Cuban New Years Rumba - 11 days from Havana

Among other things, "Rumba" in Cuba means party, and this tour is the ideal way to party in Cuba over the festival period. It includes one of the island's most lively and traditional festivals - the Paradas de Remedios a Christmas feast in the beautiful city of Trinidad, and a special night in Havana for New Years Eve, with a spectacular outdoor dinner/show at the Cathedral Plaza. We also take you to some of our favourite, out-of-the-way destinations, but if you can handle more than a week of non-stop immersion in Cuba's music, dance, and carnival spirit - this tour is definitely for you! Following the craziness of Cuba and new years we then fly to the mayan Riviera for the last few days of fun in the sun before departing. 

• Departs December 23 only!
• Duration: 11 days 
• Tour focus: Cuban life, local contact and culture, Cuban music and stunning natural highlights with a twist of gay
• Accommodation: 2 night hotel, 9 nights home stay and the odd hotel, twin share
• Transport: flight, bus and minivan
• Group Size: Max 16 +  local tour leader

What’s Included in the Tour Price:

• Arrival transfer to your homestay in Havana on Day 1
• All breakfasts
• Cuban tour leader throughout
• New Years Eve celebration in Havana with a spectacular outdoor dinner/show at the Cathedral Plaza
• Christmas feast in Trinidad
• Walking tour of Havana
• Walking tour of Viñales valley
  
• All land transport during the itinerary and airport transfer on arrival
• All hotel accommodations* (twin share)

Not Included in the Tour

• International Flights
• Visa and passport fees
• Insurance (Travel Insurance is required to participate on the tour)
• All meals  unless indicated in program
• Drinks
• Tips
• Optional activities/day-tours/excursions
• Airport departure transfer

Tipping on the Tour

There will be times during your tour in Cuba where there'll be opportunitiew to tip local service providers - such as drivers and local guides. This is a completely optional practice to show your appreciation for excellent service and you should never feel obliged to do so, especially if you feel you did not receive good service. You may tip individually, or your tour guide will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Also at the end of the tour, if you felt your tour guide did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated 

For local guides on day trips and other optional activities, as a suggestion we recommended a tip of 2 to 5 CUC per person.

Your Journey:

Day 1 – Havana

After breakfast transfer to the airport for ur short flight to Havana. Upon arrival transfer to our homestay . The rest of the day is yours to explore.  One of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere, Havana was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Wander through old Havana and sit on the famous sea wall (malecon) to take in the view and some fresh air, and to socialize with the colourful and friendly ‘Habaneros’.

Day 2 - Santa Clara/Remedios (Christmas Eve)

The Parrandas de Remedios festival is the oldest and one of the most lively traditional festivals in Cuba. Anyone who has seen it can tell you just how crazy it is! Our arrival coincides with the climax of the celebrations on Christmas Eve. The celebrations include street parades with rumba percussion ensembles, music and verses, a float display and the very dramatic fireworks competition. The festivities can get a bit hectic at street level, so you have the option of watching the action from the roof top of a house that we have pre-arranged. From Havana, it’s about a 4 hour bus ride through the flat central region of Cuba, where there are lots of citrus plantations, to Santa Clara (we will stay the night here in a simple hotel just outside of the city, and about 40 minutes from Remedios). Before going to the festival, we will have time in the afternoon for a rest or and walk around Santa Clara, where there is a huge statue of Ernesto Ché Guevara.

Days 3 to 5 - Trinidad de Cuba (Christmas)
Trinidad is famous for its beautiful historical town centre with cobblestone streets and many beautiful colonial buildings. Nearby is the Valley of the Sugar Mills and Playa Ancón, where you can enjoy long stretches of unspoiled, white sand beaches. Scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming in waterfalls and horse-riding are other optional activities. The nightlife in Trinidad is probably the most accessible and intense in all of Cuba, with numerous live music venues and many dance performances everyday of the week. One of the best venues is a disco in a cave on a nearby hillside. We include a special Christmas group dinner lovingly prepared by our guesthouse hosts.

Day 6 - Cienfuegos

A couple of hours scenic drive along the Caribbean coast brings us to Cienfuegos, which is known in Cuba as La Perla del Sur ("the pearl of the south"). Its a French founded city with a wide Parisian-style boulevard and elegant colonnades, giving it a European flavor. There is an ambience to inspire Cuba’s most celebrate Son singer to write the words “Cienfuegos is the city I like best”. He was born nearby so I guess that helped. The spectacular peninsula that protects the bay is a great place to try the local public transport - horse carriage - and to stroll and meet the locals. Again, there is plenty of nightlife within a short walk of our centrally located accommodation.

Day 7 to 8 - Viñales

Its a day-long bus ride to Viñales. Enroute we drive along the Bay of Pigs, the scene of the CIA backed military attack on Cuba's Revolution in 1961. There are some great places for snorkelling we can stop at along the way. Upon reaching Viñales you find yourself surrounded by picturesque limestone pincushion hills (“mogotes”). This small and culturally rich village, offers friendly and welcoming residents, and wide variety of outdoor activities. Exploring caves, hiking, biking, horseback riding or simply enjoying the views of the valley and sprawling tobacco fields are all options. Vinales is one of the more agriculturally productive areas, so an abundance of local seasonal fruit and vegetables is always on offer such as enormous avocados and mangoes, pineapples, papaya, guava, and a several varieties of sweet potatoes. The nightlife is very active in this village with the local residents more than willing participants in dancing to the local live music.

Days 9-10  Havana (New Years)

On our way back to Havana we will stop off at the mountain resort town of Soroa where you can check out the orquid garden, hike to a waterfall, or climb up a steep hill for a great view of the surrounding forrested area.

The setting for our New Year's Eve dinner/show is the impressive Cathedral Plaza in Old Havana. The only restaurant in the Square, called El Patio, brings all their tables outdoors and caters for 300 diners. Wine, champagne, beers and all sorts of spirits including the famous Habana Club rum are served plentifully and the food is a compilation of Cuban recipes. A purpose built stage hosts a spectacular Tropicana style outdoor music and dance show.

The following day we include a walking tour of the historic centre of Old Havana. The afternoon is free for you to chose one of the optional activities, such as a 2 hour tour with a local expert in Afro-Cuban religions to visit houses of the local priests, or do as you please. There are also options for live music in the afternoon and at night in Havana's famous music houses, that the guide can point out for you.

Day 11 - Departure from Havana