Arrival at "Jose Marti" International Airport in Havana.

Group welcomed by the Authentic Cuba Travel® Cuban Guide. Transfer to Hotel Nacional de Cuba, located at the cultural center of Havana City. Private group check-in.

Breakfast is complimentary from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Morning: guided walking tour of Old Havana, UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visit to Square of Arms, ancient military parade ground for Spanish soldiers and surrounded by impressive buildings such as:

Palacio de los Capitanes Generales was the former seat of colonial government. Today the building houses the Museum of the City.

Palacio del Segundo Cabo, the seat of the second authority of the island.

Castillo de la Real Fuerza. The second oldest fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies. The castle was recently renovated and reopened in June 2008 to hold the impressive maritime museum. Well laid out exhibits chart Spain and Cuba's naval history.

Visit to San Francisco Square, one of the oldest in the historical quarter.

Visit to Plaza Vieja, the only civic square of colonial times. Notice it doesn't have a church or government building around. Here we will visit important institution for visual arts.

Lunch at El Templete Restaurant.

Visit to the Cathedral Square, the most beautiful and private 18th century colonial plaza of Cuba, named after the masterpiece of Cuban baroque architecture: the Cathedral of Havana built by the Jesuit order.

Free time in the famous handicraft market of Old Havana where you can purchase all sorts of crafts and souvenirs by local artisans.

Evening: the event begins with the Opening Ceremony of the Habanos Cigar Festival 2024, where Habanos S.A. will introduce new vitolas. During the ceremony, the nominations for the “Premio Habano” awards will take place. Followed by a private concert by well-known Cuban Musician (to be announced). Morning: visit to Partagas Cigar Factory, founded in 1845 by Spaniard Don Jaime Partagas. Don Jaime owned many of the best plantations in the Vuelta Abajo tobacco-growing region of Cuba and being able to choose from among the finest tobaccos on the island made the brand Paratagas incredibly successful.

Don Jaime is also believed to have experimented with various methods of fermenting and aging tobacco and is legendarily credited with hiring the first lector to read to and entertain the cigar rollers as they worked. Before and after the Revolution, the Cuban-produced Partagás has been one of the most revered and highest-selling brands of cigars in the world.

Visit to the Capitolio Nacional, designed by Cuban Architects and built by the American construction company of Purdy & Henderson. This monumental building is one of Cuba’s most outstanding architectural patrimony packed with artwork from Cuban and foreign artists.

Followed by panoramic air conditioned coach tour of the most important historical sites in the Modern Havana neighbourhoods of Vedado and Miramar including the Plaza de La Revolución, University of Havana, Habana Libre Hotel, Coppelia Ice Cream Park, Plaza José Martí (in front of U.S. Interests Section), Monument to the Battleship Maine, Malecón seawall, Prado promenade, Central Park, The Great Theatre and the Capitol building.

A new wave of paladares (private family-run restaurants) has recently swept the Cuban dining scene offering excellent food and charming ambient. Today we’ll enjoy lunch at the stylish Paladar Cafe Laurent at the penthouse terrace of a small 1950s apartment building.

Afternoon: attend the opening of the Habanos Cigar Festival's Exhibit Fair at Palacio de Las Convenciones. Our tour participants will have the chance to taste the new vitolas that Habanos S.A. will launch to the markets throughout 2024, and to discover first hand the secrets of a deep-rooted centuries old tradition.

Evening: visit to Tropicana, spectacular cabarets to open sky. A unique place in the world to enjoy the music and the Cuban and Caribbean folklore in all their color, musicality and rhythm. An art extravaganza to multiply the Cuban happiness of a true tropical night. Morning: exploration of the Habano Cigar Festival's Exhibit Fair at Palacio de Las Convenciones and related venues across the city. Exchange with international and local dealers, exhibitors, and Cigar aficionados and participate in programmed activities.

Followed by visit to Bocoy Rhum factory.

Lunch: a new wave of paladares (privately-owned restaurants) has recently swept the Cuban dining scene offering excellent food and charming ambient. Today we’ll enjoy a welcome lunch at the stylish Paladar San Cristobal, one of Havana's top ten private restaurants.

Afternoon: visit to the Havana Club Museum of Rhum. From freshly cut stalks of sugar cane to a reconstitution of a distillery and ageing cellars, the museum offers a real-time experience of the rum-making process, as well as a taste of true Cuban culture.

Late afternoon: cocktail party at Club Habana. Opportunity to exchange with some of our Cuban counterparts in a relaxed atmosphere.

Evening: attend one of the most traditional and popular ceremonies in Cuba, the Fire of the Cannon of 9 O’Clock at the Fortress of San Carlos de La Cabana. Followed by visit to Casa del Habano “La Triada”. Morning: attend private lecture “The Spirit of Smoke. A Taino Ritual for Cohiba” by historian José Antonio García, researcher from the “José Martí” National Library of Cuba.

Lunch on your own (not included).

Afternoon: exploration of the Habano Cigar Festival's Exhibit Fair at Palacio de Las Convenciones and related venues across the city. Exchange with international and local dealers, exhibitors, and Cigar aficionados and participate in programmed activities.

Evening: enjoy Afrojazz, Cubajazz and Sonjazz at Club La Zorra y El Cuervo, Havana’s most famous Jazz club, located just around the corner from the National Hotel of Cuba. The club features astonishing performances by island bands and soloists! (optional, not included). Day tour to Viñales Valley, containing the most spectacular scenery in Cuba and some of the most interesting and varied geological formations on the island. The valley is particularly famous for its great freestanding rock formations called mogotes.

Visit local tobacco growing farms and meet with local farmers that have been passing from generation to generation the secrets of growing the best tobacco in the world.

Visit to Mural de la Prehistoria, a huge painting on the side of a Mogote.

Lunch at Cueva del Indio restaurant.

After lunch we will visit the Cueva del Indio, used by the Guanahatabey Amerindians as a burial site in ancient time, and as refuge from the Spaniards for both Indians and Black slaves alike. We’ll take a short boat ride on the subterranean river running through the cave.

Explore Viñales town at your leisure: its open-air craft market, Parque Marti, town church, and other interesting sites of this charming colonial hamlet.

Visit Carmen and Caridad Miranda’s botanical garden, called the Viñales Botanical Garden. The two widows maintain a garden full of fruits, orchids and medicinal plants.

Return to Havana city.

Evening: dinner at La Cocina de Liliam where ex- president James Carter dinned in his visit to Cuba. Free day in Havana.

Evening: attend the Closing Ceremony and Gala Dinner of Habano Cigar Festival. Early morning departure to Havana City International Airport for departure.