Day 1. Fri. Havana.

Upon arrival to Havana our representatives will assist you with your luggage and escort you to your private air conditioned shuttle bus make and make your drive to your hotel.  Tonight you will have (Included snacks) at the restaurant Med inside your hotel. This restaurant is beautifully decorated, with lovely views of the pool, cigar sampling and tapas and wine bar.  Enjoy tasty and healthy culinary options inspired by Mediterranean cuisine.

Overnight:  Melia Cohiba Hotel Cuba (D)

Day 2. Sat. Havana.

This morning you will begin your introductory tour of Havana, Cuba with a panoramic drive through Modern Havana in your private air conditioned coach.  While touring the Havana, you will drive past some of Havana’s highlights including Plaza Revolucion and the Jose Marti Memorial. The Plaza de la Revolución is a huge square dominated by a statue and monument of Jose Marti and the iconic image of Che Guevara adorning the Ministry of the Interior. Next you will continue to the Jose Marti Memorial. It consists of a star-shaped tower, a statue of Martí surrounded by six columns, and gardens. Following your visit to the Jose Marti Memorial, you will next be escorted to the Colina Universitaria (University Hill) for a panoramic sightseeing drive through the University of Havana. After visiting the university, you will be escorted to the Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematograficos (ICAIC).  ICAIC was established by the Cuban government in March 1959, after the Cuban Revolution. After your visit to ICAIC, you will be escorted to a Paladar Atelier where you will be able to enjoy delicious traditional Cuban food.

Following lunch, you will board your private air conditioned coach and make your way east through Havana towards the Alamar district.  Before reaching the Alamar district, you will stop and visit the Palacios de los Capitanes Generales,  the former official residence of the governors of Havana, Cuba. Located on the eastern side of the Plaza de Armas in Old Havana it is home to the Museum of the City of Havana. Next, visit the district of Alamar. This district is primarily prefabrication construction of Soviet-style architecture. Because of this, Cuban poet Juan Carlos Flores has described it as “The Heart of The Russian Barrio”.

Overnight:  Melia Cohiba Hotel Cuba (BLD)

Day 3.  Sun. Havana.

Enjoy the glory of La Habana Vieja (The Old Town), some of it faded and crumbling – but there are many beautifully restored buildings as a result of the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Your first visit in Old Havana will be to the Teatro de Marionetas (Theater of Puppets).  Here you will learn about the amazing history and cultural signifigance of puppetry in Cuba. Following your visit to the Teatro de Marionetas, you will next visit Teatro Guignol.  This is home to Cuba’s leading children’s theatre and Puppetry Company, as well as performing in this space, it stages shows in public squares. After your visit to Muraleando, you will break for lunch.  You will be escorted to the paladar La Moneda Cubana. This restaurant-paladar welcomes its customers with the Cuban house warm and its most exquisite Cuban flavors while they enjoy the beauty of the colonial Old Havana and the wonderful views that can be seen from la Moneda Cubana.

After lunch, you will be escorted to the horse carraige center where you will embark on a fantastic panoramic tour through Havana in horse carriage. Visit Colonial Havana, declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1982, the Capitol Building: Resembling Washington D.C.’s Capital Building, EL CAPITOLIO is located on Paseo de Marti, across from Central Park, built in 1929. At the conclusion of your horse carriage tour, you will be escorted back to your hotel where you will have a moment of free time to freshen up and prepare for dinner.  For dinner you will meet in the lobby of your hotel bor your transfer to la paladar San Cristobal where you will enjoy another fantastic traditional cuban dinner.

Overnight:  Melia Cohiba Hotel Cuba (Standard Rooms | BLD)

Day 4. Mon. Havana.

Today you will have a tour through a local medical facility and meet with the hospital staff for medical exchanges and discussions about the Cuban medical system. You will have the opportunity to talk to your island counterparts and to witness Cuban medicine, wellness and health programs directly, first hand. Following your visit to the medical facility and meeting its staff, you will next visit a nearby retirement home to see how Cubans elderly population is taken care of. Cuba has a number of interesting projects for the elderly, such as the University for Senior Citizens, where pensioners can study, Tai Chi exercise sessions and the Casas del Abuelo (“Grandparent Homes”), where the elderly can spend the day while their sons and daughters work.

After visiting the elderly living facility and meeting with its residents and staff, you will break for lunch in the nearby paladar named La Moreleja. A selected menu pleased to the taste of all customers. The variety is wide, ranging from traditional Cuban food up to our unique and innovative recipes complete gourmet trend, being the common factor the careful selection of ingredients and bold presentations that enhance texture, flavors, colors and aromas. After lunch, you will visit a primary school to explore the facilities, meet with the students and staff, and discuss with the staff Cubans primary educational system and its successful programs. Following your visit to the primary educational facility, you will drive to the US Special Interest Building about 15 minutes away to stop for photos.  Following your visit to the US Special Interest Section in Havana, you will be transferred to the Artist Market to experience the Cuban art scene and meet with local artist. Following your visit of the artist market, you will be transferred to your paladar, Cafe Laurent, a stylish and professional restaurant, foremost in the new wave of private eating establishments in Havana.

Overnight:  Melia Cohiba Hotel Cuba (BLD)

Day 5. Tue. Havana.

You will be transferred to the historical center of Old Havana where you will begin your full day tour.  Today you will first visit the hotel Ambos Mundos in Old Havana.This hotel since has gained international note from its most famous long-time tenant: in 1932 a room on the upper (5th) floor became the “first home” in Cuba of writer Ernest Hemingway, who enjoyed the views of Old Havana. Hemingway rented the room for $1.50 per night until mid-1939. While visiting the Ambos  Mundos Hotel, you will visit Hemmingway’s former room.  Following your visit to the Ambos Hotel and Hemmingway’s room, you will next visit the Plaza de Armas, the oldest part of the city and embark on a walking tour exploring the buildings and nearby sights. Next, you will visit the El Templete.  El Templete is a monument in Havana, Cuba, that pays homage to the place where the foundation of the town of San Cristóbal de la Habana was celebrated in 1519. The monument consists of bust of Christopher Columbus and three canvases painted by Jean Baptiste Vermay. It is a Neoclassic building, typical example of colonial architecture. Following your visit to El Templete, your guides will escort you on a walking tour down calle de los oficios (Street of Crafts) to la plaza de San Francisco. At the end of your walking tour, you will be escorted to the famous bar and restaurant, La Bodeguita del Medio Lugar.

After grabbing drinks and enjoying your short break, you will continue with your tour.  Board your private air conditioned coach and continue on a panoramic coach tour to see a few more highlights of Havana before breaking for lunch.

The Museum of the Revolution  is a museum located in the Old Havana section of Havana, Cuba. The museum is housed in what was the Presidential Palace of all Cuban presidents from Mario García Menocal to Fulgencio Batista. It became the Museum of the Revolution during the years following the Cuban revolution. Gran Teatro de la Habana – A theater since 1838, the amazing neobaroque Gran Teatro across from Parque Central is the seat of the acclaimed Ballet Nacional de Cuba, founded in 1948 by Alicia  Alonso. After your panoramic coach tour through Old Havana, you will be escorted to restaurante el Floridita to break for lunch. Enjoy delicious cuban cusine in this wonderful restaurant.

After lunch, you will continue with your full day tour, next visiting the Ernest Hemingway’s home. There, Hemingway wrote two of his most celebrated novels: For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea.  For dinner you will be transferred to paladar La California to enjoy dinner.

Overnight:  Melia Cohiba Hotel Cuba (BLD)

Day 6. Wed. Havana.

This morning, you will first visit the the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (the national museum of fine arts). While touring the museum, your private guides will escort you around the complex answering any questions you may have regarding the art and its importance.  After visiting the museum, you will continue with your full day tour, next visiting John Lennon Park. Continuing with your tour you will next visit Nuevo (New) Vedado.  New Vedado is a residential area which emerged after the Avenida 26 was constructed in the late 1940s. Many fine large “modern” detached houses were built, such as the ones of architect Hugo D’Acousta. Living here were mostly for those from the higher classes. Follwoing your tour of Nuevo Vedado, your will be transfered to paladar La Casa where you will enjoy another fantastic traditional cuban lunch.

After lunch, you will be returned to your hotel where you will have a moment to freshen up and prepare for your evening out in the town exploring Cuba’s famous Afro-Cuban Jazz Scene. Later this afternoon, you will be transferred to paladar la Cocina de Liliam for dinner.  Enjoy dinner together at this fantastic little restaurant. Following dinner, you will be met outside of your restaurant by a fleet of classic antique cars.  You will board your vehicles (2 persons per vehicles) and ride in style to your jazz show tonight.

Tonight you will be escorted to Gato Tuerto, a very popular restaurant and bar where many locals and international guest visit to enjoy a refreshing drink, great company, and amazing music! This is one of the best places to enjoy live jazz.  Enjoy a fantastic live performance tonight in this amazing location.  After the jazz performance, you will be transferred back to your hotel by your fleet of antique cars. Upon arrival, you will be at leisure for rest and relaxation.

Overnight:  Melia Cohiba Hotel Cuba (BLD)

Day 7. Thu. Havana.

Full Day exploring Las Terrazas. Located approximately 80km (1.5 horu drive) west of Havana in the Pinar del Río Province, Las Terrazas dates back to 1971 when it was built as part of a reforestation project. Your first visit of the day while in Las Terrazas will be to Cafe de Maria, an enterprise begun in Maria’s home, where she offers visitors Cuba’s finest cup of coffee. After sampling and enjoying coffee at Maria’s home, your private guides will escort you on a fantastic tour visiting other former 19^th century coffee estate and discuss with you the history of the Cuban coffee industry with more detail. After visiting the coffee estates, your guide will escort you to a local restaurant nearby where you will break for lunch and enjoy delicious traditional Cuban food.

Next, you will be escorted to a local rural clinic to see how the medical system functions in the rural parts of Cuba and also have a meeting with the staff for a medical exchange. Following your visit of the medical clinic, your private guide and driver will escort you on a panoramic sightseeing tour of the remainder of the village to see how these farmers live with your private coach.  you will be able to disembark your coach and stop for pictures. Following your visit to Las Terrazas, you will be transferred back to your hotel where you will be at leisure for the remainder of your evening.  Enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Overnight:  Melia Cohiba Hotel Cuba (BLD)

Day 8. Fri. Havana.

This morning you will visit Jose Fuster’s Fusterlandia (Fantasyland). José Rodríguez Fuster is a Cuban naïve artist specializing in ceramics, painting, drawing, engraving, and graphic design. Fuster has made a major contribution over 10 years of work of rebuilding and decorating the fishing town of Jaimanitas in the outskirts of Havana, where he lives. Jaimanitas is now a unique work of public art where Fuster has decorated over 80 houses with ornate murals and domes to suit the personality of his neighbours, he has built a chess park with giant boards and tables, The Artists’ Wall composed of a quilt of dozens of tiles signed and donated by other Cuban artists, a theater and public swimming pools.

Following your visit of Fusterlandia, you will be escorted to the Colon Cemetery.  Here your guide will escort you through the cemetery and explain more in detail the importance of this site and its history. Colon Cemetery is one of the great historical cemeteries of the world, and is generally held to be the most important in Latin America in historical and architectural terms, second is La Recoleta in Buenos Aires. After your visit to the Colon Cemetery, you will be escorted to Paladar la Fontana to enjoy lunch.

Following lunch, you will continue with your tour next visiting Taller Experimental (Graphics Workshop) for a visit of one of Cuba’s leading print workshops. While visiting this shop, you will see how these wonderful crafts are created and learn more about the printmaking industry in Cuba. After your visit of the Graphics workshop, you will next be transferred to the Havana Dance Company. While visiting the Compas Dance center, you will see these wonderful artist perform a show for you.  After their performance you will be able to speak with them and learn more about Cuban music, dance, and culture.

Following your performance and discussions with the dancers, you will next be escorted to the Malecon where you will embark on a fantastic walking tour exploring its highlights. There are a number of important monuments along the Malecón, including those to General Máximo Gomez, Antonio Maceo, General Calixto García, and the Monument to the Victims of the USS Maine.

Next, In the Plaza de la Dignidad there is a statue of José Martí and in front of the United States Interests Section in Havana, the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Platform.

Following your visit to the Malecon, you will be escorted back to your hotel where you will have free time to freshen up and prepare for dinner.  After your moment of free time, meet your group in the lobby of your hotel for your transfer to the Paladar La Guardia for your goodbye dinner. Enjoy your goodbye dinner here in this restaurant, considered to be one of the best paladars in Cuba.

Overnight:  Melia Cohiba Hotel Cuba (BLD)

Day 9. Sat. In Route.

This morning after breakfast, secure your luggage and check out of your hotel.  Once checked out, you will be met in the lobby of your hotel by your private driver for your private air conditioned coach transfer to the airport. .