BEST SMALL GROUP TOURS CUBA!
The Best Small Group Tours Cuba!
If you prefer to have someone help you out with the travel planning, or travel solo (but want some company) small group tours Cuba are perfect for you!
Small group travel companies will make sure you are optimizing your time and resources for your Cuba tours in 2022, all the while bringing like-minded travel companions to share your experiences with.
I have booked several small group tours during my travels, and the following companies and group tours will not disappoint you!
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Small Group Tours Of Cuba | Map Overview
Amazing Small Group Tours Of Cuba With G-Adventures!
G-Adventures is a small group adventure travel company that operates in more than 100 countries worldwide!
I have walked the Inca Trail with G-Adventures, done the 4-day hike to The Lost City in the Columbian jungle, and explored Costa Rica among other things.
G-Adventures has various tours to Cuba, including all the fascinating and interesting destinations and adventures you don’t want to miss.
Flights are not included in these tours, but you can research a great price for flights and other services here!
1. The Cuba Explorer Tour With G Adventures 9 Days!
Itinerary: Havana – Viñales – Cienfuegos – Trinidad – Santa Clara – Havana
Explore all the unique sides of Cubas’s amazing culture and history on this nine-day Cuba Explorer Tour, starting with two days in Havana!
You will be cruising Havana’s history-infused streets in a classic car, walking the historic old city, and having time to explore on your own. Maybe on a bike?
The 500 years of the colonial history of Cuba, and its importance in the trade route between the old and new world.
Its incredible mixture of old European, African and Caribbean people and cultures makes the island a colorful melting pot.
Then you travel to the lush green Viñales Valley to learn about the famous Cuban cigar, rum, and sugar production.
Tour a tobacco plantation, test the iconic Cuban cigars, and enjoy the view of the island’s rolling western mogote hills.
Move on to Cienfuegos town, La Perla Del Sur on the southern coast, and visit the museum of the infamous Bay of Pigs incident on Playa Giron on the way!
Stroll along Trinidad’s unchanged colonial cobblestone streets in the heart of colonial Cuba, before you return to Havana via a short stop in the revolutionary city Santa Clara!
What’s included: Arrival transfer to Havana, accommodation, walking tour of Old Havana. Havana classic car tour, Revolution Square visit. Cigar tour in Viñales, Trinidad orientation walk, and Bay of Pigs museum.
Guided tour and entry to historical sites in Santa Clara. Informal Spanish lesson. All transport, 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner.
You will travel in air-conditioned vehicles, and stay in private casa particulares at all locations!
2. Cuban Rhythms Beachfront & Havana Vibes Tour G-Adventures 8 Days
Itinerary: Havana – Viñales – Playa Larga – Trinidad – Santa Clara – Havana
The Cuban Rhythms Tour has many of the same destinations as the Explorer tour, but you have one day less to explore what you want to see and do, and some less organized activities.
Also, the age requirement is between 18-39.
On this 8-day tour, you will still be able to dive into lots of the incredible Cuban history and culture, starting in Havana!
Many people know a bit about Fidel Castro and the revolution, salsa, and the Caribbean beaches of Cuba.
But Cuba is so much more, and although all Cubans don’t dance (like all Norwegian don’t ski), there is music everywhere!
Visit the museum of the revolution and the revolutionary square, but also, remember to dive into the 500 years of motley history that came before that!
Walk the Avenida Prado, the Plaza Vieja, Plaza de Armas and get a taxi over to El Morro, the city fortress!
With your extra time in Viñales, be sure to not miss the stunning interior of Cueva del Indio. This is a huge majestic cave system with a small river inside, where you walk in and ride a boat back out into the sunlight!
Visit the Casa de la Musica in Trinidad, the mausoleum of Che Guevara in Santa Clara, and be swept away by the beauty at Playa Larga on the south coast!
What’s included: Airport transfer Havana, all transport, accommodation in casa particulares. Walking tour of Old Havana, Palacio del Valle visit, city walk in Trinidad and Viñales, visit to the Manaca Iznaga community, salsa lesson, Che Guevara Mausoleum. 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner.
Also read: What Is Cuba Known For? 22+ Enticing Things You Want To Know!
3. Treasures Of Cuba Tour With G-Adventures 15 Days!
Itinerary: Havana, Sancti Spiritus, Bayamo, Baracoa, Santiago de Cuba, Sierra Maestra mountain range, Camaguey, Trinidad, Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, Havana
The Treasures of Cuba Tour has mastered the art of fitting almost all the amazing sides to Cuba in a 15 days tour of the island!
You will start in Havana and then travel along all the northern shore destinations all the way to the east side of the island.
Here you visit Baracoa and Santiago de Cuba before you turn back towards Havana along the southern coast!
This is in no shape or forms slow travel, but you will get the absolute most out of your two-week holidays to Cuba with this itinerary.
You do not need to coordinate transport, accommodation, or activities yourself at any time if you don’t want to (which in Cuba can be a test of patience and grit).
Also read: Create Awesome Solo Holidays To Cuba!
The G Adventure small group tours have parts of the itinerary set for travelers, but also plan for a lot of flexibility and free time in the different destinations where you can do exactly what you want to!
They also provide you with suggestions for activities, if you have not already done your own research and know what you want to do.
So rest assured, even in a group tour you will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the Caribbean beaches, nightlife, and off-the-itinerary adventures you are passionate about!
If you also really want to visit Viñales (you may have noticed it is not on the itinerary), stay for another day and opt for a separate day trip!
What’s included: Airport transfer in Havana, all transport, all accommodation.
Havana walking tour and vintage car tour, various orientation walks/sightseeings, salsa lesson, informal Spanish lesson, visiting G-Adventures supported projects.
Comandancia de la Plata Hike (to Fidel Castros Headquarter in Sierra Maestra), Che Guevara mausoleum. 14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner!
About G-Adventures
With a focus on responsible travel and environmental protection, G-Adventures supports various local initiatives in all its destinations.
I have had nothing but great experiences with them, and based on the reviews hundreds of other people agree!
The G-Adventures tours are a mixture of organized activities and free time to explore on your own. This gives you flexibility, while also security with the group.
G-Adventures has various tours to Cuba, including all the fascinating and interesting destinations and adventures you don’t want to miss. Flights are not included in these tours, so research a great price here!
Small Group Tours Of Cuba With Civitatis
Civitatis is a huge and renowned tour company working with the Spanish-speaking part of the world (guides bilingual), and they currently work with a whooping 3270 destinations and over 70.000 tours and activities!
Civitatis has tons of day trips, two- and multi-day trips, and also longer guided tour packages in the most popular destinations in the Spanish-speaking market.
And they work in Cuba!
I have done several tours with Civitatis in Cuba, and can confidently recommend traveling with them for your Cuba adventure (and lots of reviews from other people agree)!
4. 15-Day Tour Of Cuba With Civitatis
Itinerary: Havana – Cienfuegos – Santa Clara – Camaguey – Holguin – Baracoa – Santiago de Cuba – Bayamo – Trinidad – Havana
On this 15-day in Cuba tour with Civitatis, you will be picked up at the Havana airport, and after checking in to your casa you have the day free.
Already the next morning, you will head off to the next destination, and in the first few days, you will visit La Perla del Sud; Cienfuegos, revolutionary Santa Clara with Che Guevara’s mausoleum, and Camaguey to experience Cuban folklore.
Camaguey city was built in the 17th century and was designed to disorient pirates, which is why it’s made up of narrow, intricate alleys where it’s easy to get lost!
Then in Holguin, you will walk the historic city, and can hike to Loma de la Cruz for spectacular views! Then on to Baracoa, the first city that was founded in Cuba 500 years ago with tons of history to tell.
Santiago de Cuba is the island’s second-largest city, with a different ambiance than Havana. It was also originally the capital of Cuba for a while. Now it is the Cuban capital of the carnival!
Experience the contrasting village life in Bayamo, and you can also do the really cool hike to Fidel Castro’s hideout and resistance headquarter in Sierra Maestra in the 50ies!
In this tour with Civitatis, they have saved the beach lounging for last, spending three days in Trinidad where there are natural parks to explore, beach life and catamaran trips, museums, and history to take in!
Trinidad old city is protected by UNESCO, as it is still like a snapshot of what a colonial city in Cuba looked like hundreds of years ago, with remnants of sugar production, slave trade and traced of immense wealth.
On your last three Civitatis tour days, you can spend exploring sizzling Havana, my “hometown”, a beautiful, rundown, amazing city with a unique ambiance.
There is so much to see and do in Havana that you could easily have stayed here the whole time!
What’s included: Airport pickup and return transfer, all transport, English–speaking guide, 14 nights accommodation with breakfast in private homes, 1 lunch and 1 dinner, activities mentioned in the itinerary.
5. 7-Days Tour In Cuba With Civitatis
Itinerary: Havana – Viñales – Havana – Varadero – Havana
On this seven days Cuba tour with Civitatis, you get sizzling city life, the lush green fertile valley of Vinales with cigars and rum, and leisurely Caribbean beaches at Varadero! Less travel time, and more exploring to do.
You arrive at Havana Jose Marti Airport and immediately set off to Viñales Valley to check in and relax.
Day 2 you will explore Viñales, where you will see the Mural of Prehistory (painted in the 60ies), the Cueva del Indio, test fresh Cuban coffee and visit local farmers. You also have some time to yourself.
On day 3 you return to Havana and spend two days exploring this amazing colonial capital city.
Walk the old city, visit the capitol building El Capitolio (that looked like the white house), walk El Prado and the Malecon (boardwalk), and opt for a classic car tour if you want to!
On day 5 you travel on to Varadero, the paradisiacal peninsula a few hours to the east where you really can relax and unwind in a truly Caribbean-vibing beach paradise.
Spend a couple of days in amazing an all-inclusive resort (note: US citizens must adhere to the restrictions list for accommodation in Cuba).
The Varadero beach was actually voted second most beautiful beach in the world in 2019 on TripAdvisor!
Then on the last day, you will have transport back to Havana, to catch your flight home after your Cuba experience, which I promise will stay with you for a lot longer!
What’s included: Pick up and drop off at Havana airport, English-speaking guide, all transport, 4-night stay in a private house with breakfast, 2 nights all-inclusive stay in a 4-star hotel in Varadero, 1 lunch in Viñales. For private and exclusive tours, check the full itinerary.
Travel Tips Cuba | Before You Go!
Because of the situation between the US and Cuba, sanctions, internal factors, and political reforms, there are things you need to know and do before you set off to Cuba!
Tourist Visa / Tourist Card To Cuba
You need a tourist visa for Cuba, which will be valid for one month. You can order such a visa easily online, I use Easy Tourist Card for that every time I return to Havana.
US citizens (or those traveling via a US airport) must buy the PINK tourist card, other visitors need to order the GREEN one.
Special Travel Requirements for US citizens
US citizens are not allowed to visit Cuba as tourists, but this is merely an administrative issue.
For Cuba tours from the US, you need to choose between 12 pre-approved reasons to visit, like “help the Cuban people”, and that is that.
You don’t need a written permit or document, this is simply your statement if anyone asks.
You also can not stay in hotels or casas that are associated with the Cuban state, as defined in a list drafted by the US government.
This seems like a lot, but there are thousands of casa particulares in Cuba and you will have no problem finding one that is approved – most are.
Cuba Packing List | What To Bring?
There are lots of amenities that are not available in Cuba. Expect to NOT be able to buy any over-the-counter medicine like painkillers, creams, and ointment. If you regularly use these, you need to bring them.
Also, there are no shops, kiosks or supermarkets in the way you are used to.
Getting a snack to go is not always easy, and often times several dishes on the menu are not available. This is simply because foodstuffs are hard to come about in Cuba in 2022!
As a tourist you will not suffer, don’t worry. Just be aware that the abundance of food and any items you can shop for in your country probably is not available in Cuba.
It is also smart to bring a water bottle with a filter, as Cuba is HOT, and this way you can drink the tap water anywhere and will not be dependent on searching for a shop that has water (sodas and beer are easier to find in Cuba than water).
Check out this extensive packing list for Cuba if you need more advice!
Internet In Cuba | Yes, There Is!
Wifi in Cuba and the internet in Cuba generally are still scarce, but a lot easier than before.
You will be able to buy scratch cards from state provider Etecsa and connect via routers in public wifi parks, hotels, and some casa particulares.
I advise you to download a VPN to your phone before you go, so you will not be banned from entering sites and pages that do not accept a Cuban server. This will make your life a lot easier!
Read this article if you need more information about wifi in Cuba!
Money In Cuba | Cash Is King!
Cuba is still a cash society, although there are lots of ATMs and you can use your credit card in several (and an increasing number of) places.
Note: US credit cards do NOT work in Cuba in 2022.
Still, I advise you to bring the amount of money you expect to spend, in cash. Bring euro or Canadian dollars, US dollars are again illegal in Cuba after a tightening of sanctions from the US.
You will be able to exchange your cash (not US dollars) in official changing offices, and also “on the street” or with any Cuban, as currency is “negocio” (business) for Cubans. If you do this, do it discreetly, and you will also get a better rate than in the official bureaus.
Read this article if you need more information about money in Cuba 2022.
Not Booked Yet? Compare Flight Prices Here!
Wrap-Up Small Group Tours In Cuba!
For most people, Cuba is a once-in-a-lifetime destination, and going with a small group tour company will help you make the best of your time here!
You will feel that life in Cuba is immediate, filterless, and loud. In 2022, life is also very difficult for Cubans, due to the pandemic and the consequences of internal reforms and external sanctions.
So your visit is important for more than one reason, not just for your experience!
There is incredible architecture, stunning beaches, remarkable history, and intriguing religious roots to explore, and the dining and nightlife in 2022 are again soaring.