Home Tours A Taste of Cuba Culinary Tour
TRIP OVERVIEW

A Taste of  Cuba

Do you want to experience Cuba through its tropical flavors and local cuisine? Our exciting new tour combines high end dining with authentic tasting experiences. 

CULINARY HIGHLIGHTS: Dine at top paladares in Havana, visit agricultural markets, enjoy a rum and cigar tasting, take a cooking class with a top Cuban chef, experience a farm to table meal with authentic seasonal fare, try local seafood, learn how to make the perfect mojito, and more!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Architecture tour of Old Havana, visit a tobacco farm, guided tour of Fine Arts Museum, private concert with top musical artists, and more!

FEATURED CITIES:  HAVANA, PINAR DEL RIO/VIÑALES VALLEY

TOUR LENGTH

6 days/ 5 nights

Our regular small group tours start very Friday but we also offer private tours to accommodate your travel dates. If you have different departure or return dates or for more information please call us at 1-800-494-1945 or email us at info@culturalislandtravel.com

In addition to seeing the best that Havana has to offer–architecture, art, music–this tour shows you the culinary side of Cuba from all angles. From organic farms and agricultural markets, to ration stores and an authentic Cuban home kitchen, to the most elegant and creative paladares or privately run restaurants– you will leave Cuba with a newfound appreciation for how food defines the culture.

On this tour we add a day trip to Viñales Valley where you will see the cigar fields, meet farmers, and experience the picturesque countryside in Cuba. You also will meet Havana’s up-and-coming artists, as well as world famous painters. You will also be invited to attend exclusive dance performances, and listen to some of Cuba’s finest jazz, salsa bands as well as son groups in the style of the Buena Vista Social Club.

Our mission is to immerse you in this passionate culture to truly have you experience Cuba just like a local. “Support for the Cuban people” travel allows even the most seasoned travelers to view Cuba through the lens of the musicians, dancers and artists— an experience that is virtually impossible anywhere else in the world.



    Itinerary

    A Taste of Cuba

    DAY 1 Friday USA-Havana

    • Check in for ​flight from departure city
    • Arrive at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport
    • Pick up luggage and meet your tour leader at the arrival area 
    • Visit Fusterlandia, the home and gallery and mosaic art neighborhood of Jose Fuster, the Picasso of the Caribbean
    • Head to lodging for check in and orientation
    • Visit the famed Hotel Nacional
    • Experience a ride in a classic convertible car around Havana City
    • Enjoy a specially prepared welcome dinner by a Cuban chef

    DAY 2 Saturday Havana 

    • Visit Old Havana and learn about Havana’s world-renowned UNESCO heritage designated architecture on an expertly guided walking tour (around 2 hours)
    • Visit the Taller de la Grafica to meet lithographers at their collective
    • Lunch at San Cristobal paladar
    • Experience a Cuban cigar and rum tasting
    • Experience a private concert with a professional music group
    • Enjoy a tour of the newly renovated Grand Theater of Havana, a stunning building
      and home to Cuba’s national ballet
    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

    DAY 3 Sunday Havana

    • Explore a local agricultural market and shop for some Cuban food
    • Visit the Bellas Artes (Fine Arts ) Museum with an expert private guide
    • Lunch at El del Frente Paladar
    • Experience a Jazz concert with young jazz award winning band 

    DAY 4 Monday Pinar del Rio, Vinales Valley

    • Travel to the countryside (around 2 hours)
    • Meet a fourth generation farmer in Cuba’s famed tobacco fields
    • Enjoy a delicious organic farm to table lunch
    • Visit the community project “Patio Pelegrín”
    • Return to Havana (around 2 hours)
    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

    DAY 5 Tuesday Havana

    • Experience a cooking demonstration and lunch at one of Havana’s best restaurants

    This adventure in Cuban daily living and cooking begins in the morning, when an expert cook gives you an introduction to Cuban cuisine and its origins. After a tour of the gardens and farm (on site) you will watch a demonstration of how to prepare local dishes such as ropa vieja (shredded beef), lobster and shrimp enchilado (in tomato sauce). You will also learn how to prepare a Cuban mojito

    • Visit the house and grounds of Ernest Hemingway: Finca Vigía

    In 1940 Hemingway, with his new wife Martha, purchased a home outside Havana, where the couple lived for the next twenty years. The Hemingway’s named the site Finca Vigía, or “lookout farm,” and shared their home with dozens of Hemingway’s beloved cats, as well as trophies from many successful hunts and fishing expeditions. During their time at the Finca, Hemingway became a fixture of Havana, and stayed in the country longer than many Americans chose to after relations between Cuba and the United States began to deteriorate. He fished extensively aboard his boat, Pilar, and enjoyed the island lifestyle, hanging out in Havana, penning some of his signature works, and entertaining guests. His home, with many original furnishings and personal artifacts can be viewed today.

    DAY 6 Wednesday Havana-USA 

    • San Jose Craft Market (time permitting)

    San Jose craft market is Havana´s largest craft market, offering clothing, paintings, tourist souvenirs, ceramics, baseball bats, jewelry, and a multitude of other products. It is open daily 9am-5pm. This harbor side warehouse was built in 1885 and is considered the oldest depository in Old Havana.

    • Check in for return flight
    • Adios Cuba!

    Please note:

    • Tips for guides, bellhops, cleaning personnel are not included in the cost of the program.
    • Each included meal will include one beverage.

    This itinerary is subject to change. In-country programming is customized for each group to maximize your cultural experience. To maintain authenticity, many of the places we visit are not tourist destinations and are not always available. These programs require mandatory participation under our license by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

    In the event of extreme emergency or loss of passport:

    U.S. Interests Section

    Calzada, entre L y M

    Vedado, Havana, Cuba

    53-7-833-3551

    Local numbers: to be added

    When calling locally leave out the 53 at the beginning when calling from the US add 011 before all numbers

    What’s Included

    Included items in the price of your tour:
    • Cuban Visa (shipping included)
    • Roundtrip airport transfers
    • Daily breakfast in Cuba (at your accommodations)
    • All lunches during the tour at Cuba’s top paladares or privately run restaurants
    • All local air conditioned ground transportation during the tour
    • Pre-trip departure information on Cuba travel
    • Compliance with U.S. Treasury Department regulations
    • Superior accommodations
    • Expert CIT tour leader
    • Additional expert guides
    • Guaranteed small group size (no more than 8 people max)
    • Coordination of all listed activities on the itinerary and admission to those activities (this includes private music concerts, dance performances, artist visits, etc.)
    • Trip includes Havana and other cities depending on your tour
    • Concierge/reservation service for dinners and evening activities

    Not Included:

    • Round trip airfare
    • Most dinners not included
    • after dinner activities
    • Tips for tour leaders, local guides, wait staff, and cleaning personnel
    • Luggage check in costs-please check with your particular airline for allowances

    Single Supplement: Varies depending on accommodations. If you do not see what you are looking for on this tour or any of our other scheduled tours please contact us for a custom tour quote.

    Tour Dates & Prices

    Departure Date
    Standard B&B
    Upscale B&B
    Private Boutique Hotel
    Contact Us
    November 11, 2022 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    November 18, 2022 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    November 25, 2022 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    December 2, 2022 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    December 9, 2022 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    December 16, 2022 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    December 23, 2022 $2,750.00 $2,900.00 $3,275.00 Contact Us
    December 30, 2022 $2,750.00 $2,900.00 $3,275.00 Contact Us
    January 6, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    January 13, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    January 20, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    January 27, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    February 3, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    February 10, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    February 17, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    February 24, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    March 3, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    March 10, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    March 17, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    March 24, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    March 31, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    April 7, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    April 14, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    April 21, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    April 28, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    May 5, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    May 12, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    May 19, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    May 26, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    June 2, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    June 9, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    June 16, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    June 23, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    June 30, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    July 7, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    July 14, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    July 21, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    July 28, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    August 4, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    August 11, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    August 18, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    August 25, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    September 1, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    September 8, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    September 15, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    September 22, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    September 29, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    October 6, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    October 13, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    October 20, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    October 27, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    November 3, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    November 10, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    November 17, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    November 24, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    December 1, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    December 8, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    December 15, 2023 $2,550.00 $2,700.00 $3,075.00 Contact Us
    December 22, 2023 $2,750.00 $2,900.00 $3,275.00 Contact Us
    December 29, 2023 $2,750.00 $2,900.00 $3,275.00 Contact Us
    *Rates are based on double occupancy and per person. Rates may change depending on current hotel rates at the time of booking. For single occupancy, group rates and more information please contact us 
    We also offer small group and referral discounts. Contact us   to speak with a representative today.
    DOWNLOAD MUSIC

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