Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Cuba: Havana, Las Terrazas and Viñales
6 days from Havana: Old Havana on foot, a classic-car hour and a music evening, a night in the Las Terrazas hills with a coffee estate and a river swim, and two nights in the Viñales Valley.
6 days · Round trip from Havana · up to 12 guests
The Viñales Valley from the Los Jazmines viewpoint, with the Dos Hermanas mogote beyond Photo: Rômulo Ferreira, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vi%C3%B1ales_-_Cuba_(40145119525).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days, 5 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Havana
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Easy
Easy walking in heat on cobbles and farm tracks: about 2 to 3 hours on foot in Old Havana, a short walk of about 1 km on a rough path at the Buenavista coffee estate, an optional swim in shallow river pools, and a valley morning in Viñales of about 5 km on flat, sometimes muddy farm paths, done on foot or on horseback, with a ride in the vehicle instead if you prefer. The longest drive is about 3 hours.
- Meals included
- 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 370 (estimated price)
- Season
- Best November to April
Highlights
Why this trip
- Old Havana's four squares on foot at 9 am, with a Havana guide
- An evening of live Cuban son after dinner at a paladar
- A one-hour classic-car ride along the Malecón to Plaza de la Revolución
- A night in Las Terrazas, a village in the hills of a UNESCO biosphere reserve
- The ruins of the Buenavista coffee estate and a morning swim in the San Juan river pools
- The Viñales Valley from the Los Jazmines viewpoint
- An 8 am valley morning on foot or on horseback to a family tobacco farm, with lunch at the farm
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 370 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Havana
José Martí International Airport to your casa particular in Havana
- Dinner
- Stay in Havana
- Drive about 30 min
Fly into José Martí International Airport (HAV), about 30 minutes south of central Havana. A driver meets you outside arrivals for the transfer to your casa particular, a privately owned guesthouse, or small private hotel within walking distance of Old Havana. Arrive whenever your flight allows.
Evening
If you land early, walk down to the Malecón, the long sea wall where the city comes out in the evening to talk, fish and watch the waves break. At 6 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing: how the six days are paced, what power cuts and shortages mean on the ground, what to pack for the river swim, and how to change money, since cash is what works here. Then we walk to a paladar, one of the privately run restaurants that have changed eating out in Cuba, for a welcome dinner of Cuban dishes. Menus depend on what the market has that day.
Included
- Pick-up at José Martí International Airport (HAV)
- Welcome briefing with your guide, including how to change money
- Welcome dinner at a paladar
Free time: Free until the 6 pm briefing
Activity: If you land after 6 pm, your guide meets you at your casa and briefs you over breakfast.
Old Havana on foot and a music evening
Old Havana's four squares, then a free afternoon and an evening of live son
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Havana
Afternoon
We start at 9 am on foot in Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982, before the midday heat. A licensed Havana guide joins your See Sight Tours guide to link the four old squares in the order the city grew: Plaza de Armas with its secondhand book stalls and the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the baroque cathedral on Plaza de la Catedral, the restored merchants' houses around Plaza Vieja, and Plaza de San Francisco by the harbour. Along the way we step into a working cigar shop and a printmaking workshop where they are open.
Evening
Lunch is at a paladar in the old town, and the afternoon is free: the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, a siesta through the heat, or a rooftop at sunset. In the evening we meet for dinner, then walk to a music venue for live son, the Cuban music of guitar, tres, bass and percussion that grew into salsa. Seats and your first drink are booked; dance or just listen.
Included
- Old Havana walking tour with a licensed Havana guide: Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja and Plaza de San Francisco
- Lunch at a paladar in Old Havana
- Dinner at a paladar
- A live son music evening, with seats and a first drink
Optional experiences
- Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Cuban art)
- The 9 pm cañonazo cannon ceremony at La Cabaña fortress
Free time: Afternoon free until dinner
Activity: About 2 to 3 hours on foot on flat but uneven paving. Bring a hat and water. The music evening usually runs to about 11 pm; you can head back earlier with a taxi your guide arranges.
A classic-car hour, then the hills of Las Terrazas
Havana by classic car along the Malecón to Plaza de la Revolución, then west to Las Terrazas
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Las Terrazas
- Drive about 1.5 h
At 9 am, before the traffic and the heat build, the classic cars pull up outside: American cars from the 1950s, kept running by Cuban mechanics. For an hour they carry us along the Malecón, through the leafy avenues of Vedado and up to Plaza de la Revolución, where steel outlines of Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos look down from the ministry buildings. Our own vehicle meets us there with the luggage, and we drive west on the Autopista for about an hour and a quarter into the Sierra del Rosario, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Las Terrazas is a village built in the late 1960s on hillside terraces as part of a reforestation project, around a small lake.
Afternoon
Lunch is in the village. At about 3 pm a local guide walks us up to the ruins of the Buenavista coffee estate, worked by enslaved people in the 1800s, to see the drying floors and the view to the coast, and we taste coffee grown in these hills. The late afternoon is free by the lake.
Included
- One-hour classic-car ride along the Malecón, through Vedado to Plaza de la Revolución
- Lunch in Las Terrazas
- The Buenavista coffee estate ruins with a local guide, and a coffee tasting
Easier option: Ride up to the Buenavista estate in the vehicle and skip the short walk.
More active option: Walk a forest trail from the village with the local guide before dinner, about 3 km, looking for the tocororo, Cuba's national bird.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free in the village; dinner tonight is at the hotel or a village restaurant, which your guide books, as choices in Las Terrazas are few
Activity: About 1 km on a rough path at the coffee estate, with some steps.
A river swim, then into Viñales
Las Terrazas to the San Juan river pools, then west via Pinar del Río to Viñales
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Viñales
- Drive about 2.5 h
Morning
Breakfast is unhurried. At 9 am we drive a few minutes to the Baños del San Juan, where the San Juan river drops over rock shelves into a chain of natural pools. Arriving early means quiet water before the day visitors from Havana come. Swim, sit in the shallows or watch from the bank.
Afternoon
We have an early lunch by the river at about 11:30, then drive about two and a half hours west, back onto the Autopista and through the tobacco and sugarcane country around Pinar del Río. Just before Viñales we stop at the Los Jazmines viewpoint, where the valley opens below you: red earth, royal palms and the round limestone hills called mogotes. We reach Viñales at about 3:30 pm. The Viñales Valley is a UNESCO cultural landscape, and the town is a long street of single-storey houses with porches lined with rocking chairs.
Evening
The rest of the day is free; the light is best on the edge of town just before sunset.
Included
- Morning at the Baños del San Juan river pools, with entry
- Lunch by the river
- The Los Jazmines viewpoint over the Viñales Valley
Easier option: Stay on the bank in the shade rather than swim.
More active option: Walk the riverside path upstream from the pools with your guide, about 2 km return.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free in Viñales; dinner at your casa or a paladar on the main street, which your guide can book
Activity: The rocks around the pools are slippery; bring water shoes. Swimming depends on the water level after rain.
The Viñales Valley on foot or on horseback
Viñales town across the valley to a family tobacco farm, then the Cueva del Indio
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Viñales
- Drive about 30 min
The cool hours belong to the valley. At 8 am a local guide leads us out of town on farm tracks between fields of tobacco, maize and cassava, with the mogotes rising on every side.
Evening
You choose the night before: walk, about 5 km at an easy pace, or ride one of the farm horses at a walk, with a handler beside the novices. Farming here is still done much as it was: oxen pull the ploughs and leaves are cured in tall palm-thatched drying barns. At a family tobacco farm the grower shows how the leaves are picked, hung, cured and fermented, explains how most of the crop goes to the state, and rolls a cigar in front of you; there is coffee grown on the farm and a glass of guayabita, the local guava liqueur. Lunch is a long farm meal of roast pork, rice and beans, root vegetables and salad. At about 2 pm the vehicle takes us 5 km north to the Cueva del Indio, a limestone cave where a short walk leads to a boat ride on the underground river inside. We are back in town by about 3:30 pm, and the rest of the day is yours: a rest on the porch or a salsa class.
Included
- Valley morning with a local guide, on foot or on horseback
- Family tobacco farm visit with cigar rolling, coffee and guayabita
- Farm lunch
- The Cueva del Indio, with the boat ride on the underground river
Optional experiences
- A salsa class in town
- A taxi to Cayo Jutías beach for a day on your own
Easier option: Ride to the tobacco farm in the vehicle instead of walking or riding, and meet the group there.
More active option: Carry on with the local guide after the farm on a longer loop through the valley floor, about 4 km more, and rejoin the group for lunch.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free; dinner at your casa or a paladar in town
Activity: About 5 km on flat farm tracks, muddy after rain. Horses are walked, not galloped; wear long trousers and closed shoes. What is growing depends on the month: tobacco is planted around October to December and harvested roughly January to March.
Viñales to Havana and home
Viñales via Pinar del Río and the Autopista to José Martí International Airport
- Breakfast
- Drive about 3 h
A last coffee on the porch, then we leave Viñales at 9 am for the drive back east, about 185 km and three hours on the Autopista, with a coffee stop at the halfway point. The road runs through the tobacco and cane country of Pinar del Río province, with the hills of the Sierra del Rosario on the left. We reach José Martí International Airport (HAV) at about 12:30 pm. Allow three hours before an international departure, since check-in and security at HAV can be slow, so book a flight home leaving after about 4 pm, which leaves room for a slow road or a fuel stop. If your flight is the next day, or you want to stay on, ask us to add nights in Havana before the trip and we drop you at your casa instead; our 9-day Havana, Viñales and Trinidad trip is the longer way to see the island. Cuban pesos are hard to change back outside Cuba, so spend or change what you have left before security.
Included
- Drive from Viñales to José Martí International Airport (HAV) with your guide
Free time: Early morning free before the 9 am departure
Activity: Book a flight leaving Havana after about 4 pm.
- Havana2 nights
- Las Terrazas1 night
- Viñales2 nights
- Havanaend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: November to April is the dry season, warm by day and pleasant in the evening, the best time for walking in Viñales and swimming in the San Juan river, which runs clearest when it has not rained. From May to October it is hot, humid and wet, with heavy afternoon showers that muddy the valley paths. The hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking from August to October. The tobacco fields are green from about December to March and bare after the harvest. Las Terrazas is good for birds, including the tocororo, Cuba's national bird.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Canadians who know the Cuban beach resorts and want a short first look at the country beyond them
- Travellers with a week or less, or who want to add western Cuba to a beach stay
- People who like countryside, music and short drives more than ticking off cities
- Solo travellers who want company and a guide who handles cash, transfers and the unexpected
Not for you if you want
- Travellers who need reliable power, Wi-Fi and hot water every day
- A beach holiday: the swim is in river pools, and the beach at Cayo Jutías is an optional afternoon
- Anyone wanting Trinidad and the south coast: see our 9-day Havana, Viñales and Trinidad trip
- US citizens who have not checked that their trip fits a US authorized travel category
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
5 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Havana2 nights
- Las Terrazas1 night
- Viñales2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 5 nights: 2 in Havana, 1 in Las Terrazas and 2 in Viñales
- Central privately owned casas particulares or small private hotels, each room with its own bathroom and air conditioning; we name each one when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at José Martí International Airport (HAV) on day 1 and drop-off on day 6
- A private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the group for the whole trip
- A one-hour classic-car ride in Havana
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from day 1 to day 6
- Licensed Cuban local guides in Old Havana, Las Terrazas and the Viñales Valley
Activities
- Havana: Old Havana walking tour, a live son music evening and the classic-car ride to Plaza de la Revolución
- Las Terrazas: the Buenavista coffee estate ruins with a coffee tasting, and the Baños del San Juan river pools
- Viñales: the Los Jazmines viewpoint, a guided valley morning on foot or on horseback, a family tobacco farm, and the Cueva del Indio boat ride
- All entrance fees for included sights
Meals
- 5 breakfasts
- 4 lunches, including lunch by the San Juan river and a farm lunch in Viñales
- 2 dinners: a welcome dinner and a dinner before the music evening, both at paladares in Havana
Not included
- International flights to and from Havana
- Travel health insurance valid in Cuba (required for entry) and the tourist card if your airline does not supply it
- Travel insurance for cancellation and baggage
- Meals not listed
- Drinks beyond the first at the music evening
- Tips
- Optional activities, such as a salsa class or a day at Cayo Jutías
- Personal expenses
- Currency exchange costs
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 370 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Five nights in central casas particulares or small private hotels, 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 2 dinners, airport transfers, a private vehicle and driver, a See Sight Tours guide throughout with Cuban local guides, the classic-car ride, the music evening, the river pools, the coffee estate, the Viñales valley morning and a tobacco farm, with all entries.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, so everyone fits around one table at a paladar and in the classic cars, and can hear the guide in the narrow lanes of Old Havana. Many Cuba group tours take up to 16.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the airport on day 1 to the airport on day 6. Licensed Cuban guides join in Old Havana, Las Terrazas and the Viñales Valley, so you hear Cuban voices as well as ours.
How fit do I need to be, and do I have to ride a horse?
Easy fitness is enough, and no, the horse is a choice. The Viñales morning is about 5 km on flat farm tracks, on foot or on a walking horse, and you can ride to the farm in the vehicle instead. Expect heat, uneven paving in Havana and slippery rocks at the river pools.
I'm travelling solo. Is there a single supplement?
Yes. A room of your own costs from CAD 370 more, shown up front with no change at checkout. If you would rather share, tell us when you request to book and we will see whether another solo guest on your departure wants to share too.
When is the best time to visit western Cuba?
November to April is the dry season, warm by day, good for walking the Viñales valley and with the clearest water at the river pools. May to October is hot, humid and wet, and the hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking from August to October.
How does booking work?
Choose your start date and request to book. We check availability and provide the final quote, itinerary and booking terms before you accept. No payment is taken when you send the request. The small group starts from CAD 2,185 per person sharing, with taxes included.
Can I travel on my own dates?
Yes. The trip comes as a private trip for your party only, with your own guide and vehicle, on a date you choose. If you would rather travel independently, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the same casas, drivers and local guides.
Do Canadians need a visa for Cuba?
Canadians need a Cuban tourist card rather than a visa, usually supplied with flights from Canada and also available electronically, plus the D'Viajeros online form before arrival and proof of travel health insurance. Your passport must be valid for your stay. We confirm the current rules when you book.
Can US citizens join this trip?
Only if their travel fits an authorized US category, because US law does not allow tourism to Cuba and the rules tightened in 2025. We use privately owned casas and avoid hotels on the US Cuba Restricted List, but you are responsible for your own compliance. Ask us before booking.
Is six days enough for Cuba, or should I take the longer trip?
Six days is enough for Havana and the west at an easy pace, with short drives. If you also want the Bay of Pigs, Cienfuegos and Trinidad, our 9-day Havana, Viñales and Trinidad trip covers them, with two longer driving days. You can also add nights in Havana or a beach stay after this one.
Should I bring cash, and what are power cuts like in Cuba now?
Bring cash for the whole trip in Canadian dollars or euros, because cards and cash machines are unreliable and US-issued cards do not work. Power cuts are common, and fuel, medicines and some foods run short. We look for casas with backup power, but bring your medicines, a headlamp and a power bank.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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