Havana Tours of Cuba

There are many tour operators from a number of countries that offer Havana tours in Cuba. Here are a few Cuba tour itineraries from Cuba Education Tours.

We do not endorse travel to Cuba by Americans without proper license from OFAC but you can read more about legal travel to Cuba for Americans.

The Independent, a news organization from the UK, wrote up a great Havana travel review as part of their 48 hours in: series. This report gives the potential Cuba visitor a thorough, first hand experience of visiting Havana.

Teachers Introduction to Cuba Tour 

Stay at the luxurious five star Hotel Habana Libre during an amazing overview of island culture and its free lifelong universal education system. The ideal program for North American teachers eager to learn from island experts and make the most of their Summer Vacation. Open to educators and their spouses, and all interested in learning about Cuban culture and education. Read what teachers say about this program. A professional development opportunity also licensable for USA participants involved in the field of education.

Explorers Cuba Tour 

Eight days to witness the island's remarkable gains in ecological, environmental green living. This tour is for explorers who want to learn about Cuba's green ideas and practices enabling its people to live within natural resource limits, at the same time achieving one of the highest levels of human development anywhere. While on this program you'll meet, talk and network with Cuban experts in the fields of forestry, organic agriculture, climate change, nature conservation and restoration, renewable energy, and sustainable urban development. Plus you'll visit museums, architectural and historical sites, United Nations biosphere reserves, and enjoy swimming, horseback riding, birdwatching, hiking and cave exploration. Get ready to relish the island's best food and entertainment in the five-star comfort of the Hotel Habana Libre, and the rural mountaintop Resort Los Jazmines.

Cuban Holiday Tour 

How about Christmas and New Years in Cuba? This is the only all-inclusive get-away tour. It's ten days of action packed nature and culture in the safest, most friendly nation in the Americas. It's our Best of Cuba Tour including a mountaintop excursion in Soviet Army trucks, visit to a self-sustaining rural eco-community, several days of leisure in an all-inclusive beach resort far removed from tourist haunts, plus hot Latin music and dance, and fine dining. Luxury accommodations of course. What better way to welcome in 2010? The tour is limited to just over a dozen participants, and is without equal.

51st Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution Tour 

Celebrate New Years in Havana with the Cuban people on this most historic occasion. Experience the rich fabric of island culture. Register soon, this program is super-popular. Limited flights and hotels available. Don't miss out on this opportunity to usher in the New Year with eleven million Cubans who share your aspirations for a better world. An ideal tour for those who believe, as the Cubans do, that a better world is possible.

Teachers Introduction to Cuba Tour 

Stay at the luxurious five star Hotel Habana Libre, and celebrate the 51st Anniversary of the Revolution with Cubans! An amazing overview of island culture and its free lifelong universal education system. An ideal holiday and professional development trip for North Americans to witness Cuba directly and meet its warm outgoing people. Open to all interested in learning about Cuban education and culture. Read what teachers say about this program. We have very limited flights and spaces for this program.

Morning walking tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll visit four of the five historic plazas that make Havana unique in the western hemisphere.

All the Havana city tours mentioned operate daily, subject to a minimum number of people. Clients are collected from their hotels. The main operators are Havanatur havanatur.cu and Cubanacán cubanacan.cu Private tours can also be arranged locally with English-speaking guides.

Walking and Bus Tours of Havana

This half-day guided tour is a great introduction to both Old Havana and bucolic (in comparison) Vedado. Begin by taking in the grandiose Plaza de la Revolución, the centre of political life in Cuba. En route, you'll see why Vedado was the lush, rich suburb before Havana expanded ever west. Take a walk through the narrow streets of Habana Vieja, a UNESCO World Heritage site and explore the restored squares surrounded by splendid old colonial houses. A sumptuous lunch at one of many restaurants dotting the area or shopping at the city's biggest artisan market round off the day.

Tours of Havana in Classic Cars

History comes alive touring the city in a classic car. Take your pick from 1950s Cadillacs, Fords or Chevrolets and cruise Havana in the coolest possible way. You can contract a car and driver from Gran Car or strike a deal with a private taxi at Parque Central.

A typical tour of Havana will start with arrival at Havana’s José Martí International Airport then transfer by car a hotel or casa particular (private house) in the Habana Vieja or Vedado districts. Then, tour Habana Vieja or take a short drive out to Playas del Este for a day with the locals. Be sure to see Playa Megano and Guanabo before returning to Havana for the nightlife.

Museo de Artesania at Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the second oldest fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies. Today it displays treasures of artistic ceramics by the most prestigious Cuban artists from the middle of the last century to present. The institution is host to the Ceramic Biennial.

Plaza Vieja in Old Havana is the only civic square of colonial times. Absent are churches and government buildings. It is in contrast surrounded by opulent aristocratic 17th century residences.

Next drive over to San Francisco Square, one of the oldest plazas in Habana Vieja. The square is named after magnificent Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco de Asís dating from the 16th century. The basilica is a striking example of Cuba baroque architecture.

Try the Cafe del Oriente with its beautiful patterned marble floor, high ceilings, and dark wainscoted walls is considered tops in the city. The menu is one of the more extravagant in Havana.

Then, the El Cañonazo aka Firing of the 9PM Cannon at the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña. This reenactment dates back to 1519 when the city of Havana was enclosed by a tall thick rock wall to ward off attacks from pirates and the English. The cannon firing signaled the closing of the city gates for the night. If you were outside at the time, you were in "vedado" or the forbidden zone and this was your reminder to return home before they closed the gates. Today Vedado is an important cultural hub and beautiful section of modern Havana.

Other Recommended Havana Tour Itineraries

Morning departure to Las Terrazas eco-community in the Sierra del Rosario mountain range west of Havana in the province of Pinar del Río.

Tour the rural village called Rancho Curujey and enjoy a welcome cocktail while hearing about this self-sustaining community's goals of reforestation, historical preservation, environmental balance and a good life.

Meet with local artists and craft workers in their homes and studios.

Walk the incredible ruins of a French Coffee Plantation built in 1801 and worked by African slaves.

Visit La Moka, an ecologically designed hotel with trees growing up through its balconies and ceilings.

Swim in the fresh waters of the Río San Juan and explore the surroundings of this lush tropical paradise.

There is always the "Routes and Tours" itinerary. For fun, check out this old brochure offering tours to Cuba direct from Key West.