Locals often comment that visitors are so overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds that Havana has to offer that they can miss out on the small things that make the city great. These tours in Havana allow you to take a local’s view into the city and let them show you why it’s a place where they love to live.
1. Viñales Valley full-day tour from Havana
Nestled in the Sierra de los Órganos mountain range, Vinales Valley is surrounded by limestone mogotes rising up to 300 meters (1,000 feet) high. This place is a cultural treasure, having remained largely unchanged over the past 100 years. Traditional agriculture methods are still used to harvest crops, especially tobacco, and small farms and villages house a diverse population.
After enjoying all the Vinales Valley has to offer, you will be taken to the city of Pinar del Rio for a tobacco factory tour and lesson in the traditional rolling of leaves to make Cuban cigars. You can also visit a local market and try Cuban rum. A three-course lunch with beverages is provided overlooking the Vinales, followed by a visit to the Cueva del Indio, a small but beautiful cave with an underground river. A boat ride through the cave concludes the tour.
Viñales Valley full-day tour from Havana
Duration: 5 hours
Website:
2. Vintage Havana by Night
This tour spends an entire evening introducing guests to the famed Cuban nightlife, and with a maximum of 12 people allowed, you will be ensured a private and fun experience. First, get chauffeured along the Malecon and through Old and New Havana in a 1950s convertible. You will stop at one of Havana’s boutiques, Casa’s, and get the opportunity to construct your own perfect cocktail with lessons from a professional. Sip your creation while overlooking a beautiful view and enjoying a delicious and authentic Cuban dinner.
After dinner, get back in your car as your guide takes you to all the best nightlife venues Havana has to offer. What better way to find the real party scene than to go with a local? The tour concludes by returning to the meeting place at 11 p.m., but guests are welcome to stay out into the early morning hours to continue enjoying Havana’s nightlife independently.
Havana by Night
Duration: 6 hours
Website: Havana by Night
3. Full-day Havana tour
Just arrived in Havana? Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things to see and do in the city and not sure where to start? This all day tour will provide any visitors to the city with an all day overview of everything Cuba has to offer. Departing every day except Monday at 9 a.m., this 12-person maximum tour guides you through every part of the city, provides you with a delectable lunch, and ends with cocktails overlooking the city.
First, tour the Gran Teatro de la Habana and the Paseo de Martí. The beautiful Gran Teatro is home to Cuban’s National Ballet Company and many other groups. Move on to stroll along the Paseo de Martí, a street constructed in 1772 under the guidance of Cuba’s Governor and Captain General at that time. One of the first paved streets in Cuba, many mansions were built along this road that can be viewed in various states of glorious restoration or sad disrepair. You will next get to browse the many street markets and stores along the Teniente Rey in Old Town, and spend time at the Rafael Trejo boxing gym. Watch world-class athletes spar in the ring, or sign up for your own lessons if you are feeling especially sporty.
After lunch, the group will visit Chinatown to experience the once-thriving Asian community in Cuba and Callejón de Hamel, where you will find artists and musicians living and working on the street. Next, the tour will wind down with a classic car ride to El Morro, a fort constructed to protect Cuba from pirates. Finally, conclude your all day adventure by learning to make mojitos on a rooftop bar in Old Havana.
Full-day Havana tour
Duration: 7 hours
Website: Full Day Tour
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4. Two hour classic American car tour (from USD 55.0)
Want to spend an evening driving around the city in a 1950s convertible? This is the tour for you. Enjoy a fun night cruising the streets, admiring the Havana suburbs, and classic American cars parked there. View some must-see sights along the way. Finish your evening in style by strolling through the garden terrace of the iconic Hotel Nacional and enjoy a cocktail at sunset.
Havana: 2-Hour Classic American Car Tour with a Cocktail
Duration: 2 hour
5. Old Havana small group city walking tour (from USD 42.0)
This tour is an intimate and interesting way to get in touch with authentic Havana. Spend a few hours walking with a knowledgeable guide through Old Havana, the most historic part of the city, admiring buildings dating back to the 1500s. Visitors will see many sites. Lunch in Old Havana and a drink to conclude the tour are also provided.
Discover Old Havana: Small Group Walking Tour with Lunch
Duration: 3.5 hour
6. Two hour Afro-Cuban religions walking tour (from USD 32.0)
This walking tour provides a unique and interesting look at the cultures and practices of some of the area’s most fascinating devotees. Your guide will take you around to various parts of the city, discussing in depth the various practices of Afro-Cuban religions. Visitors will even be allowed into the homes of some local practitioners who are devoted to religions similar to voodoo. As an added bonus, the tour starts and finishes at the Callejon de Hammel, the eccentric center of the Afro-Cuban religions. Be prepared to see colorful paintings, scrap object decorations, and hear the drumbeats and rhythms meant to summon the orishas or Santería deities.
Havana: 2-Hour Afro-Cuban Religions Walking Tour
Duration: 2 hour
7. On the trail of Ernest Hemingway tour (from USD 140.97)
For any literature or Hemingway aficionados, the Trail of Ernest Hemingway offers a once in a lifetime experience walking in the footsteps of the famous author, seeing the things that inspired him to write the famous novel “The Old Man and the Sea.” Step into his shoes and see why Cuba was so strongly his muse that he actually gifted his Nobel Peace Prize to the island in 1954. Eat and enjoy a cocktail at the same restaurant Hemingway frequented, see the hotel room he stayed at in the 1930s, and explore the Hemingway museum before returning to follow the Hemingway trail through Old Havana. Along the way, you will be given the opportunity to admire a statue constructed in his honor. This truly unique sculpture consists entirely of things found by local fishermen such as anchors, props, and tools.
Havana: On the Trail of Ernest Hemingway Tour
Duration: 6 hour
8. Cuba: Yumurí Valley Jeep Safari tour (from USD 109.91)
The Yumuri Valley is one of the most popular destinations in Cuba, yet remains mostly untouched by tourism. Right outside the city, you can find rolling pastures, fields of palm trees, small forests, and plots of many crops. Its inhabitants are mostly farmers and small villagers and only one company takes tourists through the Valley to maintain its unspoiled nature.
This guided tour allows you to drive an off-road vehicle through the Yumuri Valley and down to the beautiful Saturno Cave, where you can enjoy swimming and snorkeling. Next, drive through the Matanzas, the 17 bridges that cross three rivers to reach Rancho Gaviota, an authentic Cuban farm. Here, you can enjoy a hearty and traditional lunch with a cocktail and spend time horseback riding, canoeing, or just relaxing. Finally, the tour will visit the Rio Canimar for a half hour boat ride, enjoying views of mangroves, palm trees, and local wildlife along the river.
From Varadero: Yumurí Valley Jeep Safari
Duration: 11 hour
Rich in culture
Rich in culture, Havana, Cuba is a city focused on fun, family, and history. Use these affordable and fun tours, led by local, English speaking guides to ensure you soak up all the city and surrounding areas have to offer.
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