Self-drive Cuba: Best of the west
13 days from £2,130
Explore the tour day by day, from the highlights to the quieter moments in between. Here’s how each day unfolds and what to expect along the way.
Private transport to your modern hotel close to the seafront promenade (Malecón) in to the lively historic centre of Havana.
Madero Bed and Breakfast is one of a new generation of small Cuban properties which are considerably more upmarket, contemporary and stylish than the traditional homestay.
This popular and well-regarded choice is in the heart of historic Havana, just a quick stroll from the city’s principal squares. The six guest rooms and one larger suite with a balcony are distributed over three floors, all tastefully furnished in modern muted colours and pale wood with up-to-date private bathrooms.
You are welcome to make use of a spacious living room and kitchen on the ground floor and there is a rooftop terrace with comfy armchairs. The property is also known as Hostal Madero, but it is certainly much better appointed than what we would normally expect from a hostel, with excellent service from helpful, mainly English-speaking staff.
Your introduction to the city is a guided walking tour of Old Havana. The streets of La Habana Vieja were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, and the subsequent restoration of this part of town has transformed it into arguably Latin America’s finest colonial quarter, in marked contrast to the rambling, potholed streets and crumbling façades around it.
Stroll along the cobbles, between grand, pastel-hued mansions and bustling street life; music seeps out of every doorway and the narrow streets are clogged with gargantuan, crumbling 1950s American cars, which you will have the option of hopping into and cruising down the Malecón. You’ll have trouble keeping your camera by your side as iconic images flash before you round each and every corner.
Madero Bed and Breakfast is one of a new generation of small Cuban properties which are considerably more upmarket, contemporary and stylish than the traditional homestay.
This popular and well-regarded choice is in the heart of historic Havana, just a quick stroll from the city’s principal squares. The six guest rooms and one larger suite with a balcony are distributed over three floors, all tastefully furnished in modern muted colours and pale wood with up-to-date private bathrooms.
You are welcome to make use of a spacious living room and kitchen on the ground floor and there is a rooftop terrace with comfy armchairs. The property is also known as Hostal Madero, but it is certainly much better appointed than what we would normally expect from a hostel, with excellent service from helpful, mainly English-speaking staff.
Collect your hire car, a Seat Althea or equivalent. Rest of the day at leisure.
Madero Bed and Breakfast is one of a new generation of small Cuban properties which are considerably more upmarket, contemporary and stylish than the traditional homestay.
This popular and well-regarded choice is in the heart of historic Havana, just a quick stroll from the city’s principal squares. The six guest rooms and one larger suite with a balcony are distributed over three floors, all tastefully furnished in modern muted colours and pale wood with up-to-date private bathrooms.
You are welcome to make use of a spacious living room and kitchen on the ground floor and there is a rooftop terrace with comfy armchairs. The property is also known as Hostal Madero, but it is certainly much better appointed than what we would normally expect from a hostel, with excellent service from helpful, mainly English-speaking staff.
Drive to Viñales, a small, bucolic town tucked away in the Sierra de los Órganos. The shady high street is lined with trees, wooden colonnades and one-storey, red-roofed houses. Horse and carts clatter along the main road and local children play baseball with sticks and stones outside the dilapidated whitewashed church in the main square. There is a splendid old chemist’s shop and a few other bare-shelved stores, as well as a couple of salsa bars that attract a lively crowd in the evening.
This low rise, colonial style hotel, located in the centre of the town, has a pleasant white-washed façade with a red tiled roof and shady terrace. Bright shiny floor tiling is offset by traditional dark wood furnishings in the public areas, which include a bar/restaurant on the ground floor, and the large windows throughout allow for the passage of cooling breezes. The 23 guest rooms have slatted doors opening to a terrace overlooking the main square, the street or the interior. They have one or two queen-sized beds and are well equipped with TV and air-conditioning. There’s free parking on the street outside and Wi-Fi is included throughout the property.
The valley has a distinctive landscape, with dramatic limestone mountains, known as mogotes, which jut into the sky from a lush, fertile plain. Using oxen and carts, local farmers cultivate the red soil of the valley floor for fruit, vegetables and tobacco, and the countryside is peppered with thatched curing barns for drying the tobacco leaves.
If you don’t want to drive around, you might take an optional guided walk through this beautiful valley; the trail passes alongside fields being tilled by straw-hatted farmers driving their oxen, and you may have the opportunity to visit members of a campesino family in their home, where they’ll brew you up a coffee, roll a cigar and talk to you about life on the land.
This low rise, colonial style hotel, located in the centre of the town, has a pleasant white-washed façade with a red tiled roof and shady terrace. Bright shiny floor tiling is offset by traditional dark wood furnishings in the public areas, which include a bar/restaurant on the ground floor, and the large windows throughout allow for the passage of cooling breezes. The 23 guest rooms have slatted doors opening to a terrace overlooking the main square, the street or the interior. They have one or two queen-sized beds and are well equipped with TV and air-conditioning. There’s free parking on the street outside and Wi-Fi is included throughout the property.
Drive to the community project of Las Terrazas in the Sierra del Rosario UNESCO biosphere reserve. This is Cuba’s premier centre for ecotourism, which offers the opportunity to get close to the local community, who coexist harmoniously with their surroundings.
The unusual Hotel Moka Las Terrazas overlooks a lake in acres of restored forest. It has a coloured tiled roof and a multi-tiered lobby built around a large lime tree, which climbs through two floors and up through the roof via a skylight.
Tropical light filters throughout the hotel, and the place is brimming with larger than life flowers. The ensuite rooms are decorated in colonial style and arranged over two blocks built along the ridge of the hillside. Rooms are accessed by a walkway, and have a secluded balcony that looks over the forest and valley below.
The large swimming pool, tennis courts, café and restaurant are reached by a path which winds through the verdant landscaped gardens. Activities include hiking, bird-watching, bathing in natural pools 2km away, and a canopy tour whizzing through the jungle foliage by zipline.
At leisure at Las Terrazas. Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve sits on an impressive mountain range of tropical and semi-deciduous forest within the coffee-producing region of Pinar del Rio. The reserve is rich in flora and fauna and offers some the island’s best bird-watching. Other notable wildlife includes bats, frogs and lizards. You have time to choose between optional activities such as hiking the trails, admiring the waterfalls, bird watching or visiting an orchid farm or old coffee plantation.
The unusual Hotel Moka Las Terrazas overlooks a lake in acres of restored forest. It has a coloured tiled roof and a multi-tiered lobby built around a large lime tree, which climbs through two floors and up through the roof via a skylight.
Tropical light filters throughout the hotel, and the place is brimming with larger than life flowers. The ensuite rooms are decorated in colonial style and arranged over two blocks built along the ridge of the hillside. Rooms are accessed by a walkway, and have a secluded balcony that looks over the forest and valley below.
The large swimming pool, tennis courts, café and restaurant are reached by a path which winds through the verdant landscaped gardens. Activities include hiking, bird-watching, bathing in natural pools 2km away, and a canopy tour whizzing through the jungle foliage by zipline.
Today you head to Cienfuegos through the central heartland of Cuba, a transition between the pre-Revolutionary prosperous western plantations and the cattle pasture of the poorer east. The elegant city of Cienfuegos is an important port town founded by French settlers from Louisiana in 1819.
Its French founders left their mark in broad neoclassical boulevards, art deco façades and blond inhabitants but there’s also a strong Afro-Caribbean presence. This is a seafaring city with salt in the air; it’s the world’s primary sugar port. The ambience and architectural style is distinct from that of the rest of the island.
Hotel La Unión is an attractive colonial building in the centre of the lively port of Cienfuegos, with a lovely view of the bay from the upper floors. This is a smart and tasteful boutique-style hotel, with pale blue, pinks and yellow tones striking a breezy tropical note.
The guestrooms have marble-effect bathrooms and period wooden furniture, but the colonial style is not ornate or overdone: the understated decor and furnishings and large windows lend a feel of space and light.
Other facilities include an attractive outdoor pool in an enclosed tiled area, surrounded by loungers, as well as a Jacuzzi and gym. The restaurant serves an à la carte menu and a buffet, and there’s also a small snack bar. It’s popular and friendly, but note there is a weekend disco nearby.
Drive on to the city of Trinidad. Trinidad was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Its popularity has not affected its colonial charm and unhurried atmosphere.
There’s a feast of terracotta-tiled roofs, cobbled streets and pastel-coloured buildings. Founded in 1514, the town was originally used as a base for expeditions into the ‘New World’; its 5 main squares and 4 churches date from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The town has hardly changed in a century, no suburbs creep out from its historic centre and no high-rise buildings obscure the view to the sea. Home-grown talent fills the squares and music venues in the evenings, when the town comes alive with dancing and the sound of salsa. Evening entertainment continues into the early hours with dancing and music each night.
This adult-orientated hotel boasts a lovely hillside location overlooking the terracotta roofs and church spires of the historic city of Trinidad.
Evoking the style of a traditional rural hacienda from days gone by, the two-storey hotel has 52 contemporary and spacious rooms with air-conditioning, and a private balcony or terrace. Facilities include a sizeable swimming pool, restaurant, and bar, and the centre of Trinidad, with its multiple bars, restaurants and live music venues is only a ten-minute walk away.
Drive on to the city of Trinidad. Trinidad was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Its popularity has not affected its colonial charm and unhurried atmosphere.There’s a feast of terracotta-tiled roofs, cobbled streets and pastel-coloured buildings. Founded in 1514, the town was originally used as a base for expeditions into the ‘New World’; its 5 main squares and 4 churches date from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The town has hardly changed in a century, no suburbs creep out from its historic centre and no high-rise buildings obscure the view to the sea. Home-grown talent fills the squares and music venues in the evenings, when the town comes alive with dancing and the sound of salsa. Evening entertainment continues into the early hours with dancing and music each night.
This adult-orientated hotel boasts a lovely hillside location overlooking the terracotta roofs and church spires of the historic city of Trinidad.
Evoking the style of a traditional rural hacienda from days gone by, the two-storey hotel has 52 contemporary and spacious rooms with air-conditioning, and a private balcony or terrace. Facilities include a sizeable swimming pool, restaurant, and bar, and the centre of Trinidad, with its multiple bars, restaurants and live music venues is only a ten-minute walk away.
Drive back to Havana and drop off your car.
Madero Bed and Breakfast is one of a new generation of small Cuban properties which are considerably more upmarket, contemporary and stylish than the traditional homestay.
This popular and well-regarded choice is in the heart of historic Havana, just a quick stroll from the city’s principal squares. The six guest rooms and one larger suite with a balcony are distributed over three floors, all tastefully furnished in modern muted colours and pale wood with up-to-date private bathrooms.
You are welcome to make use of a spacious living room and kitchen on the ground floor and there is a rooftop terrace with comfy armchairs. The property is also known as Hostal Madero, but it is certainly much better appointed than what we would normally expect from a hostel, with excellent service from helpful, mainly English-speaking staff.
The places you’ll stay and explore on this tour. Here’s a closer look at each one and what makes it worth the trip.
Cuba - Havana
Havana holidays showcase one of the world’s most captivating cities, where grand colonial squares, colourful classic cars and faded mansions create an unforgettable atmosphere. As Cuba’s cultural and historic heart, Havana blends architecture, music and everyday life in a way few destinations can match.
Cuba - Viñales and the Sierra de los Organos
Viñales holidays reveal a slower, more rural side of Cuba, where tobacco plantations stretch beneath dramatic limestone mogotes and pine-covered hills. Explore the UNESCO-listed Viñales Valley, visit family-run tobacco farms and discover a landscape far removed from Havana’s bustle.
Cuba - Las Terrazas
Las Terrazas is one of Cuba’s most successful ecological restoration projects, where lush forests, winding trails, sparkling lakes and abundant wildlife have transformed a once-deforested landscape into a thriving UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Located just 74km from Havana, Las Terrazas offers a contrast to Cuba’s cities, providing opportunities for hiking, swimming, horse riding and nature.
Cuba - Cienfuegos, Santa Clara and Bay of Pigs
Discover a fascinating region at the heart of Cuba, where elegant colonial architecture, revolutionary history and one of the Caribbean’s most infamous shorelines combine to create an unforgettable journey. Our Cienfuegos holidays take in the French-inspired streets of Cienfuegos, the revolutionary landmarks of Santa Clara and the historic Bay of Pigs.
Cuba - Trinidad and the Escambray Mountains
Trinidad holidays offer a captivating mix of colonial history, music and natural beauty. Wander UNESCO-listed cobbled streets, soak up the city’s vibrant atmosphere and explore the waterfalls, forests and jade-green pools of nearby Topes de Collantes.
If you are adventurous in spirit, a Cuba self-drive is the most rewarding way to explore this unique country. This two-week tour of Cuba’s highlights is an explorer’s delight. Ideal for a Cuba family holiday or adventure with friends, driving your own hire car gives you the freedom and flexibility to delve deeper into Cuban culture, meet the locals and escape to quieter corners, choosing how fast and how far you travel.
Your hotels are all pre-booked for you. Walk around Havana’s historic centre; drive through limestone landscapes in the Viñales valley and forests around Las Terrazas. Move on to Cuba’s historic cities, Cienfuegos and colonial gem Trinidad.
Hannah Waterhouse
All of our experts have lived or travelled extensively in Latin America, so you will receive unrivalled advice based on unique personal experiences.
The practical detail for this tour, all in one place. Transport, accommodation, what’s included and what to pack, so you know exactly what to expect before you go.
- Transport
5 scenic road journeys in your self-drive car.
- Accommodation
Accommodation on this trip is of a superior quality for Cuba where standards of amenities and service can be erratic, but are constantly improving. You’ll find well-equipped rooms, private bathroom and air-conditioning in most and some local colour and special features, especially at la Moka Ecolodge.
- Meals
Breakfast daily.
- Guides
We carefully select our local partners; their English-speaking guides understand the expectations of our clients very well, and are consistently singled out for praise by clients on their return.
- Summary Of Nights
13 days, 12 nights: Havana 3; Viñales 2; Las Terrazas 2; Cienfuegos 1; Trinidad 3; Havana 1.
- Currency
The unit of currency in Cuba is the Cuban peso.
- How To Take It
The Cuban National Peso (CUP) is the only official cash currency in Cuba, however many outlets will accept US dollars and some may also accept Euros. We recommend you bring your funds in US$ cash and exchange a small amount into CUPs when in Cuba. You can also exchange Euros but we don’t recommend Sterling. Your bank notes should not be damaged in any way. As a foreign tourist you should receive a considerably better exchange rate than the ‘official’ rate used for commercial transactions.
A limited number of ATM’s are available around Cuba, but queues can be large, charges can be high, and the official rate of exchange is given which makes them much less attractive.
Changing small amounts at a time into CUPs will help to avoid having leftover currency when you leave Cuba (it is not always easy to exchange CUPs back to other currencies). It is worth noting that CUPs are not accepted at Havana Airport.
Private hotels, bars and restaurants often accept payments directly in US$ cash. For these transactions, bring small denominations if possible, and note that coins will not be accepted. Change may sometimes be given in CUPs.
Euros may also be accepted, but locals often see them as interchangeable with US$, meaning you will pay the same amount in Euros that you would in US$.
You’ll generally need to use a credit/debit card to cover transactions in government shops and hotels, as well as car-rental extras such as petrol and local fees. However, some clients have issues using cards in Cuba so don’t rely on them as your only source of funding. Be sure to check with your bank that your cards are accepted in Cuba (cards linked to US banks are not accepted locally). At Cadeca exchange offices it is now possible to purchase a prepaid card (Tarjeta Clasica) which can be bought in cash with US Dollars/Euros. These can be used to obtain petrol. Clasica credit cannot be applied to any other purchases.
Using money changers in the street is not recommended as it is illegal and you are more likely to receive forgeries.
- Daily Spend
It is very difficult to give a guideline for essential expenses but a budget of around £25 per day should cover the cost of meals not included in the holiday itinerary, drinks and the odd souvenir. Eat at the best restaurants and you will pay considerably more.
- Tipping
Tips are expected and local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income.
Most service industry workers will expect a tip of some kind and so it is useful to have spare change for hotel porters, taxi drivers and the like. It is common to leave 10 – 12% in restaurants.
Many Cubans lack what we consider to be daily necessities, such as soap, plasters, bras, aspirin and stationery.
If you have room in your case for some such things, they will be hugely appreciated by the islanders. - Insurance And Documents
Travel insurance is essential. Cuban authorities require visitors to have travel insurance, and specifically for the medical and repatriation element of cover to be from an approved provider. For example, Journey Latin America’s recommended insurance company is Campbell Irvine, and their medical and repatriation cover is handled by International Medical Assistance, who are approved by Cuba. Please check with your insurance company that their provider is similarly approved.
Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.
Fully comprehensive car insurance is included though there is an excess. Please enquire if you wish to purchase Total Damage Waiver.
The minimum age for hiring a car in Cuba is 21 years. Insurance and supplements for additional drivers can be paid locally, in Cuban Convertible Pesos. There is a (CUC) 20 Cuban pesos fee for picking up your car at the airport (payable locally) and additional fees for dropping off your car in towns where there is no car rental office – please ask for details. Unlimited mileage is included, but not fuel.
- Airport Taxes
If you have purchased your flights through Journey Latin America, the international departure tax is usually included in the ticket.
Departure tax from Cuba is included in the price of your ticket.
- Visas
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. A completed Cuban tourist card is essential for all UK citizens travelling to Cuba, we will organise this for you. Clients with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the Cuban consulate.
- Trip Suitability
Generally this holiday is suitable for all able, reasonably fit visitors, including families. You should have in your party a confident driver.
Road maps and signage are poor, but roads are lined with local people who are happy to help, most speak a little English, though if you speak a bit of Spanish it certainly helps.
In Cuba there are often delays and occasionally cancellations – patience and a flexible attitude will be a virtue in these situations.
- Climate
As Cuba lies in the Caribbean Sea, it has a tropical climate that is split into two seasons, one wet and one dry.
However, Cuba is generally hot throughout the year (18-32°C) with regular rainfall and high humidity. The rainy season runs from May to October and from July to September, humidity can be very high. The east of the island is hotter and more humid that the west. Hurricanes and tropical storms are possible from July to October.
- Clothing And Special Equipment
No special clothing or equipment is required although comfortable walking shoes or trainers, and sandals would be useful. Light, summer clothing will be adequate for these hot temperatures, and the dress code is very casual everywhere. Thin, long-sleeved garments may be useful for evenings, and a lightweight raincoat is the best protection against tropical downpours. We also recommend that you pack a torch as lighting can be poor at night.
Protection against the sun (sunblock, sun hat) and mosquito repellant are essential and you should bring swimwear. A daypack is useful for carrying sunblock, guidebook, water and any extra layers.
We suggest that you provide your own reflective jackets for all passengers, and a first aid kit. Sometimes power cuts and closures mean that usable petrol stations are far apart, so fill up whenever you can.
Please get in touch with the office before departure if you have any doubts. Good equipment is very important and hard to come by in Cuba.
- Vaccinations
Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following: typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. For specific requirements you must consult your GP.
You can also find helpful information on the Masta Travel Health website.
- When is the best time to visit Cuba?
The high season for visitors is Dec – Apr when the weather is usually sunny, mostly dry and not too humid, though there can be cool days. Hurricane and tropical storms are possible Aug – Nov.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What's the official language of Cuba?
The official language of Cuba is Spanish.
- What is the official currency in Cuba?
The Cuban National Peso (CUP) is the only official cash currency in Cuba, however many outlets will accept US dollars and some may also accept Euros. We recommend you bring your funds in US$ cash and exchange a small amount into CUPs when in Cuba. You can also exchange Euros but we don’t recommend Sterling. Your bank notes should not be damaged in any way. As a foreign tourist you should receive a considerably better exchange rate than the ‘official’ rate used for commercial transactions.
A limited number of ATM’s are available around Cuba, but queues can be large, charges can be high, and the official rate of exchange is given which makes them much less attractive.
Changing small amounts at a time into CUPs will help to avoid having leftover currency when you leave Cuba (it is not always easy to exchange CUPs back to other currencies).
Private hotels, bars and restaurants often accept payments directly in US$ (or Euros) cash. For these transactions bring small denominations if possible, and note that coins will not be accepted. Change may sometimes be given in CUPs.
You’ll generally need to use a credit/debit card to cover transactions in government shops and hotels, as well as car-rental extras such as petrol and local fees. However, some clients have issues using cards in Cuba so don’t rely on them as your only source of funding. Be sure to check with your bank that your cards are accepted in Cuba (cards linked to US banks are not accepted locally). At Cadeca exchange offices it is now possible to purchase a prepaid card (Tarjeta Clasica) which can be bought in cash with US Dollars/Euros. These can be used to obtain petrol.
Using money changers in the street is not recommended as it is illegal and you are more likely to receive forgeries.
- What is the time difference between Cuba and UK?
Cuba operates daylight saving hours, so is generally 5 hours behind the UK year round, but as the dates of their time changes are slightly different, there are short periods around March and October/November when this will vary.
- Do I need a visa to travel to Cuba?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. A completed Cuban tourist card is essential for all UK citizens travelling to Cuba, we will organise this for you. Clients with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the Cuban consulate.
APIS – Many countries now oblige airlines to provide additional information about passengers prior to the flight departure. This Advance Passenger Information (APIS) must be supplied to us promptly in order to issue tickets and avoid fare increases. We will provide the airlines with the relevant details if we are booking your international flights. If the information is not provided you may be denied boarding. - What vaccinations are recommended for visiting Cuba?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
- What places combine well with Cuba?
Mexico’s Yucatán is a great place to combine with Cuba. Flights from Cancún to Havana take approximately 1hr 15mins.
- What are the festivals and cultural events in Cuba?
There are carnivals throughout the country on different dates. Havana’s carnival moves around date-wise year upon year, but is always accompanied by parades, music, drumming and dancing. Santiago’s carnival in July is probably the biggest and the best.
International Jazz Festival takes place in Havana in December. This is one of the world’s best, and there are workshops and concerts to enjoy.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Explore the cobbled streets of colonial Trinidad. You might extend the trip with an optional tour of the old sugar mills in the surrounding Valle de los Ingenios.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation. Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you will relax in utter comfort
Hillside hotel with sweeping views across Trinidad and the surrounding landscape.
Hotel Central is a colonial-style property close to the centre of Vinales, in the heart of Cuba’s most captivating countryside.
Madero Bed and Breakfast is a smart guesthouse in the historic centre of Havana.
Papagaio
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