temperatures year-round with a dry season from November – April. Prepare for your trip by staying updated on the weather in Cuba. Learn more.
From what to pack and how to connect to the internet to information on money and souvenirs, we have compiled everything you need to know for a smooth and carefree trip. Learn more.
We recommend that all guests purchase travel insurance in the event of an emergency. You may purchase coverage from a travel insurance provider like Allianz for a smooth and carefree trip. Learn more.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for information on vaccines and COVID-19 in Cuba. Learn more.
Yes! Travel to Cuba is still legal under the “Support for the Cuban People” travel authorization. We take care of required documents including the visa.
Read our blog “Yes, You Can Travel To Cuba. Here’s How” to learn more.
Clients booking Standard Tours may purchase the visa from us as an add-on to their trip package, or may choose to purchase it at the airport on the day of arrival for commercial flights.
Commercial flights are the most common method of transportation for most travelers from the United States to Havana. Almost all major airlines offer nonstop flights to Cuba, including American, Jet Blue, Delta, United and Southwest Airlines. You may book your flight to Cuba directly with your preferred airline, just as you would to any other destination in the world.
When booking your flight, you’ll be asked to select a purpose for travel. The preferred license for our travelers is the “Support for the Cuban People” license.
Read our blog “How To Get To Cuba” for more information on flying to Cuba and direct flight locations.
Cuba Candela offers 3 types of tours to Cuba: Group Tours, Private Tours and Custom Tours.
Group Tours are open sign up, have set departure dates and offer a chance to meet other travelers during your time on the island. Learn more here.
Private Tours are for your group only with dates of your choice. You select one of our handmade private itineraries and tell us when you want to travel. Learn more here.
Custom Tours are highly curated, totally unique trips to Cuba. Our team of experienced designers works with you to handcraft a one-of-a-kind itinerary. Our private custom tours have been a Cuba Candela specialty since our founding. Learn more here.
The main differences between these packages are in the accommodations, meal inclusions, experiences and visa inclusion. Standard Tours include 4-star accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner at $20 per meal and standard experiences. Standard Tours do not include the Cuba Tourist Visa. Luxury Tours offer 5-star accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner at $40 per meal, exclusive experiences and the Cuba Tourist Visa is included.
Learn more about our pricing and packages here.
We provide all transportation from the moment you land until the moment you leave (airport pick-ups, drop-offs and all excursion transfers included) in an air-conditioned private car, van or similar vehicle with a professional driver.
When you arrive in Havana, your driver will be waiting for you and will show you to the currency conversion desk in the airport. Currency in Cuba is called the Cuban Peso (CUP.)
Note that Cuba is cash-only, so you will not be able to use a debit or credit card or an ATM. It is important to bring a sufficient amount of cash with you to cover the duration of your trip.
Read more about money in Cuba here.
Yes, but we recommend that travelers expect to be disconnected from WIFI during their trip and embrace the digital detox! WIFI in Cuba has improved dramatically and is available at all 5-star accommodations and some 4-star accommodations. If your 4-star accommodation does not have WIFI, you will be provided with time to connect at hotel lobbies or designated WIFI parks.
Yes. Cuba is one of the safest countries in the world to visit and has a stellar track record of safeguarding tourists. It has always welcomed and embraced American travelers with open arms.
Visit our Safety First page to learn more.
A deposit of $99 per person is due at the time of booking to reserve your trip, with a 35% deposit due 1 month later, or 60 days prior to departure (whichever date comes first). All deposits are fully refundable for any reason up to 30 days prior to departure. If you cancel your trip anytime up until 30 days prior to departure, you will receive a full refund.
Visit our FAQ for a more comprehensive list of frequently asked questions.
