Cuba Trip – March 2025

cuba trip 2025

CASSIE'S CORNERS OF CUBA

15 - 25 MARCH 2025

TRIP INFO

15th to 25th March 2025

10 days 

8 people

£2750 per person

Payment Plans available 

£350 pp deposit to secure your place!

Click here to book // only 3 spaces left!

It’s that time again! Myself and Ronnie can’t wait to host you in Cuba. We’re so excited to show you all of our favourite hidden treasures of Cuba, spend the week fully immersed with our friends and family, do things you genuinely couldn’t do alone, and to simply have tons of fun and make new friends and memories to last a lifetime. 

This trip is a little different. 

Rather than just a tour of the island, we’ll be with local Cuban people delving deeply into what makes the island tick, how their resilience carries them through their daily lives, how the complex history is merging into an unknown future for the entrepreneurs on the island, and much more. 

Each day will have a theme of discussion. Beginning with the history of the island, we’ll travel through to present day and even consider possibilities of what the future could hold.

We’ll explore the Cuban mentality. We’ll discuss their ingenuity. We’ll delve into their resilience, their superstitions, their gratitude,  their ideologies. Seriously, this is going to be a life-changing trip.  

We’ll be slipping workshops and classes and meet & greets into the itinerary nearer the time. Why not now? Because so much change can happen in Cuba in 12 months and we want to keep things current. Plus we love creating surprises & keeping things fresh!

WHERE WILL WE GO?

Havana will be focused on both the history and the future of Cuba, luxury accommodations, the best bougie restaurants of the city, unique cultural events and getting to know each other. 

Trinidad will be focused on the outdoors. Think hikes, waterfalls, national parks and the beach (and a couple of super unique experiences to boot)

Las Terrazas is a time to be in the mountains, to switch off, to be present, and to begin meeting all of Ronnie’s family…

And Viñales, is the time when your mind will be blown (if it wasn’t already!). Think of it as an epic family party that you went to as a kid, then make it adult, and then make it Cuban. Add breathtaking landscapes, visiting humble homes in the middle of nowhere, mucking in at the farm, playing dominoes with the cowboys, catching all the sunrises and sunsets, and seeing what life is truly like as a Cuban living in the Cuban countryside. 

ITINERARY

15th March

Arrivals

Welcome dinner

Cruise from the airport to your accommodations in beautiful Classic cars, and breathe in your first impressions of this wonderful city!

Check in to your boutique accommodation in Havana Vieja.

Time to settle in & freshen up.

Group welcome dinner at a popular Cuban-fusion restaurant nearby.

Dinner included.

Drinks & tips not included. 

16th March

Convertible Car Experience

History of Havana class

Old Havana tour (bike taxi & walking)

Free time

Group dinner + FAC

After a delicious breakfast on the rooftop terrace with views over the city, we’ll head out in a classic convertible car for a tour of the city. 

We’ll then visit one of the city’s best rooftops for a coffee (or cocktail?) and a History of Cuba class. Why? To even begin to try and understand the complex Cuba that we will be seeing this week, you need to understand its history. With help from my wonderful Cuban host (& friend!), we’ll catch you up to speed with the real story of the island so we’re all on an even page with our Cuban history knowledge. 

We’ll then explore the Old Town by foot & bici-taxi, before heading to lunch at a traditional Cuban ‘paladar’ hidden in the heart of the city. 

Enjoy a couple of hours free time before reconvening for a group dinner at one of the cities best restaurants. 

Optional / not included: It’s Friday night, so a trip to Havana isn’t complete without a visit to Fabrica del Arte! 

Breakfast, lunch, & dinner included.

Drinks & tips not included. 

17th March

Road trip to El Nicho waterfalls

Arrive in Trinidad

Free evening

Buckle up – we’re off on a 6 hour road trip to the East of the island! 

After an early breakfast, we’ll be collected in our classic cars. Our drivers will be with us for the entirety of the trip, and they’ll be joining in on our activities, so you’ll soon become best friends with them! 

It’s a 5 hour scenic journey to El Nicho, stunning waterfalls in the national park of Topes de Collantes. Here we’ll swim in the crystal waterfalls and have a typical creole lunch in an alfresco ‘paladar’ (private restaurant) nearby. 

We’ll then continue 1,5 hours to Trinidad to check in to your casa particular – and relax!

You have a free evening to do as you please. I will provide recommendations of restaurants and we can always go out together if anyone wants to.

Breakfast & lunch included. 

Dinner, drinks & tips not included.

18th March

Hiking in a National Park

Beach

Dinner in a local home

Hopefully you’re rested after our long day yesterday. Now it’s time to get outdoors and into nature! 

Today we head deep into the national parks of Trinidad. We’ll be hiking, bird watching, sipping coffee with local communities who live in the mountains, finding waterfalls, and enjoying the stunning Cuban landscapes. 

We’ll then head out to an unknown gem of a sleepy, fisherman town. It just so happens to be home to one of our favourite sea side restaurants where we’ll enjoy a fresh lunch by the sea, before continuing on to the beach – Playa Ancon.

Find me here all afternoon, snoozing under a palm tree, sipping on fresh coconuts (with rum inside, of course). 

Once we’re relaxed and sunned, we’ll head back to our casa to freshen up before heading into town for a group dinner in the city’s best restaurant. 

Breakfast, lunch & dinner included. 

Drinks & tips not included. 

19th March

Delve into the history of the sugar and slave trade

Seaside lunch

Explore Trinidad’s non-touristic side

Free evening

No trip to Trinidad is complete without learning a little about the rich history of the sugar cane trade and the slave trade during the colonial era. 

Together with our trusty team of drivers and our local host & friend in Trinidad, we’ll head off on an adventure to explore the Valle de los Ingenios. 

We’ll finish up with a stunning viewpoint and an opportunity to throw yourselves off the mountain (the zip line!), before we grab some lunch. 

Once we’re suitably nourished, we’ll head back into town for a small walking exploration deep into the non-touristic zones of Trinidad. 

We’ll meet locals and friends along the way, and be invited into their homes for a genuine cultural immersion. We’ll hear about life in Cuba from the mouths of Cubans who don’t live life in the tourism lane. We’ll sip on strong Cuban coffee whilst learning a little more about real life on the island. Another raw and unique experiences, exclusive to my trips.

Enjoy a free evening to do as you please, or we can head out to dinner together (salsa, anyone?!).

Breakfast & lunch included. 

Dinner, drinks & tips not included.

20th March

Road trip to Las Terrazas

Afternoon at the local river

Dinner in the casa

We’re up early today to get a head start on the day. 

We’ve got a 6 hour road trip to Las Terrazas, with plenty of stops on the way. 

Once we check in to our casa particular hidden in the mountains, we’ll pack a bag and head down to the local river. We’ll be joined by some of Ronnie’s friends & family from his home town and we’ll have a typical Cuban afternoon, guzzling rum, eating great food, swimming in the clear waters, and enjoying each other’s company.

This is a time to switch off, entirely. There is no WIFI and no phone signal. You have no choice but to be fully present and it will be one of the best moments of your trip.

We’ll have dinner in our casa particulares, and spend the evening gazing at the stars, sharing conversation, or getting an early night – you do you. 

Breakfast, lunch, dinner & drinks included. 

Tips not included.

21st March

Explore Las Terrazas

Visit the rural village where Ronnie grew up

Donation/give back opportunity

Lunch with family

Arrive in Viñales

Dinner in your casa

After breakfast in the casas, we’ll take a stroll into the town of Las Terrazas. It’s a sleepy town with gorgeous scenery and truly incredible wildlife (the birds!). We’ll visit an art gallery of a local Cuban artist who has travelled the world showcasing his talents but who decided to return to his beloved home of Cuba. 

We’ll then pack up and head a couple of hours west to a very rural village where everyone knows Ronnie. Be prepared to stop every 2 seconds whilst people greet us – King Ronnie has arrived! 

We’ll visit some of Ronnie’s nearest and dearest in their homes. This is such a unique experience for you to see what real life in the countryside of Cuba is truly like. 

This is also the chance to give any donations that you have bought with you. I’ll have plenty of things to give out too, so no pressure on you to bring things. 

We’ll continue to some very close friend’s of Ronnie’s house where we’ll be greeted with warm smiles, a shot of Cuban coffee (and likely some rum, too), and we’ll help with the final preparations for lunch. 

Lunch is al-fresco in their garden under the mango tree. 

We’ll spend a short while here, chatting and seeing their land/animals (possibility to ride their horses, too!), before continuing to our final destination: Viñales. 

Just an hour’s scenic drive and we’ll be checking in to our casa particulares

Free time to relax, settle or enjoy a drink on the rooftop terrace looking out over the valleys. 

Dinner is in the casa tonight – I hope you’re hungry!

Breakfast, lunch, dinner & drinks included. 

Tips not included.

22nd March

Horse riding through the valley of Palmarito

Explore a secret cave + swim inside 

Roll cigars at our family farm

Alfresco lunch in the farm

Dinner in town

Today is likely one of the best days of your trip. 

After breakfast, a cowboy Tio Changa!) will knock on our door and whisk us off on our strong and well cared for horses. 

Doing this ‘excursion’ with Ronnie and Changa means ALL the other cowboys will likely join us – for old times sake of when we lived here! 

We’ll ride through the jaw droppingly gorgeous landscape, visit a hidden cave where you can swim in the natural pitch black lagoon inside, before arriving at our family tobacco farm. 

We’ll spend a while here with the cowboys. They’ll talk with you about the process of tobacco, how to roll and smoke a Cuban cigar, with tasters of local honey, rum and coffee. 

We’ll dine al-fresco and sip on the best mojitos you’ll ever have, and we’ll likely whip out the dominoes and turn up the music – a party in the middle of the national park is not one to forego!

Whenever you’re ready, we’ll ride home and relax. 

Dinner in the town together at our favourite restaurant. 

Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.

Drinks & tips not included. 

24th March

Sunrise hike

Horse & cart tour of Viñales – with a twist!

Spend the afternoon at our beautiful homestead

We’re up with the birds today for a medium-difficulty level 45 minute hike to the most spectacular viewpoint in Cuba. It’s worth the early morning, trust me. 

We’re back in our casas by 09:00 latest, and breakfast will be on the table. 

Freshen up and prepare for the upcoming day of adventure. 

A convoy of horse and carts will collect us from our casas and head off on a ‘tour of Viñales’. But not the typical touristic one – we’re heading to the outskirts of the town, going off road, and visiting some family and friends for coffee and chats. A very typical Cuban ‘pastime’ is ‘hacienda vistas’ which means ‘making visits’. You drop in, unannounced, and they put the coffee on and have a chat on the porch in the rocking chairs. It’s a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours, seeing ‘real’ countryside in Viñales, being warmly invited into yet more local homes, and passing the time in true Cuban fashion. 

We’ll stop off at a road side kiosk for some ‘guarapo‘ – a delicious typical sweet juice made entirely from the sugar cane (we like to add a dash of rum, too, as it dampens the sweetness and makes your day a little happier!). 

We’ll finally end up at Ronnie’s mum’s house where we’ll set up camp for the afternoon. 

Help prepare lunch, go to work in the fields with Ronnie’s dad, learn how to drive the ox-and-plough, play with the farm animals (goats, pigs, cows, dogs, chickens, you name it), tour Ronnie and my beautiful ‘project’ which lies just behind the family home. It’s a real beauty, and we’ve always got trees to be planted if you want to get your hands dirty with us! 

You can be sure that people will ‘drop by’ for some coffee, rum or even to have lunch with us. 

This afternoon is slow, familiar, and real. This was my life for 6 years and I’m so excited to invite you into it. I know you’ll love it just as much as I do. 

When we’re done here, we’ll head home to freshen up.

Enjoy a free evening. 

Breakfast & lunch included. 

Dinner, drinks & tips not included. 

24th March

Return to Havana 

Free time 

Farewell dinner

We’ve had a busy and fun-filled few days in Viñales and sadly it’s time to say goodbye. Today is a slow day to reflect on your adventures and time in Cuba. (Though it’s not over yet!).

At 09:00 our drivers will collect us to return to Havana, approx 3 hours.

Arriving around 12:00, check in to the casa in Havana and enjoy some free time in Havana.

If there’s anything on your bucket list, now’s the time. We can discuss as a group or individuals your preferences on what to do today & we’ll help giving ideas and logistics for anything you fancy.

As it’s our final night together, let’s go out in style. Put on your best outfit and we’ll be collected in a local form of transport (Coco taxis!) at 19:30 to head to a wonderful spot for our farewell dinner. 

Let’s sip mojitos, eat good food, reminisce on your adventures over the last 10 days, and savour the final moments together. 

Breakfast & dinner included. 

Lunch, drinks & tips not included. 

25th March

Airport transfers

Sadly it’s time to check out and head to the airport. 

Our drivers will take you and bid you a very fond farewell, surely with hugs and tears, and make sure everyone gets off safely. 

NOTE: if you plan on staying in Cuba for longer, or you want to spend more time exploring Havana before you leave, I’m more than happy to help you plan any accommodations, transport or activities. 

Breakfast included for those still here during breakfast hours (8 – 10:30). 

FURTHER INFO

Spaces are LIMITED.

You just need to pay your deposit to secure your spot. You can pay the rest later (payment plan to be organised personally with Cassie).

HOW BIG IS THE GROUP?

I don’t have more than 10 people in 1 group, as an absolute maximum.

I keep my trips really small so that you have our full attention, we’re not running wild trying to please 20 million people, and it allows us to genuinely get to know each other and (hopefully!) become great friends. 

By having a small group we’re also able to do things that we couldn’t organise with a bigger group. We’ll be visiting local’s houses (our friends and family) and of course we cannot overwhelm them with too many people. Therefore we always keep our numbers very low, so that you have the most incredible, intimate and meaningful experiences that you couldn’t have in a big group.