** Scroll down this page to view the complete, day by day, itinerary**

We have decided to run two groups with up to 10 people max per group due to high demand. Therefore, it says a maximum of 20 people but there will be no more than 10 people per group and we will have separate guides, casas particulares and vehicles for each group. We also will re-arrange the order of activities slightly to avoid overlap. 

Please note that why travel to the island IS legal for US citizens, using the name of the country on the trip description page can cause problems for our third-party payment processor. Therefore, we will be referring to the country as "the island" on this itinerary and its people as "the islanders". 

The island is easily one of the most unique and interesting destinations to visit in all of Latin America, if not the world. While you may come here looking for answers, you're more than likely to return home with even more questions. The island's vibrant culture is reflected in its art, music, dance, food, drink, and overall energy. However, it's important to recognize the struggles that islanders have been facing for years, with their fate in the hands of an oppressive government and the outdated US embargo. 

In recent years, islanders, both on and off the island, have been raising their voices and demanding change on the island. The government's response to the July 2021 protest was a direct violation of human rights as they censored citizens,  reduced access to resources such as the internet and electricity, and wrongfully imprisoned civilians for peaceful protest and personal expression. The decision to resume tours to the island was not taken lightly, but we eventually decided it was ultimately in the best interest of our local operators on the island to resume tours to the island and continue with our mission to educate people about the island.

Heart of Travel's trip gives you the opportunity to hear a variety of experiences and perspectives directly from islanders as we discuss the island's history, politics, economy, and current events. All of the activities on our trip are designed to support small, privately owned businesses and individual freelancers. We will not be staying in any government-owned hotels or eating in government restaurants and we will get absolutely as much of every cent possible directly into the hands of civilians and not government-operated businesses. 

Our island tours immediately immerse you as you settle into your "casa particular" owned and run by a local family. From there you will jump into learning about the island's historic and cultural past and present while traveling throughout both urban and rural parts of the island. Our in-country host families, local guides, and drivers look forward to sharing the real island with you! 

Upon arriving at the airport, one of our Program Directors will be waiting to greet you. They will then accompany you to the capital's historic center to get settled into your casa particular. You will then be given a brief orientation to the neighborhood. 

That evening we will all enjoy a welcome dinner during which travelers can get to know one another and the guides better as we discuss the itinerary for the following days. 

We'll later get into the spirit of the island with cocktails and live music at one of the historic center's most iconic, privately owned, bars just steps from the Capitol! 

After our morning breakfast at the casa particular, we'll take you on a walking tour of the historic center stopping at all major plazas and points of interest. This tour provides you with a good lay of the land for independent exploration, as well as a general overview of the island’s history and current political and economic climate. 

We will also point out some of our favorite hidden gems such as shops, bars, cafés, galleries, and restaurants. 

At lunch, we will enjoy classic dishes with a modern twist at one of our favorite restaurants where we'll dine al fresco. After lunch, we will participate in a favorite pastime on the island - dominos! We will live the real experience as we play alongside our friends from the island while enjoying a rum and the hustle and bustle of the city that surrounds us. 

At night, we'll depart to the modern Vedado neighborhood. Here we will enjoy dinner before spending an evening at La Fabrica del Arte Cubano. It's hard to put into words just how incredible of a place La FAC is. Here you will view everything from photography to sculptures, fashion to architecture, as well as film, live music, and much more. This mixed medium art space contains multiple galleries, stages, dance floors, and social areas for eating and drinking and is frequented by both locals and foreigners on a nightly basis.  

This is a perfect chance to meet and interact with people from the island as well as many other parts of the world! Live music begins at 10:30 pm and if you’re looking for something more laidback there are quiet lounges and various patios for a breath of fresh air. 

*Most people choose to stay out late this night at La Fabrica, located in Vedado. Your tour leaders will be happy to arrange taxis to take participants home in waves if some of you decide to head home before others*

After breakfast, we will begin our drive to the countryside to visit Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, known as the heart of the tobacco and coffee-growing region of the island. But before we arrive, we will first make a stop at Fusterlandia. 

Fusterlandia is a community-based art project located on the outskirts of Havana where you can admire local artist José Fuster’s childlike rough shapes and bright colors in his untrained mosaic compositions. Fuster went on to become a world-renowned artist and now many of the surroundings in his neighborhood have been decorated in the same fashion. This has turned this small fishing town into a destination that has brought economic opportunity and the celebration of art to the community. 

Upon arriving in Viñales we will head to Finca Paraíso, a beautiful hillside organic farm. Here we will enjoy a large family-style lunch before taking a tour to learn more about sustainable agriculture on the island. 

We will then get settled into our casas particulares before enjoying an evening salsa class! You'll then have the night free to enjoy the town on your own or hang back at the house. After breakfast, we will begin our drive to the countryside to visit Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, known as the heart of the tobacco and coffee-growing region of the island. But before we arrive, we will first make a stop at Fusterlandia. 

Fusterlandia is a community-based art project located on the outskirts of Havana where you can admire local artist José Fuster’s childlike rough shapes and bright colors in his untrained mosaic compositions. Fuster went on to become a world-renowned artist and now many of the surroundings in his neighborhood have been decorated in the same fashion. This has turned this small fishing town into a destination that has brought economic opportunity and the celebration of art to the community. 

Upon arriving in Viñales we will head to Finca Paraíso, a beautiful hillside organic farm. Here we will enjoy a large family-style lunch before taking a tour to learn more about sustainable agriculture on the island. 

We will then get settled into our casas particulares before enjoying an evening salsa class! You'll then have the night free to enjoy the town on your own or hang back at the house. 

We will begin a day of outdoor adventure with a light hike or horseback ride throughout Viñales Valley to learn about flora and fauna. Here we will visit a tobacco and coffee farmer’s home. This is a great opportunity to try, and purchase cigars, snap an iconic photo and sip on a delicious local beverage known as canchánchara! 

While here, you will learn about the tobacco industry in greater detail as well as the overall way in which the island's economy works. This experience will deepen your appreciation of the work that goes into creating products and experiences for tourists and the way in which your visit to the country can have a positive impact on the lives of individuals. 

We will then have lunch at El Cuajaní before enjoying downtime in the afternoon for a siesta. 

At night, we''ll live a true “guajiro” experience with music, drinks, food, and cross-cultural interaction on a family farm for a traditional pig roast. 

For those looking for a little morning exercise with a gorgeous reward, there is an optional hike to watch the sunrise at Los Aquaticos, a nearby village whose natural waters are believed to have healing powers. 

After breakfast, we will hug our host families goodbye and begin the journey back to the capital, making a quick stop at the impressive Jazmines lookout which allows you to appreciate expansive panoramic views of the valley. 

Upon arriving back in the capital, we will grab lunch at another privately owned restaurant, El Jíbaro. We’ll later visit the largest market in town, featuring local arts, crafts, clothing, gifts, etc. While this market at first may appear to be a tourist trap, there are a few hidden gems here. For example, we love to show our travelers D' Brujas Jabones Artesanales. This is a female-led cooperative that makes artisanal soaps and is an awesome, and rare, example of female-powered entrepreneurship within the island’s emerging private sector. We will also visit Clandestina, the island's first independent fashion brand that creates unique upcycled pieces designed by local designers. 

You will then have the evening free to rest or explore independently. 

We’ll head to the beach after breakfast, arriving at approximately 10:30 am. Here you can enjoy a relaxing morning on the beach, go for a dip or even do some snorkeling. For those looking to take care of the environment, we will have trash bags and gloves available to do an optional beach clean-up at a nearby beach. 

After we enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach, we’ll return to our casa particularly to shower and freshen up for late afternoon and evening activities. 

This afternoon we will meet with young artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs to hear their stories and support their endeavors. 

We will then enjoy a delicious group dinner at the fun and funky El Dandy! Located close to our casa particular headquarters, this small corner restaurant serves delicious cocktails and international cuisine. Fan favorites are mojitos, sweet potato fries, and their pasta arrabbiata. 

Soak up your last full day on the island as we cruise the streets in classic cars and visit new destinations outside of Habana Vieja, including the Plaza of the Revolution, the perfect backdrop to discuss the island's history and current events. We will then enjoy a rum tasting and cooking class in a private home before taking an afternoon siesta in order to rest up for our last night together! 

Enjoy a delicious dinner meal as we celebrate another successful Heart of Travel adventure and share our personal trip highlights with one another at our special farewell dinner. 

On our final day, we will have breakfast at our casa particular before heading to the airport to catch our return flights. For those doing the extension, we will hit the road to Cienfuegos and Trinidad shortly after breakfast. 

After breakfast at our casa particular, we will hit the road to Cienfuegos. On the way, we will make a stop at the Bay of the Pigs where we can swim, snorkel or just take in the ocean views at this historic site.     

After finishing up at the beach we will stop for lunch at Alexis’ local paladar for fresh seafood cut and prepared on the grill right in front of us! This is one of our most fun and delicious meals so it’s the perfect way to break up the day’s drive! 

​Not too far from Alexis’s restaurant, we will stop in Girón to visit the Museum of the Invasion, a very interesting look into the island's perspective on this sad event in history which helps to continue contextualizing the island's complex relationship with the United States. 

Upon arriving in Cienfuegos, we will check into our casas particulares and you’ll have some downtime to rest and freshen up before an optional group dinner at Ozniel’s rooftop, where he has a variety of traditional dishes and drinks!

After breakfast, we will say goodbye to our host families in Cienfuego and begin the final stretch of our journey to Trinidad, stopping first in Cienfuego's central plaza for a brief history lesson. 

Once we have arrived in Trinidad and get settled into our new casas particulares, it’ll be time to hit the street. We will get to know this small town with beautiful colonial architecture and rich history of art and culture. During our tour, we will discuss the colonial period in Cuba, social classes and the economy, religious diversity, and of course art! We will even finish our tour with a visit to the Santander family, heirs of a long tradition of pottery, where we will have fun creating a piece of pottery, guided by a pottery master. Lunch is included during our tour. 

You can then enjoy some downtime to rest at the casa particular or meander the charming streets of Trinidad independently. 

Tonight we will dine at La Redacción. Situated in an 1800s home this restaurant was inspired by the printing press. They also work closely with a select group of suppliers who include local fishermen, farmers, and butchers, as well as bake their own bread and grow their own vegetables and herbs to give you a healthy, natural, and local dining experience! 

Today we will get outside of the colonial center of Trinidad and explore the countryside, learning about the history of this area and how it’s shifted over time. Once a major sugar-producing region of the island, we will visit a sugar mill and even learn how to use a “trapiche” to make fresh sugar cane juice. 

We will continue our tour on horseback to a secluded waterfall and freshwater swimming hole. Here we will enjoy some time in nature and take a refreshing swim and enjoy lunch before returning back to town for siesta time. 

In the evening we will participate in another cooking class to further our understanding of how the food production and distribution systems work on the island and discuss the challenges that islanders face due to both internal issues and external factors, including the US embargo. 

We will discuss traditional dishes, and food-related issues on the island both pre and post-the 1959 revolution, as well as innovative solutions, - because after all islanders are nothing if not resourceful. After discussing these important topics, we will get our hands dirty as we make a traditional dinner and share it alongside our hosts and local guides. 

After our breakfast, we will travel outside of the city center to visit a former sugar plantation. Here we can better understand how sugar served as a major cash crop and was a vital component of the economy. The island experienced a huge boom in this industry after the Haitian slave revolt created a hole in the market. This visit opens us up to the topic of slavery on the island, colonialism, and the wealth inequities faced on the island prior to the island's independence and subsequent revolution. We can then compare and contrast with the current reality of the island in the 21st century. 

Next up, we will head to Playa Ancón where we will enjoy lunch on the beach and share some down time with our local guides playing domino, swimming and reveling in the serenity of the crystal clear waters. 

After we finish up at the beach you will have the later afternoon and evening free for rest or independent exploration. That night we will enjoy live  music and dance performances at La Casa de Música and if you're feeling brave you can even get up and dance like a local too! 

After breakfast, we will depart for the capital in order to soak up one final late afternoon and evening in the island’s bustling metropolis. 

Once back in the capital we will have time for one final activity and we want to make sure you make the most of your final hours on the island so we can break into subgroups if needed. We will discuss optional activities with folks early on in the trip and make decisions by the morning of Day Six in order to coordinate. Possible options are: 

• "Pamper" yourself the island way: Get your hair or nails done, or even get a tattoo to remember your time on the island while supporting a small, privately owned business and deepen your understanding 
• Learn about female entrepreneurs making artisanal soaps, honoring their roots, and fighting for a better future in an interactive soap-making workshop 
• Participate in a workshop with Clandestina, the island’s first-ever privately owned fashion brand that upcycles old garments into fresh new pieces using 100% island designs and go home with your own unique design made on the island
• Get your heart rate up in a personal training session along the malecón 
• Take a street art tour! 
• Visit an art gallery or museum 

At night, we will enjoy a special farewell dinner at a surprise location complete with drinks and music! 

On our final day, we will have breakfast at casa particular (included) before heading to the airport to catch our return flights.