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.

In Cuba, travelers will stay in casas particulares—privately owned guesthouses—as part of U.S. regulations that require engaging in "support for the Cuban people" activities. Staying in these locally run accommodations not only complies with U.S. travel restrictions but also supports Cuban entrepreneurs and provides a more authentic, culturally immersive experience.

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.

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.

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