Small Group Trips to Cuba in 2022
Group Tours to Cuba in November, 2022
Small group trips to Cuba for Americans!
YES, it’s still legal for Americans to travel to Cuba so join me for this unforgettable, non-touristy, small group trip to Cuba November and December, 2022!
This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity where you will connect with extraordinary people and enjoy life-changing experiences. We’ll visit sites across Cuba that you won’t find in any guidebook and you’ll get to engage with local Cubans from all different walks of life.
We’ll visit four different cities, each offering their own flavor and flare. This educational cultural immersion adventure is not your typical group tour and includes lots of physical activity. This is a fast-paced adventure geared at curious travelers that enjoy non-traditional, off-the-beaten-path, local travel experiences. It is perfect for travelers who avoid run-of-the-mill big bus tours and who like to see and do a bit of everything.
Throughout the trip, you will meet Cuban friends of mine who will share their experiences as artists, journalists, historians, economists, government employees, entrepreneurs, and documentary filmmakers. These unique experiences will explore a side of Cuba that few tourists see.
This is a non-touristy Cuba group tour for people who don’t usually do group tours. It’s the perfect excuse to skip fighting politics with your family this Thanksgiving. Instead, be thankful you can travel to Cuba with fun, interesting people this November.
Cuba is a photographer’s dream!
Explore everyday life in Havana
“I’m normally a solo traveler so this is the first time I’ve ever traveled with a group and I could not have had a better time. This has been fabulous trip that I’ve been wanting to do for years and knew I could not have done on my own. It was the perfect experience.””
“Our February 2020 Cuba experience with EscapingNY exceeded our expectations! The trip was a fantastic adventure into a country and culture like no other. It was a pleasure to fully enjoy this beautiful country and its fascinating people without having to worry about a thing. Thank you EscapingNY! Thank you Cuba!”
Be surrounded with spectacular scenery
Have dinner in the homes of Cuban families
Learn about everyday life in Cuba
November and December, 2022 Cuba Trip Departures:
November 13th - 21st (9 days)
HAVANA
Day 1
Arrive in Havana, get settled. (Try to arrive by 1pm)
For those who arrive by 1pm, an optional afternoon walking tour can be arranged to visit female art entrepreneurs specializing in artisanal soap making, stained glass production, and recycled paper crafts.
Group welcome dinner.
Evening visit to an old factory converted into the country’s premiere art exhibition space and nightclub.
Day 2
Full-day historical walking tour of the Museum of Revolution and surrounding Old Havana historic hotels, churches, plazas, elegant mansions of one-time wealthy merchants, and growing street art and graffiti scene.
Evening neighborhood orientation tour and stroll along the bustling Malecón, where all of Havana congregates at night.
Evening drive in a classic car to watch sunset from across the bay.
Classic car ride through Havana
Biking to the Plaza de Revolucion in Havana
Day 3
Morning history and culture bike tour of Havana (Revolution Plaza, Old Havana, “The Forest”, Cemetery, etc.). The ride will be about 10-15 miles at a relaxed pace, making frequent stops.
Afternoon discussion with an American journalist who’s been living in Cuba for 18 years and operates a business there. We’ll learn about her experience as an American living and running a business in Cuba and her role as a journalist covering Cuba’s fascinating and progressive medical and education systems.
Evening free.
Day 4
Morning walking tour with an economics professor to discuss Cuba’s past and current economic situation. Learn how most Cuban’s get by on $25/month, what sort of side hustles they invent, how they navigate the two currencies, how the food rations book works, and how the influx of American tourists and Trump travel restrictions are affecting their lives.
Five-hour drive to the pastel-hued, cobble-stoned city of Trinidad, one of the best preserved colonial towns in the Americas.
Evening is free for live music, dancing, or resting.
Visit artists in their studios
Go swimming in natural pools
Soak in history & culture
TRINIDAD
Day 5
Morning culture, history, and religion tour of the city with a local journalist.
Afternoon free to visit the beach, take a salsa or percussion lesson, or to schedule a photo walking tour with local professional photographers.
Evening visit to enjoy a live Afro-Cuban music and dance performance.
CIENFUEGOS
Day 6
Morning visit to El Nicho, where we’ll hike to several natural pools and waterfalls to swim. The hike is relatively easy and lasts one hour (plus time for swimming).
Lunch at a family’s home, hidden within a national park. Watch the family chop down sugar cane from their backyard and prepare your meal on a wood burning stove in their open-air backyard kitchen.
One-hour drive to Cienfuegos, Cuba’s only French-colonized city, referred to as the “Pearl of the South”.
Dinner at a family’s home in a non-touristy and rarely-visited part of the city.
Day 7
Cienfuegos city tour with a local historian.
Six-hour drive to rural Viñales, the heart of Cuba’s tobacco country.
Enjoy a cocktail amidst stunning views of the mountains and tobacco valleys before feasting on a home-cooked dinner at our casa overlooking the mountains.
Visit lush tobacco fields
Cycle through rural valleys and mountains
Learn how to roll your own cigar!
VIÑALES
Day 8
Morning guided walk through the Valley of Silence to learn about local flora, fauna, and agriculture traditions. Learn about the traditional coffee making process, and taste old-fashioned, filtered coffee.
Visit a functioning tobacco farm to learn about the traditional cigar making process from a local tobacco farmer. You’ll learn how to hand-roll your own cigar and have an opportunity to purchase organic Cuban cigars directly from farmers.
Lunch at a farm-to-table restaurant in the middle of the mountainous valleys.
Late afternoon free. Optional bike tour of the valleys is available (mountain bikes will be used and the terrain is a mix of paved streets and dirt roads. The route will depend on riders’ skill level and how recent rain may have affected unpaved roads.)
Day 9
Three-hour drive back to Havana
Afternoon flight home! (Note that most flights leave Havana between 1-3pm but if your flight leaves much earlier, a sunrise taxi to the airport can be arranged. If possible, reserve a flight that departs no earlier than 1pm).
Enjoy home-cooked meals at our casas
Drinks at sunset in Vinales
Explore Cuba with fun & interesting people
“It was a phenomenal trip. We’ve never been on a group trip before and this has been a great time. If you’re thinking about doing it, do it! You’ll have a great time and you’ll have no worries at all during the trip”
“I joined one of EscapingNY’s group tours and had an absolutely amazing time and I can’t say enough good things about the trip. I so much enjoyed meeting a variety of Cubans from different walks of life to learn about their daily life and culture.”
Video testimonials from trip participants
Pricing
For this trip, only personal checks, direct bank transfers, and Zelle will be accepted.
$3399, if booked by March 1st, 2022
$3599 , if booked by June 1st, 2022
$3799 , if booked by August 1st, 2022
*Prices are based on double-occupancy. If you wish to have your own room, please add $499 per person. In the past, guests have enjoyed inviting friends and family to share a room, though I will try to pair up interested (and fully vaccinated) singles looking for a roommate.
A 50% deposit is required by the indicated date to reserve your spot. The remaining balance is due by September 1st, 2022.
What is included:
Round-trip taxi transfers to/from Havana airport
English-speaking guides
Transportation between and within cities to all activities on the itinerary
Accommodations in comfortable B&B homes
Breakfast every morning and either lunch/or dinner each day
Tips/gratuities for guides
Travelers with special diets (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, Kosher) can be accommodated with advanced notice.
What’s NOT included:
Airfare (though airline/flight suggestions will be provided)
Travel insurance
Admission and transportation to activities not included in the itinerary
Meals not indicated in the itinerary
IMPORTANT: Proof of travel insurance is required for this trip. Read my article Why You Should Buy Travel Insurance to learn why it’s so important. You may chose your own travel insurance provider but I recommend World Nomad's. I've used their insurance for many years, as have many of my clients, and they offer comprehensive coverage and excellent customer service at a reasonable price. Additional terms and conditions can be found here.
Discover Havana’s best graffiti
Make memories in Havana
Explore classic & modern Cuba
Have a question about an upcoming trip? Please send a message below:
Related Articles about Cuba
See my previous blog posts to get a feel for the day-to-day life that few tourists encounter, what to pack, what to expect, and what to know.
What to Know Before Booking an AirBnB in Cuba
Tips for Solo Female Travelers in Cuba
Cuba’s Local Food Scene Isn’t What You’d Expect
Is it Still Legal to Visit Cuba?
Cuba's Zero-Waste Recycling Like You've Never Seen it Before
Spaghetti with Mustard: Not What You Expected from Cuban Food