Classic Western & Central Cuba
A loop from Havana covering the valley, Bay of Pigs, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, and Santa Clara.
This is the most common loop for first-time tour groups, covering the Old Town, karst valleys, revolutionary monuments, and colonial towns. Spend one to two nights in each location, with longer drives on Days 5 and 8. An overnight stay at the Bay of Pigs breaks up the drive from Viñales to Trinidad into two days. This route skips beach resorts and the eastern region, making it ideal for first-time visitors who are comfortable with long-distance chartered drives.
June to November is hurricane season. Intercity transport is currently affected by fuel shortages, so joining a tour or booking a chartered car in advance is recommended.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Havana & Walk the Malecón
Havana（Paseo del Prado (Paseo de Martí)、Malecón）
Book an airport transfer to the city (approx. 40 mins). In the evening, walk along Paseo del Prado to the Malecón.
Bring plenty of cash; foreign bank cards are generally unreliable.
Stay: Old Havana
Day 2 · Old Havana & Classic Cars
Havana（Old Havana、Havana Cathedral & Plaza de la Catedral、Plaza Vieja、Classic Car Tour from Parque Central、Plaza de la Revolución）
Walk through the Old Town for about 2.5 hours in the morning, then take a classic car tour around the city to Plaza de la Revolución in the afternoon (approx. 2 hours).
Stay: Old Havana
Day 3 · To Viñales via Las Terrazas
Havana（Fusterlandia） → Las Terrazas → Viñales（Mirador Los Jazmines）
Take a chartered car west via Fusterlandia and Las Terrazas to Viñales (approx. 3.5 hours).
Stay: Viñales Town
Day 4 · Valley Hiking & Tobacco Farms
Viñales（Viñales Valley、Viñales Tobacco Farms、Viñales Town & Parque José Martí）
Spend the day around the town. Hike through the valley for half a day, and explore the rest on foot or horseback. No long drives needed.
Stay: Viñales Town
Day 5 · East to the Bay of Pigs
Varadero（Boca de Guamá & Laguna del Tesoro）
Take a chartered car via the highway bypassing Havana to Playa Larga (approx. 350 km, 6 hours).
Today is the longest drive. Start early in the morning, as gas stations along the way may run out of fuel.
Stay: Playa Larga
Day 6 · Playa Girón to the Pearl of the South
Varadero（Playa Girón & Bay of Pigs Museum） → Cienfuegos（Parque José Martí、Teatro Tomás Terry）
Drive along the coast to Girón, then continue through Cienfuegos to Trinidad (approx. 4 hours in total).
Stay: Trinidad Old Town
Day 7 · Trinidad & Valley of the Sugar Mills
Trinidad, Cuba（Plaza Mayor、Convento de San Francisco、Valle de los Ingenios、Manaca Iznaga Tower、Casa de la Música）
Walk through the Old Town in the morning, and take a chartered car to and from the Valley of the Sugar Mills and Manaca Iznaga Tower in the afternoon (approx. 2 hours).
Stay: Trinidad Old Town
Day 8 · To Havana via Santa Clara
Santa Clara（Che Guevara Mausoleum & Monument、Monumento a la Toma del Tren Blindado） → Havana（El Capitolio）
Drive to Santa Clara (approx. 2 hours), then return to Havana (approx. 3 hours), totaling 5 to 6 hours of travel.
The Che Guevara Mausoleum is usually closed on Mondays. Please check the opening hours for the day.
Stay: Old Havana
Day 9 · Fine Arts Museum & Departure
Havana（National Museum of Fine Arts of Havana）
Walk to the Fine Arts Museum in the morning, then take a pre-booked car to the airport according to your flight time (approx. 40 mins).
Museums may close during power outages. Confirm your flight and opening hours before setting off.