Upon arrival at the José Martí Airport in Havana, meet your local guide and driver and depart for the city center. Your first taste of the Cuban culture begins with a panoramic tour of Havana. Pass by the main sites of the city, including the Plaza de la Revolucion, the Capitol and the waterfront area known as the Malecon. Enjoy lunch at a local paladar before checking into the Meliá Cohiba Hotel, home for the next four nights. This evening you’re in for a special treat as you travel in style in restored antique cars to a local restaurant. At the restaurant, enjoy a workshop by a local expert on cigar and rum pairing before the included dinner. Lunch and dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, depart by coach for the tiny agricultural town of Viñales in the province of Pinar del Rio. Aside from coffee, fruit and vegetables, tobacco is one of the most important crops of the area. On the visit to Benito’s tobacco farm, interact with the farm workers as you explore the plantation and learn about the tobacco cultivation process. The Cuban farmers will happily demonstrate the traditional way of hand rolling cigars made from the tobacco they grow. Following this unique farm experience, lunch is included at Finca el Paraiso. Your day in the country continues at El Despalillo where you learn how the tobacco leaves are sorted by quality and color before being sent to the well-known Francisco Donatien factory. You will have a true sense of Cuban cigar production after experiencing this very manual process by the local workers. After an educational day in the country, return to Havana for an included dinner at a local restaurant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Today is all about cigars! After breakfast at the hotel, the day begins with a visit to Cuba’s iconic Partagás Cigar Factory. Before entering, admire the architecture and grandeur of this 4-story landmark building, built in 1845, with its signature balconies and shuttered windows. Once inside, the familiar smell of fresh tobacco greets you and it becomes clear as to why Havana is the birthplace of premium cigars. The factory is full of life as workers are busy creating these masterpieces entirely by hand, the way it has been done for hundreds of years. As you tour the factory, you have an up close look at the process and gain an even greater appreciation for the final product. At La Triada Cigar Shop, see the longest cigar ever rolled – it’s even in the Guinness Book of World Records! Following lunch at a local restaurant, depart for Vibora Park for a visit to a humidor factory. A local expert leads you through the factory, explaining the process, as you see the local artisans at work creating these magnificent pieces of art. After spending the day learning about this famous product of Cuba, enjoy a special treat as you sit back, relax and light up a stogie at the Hostal Conde de Villanueva in the historical center of old Havana. An included dinner at a local restaurant is the perfect nightcap to a fantastic day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, meet with a local architect for a most enlightening walk through Old Havana as we see the main sights and learn about its restoration works and future plans. During a visit to the 18th-century Palacio de la Artesanía, expand on yesterday’s education about cigars as you enjoy a workshop teaching you how to pair them with another of Cuba’s famous products...rum! After an included lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Havana Club Rum Museum. Learn about the process of turning the raw material in the sugar cane field into the famous Cuban rum. Raise your glass in a toast to Havana as you sample the final product at the end of the tour! At the San José Craft Market, meet and mingle with the local artists as you shop for indigenous arts and crafts. This evening, visit the Hotel Nacional. Explore the grounds of this famous hotel where so many of Hollywood’s elite actors and actresses previously visited. Viewing the ‘wall of fame’ in the hotel’s bar will surely bring back memories of Hollywood’s golden age. Your last night in Havana is celebrated with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the José MartÍ Airport and your flight home. Memories of one of the most unique excursions you could ever take will reside with you for years to come. Breakfast
Itinerary is subject to change
Melía Cohiba, Havana, Cuba
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