Celebrate Cuban Culture and Style for 8 Days

Cuba’s capital city, Havana, swings to the rhythms of rumba, mambo, and salsa music that funnels through the colorful streets as performers play and visitors dance. The vibrant energy is palpable and you will embrace all aspects of Cuban culture as you transfer through the bustling boulevards from the airport to Ernest Hemingway’s former house, Finca Vigía. The culture that inspired some of the artist's greatest novels will resonate from the art, architecture, and artifacts within the casa-turned-museum. Afterward, lunch with cocktails and a dinner reservation at a glamorous local restaurant will complete your Cuban introduction.

The dazzling art playground of Fusterlandia boasts an extensive network of eye-catching installations and extravagant exhibits, displaying the whimsical ceramic mosaics curated by Cuban art-world royal José Rodríguez Fuster. Your insider tour of Havana after breakfast will continue to Plaza de la Revolucion, from where you can cross over to the inspired mausoleums and chapels of the Necrópolis Cristóbal Colón cemetery. You will take memories with you as you step into the Bosque de La Habana oasis of greenery within the city, stroll down the Malecón esplanade, and capture the sunset from the eclectic Hotel Nacional de Cuba.

On your third morning in Cuba, you will transfer from the stirring capital city to the mountainous countryside skirting the historic provincial capital of Pinar del Río. Cuba’s famous tobacco plantations extend across the rich soils of these western reaches, villages like Viñales pepper the foothills of the evergreen Sierra de los Órganos mountains, and Spanish-colonial influence dominates all corners of development in this wilderness paradise. You will explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, view the remarkable El Mural de la Prehistoria rock mural painting on the precipice of Pita mogote, and tour the Cuevas Del Indio Recreational Park.

Estates on the agricultural lands of Pinar del Río have a long history as Cuba’s premier cigar- and rum-production factories, and tours to these institutions will reveal the timeless traditions upheld by local craftspeople. Aficionados and curious visitors can enjoy the history of these famous haciendas, set against backdrops of the emerald valleys. Traditional Cuban music will soundtrack your lunch afterward and you will return to Havana, having explored the depth of culture that encompasses the country’s rural regions. Dinner will be served at sunset, overlooking the sprawling Straits of Florida.

After breakfast, you will explore the baroque and neoclassic-style buildings of Havana Old Town, watching century-old Chevrolets, Fords, and Pontiacs cruising between the colorful architecture that dominates the district. You will also visit one of the oldest cathedrals in the Western Hemisphere and embrace the invigorating energy of Obispo Street. This evening, celebrate in true Cuban fashion with cocktails in hand, dancing the night away, and brushing shoulders with Latin celebrities at elite clubs after a fabulous gourmet dinner prepared by an award-winning local chef.

You may spend your morning relaxing and unwinding following your Cuban celebrations last night. Enjoy the pleasures of your accommodation or transfer to Playas del Este to dig your toes into the soft, pearl-white sands that cascade into the crystal-clear sea. In the evening after dinner, you will visit Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña to watch the cannon-blasting ceremony that’s performed every day at 9 p.m. on the dot. A tour of a local brewery, complete with tasting notes and live music, will round off your delightful day in and around Havana.

You may dedicate your last full day in Havana to exploring more Cuban culture and heritage that underpins daily life in the capital. Local markets house hand-made crafts and meticulously designed memorabilia honoring timeless traditions, the Ballet Nacional de Cuba theater hosts elaborate performances, and the Fototeca de Cuba studio exhibits stunning works of traditional and contemporary art. You can visit the rum-making rooms of Museo del Ron Havana Club, peruse artisanal emporiums, and taste sensational street food as you stroll around the city. There is a wealth to see and do during your day.

Your vacation will end how it began, embracing the flamboyant atmosphere that envelops Cuba’s capital city from sunup to sundown. The streets come to life from the moment the sun rears its radiant head above the horizon, and locals open the doors to their restaurants and cafés for visitors to taste authentic Café Cubano, Cuban espresso. You may wander from boutique store to charming eatery, passing by the same street performers that first welcomed you to Havana, and capture vivid photography of the historic little town and its residents, before you transfer to the airport.