Electrifying Cuba

Get a taste of Cuba's colorful colonial architecture, rum-filled cocktails, and salsa dancing in the streets.

Electrifying Culture

Cuba is a dream for many but a reality for few. One of our goals here at El Camino Travel is to bring our travelers to destinations that may otherwise appear unattainable. Cuba certainly fits the bill and we are proud to have found a way to get you there. There is so much love about this island nation: great music, welcoming people, delicious food, and a burgeoning creative scene, to name a few. All this and more is waiting for you in Cuba.

About your trip

Havana is a force to be reckoned with and we wanted to honor that. Take a deep dive into the many aspects of the culture and indulge in the beauty of slow travel. This adventure includes a unique opportunity to get to know the people of this vibrant nation while partaking in a well-rounded list of highly curated activities such as visiting the world-famous Art Factory, a convertible car tour of Havana, salsa lessons, rooftop mojitos at sunset, and an immersive experience at a family-run tobacco farm.

What’s included

  • All activities mentioned on the itinerary

  • Private home (casa particulares) accommodations in twin rooms

  • Transportation to and from the airport

  • 4 breakfasts, 2 lunch, and 2 dinner

  • El Camino’s exclusive Eat, Play, Shop Guide

  • Experienced local host with you throughout the trip

Not included

  • Airfare in and out of the country

  • Mandatory Travel Insurance

  • Incidental expenses

  • Alcohol except where noted

  • Tips

  • Mandatory travel visa. Approximate cost = $50-$100. Find more info on obtaining your visa below

Travelers must provide evidence that they have purchased travel insurance for the duration of their journey. If you’d like to upgrade to a single room, you can add this during the booking process. If you need assistance please contact our Customer Success team.

Itinerary

Flight

☞Please remember to book separately

Day 1

☞Arrival at Havana (HAV) | Welcome dinner and music performance

Day 2

☞Classic convertible cruise | Multi-dimensional arts venue

Day 3

☞El campo (the countryside) visit | Tobacco fields experience

Day 4

☞Salsa lesson | Cultural visit to Playas del Este

Day 5

☞Depart from Havana Airport (HAV)

Your Itinerary

  • Welcome to Cuba

    Touchdown in José Martí International Airport. Your driver will meet you at the airport and whisk you away to your casa particular (private home), which you’ll share with your fellow travelers for the next 5 days. Get to know your travel mates at the welcome event at sunset, where you’ll enjoy an intimate garden performance by up-and-coming musicians while sampling what is arguably one of Cuba’s most reputable contributions to the world: the mojito. Enjoy your drink and a welcome feast as you get to know your fellow travelers.

  • Havana Cruise

    Today you’ll get acquainted with Cuba in a classic convertible. Cruise Havana in style—top down of course—as you feast your eyes on Havana’s extraordinary color palette and architectural wonders. We’ll eat lunch from a relaxed tropical terrace in Old Havana that serves a modern take on Cuban cuisine. Afterwards, we’ll depart on an alternative walking experience with our local guide to visit a part of the city that tourists don’t usually frequent to gain deeper insight into the everyday lives of Cubans. We’ll end the day with dinner at one of our favorite hidden gems before heading to a modern and multi-dimensional venue for a night you will never forget.

  • Tobacco Country

    It’s time to get out of the city and begin your adventure into el campo (the countryside) of Cuba. Enjoy a scenic ride through rural Cuba as you make your way into the lush hillsides of tobacco country. Upon arrival, you’ll lunch at a small restaurant before heading out into the fields to learn about Cuba's most lucrative crop: tobacco. You’ll discover how the local farmers work, take a ride through the farmland on an ox-drawn carriage, and wrap up the afternoon with conversation and coffee. Back in the city, dinner’s on your own time, providing a great opportunity to support privately-owned businesses by visiting one of the restaurants noted in your Havana Travel Guide.

  • Cuban Salsa and Old Havana

    Your blood will be pumpin’ this morning as you learn Cuba’s unique style of Salsa dancing with a lesson taught by a former ballerina. In the afternoon, we invite you to explore the nearby Playas del Este, a Caribbean paradise located just 20 minutes from Old Havana. Engage in meaningful cultural discussions with your local host, soaking in the beauty of the pristine beaches and the vibrant coastal culture. The last evening is the perfect opportunity to show off your new moves. We’ll be taking you to an exciting spot in an emerging arts district of Old Havana, a rooftop terrace that offers unrestricted views of Havana. Raise a glass to the vibrant city that you’ve come to love so deeply as you enjoy a farewell dinner with your new friends.

  • Farewell Cuba

    It’s time to say goodbye. Enjoy one last breakfast with your group before saying farewell and departing from Havana International Airport. You’ll return home inspired by the nation’s dogged perseverance and infectious spirit that resounds proudly across the island.

Important Notes

  • Travel to Cuba is legal but complicated as tourism is still strictly prohibited. To comply with US law governing travel to Cuba, you must do two things— (1) Have a full-time schedule of activities that are deemed in compliance with one of twelve permitted reasons for travel by a standard set by the US government; and (2) Retain travel records for five years. Your travel to Cuba is authorized under the “Support for the Cuban People” travel license. When you book your flight, select “Support for the Cuban People” as your purpose of travel. Your trip includes a full-time schedule of activities that enhance contact with the Cuban people and result in meaningful interaction with individuals in Cuba. The activities are of individuals that promote activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba, and the schedule of activities does not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule. Accordingly, your participation in all activities listed on the itinerary is mandatory. Your travel to Cuba is not touristic in nature and you are not permitted to engage in tourism to Cuba. We work with all our partners to manage this process for you and we ensure that your final itinerary is compliant with US law under the "Support for the Cuban People" permitted reason for travel. We will also retain records on your behalf. If you want to learn more please check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document regularly updated by the US Treasury Department. Here is a link to the latest, updated as of September 6th, 2019.

    Join El Camino Travel on an adventure that explores the vibrant city of Havana and the rural landscapes of Viñales. This adventure includes a unique opportunity to get to know the people of this vibrant nation while partaking in a well-rounded list of highly curated activities such as visiting the world-famous Art Factory, a convertible tour of Havana, salsa lessons, rooftop mojitos at sunset, an immersive experience at a family-run tobacco farm, sampling the best and most authentic Cuban cuisine.

    If Cuba’s colorful, colonial architecture, rum-filled cocktails, warm summer evenings, and postcard-perfect streets lined with vintage cars don’t get you dancing salsa on the street, then nothing else will!

  • Fly into José Martí International Airport (HAV)

  • We encourage travelers to aim for an arrival no later than 3pm. This should allow you time to settle in ahead of any welcome activities.

  • It is now super easy to get to Cuba from major cities in the United States. United, American, Jet Blue, Alaska, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and Spirit Airlines all have commercial flights from the USA. Once booked, your airline will work with you to arrange your visa.

    Have questions about flights + visas? Once booked, we can help you answer any questions you may have while booking. We are familiar with the various commercial flights now flying to Havana and their procedures and will be able to walk you through the process.

  • This trip is for the traveler who has an adventurous spirit, is looking to squeeze the most out of their time in Cuba, and cares about making the world a better place through responsible tourism. The trip is filled with experiences that allow you to be immersed in the varied cultures of Cuba. This traveler is open-minded, inherently curious, and enjoys indulging in the moment. This trip is for the traveler who finds joy in stepping outside of their comfort zone, loves trying new things, and is excited to explore a culture completely different from their own. This trip is available to travelers from all walks of life who are over the age of 18.

    While El Camino Travel provides a high level of customer service, our traveler is someone who is easy-going and amenable to change in the diverse and unpredictable landscape of travel in Cuba.

    This trip is also for a solo traveler who does not want to travel solo, but instead with an interesting group of people and for those who do not want to spend countless hours planning a trip of a lifetime.

    Our adventurous style of group travel is not for everyone. Please read carefully through the itinerary and the above description to ensure that you are booking a trip that fits your comfort level.

    Please review our Traveler’s Values here prior to booking.

  • Our trips are very active, and involve a lot of walking, standing, and moving around—sometimes, in very high temperatures, with high humidity, on uneven roads and terrains, in busy cities. While we work to accommodate all travelers, other modes of transportation are not always available, due to infrastructure, making walking the only option. Travelers should be willing and able to walk anywhere up to 4 miles each day, up and down stairs and hills, and be able to stand for extended periods of time. If you have any concerns or questions about the activity level of this trip, have recently had surgery, or have any history of mobility issues, please reach out to us at info@elcamino.travel before booking—we want to ensure that everyone on our trips is safe, and will able to keep up with the active itinerary. By signing up for any of our trips, you agree to and understand that a certain level of physical fitness is required to safely participate in this itinerary.

  • We are not luxury travel, but we're not budget either. So what exactly does that mean? At El Camino Travel, we're all about the high-low. We enjoy fine dining but we also love street food. We fly coach but you can find us in the airport lounge. We'll splurge on something special like handmade pottery or a one-of-a-kind hand-sewn dress, but we also love searching online for a good deal. We love great style and design, but we also get excited about off-the-beaten-path experiences that are a little rough around the edges. We pride ourselves on designing trips that are authentic and real, understanding that any country is comprised of many lenses and lived experiences and that we can't possibly showcase them all.

    This duality can be seen in our trips. Our trips represent boutique travel—not luxury, not budget. We won't be staying at hostels but we won't be at luxury hotels either. We choose boutique hotels where we can prioritize things like location, character, charm, safety, and customer service.

    Sometimes we do experiences that feel more high-end. Sometimes we're going *way* off the beaten path to do something entirely unique, and sometimes that means it's a little unpolished. Our traveler is someone who enjoys both ends of the spectrum and understands that one isn't more authentic than the other.

    Luxury travel usually means a lot more hand-holding. While we provide a high level of customer service, our traveler is a little more adventurous and self-sufficient. We provide blocks of free time so you have the flexibility to explore the destination your way because we understand that everyone is different. Don’t worry though, we will make sure you are equipped with a curated list of all our favorite places to eat, play, and shop for when you are out on your own with your new travel friends.

    For some additional context, a luxury-travel version of our trips would start anywhere from $7,000-12,000. We mix the high-low versions of a destination to keep our trips more accessible.

  • Please note that our standard pricing is based on shared double rooms. This allows us, among many things, to keep the cost of the trip accessible to as many travelers as possible. If you’re booking this trip with a friend, family member, or significant other, let us know and we’ll place you together.

    Traveling solo? No problem—the majority of our travelers choose to fly solo. We’ll be in touch before the trip to learn a bit about you and find the best fit for a roommate. We will make it a priority to best situate you and we’re happy to chat more in-depth if you have any questions or concerns about this.

    Single room upgrades are available! A limited number of single rooms have been reserved. Please select this option at checkout if you’d prefer your own space. If all the single rooms have already been filled, please email us at info@elcamino.travel and we'll let you know if we can secure additional rooms to accommodate a single.

    We'll have more details regarding hotels prior to your trip, but we promise we chose these locations because they pass the El Camino standard of customer service and are clean, safe, and well-maintained.

    It's important to note that our accommodations are not luxury or high-end. We seek more boutique accommodations that are well-situated and allow us to make the most of our itinerary.

  • We have a roster of well-qualified hosts that we work with. Prior to your trip, you will receive a welcome packet that will inform you of who will be guiding your adventure. We proudly work with local hosts because no one is better equipped to provide layer upon layer of context than someone who is actually from there.

  • For bookings made prior to November 20, 2022: A non-refundable 40% deposit is due at the time of booking. Final payment is due no later than 35 days prior to departure.

    For bookings made after November 20, 2022: A non-refundable $500 deposit is due at the time of booking. Final payment is due no later than 60 days prior to departure.

    Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions for more information about our cancellation policy.

    Payment plans are now available using Affirm. Apply now to make monthly payments.

What our travelers say

“Words can't adequately describe the experience El Camino Travel shared with my sister and I through their Cuba trip. This was our first time traveling through a guided tour and we were not disappointed.”

— Lindsey K.