Day One: March 21, 2025

Arrival, Check In, Welcome Dinner and  Cannon Fire

Arrive in Havana: Our local Cuban driver and guide will welcome us at Jose Marti International Airport. On your way to your accommodations, you will enjoy a panoramic view of Plaza of the Revolution, Old Havana and Vedado.

Check In at Bed and Breakfast. Note: Staying at a Bed and Breakfast is a great way to support the Cuban people!

Welcome Dinner at Chef Ivan’s El Carbon Restaurant (included)

• Pamper your senses with an outstanding, family style welcome dinner. The menu includes typical Cuban dishes like “arroz con pollo” and “masitas de cerdo.” Chef Ivan uses new recipe ideas from his travels around the world to create his flavorful “Cuban fusion” cuisine. Join the list of many happy clients including the King of Spain, Will Smith, Ben Affleck, Penelope Cruz, and others!

Cannon Fire Ceremony

• Take a drive to the fairgrounds of Castillo de San Carlos de la Cabaña. A spectacular sunset and view of the city awaits you. Meet tourists and locals who visit the fort to witness the unique tradition of the Cannon Fire Ceremony. Since the 1700’s, this event takes place at 9 pm, signifying the closing of the city doors. Furthermore, you may shop for souvenirs at the end of the event.

Day Two: March 22, 2025 

Classic Convertible Car Ride, Cigars Factory, Old Havana

1 Hour Classic Convertible Car Ride & Photoshoot

Ride with class in one of our colorful, classic convertibles in Havana. For one hour, you will ride along Old Havana and the Havana Malecon. With the photoshoot included this will be a unique and unforgettable experience!
Note: Photographer will WhatsApp photos to you.

 Cigar Factory  

• Visit the Partagas Cigar Factory and learn the process of selecting, rolling, cutting, and packaging the famous Cuban cigars.

Lunch at Mojito-Mojito Restaurant (included)

• Delight in authentic Cuban cuisine while enjoying the energy of the plaza.
  

Explore Havana’s Plazas

• Plaza Vieja The eclectic Plaza Vieja is surrounded by colorful colonial buildings. The oversized Carrara dominates the center of the plaza. Great place for photos!
• Plaza San Francisco de Asis The plaza features the Basilica Menor San Francisco de Asis, the boutique Hotel del Marques de San Felipe and Santiago de Bejucal, and the Chamber of Commerce.

Almacenes San Jose

• Enjoy live music while you shop for souvenirs, art, and crafts.

Back to lodging to freshening up.

Dinner Together at Cha-Cha Restaurant (included)

• Cozy and friendly restaurant with great cuisine.

Day Three: March 23, 2025 

Day Tour to Varadero Beach with Lunch

Varadero Beach

Varadero is one of Cuba's jewels, a charming town known for its powder white sand beaches and laid-back atmosphere.  The ride will take about two hours.

On the way to Varadero, we will stop at the impressive Bacunayagua look-out point and take in a panoramic view of the Matanzas province.  Once in Varadero, delight in lunch at a local restaurant.

Then, enjoy Varadero beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  Last, visit the town and connect with local vendors.   Return to Havana in the late afternoon.

Dinner on your own

Suggest a quick dinner at a local restaurant.

Day Four: March 24, 2025

Hemingway Experience, Community Project, Architecture & History

Hemingway’s Finca Vigia

• Today, we will drive to San Francisco de Paula for a tour of Finca Vigia, Hemingway’s country home in the 1940’s. He wrote some of his famous work, the most famous, “The Old Man and the Sea.”

Muraleando in Lawton, includes Authentic Cuban Lunch

This community project, in the suburbs of Lawton, is an enriching artistic and social community project.  Guests can delight in local art, music, dancing, and Cuban cuisine. 

Muraleando began as a single person's effort to teach art to kids and has grown into a vibrant cultural hub. Artists worldwide contribute to its murals, which line both sides of the street. The center offers diverse art classes, including drawing, painting, ceramics, theater, music, and dance, with a special focus on students with special needs. The community also uses the space for various celebrations.

Back to lodging to freshening up.

Dinner (included)

Cabaret Parisien (Doors open at 9:30 pm) 

• Dress up time for the Cabaret Parisien Dinner/Show! Beautifully staged, the show represents the development of the Cuban “mulato,” a fusion of Indian, African, and Spanish roots.

Day Five: March 25, 2025 

Colonial Plazas, Afro-Cuban Music & Dance, Arts & Crafts

Plaza de Armas & La Catedral

• The Plaza the Armas houses the Hotel Santa Isabel, the Templete Monument and the Castillo de la Fuerza Real.  
• The Cathedral Church dominates this Plaza, but you can also discover restaurants and small museums within the square.  Hemingway’s Bodeguita del Medio is a “most stop,” for a mojito and to leave your name on one of the street walls. 

Lunch at Antojos restaurant (included)

• Satisfy your cravings for authentic Cuban dishes at Antojos.

Callejon de Hamel Drums & Rumba

• The Callejon (Alley) of Hamel is devoted to Afro-Cuban culture.  Enjoy the beautifully created afro-sculptures, and art murals made by local artists. Ready for a rumba dance? At noon on Sundays, the alley comes to live with rumba music and dancers.  So, rumba with the locals!

Farewell Fiesta Cubana and Authentic Cuban Dinner 

• At Havana 61 Restaurant 

Day Six: March 26, 2025 

Goodbye Cuba!

This amazing Cuba experience has reached its end.  Thanks for traveling with Traveling Mercies Vacations.  We hope that your experience was amazing! Our friendly driver will transfer you to Jose Marti airport. Please be aware that check-in is two and a half hours prior to departure time.  Until next time! 

TRAVELING MERCIES VACATIONS' FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAN BE FOUND HERE

CANCELLATION POLICY:

All payments to A Higher Purpose, LLC d/b/a Traveling Mercies Vacations are non-refundable and non-transferable. This is because A Higher Purpose, LLC d/b/a Traveling Mercies Vacations has contractual agreements with hotels, airlines and other vendors that will not allow us to obtain any refunds. This way we can keep our package prices low and allow you to make monthly payments on your vacation. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE:

The government of Cuba requires those who travel to the island to have medical insurance contracted, but it is highly recommended to also take out travel insurance that covers unforeseen events such as loss of luggage, cancellation fees or liability. 

Missing a vacation is bad enough. Losing the money you paid for your vacation is even worse. Trip insurance is therefore recommended. You can purchase travel insurance on your own.

PASSPORT AND VISAS:

Traveling to island requires a passport valid for six months beyond travel dates. For this tour, your passport should not expire before September 26, 2025.  Refunds will not be provided for expired passports.

Visa and Certification of Travel to Cuba is included.   

Any information provided in the travel description pertains to US citizens only. Non-US citizens should check with the respective consulate of the country(s) to be visited for current entry requirements. A Higher Purpose, LLC d/b/a/ Traveling Mercies does not provide or validate travel requirements for non-US citizens.

You MUST purchase your own flight to Cuba before January 10, 2025 and provide your flight details. 

Please note, if you are arriving or departing any time outside of our trip dates of March 21-26, 2025, you are responsible for your transfers to and from the accommodations.

GROUP HARMONY:

To ensure the desired group synergy, A Higher Purpose LLC d/b/a Travel Mercies Vacations reserves the right to accept, reject or expel any individual who is deemed disruptive or incompatible with the interests of the group, including, but not limited to, individuals who are intoxicated and/or under the influence of drugs leading to a negative experience for the remainder of the group. Expenses, including cancellation fees and/or costs for alternate travel plans or to return home, will necessarily be borne by the passenger. All unused services are non-refundable.

It may be necessary to change accommodations, transportation, activities or other services.  In theses cases we will make reasonable efforts to provided comparable substitutions wherever possible.   It is the attendee's discretion to attend some, all or none of the events, but the cost does not change, nor is it refundable.