top of page

cuba with Ursula Hosting

ten people- March 27 - April 4 

8 nights

Hello Again Patty 

​

I am excited to present to you a high-level plan for your 7-night trip to Cuba.  This plan shows options and suggestions for you to consider based on our conversation. 

​

Please take a look and let me know what you think.  You decide what the final program would look like. We can add, and change things until you are satisfied, and as long as we are able to meet the government's requirements  

 

Again, thank you for the opportunity to present to you what traveling with Ursula Hosting could be like. 

​

Let me know if you have any questions or comments

​

SUMMARY

​

In summary, our package would include all of the following: 

 

  • 8 night accommodations in Cuba​ for 10 people

    • 5 nights in Havana​

    • 3 nights in Viñales/Pinar del Rio

  • Airport pick up and drop off in Havana

    • Up to 4 roundtrip services​

  • A total of 6 activities and experiences

    • Havana

      • Walking Tour of Old Town

      • Revolution Museum

      • Dinner with locals/cooking class

      • Cruise the city in convertibles

      • Art Day Tour

    • Viñales/Pinar del Rio

      • Health Care System Experience

      • Countryside Living ​

  • Roundtrip transportation to Viñales/Pinar del Rio from Havana

  • Breakfast in all locations

    • breakfast would be served in guest houses (Bed & Breakfasts)​

  • Personalized concierge services from now and throughout the trip. We know the city and can recommend and help with reservations at restaurants, shows, additional activities, and setting up transportation as desired. 

  • Your own local host. Someone who you can contact and access locally to help you and guide you as needed. He will welcome you and go over the plan when you arrive, and will also be available to assist during the duration of your trip.

  • Assistance exchanging money at the best rate possible when you land.

  • All required paperwork to meet US restrictions on travel to Cuba

    • We prepare documentation with the explanation of how your trip meets the requirements of the Support for the Cuban People category of the General License. ​

    • We will ask you to use these documents to annotate additional information about your trip. 

  • A cell phone you can use to contact our local agent whenever is needed. We include $30 CUC credit (About $33 USD) 

  • We also provide you with 10 one-hour WiFi access cards

​

Accommodations

​

  • Option One - Small Guest House ($7750): This is a simple but comfortable accommodation. Small guesthouses or BnB's are good options to experience the warmth of the Cuban people, obtain good service, and accommodations for a good price.   

    • Centrally located in Centro Havana.  In between Old Havana and Vedado.  It is less touristic and more authentic. Nevertheless,  it is an up and coming area of the city with some of the best restaurants, bars, and more. 

    • All the amenities necessary to have a very comfortable stay (AC, Hot Water, cleaning service, breakfast, etc.)

    • This one in particular has 5 rooms. Of those, three rooms have a double bed, and the other two a double and a single bed in each room. All with private bathroom. 

    • These are photos of one that is available for the days you will be in Havana. 

​

  • Option Two - Private Two Apartments ($7660 $8499): We have this other option available I believe might be of interest to the group. Two apartment one under the other (Only apartments in the building. Two bed rooms each, up to 11 people. The two apartments are similar, and will allow the group to stay together while still providing some privacy. 

    • It is located in Old Havana, near museums, plazas, and major landmarks.  

    • All the amenities necessary to have a very comfortable stay (AC, Hot Water, cleaning service, breakfast, etc.)

    • Great service staff, and high ratings from previous travelers.  Staff will just come to clean and cook breakfast.  They don't stay in the house. 

    • Each apartment has two bedrooms, Three rooms have a double bed and single bed each, and one has just a double bed. 

    • Photos below. 

​

  • Option Three - Private Large Home ($8600):  This is a nicer home, larger, newer, a bit more modern.  House with a pool located in a newer and more exclusive neighborhood.  

    • Miramar is a more residential neighborhood. Where the more affluent families lived right before the revolution.  It is a quieter area of the city, but that also mean further from the center.  We would require more transportation arrangements if we decide to stay here. 

    • Houses like this one come with staff, who are always available to help.  

    • Although not closer to most landmarks, will be closer to others usually  people staying in Old Town don't get to see (i.e. Fusterlandia)

    • This one in particular has 5 bedrooms, 6 bath.  One bedroom has two single beds, and the other have either a king or a double bed.  Two of those rooms also have a sofa bed which can be used an a second bed. 

CITIES

​

Havana (See photos here) 

  • Capital and larges city.  A lot of parks, museum, and main landmarks. Including the famous Old Havana (colonial area), Revolution Museum, Malecon, Hotel Nacional, and many more.

  • There are also a lot of restaurants, bars, and cafes, art galleries, and music venues and cabarets. 

 

 Viñales/Pinar Del Rio Area (See photos here) 

  • This is a Unesco Site. Small country town 4 hours from Havana.  Known for its natural beauty, breathtaking views, valleys, caves, farming landscape, and outdoor layback atmosphere.   

  • It is smaller than Havana, but has a cute small town center, with a good amount of restaurants, cafes, music venues, and outdoor activities.  Tobacco fields are popular in the area.  

  • This town has become popular in recent years, and it is perfect example of small entrepreneurship in Cuba.

  • Pinar del Rio is the region, but also there is a larger town with the same name only 30 minutes away from Viñales.  We have a connection to a clinic there, and we have it as an option now for the experience focused on health care services in Cuba. 

​

​Possible Itinerary

 

I am including a mix of activities that will allow you to experience the beauty, the history, culture, traditions, flavors, music, and the people of Cuba. In addition,  I am including the new experience around the health care system in the country as requested.  I hope you like it:

 

​

Day One - Friday, March 27

  • Airport Pick up​ -​

    • Upon arrival our host will help with check-in, provide all necessary instructions, and help get you situated.

      • We have up to 4 shuttles included in this estimate. We can add more if desired. 

  • Early Afternoon - Once Upon the Time - Our old town experience.  Walk the streets of Old Habana with one of our favorite guides. Learn about history, best places to explore, visit the main plazas and site, and much more.  Route can be influenced by any particular requests you might have.

  • Lunch/ Dinner - We will recommend and make reservations in good restaurants for you. Also, recommend places where you can go for a drink and live music.

​

Day Two - Saturday, March 28 ​

  • Morning - Revolution Museum - Meet our guide for a very educational tour. Listen to the revolution story as Cubans are told, ask questions, and feel free to have a discussion about this hot topic with our guide.  In addition, the museum is one of the prettiest buildings in Havana, the old presidential palace.

  • Free Afternoon - I will provide suggestions for things to do on our own, or additional activities.

  • Lunch/ Dinner - We will recommend and make reservations in a nice restaurant for you. Also, recommend places where you can go for a drink and live music after. 

​

Day Three - Sunday, March 29

  • (NEW) Dance and Religion  - Let's go check out Callejon de Hamel. This a place full of local art and music on Sundays.  Be ready for some afro beats and hip moving.  

  • Afternoon - Cooking Class / Dinner with locals  - Spend few hours with local women who love to meet and host visitors. Enjoy chatting, getting to know each other and while learning some delicious recipes, sipping some drinks, and eating delicious food!

  • Lunch - We will recommend and make reservations in a nice restaurant for you. Also, recommend places where you can go for a drink and live music that night

​

Day Four - Monday, March 30 

  • Free Morning - I will provide suggestions for things to do on our own, or additional activities

  • Afternoon - Classic Riding - Enjoy the beauty of Habana onboard a beautiful convertible American Classic car. This is experience is led by our favorite and most wanted guide. He knows about history and fun facts.  He will take you to multiple points of interest and some of his favorites spots too. Route will include Chinese neighborhood, Colon Cemetery, Miramar, Vedado, John Lennon Park, and more.  

  • Lunch/ Dinner - We will recommend and make reservations in a nice restaurant for you. Also, recommend places where you can go for a drink and live music after. 

​

Day Five - Tuesday, March 31

  • (NEW) Art Day  - Let us take you to places where you can admire and explore the art scene in Havana. Studios, galleries, and more.   Transportation and guide included.  

​

Day Six - Wednesday, April 1​

  • (Updated) Morning Drive to Viñales/Pinar  - Depart for your 2.5 hour drive on a private van. You can decide the departure time.

    • Let's start the day early and head out west of Habana. A beautiful area known for picturisc  landscape and serenity.  You can do Zip-lining tour (only one in Cuba), some hiking, bath in a river, explore towns.  You can also visit the famous Soroa Orchid garden, and its waterfall.

      • Transportation included. 

      • We will arrive in Viñales in the evening.

​

Day Seven - Thursday. April 2

  • HealthCare System Experience - Visit a local clinic.  This is a small but important medical center in the region. Learned from the doctors about the day to day operations, how things work, and about their limitations and unique situation.  

    • This will be morning through afternoon.  In the mean time, other can explore the town of Pinar del Rio.  After 5PM, kids will be out of school and heading to the parks to play soccer and other sports. this will all be a good opportunity for the kids to play with local kids. ​

  • Free evening to explore on your own the town.  There is a lot happening and your hosts will make sure you have an enjoyable time.

​

Day Eight, Friday, April 3

  • (Updated) Country Living - Horse back riding, and driving around Viñales, exploring this beautiful area and all that it has to offer.  Caves, Mogotes, lakes, and more.  It will be a good old time. ​

​

Day Nine, Friday, April 4

  • Departure to Havana Airport - We will determine the time of departure based on your flight schedule. We recommend departing about 5 hours before your flight. 

​

​

Some Additional Options for Activities.

You could change the ones I am recommending for these, or add them as additional activity.

Some of these require additional cost (e.g. Day trips)

​

  • Day trips

    • to Varadero - Beautiful and famous beach resort town (2 hour drive)

    • to Soroa - Terrazas - Eco tourism, Hiking, waterfalls. 

    • Bahia de Cochinos (Pig Bay) - important historic sites (failed CIA(US) invasion site), beach. 

  • Beach day - transportation to a beautiful beach just 45 min away from the city. There, you could relax, order lunch and drinks.

  • Tropicana Cabaret Show or Parisian Cabaret Show - Famous Cuban Shows. Think old Vegas, but Cuban style. 

  • Dance Classes - Classes with locals

    • We can also plan a night out dancing salsa as an additional activity. ​

  • Hemingway Tour - Visit places where the famous author lived, hung out, and got inspired.

  • Art Day - Visit community art projects, and private galleries and studios of new and hot artists.

  • Castle/fortress tour - Explore one of the largest forts in the Americas. Beautiful architecture and amazing views. 

  • Fishing or Scuba diving.

  • Visit to tobacco factory or rum distillery.

  • We can combine, edit, and create other experiences if you have other interests/desires in mind.  

​

​

NOTE

  • This is itinerary is a recommendation based on your input. We can add or remove activities as desired. We can also coordinate other experiences is you share with us any other specific interests. 

​​

Proposal - Estimated Costs

​

  • The price next to each option, is the total for the group if that property is chosen.  

  • Additional Costs - I am also calculating about $500 in transportation within the city.  Given the size of the group, we would arrange vans to take the group to different activities, restaurants, etc, as needed.   Please add this to the total. 

    • We can have this as a credit, the group can decide how to use. The further the house, the more we would need transportation. 

  • These prices are estimates. Final price can only be confirmed until we finalized activities, accommodations, etc.

  • I can look into more options if the group would like to have more rooms, see more options for houses (Most modern, etc), different location, etc. 

  • These prices include a full time host.  Someone who would be with you making sure things go smoothly, helping with activities, assisting with logistics at the house, working with serving staff to make sure the group has everything they need, etc.   

  • This host and our local team will also be available to coordinate additional activities, transportation, money exchange, etc. 

​​

​

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

 

THANK YOU 

​

​

Enjoy some photos from previous clients below:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

​​

bottom of page