Cuba from East to West

Travel Just 4U's representative in Cuba will meet you at the airport upon arrival in Havana. They will be holding a sign with your name after you leave the secure area with your bags. 

They will escort you to your private transfer, assist you on check-in at your hotel and present you with a detailed itinerary for your experiences in Cuba. This is your chance to run through specific pick up times and logistics for your tours in the country. If you have any questions regarding your itinerary, ask them now.

Since 1997, the Cuban government has allowed residents to rent rooms in their houses to tourists, they are called Casas Particulares. 

This is one of the most authentic way to get to know they culture as you are essentially staying in someone's home as their guest. These casas are generally simple in nature but they will provide you with a rich experience when exploring Cuba. 

In some areas of the country, there are hotels that we recommend over casas. Hotels in Cuba are simple and often are not to the same standard as other places in Latin America. However, your experience in the culturally rich country will well make up for any perceived lack of luxury on the accommodation front.  

If you have questions as to our recommendations in any of your Cuban destinations, please let your consultant know.

Casa Prado Colonial is located in the World Heritage Site of the historic center in Havana. These old colonial houses retain the original neoclassical style, with spacious rooms, luxury tiled floors and high ceilings between 5 and 7 meters. We offer our Bed & Breakfast and all rooms are equipped with private bathroom, hot and cold water, air conditioning and fan.

Our three properties are situated five minutes away from each other and all the old part of the city can be explored by walking. Nearby are the Museum of Arms, the Fortress “Real Fuerza” and the Cathedral.

After breakfast, enjoy a drive in a classic car exploring the Havana through the alleys of the colonial city: Malecon, 5th Avenue, Jaimanitas, Casa Carlos Fuster, Cementerio Colon, plaza de la Revolucion and callejon de Hamel.

In 1982, UNESCO declared Havana’s historic city center as a world cultural heritage site. There is no city in the whole of Latin America with a larger colonial center.

You will then return to Havana Vieja for a walking tour exploring the old city centre through the alleys and over the “plazas” of Old-Havana: Plaza de Armas, Templete, Palace of the Generals, Cathedral Square, Plaza Vieja, Hemingway’s “Bodeguita”.

Old Havana is safe and fun to walk around and explore, especially during the day. You can wander the streets at leisure on your own without worries.

Things to do in Havana:

• Visit the Museo de la Revolucion
• Take a vintage car tour
• Visit Habana Vieja
• Walk along the Malecòn
• Visit Plaza de la Revolucion
• Taste the local food
• Explore the nightlife in Havana

Optional: Not included in starting price

What better way to experience the Cuban cuisine than learning how to cook a traditional Cuban meal yourself, and eating the result afterwards.

You will start by visiting a local herb grower, where you will learn about the growing process and hand select herbs you will later use. Once back at the restaurant, there will be a short presentation on the origins and history of the Cuban cuisine, while you relax on the restaurant’s patio.

After the presentation you will prepare some local dishes with the help from the chefs, such as “Ropa Vieja” (shredded beef), Lobster & Shrimp Enchilado and “Ajiaco” (typical Cuban root vegetable-based soup). While the dishes are cooking, you will also learn how to make your own Mojito, one of Cuba’s signature cocktails.

Now that you are prepared with cocktail in hand, you will have a lunch consisting of the dishes you have just prepared as well as a wide variety of side dishes such as ; rice, salad, beans, yucca, bread and ajiaco. National drinks are included as well as a wide variety of some typical Cuban desserts, traditional Cuban coffee and aged rum plus a Cuban cigar to properly end the meal.

As a reward, you will receive a Cuban Cuisine Chef certificate to take home, along with the lovely memories. 

Constructed in a building that dates back to 1914, this beautiful colonial hotel in the historical centre of Santiago de Cuba has comfortable rooms, personalised service, a fitness centre, live music, massage service and body treatments. 

It also has a culinary offer with 3 special places: Roof Garden Restaurant, La Terraza Snack Bar and an international Restaurant. This hotel is ideal to explore Santiago de Cuba because of its strategic location in the historical centre right next to Cespedes Park, Heredia street and the Velazquez Balcony.  

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for a private city tour of Santiago de Cuba. This tour will take you to explore the main streets of Santiago de Cuba, and interesting locations including the Plaza de la Revolucion and the “Loma de San Juan” hill for a panoramic view. You will visit Santa Ifigenia cemetery, where several of Cuba’s national heroes lie buried, including Fidel Castro, Carlos de Céspedes and José Martí. 

Afterwards visit the el Morro castle at the entrance of the bay. Also included are visits to the Barrita de Ron Caney and the Casa del Habano, the “House of rum” and “house of cigars”, respectively. There is also some free time at Parque Cespedes for pictures, lunch is included at a local restaurant.

Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city in Cuba and a historical and cultural treasure. The city is often regarded as the root of the Cuban Revolution, and the many museums here retrace key events from this important period of Cuba's history. 

Santiago de Cuba mixes modern architecture and industrial developments with its colorful colonial gems and historic fort. This bustling metropolis is also home to one of the country's most prominent universities, giving it a young and vibrant edge.

Shaped by its rich mix of cultures and Afro-Caribbean heritage, the city is often said to be the most Caribbean city in the country. Today, you can experience this multicultural vibe in the eclectic music, diverse architecture, art galleries, and lively festivals. 

Short trips to nearby attractions are appealing from here, too. Not far from the city, you can visit a famous pilgrimage site, or hike to the top of a rocky summit for inspiring views across mist-shrouded peaks.

For the duration of your private tour within Cuba you will have a private vehicle and a driver guide to accompany you for the duration of your Cuban adventure. While your driver guide does speak English, the level may be slightly more basic than city based guides you will encounter on other guided tours. 

This is an amazing opportunity to interact with a local Cuban who will be incredibly proud to show you their country on this unique road trip

You will be picked up from your hotel this morning by your private driver who will transfer you from Santiago de Cuba to Baracoa. This transfer will take approximately 4 hours.

The Castillo hotel is located on a hill which can be spotted from anywhere in the city, with excellent views of Baracoa and its surroundings. The hotel is a historic place, as it was built between 1737 and 1742 when it was a Spanish fortress called the Ceboruco Castle or the Santa Barbara Castle. It was meant to defend the city from the attacks of buccaneers and pirates, and afterwards it hosted the general quarters of the Village Guards until the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. 

The Castillo hotel offers accommodation, à la carte meals including a wide range of local dishes, afternoon snacks, and local and international drinks, which it makes it an ideal place for healthy recreation. The front desk offers 24-hour reception. Guests can make use of internet access to stay connected. The centre of Baracoa is situated a 5-minute walk from the hotel, offering guests a range of bars and restaurants.

After breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel for the “Juncal Rencontra” Excursion. This hike will take you along approximately 7 kms of the beautiful Baracoan countryside and observe a wide variety of plants & animals. During the tour, your local guide will provide details of the local flora and fauna, as well as some of the local history, such as the “discovery” of Cuba by Columbus. 

You will also visit a local coffee and cocoa farm for a peek into the rural Cuban life, as well as information on how coffee and cocoa is farmed and processed. Near the end of the tour, there will be time for an optional swim in a local river, so don’t forget to bring your swimwear. Lunch is included at a local restaurant, afterwards you will be returned to your hotel. 

After breakfast, your private driver will collect you and you will start the journey to the beach side town of Guardalavaca. This drive will take approximately 5 hours and you will be driven across the coast line and through some beautiful national parks and scenery. Upon arrival you will have the rest of the day to explore.

Iberostar Selection Holguín features rooms in Holguín. Featuring a 24-hour front desk, this property also provides guests with a restaurant. Guests can make use of a private beach area.

All guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV. Rooms include air conditioning, and some rooms also feature a balcony. At Iberostar Selection Holguín rooms are fitted with a private bathroom.

The daily breakfast offers continental, buffet or American options. With the Iberostar Selection Holguín hotel, we have brought optimal quality to one of the most beautiful and peaceful destinations on the island. A quality that is particularly evident in the kitchens of the resort's four themed restaurants. You will taste tropical specialties, Mediterranean cuisine, tender and juicy meats or the exotic Japanese flavor 

The property has a hot tub. You can play tennis, table tennis and billiards at this 5-star hotel, and bike hire and car hire are available.

Guardalavaca is a resort on Cuba’s northern coast. It’s known for its stretches of fine sand, including Esmeralda and Pesquero beaches. The clear waters have extensive offshore coral reefs with abundant marine life. In a deep bay west of the town, dolphins and sea lions perform at the Cayo Naranjo Aquarium. With so much natural appeal, the city has many things to do for people visiting the area. 

Sunbathing on the beaches:With pristine white sand, shady palm trees and a clear blue sea, Guardalavaca’s beaches are a dreamy place to spend the day. Whether you choose Guardalavaca beach, Esmerelda beach, or Playa Pesquero.

A day trip to Holguin: For a taste of real Cuba, take a day trip from Guardalavaca to Holguin. Just an hour’s drive from Guardalavaca is the island’s fourth-largest city.

Hiking along nature trails: Take this self-guided 1km hike in the local nature sights with a walk on the Las Guanas Eco-Archaeological Trail. 

Sightseeing on horseback: What better way to see what Guardalavaca has to offer than on horseback? Accompanied by Vaqueros (authentic Cuban cowboys), you can explore the local sights from the comfort of a saddle.

Diving at the coral reefs: Discover Guardalavaca’s sights below the water with a guided scuba diving trip. 

Note: this transfer will take approximately 1 hour. 

Note: Your transfer from Havana airport to Varadero will take approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival you will check in and have the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the beautiful beach. 

This is an all-inclusive resort on the beachfront in Varadero and boasts a magnificent location. Its rooms are very comfortable and provide all the comforts required both for couples and for family vacations. 

Highlights include the bungalow accommodation in the gardens overlooking the pool and the sea. Sol Palmeras has a hot tub, one pool for adults and another one for kids

Every room at this hotel is air conditioned and features a TV with cable channels. Certain rooms feature a seating area to relax in after a busy day. Enjoy a cup of coffee while looking out at the sea or garden. The private bathrooms come with free toiletries and a hair dryer.

Exquisite dining is another resort highlight, including Asian, Italian, Creole and Mexican cuisine. There are also several bars and other areas for enjoying snacks or ice cream, all with an unmistakable tropical touch.

Make sure you take full advantage of all the fun spaces and facilities the resort offers. A beautiful strip of beach, swimming pools, sundecks with outdoor Jacuzzis, a gym and areas for sports or water sports are just some of the options at your disposal. You can also play tennis and table tennis at this hotel.

Varadero, located on the beautiful 20km-long Hicacos Peninsula, stands at the vanguard of Cuba’s most important industry, tourism. It is a large resort area in the Caribbean and has over 60 properties as well as many shops, water activities and poolside entertainment. The main draw for Varadero, is most definitely the stunning world class beach. Here you have an uninterrupted 20 km stretch of golden sand that is undoubtedly one of the Caribbean's best.

However, there is more to Cuba’s oldest tourist resort than sunbeds and mojitos. Explore mysterious caves, stumble upon ancient rock art or stroll along empty beaches on the nearby cayes. here is a list of some of the things we would suggest to do whilst in this beautiful city:

Stroll through history on the beaches: 20 kilometres long and a seductive shade of blonde, the beach at Varadero is the main, and sometimes only, reason people come to Varadero. It’s why Varadero is the largest resort in the Caribbean.  Despite the development of the area, there are still pockets of coast where you can have the white sands and azure waters almost to yourself.

Explore Reserva Ecológica Varahicacos: Situated on the eastern tip of the Hicacos Peninsula, this small reserve is a rare ecological treat, one of the few places on the peninsula where you can imagine what Varadero was like before the developers arrived. It is the last stronghold of many plant species endemic to this part of Cuba and home to a giant 500 year-old cactus called El Patriarca.

Enter Cuevas de Bellamar (Bellamar Caves): Bellamar Caves are the oldest tourist attraction in Cuba, discovered by a local landowner when the earth ‘swallowed’ one of his ox carts in 1861. Formed over 300,000 years ago, the two-mile system of caves features mesmerising crystalline domes and an impressive display of stalagmites and stalactites.

Go to church: The tiny Santa Elvira dates back to 1938 and is known for its peculiar and irregular structure, a jumble of stone and wood that gives it an almost Alpine character. It features a horseshoe arch that serves as a bell tower with a cross at the top.

Visit the Cayes: Less developed than Varadero, but sharing the same azure sea and cool tropical breezes, the cayes to the east of the peninsula offer a reminder of what the peninsula was like before mass tourism arrived. Cayo Santa Mar, Cayo Ensenachos and Cayo Las Brujas are small islets connected to the mainland by a causeway, still covered in thick mangroves. They are important bird nesting sites, and offer idyllic beaches and sparkling seas.

Optional: Not included in starting price

Starting in the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and go on a Jeep Tour of the nearby countryside of Varadero. You will pass by scenic rural villages featuring banana plantations and fruit orchards, before visiting the old Humberto Alvarez sugar mill. Continue towards the river Canimar with some free time to relax, enjoy a cocktail and witness a local, native aboriginal dance group perform. 

Afterwards, you will board a boat and travel up the river, through a natural reserve where all kinds of birds can be spotted, arriving at the destination of 'La Arboleda'  a farm for a typical Cuban lunch. 

After the lunch, continue by jeep to Matanzas city for a tour, including visits to the Sauto theatre, the colonial Courthouse, the central square and the 'Palacio de Junco' municipal museum. Afterwards, you will visit the beautiful 'Cuevas de Saturno' (Caves of Saturn) where you will have free time to swim and snorkel in natural pools near the caves. 

You will then return  via Jeep towards your hotel passing country roads, including one final stop at a 'Henequen' fibre plantation, where a type of Agave is grown for the production of fibre.

Depending on your flight times, you may have the morning at leisure and then your driver will pick you up from your hotel and begin the journey back to Havana Airport for your onward flight. This transfer will take approximately 2 hours.