Cuba del Oeste, in casas particulares

HAVANA
Direct flight with Air France to Havana.
On arrival, you will be met at the airport by one of our French-speaking Cuban assistants. Transfer by private taxi to the historic center of Old Havana.

You will explore the historic center of Havana on foot. As early as the 17th century, the Spanish already regarded Cuba as the key to the Americas. Today listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its colonial-era architectural treasures, the city displays its unhurried beauty, animated by a Caribbean way of life. Around the old town, the Cuban capital reveals a different era altogether: the economic boom of the United States in the 1950s and its ripple effect on Cuba. Struck by sudden modernism, the city was once compared to New York: Vedado styled itself as Brooklyn, more than three hundred thousand cars were on the road in 1959, and skyscrapers reshaped the Malecón skyline. Today the setting remains largely unchanged. It has faded, certainly, but strolling along the Malecón and into the upscale neighborhoods (Miramar, 5th Avenue, and of course Revolution Square) aboard a gleaming vintage American car, a journey back in time is guaranteed.

You will spend two nights at a hotel in the Cuban capital.

VIÑALES
Departure for “Pinar del Río”, the westernmost region of the island, home to the tobacco plantations that supply the finest cigars in the world. These plantations are only part of the region’s appeal: mogotes (rounded limestone hills) punctuate the plains of Pinar del Río, landscapes that rival the most spectacular natural sites on the planet. These Cuban plains, home to roaming cowboys and storybook villages, are ringed by mountains covered in vast tropical forests.

You will then discover the Viñales Valley and its exceptionally beautiful natural formations. The region’s flora and fauna diversity is among the most representative of the country. Listed as a UNESCO cultural World Heritage Site, the valley stands out for its conservation of terrestrial ecosystems — an essential stop for anyone drawn to ecotourism and sustainable development.

Meeting with officials from the Institute for Heritage Protection. Our specialized guides will take you through Viñales along red-earth trails, amid tobacco fields and mogotes covered in dense vegetation rising from the ground. Visit the despalillo (tobacco leaf sorting center), horseback ride along the “Del Mirador al Valle” trail.

Two nights with a local family.

CIENFUEGOS
Cienfuegos, in the central part of the island, is a port city and capital of the province of the same name. Set on one of the most beautiful bays in the Caribbean Sea, 228 km southeast of Havana, its historic center is well preserved. It earned its title of “Pearl of the South” early on, in the colonial era. You will walk to José Martí Park, and from the “Rosa Náutica”, visit the city’s main sites of interest: boulevards, the Tomás Terry Theater, and more. By car, you can visit the botanical garden, home to no fewer than two thousand species, and continue through the San Antón mountains and its lookout point. Arriving at Pasacaballo, at the entrance to the bay, you will take the public ferry to Punta Jagua. Lunch with a local fisherman. Visit the typical village and Jagua Castle, a former fortress guarding the entrance to the city. Transfer by sea then by land back to Cienfuegos.

Night with a local family.

TRINIDAD
A must-see, Trinidad (85 km, roughly 1h30 by road) is nicknamed “the museum city of Cuba”. This city, whose architectural heritage is the best preserved on the island, offers a window onto the past, letting you explore another era; it is distinguished by its superb colonial mansions, historic squares, and the remains of its sugar mills and former slave quarters. It preserves valuable cultural traditions, including significant traces of the sugar industry’s golden age in the first half of the 19th century. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, the city has since made it a priority to safeguard its authenticity and the richness of its history. Wander at leisure through the cobblestone streets, taking in the distinctive atmosphere created by its striking Spanish colonial architecture.

A horse-drawn carriage ride through the outskirts leads to the Mirador de la Valle de los Ingenios (a UNESCO-listed landscape), offering a sweeping view over the famous sugar valley.

The colonial center feels weathered with authenticity, even as locals do their best to restore and repaint it. The glorious past of this small Caribbean city shows through, at once rich and crumbling. It is a journey back in time. A handful of artisans bear witness to life today, and to the past, when thousands of enslaved people toiled in the sugarcane fields for more than four centuries.

You can also set aside a day for a hike at Topes de Collantes. You will explore the Guamuhaya massif by jeep. From Guanayara Park, the rest of the route is on foot, along trails where your guide will take the time to explain the various plant and tree species around you. Waterfalls and natural pools offer an ideal setting to take in the surrounding nature. Lunch will be at La Gallega before returning to Trinidad.

Three nights with a local family.

A few suggestions for pleasant evenings to the rhythm of salsa: Casa de la Trova, Casa de la Música, Palenque de los Congos, where Cuban musicians play live. And if you’re so inclined, we invite you to a salsa lesson.

SANTA CLARA – REMEDIOS
Route to Remedios via Santa Clara. During the Cuban Revolution, on December 28, 1958, Che Guevara, leading only 300 men, managed to take the city and defeat the roughly 3,000 soldiers of Batista’s forces defending it. The following day, Che Guevara dealt the dictator a further blow by derailing a military train carrying 408 soldiers and an entire arsenal of weapons meant to block the rebels’ advance. The events ended with Batista’s men surrounded and the dictator fleeing the country. It was also here that Che was buried in a mausoleum alongside other guerrilla comrades in 1997.

You will stop at the monumental Revolution Square dedicated to him, then visit the Museum of the Martyrs of the Revolution, also devoted to his memory. Stroll through Parque Vidal and the Boulevard.

Continue to Remedios, a small, authentic village north of Villa Clara that thrived during the 18th century on trade with corsairs and pirates, notably French ones. Traces of this remain today in names such as Hotel Mascotte or Café du Louvre. Known today for its December 24th celebrations and the Parrandas festivities (a national heritage event), it is a town steeped in legend, untouched by mass tourism, where “Remediana” identity runs deep.

Walking tour through the historic center, visiting the main squares and buildings. Optional bike-taxi ride through the outskirts of Remedios and visit to a Parrandas workshop.

Night in Remedios with a local family.

The following day, the vehicle is returned in Havana.

In summary:
– 2 nights at a hotel in Havana with breakfast
– 2 nights with a local family in Viñales, in a Shoppy-style house, with breakfast
– 1 night with a local family in Cienfuegos, with breakfast
– 3 nights with a local family in Trinidad, in an Époque-style house, with breakfast
– 1 night with a local family in Remedios, with breakfast