Wander Across Cuba

February 25th – March 5th, 2025

Final Details

Important Details

Tourist Visas

Citizens of the USA need a visa to enter Cuba. However, you can now apply for an e-visa online through cubavisaservices.com for $85, which makes the process simpler and allows you to handle everything in advance. To do this:

• Go to the Cuba Visa Services site
• Click on the first “Apply Now” button
• Enter your information
• Choose “Havana” as the province
• Select “People to People (Group Travel)” as your OFAC Category
• Pay $85

The e-visa process typically takes less than 24 hours, and you will receive your e-visa as a PDF via email. Please print it out to present to the immigration officer.

D’Viajeros Form

Everyone traveling to Cuba must fill out a D’VIAJEROS form 7 days before their departure. This form includes a customs declaration, health status, and details about your accommodations. You will need to provide:

• Passport information
• Arrival information
• Airport/Port of entry to Cuba: HAV – La Habana – A.I. José Martí
• Travel reason: Tourism
• Electronic visa number
• Place of accommodation: House or room for rent
• Traveler address: Hostal Calis Habana, Calle 3ra Vedado 54 altos E y F Plaza de la Revolucion Vedado Havana, 10400, Cuba
• Province: La Habana
• Municipality: Habana Vieja

After submitting your information, you will receive a PDF with a barcode. Please print it out and present it to Cuban immigration upon arrival alongside your e-visa.

Airport Arrival

Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at the José Martí International Airport (HAV):

• After exiting the plane, walk through the terminal building to the immigration inspection. The immigration line is often long and chaotic so be prepared for extended wait times.
• Be prepared to present both your D’Viajeros barcode and E-Visa to the immigration officer.
• Once through immigration, continue to the luggage area.
• Collect your luggage from the correct carousel and then pass through the customs inspection.
• After you exit the baggage/customs area, you’ll enter the Arrivals Hall. Please head for the main exit of the Arrivals Hall and walk outside. Once outside you will find a driver with a sign that says “Wandering Earl Tours”. Please note that this area outside the airport can be crowded but your driver will be there as they are not allowed to wait inside of the airport.

If you are unable to find your driver, please contact your tour leader, Derek, at +1 912-289-5602, or our local contact, Jennifer, through WhatsApp, at +1 303-587-7253.

WhatsApp Group

We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your tour leader. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your tour leader before the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.

Tour Leader

Your tour leaders for this trip will be Derek Baron, the founder of Wandering Earl Tours and Jennifer Spelman. Derek’s journey in the world of travel began in 1999, and since then, he has led dozens of successful tours across the globe. Jennifer has been leading tours to Cuba for 7 years and her extensive knowledge and experience will ensure you’re in the best hands for this adventure.

Both Derek and Jennifer will introduce themselves and share more details when we create the group WhatsApp chat.

*Our tour leaders will be there to ensure the trip runs smoothly and our local guides are there to share the wonders of their country!

Staying Connected

Wi-Fi in Cuba can be inconsistent, especially outside major cities like Havana. Our hotels and guesthouses offer Wi-Fi, but you’ll need to purchase an access card, which gives you a limited amount of time online. Connection speeds are generally slower than you might be used to, and access can be intermittent. Internet is also available in some public areas where you can buy access cards, though it may still be slow and unpredictable.

If your phone can use an eSIM, you may want to purchase an eSIM plan from GigSky for a more cost-effective way to have internet. Some cell phone providers also offer limited texting and calling to the U.S., but this can be pricey and coverage is often spotty. Communication with home may be a challenge, so it’s best to arrive prepared to embrace a simpler connection to technology and a deeper connection to your surroundings. However, rest assured that our team can always reach you in an emergency and get in touch with your loved ones if needed.

Potential Changes

Please keep in mind that given the situation in Cuba, it is possible that we face such challenges as electricity outages, restaurant closures, road closures and more. This may lead to changes in our itinerary. With that said, our incredible local team is an expert in ensuring that no matter what happens, this trip will be unique, educational and rewarding every single day. It’s best to arrive in Cuba knowing that flexibility is the key to an enjoyable experience!

Donations

If you choose to bring small gifts for the local people, it can make a meaningful difference and is greatly appreciated, especially in the more rural areas of Viñales. Items like basic snacks, sewing supplies, or over-the-counter medicines are warmly welcomed. Should you have any questions about donations or what to bring, please feel free to email us at team@wanderingearl.com.

Itinerary

February 25th: Havana

• Airport transfers
• Orientation meeting
• Welcome dinner featuring traditional Cuban food

➜ Accommodation: Hotel Calis
➜ Included meals: Dinner

February 26th: Havana

• Today a fleet of classic convertible Chevys, Buicks, and Fords will pick us up for an orientation tour of the city
• Navigate through Vedado, an area known for its vibrant streets, historic mansions, and cultural significance
• Continue towards the green Havana forest where we’ll have ample opportunities to capture some unique photos with our classic cars
• Ride along the Malecón before venturing into Old Havana, passing some of its most celebrated squares
• Lunch at a trendy rooftop restaurant
• Presentation on Contemporary Cuban Photography from Nelson Ramirez de Arellano, the former Director of the Cuban National Center for Photography (Fototeca de Cuba)
• Visit to a Children’s Circus School in Old Havana, an inspiring project that trains young performers in the circus arts
• Dinner near the banks of the Almendares River
• Evening visit to Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), Havana’s melting pot of art, music, and culture

➜ Accommodation: Hotel Calis
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

February 27th: Havana ➜ Viñales

• Morning 3.5-hour drive towards the Valle de Viñales, known for its red soil and rich agricultural landscape, including multiple stops along the way
• Settle into our comfortable casas particulares, private homes offering local lodging
• Special dinner experience at Mogote Arts, the serene home, farm, and art studio of a local published author

➜ Accommodation: Private Casas Particulares
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

February 28th: Viñales

• Morning visit to a family-run and owned tobacco farm
• Return to Viñales for a late lunch alongside some local farmers at another multi-generational, family-run farm
• Optional horse ride through the verdant valleys of Viñales
• Dinner at a charming restaurant nestled within the mogote hills

➜ Accommodation: Private Casas Particulares
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

March 1st: Viñales

• Morning drive towards Cayo Jutia, a stunning coastal region, with a stop at a small rural town celebrated for its traditional copper mining, as well as at various villages to meet local families and experience their way of life
• Private boat ride to an island, where we’ll enjoy a simple, yet delicious lunch of fresh-caught seafood, charcoal-grilled right in front of us
• Free time back in Viñales
• Evening visit to a local sculptor, known for his wild creativity and natural tree carvings
• Dinner at a front porch restaurant

➜ Accommodation: Private Casas Particulares
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

March 2nd: Viñales ➜ Havana

• Morning 3.5-hour drive back to Havana, stopping to explore any interesting sights we encounter on our way back
• Afternoon drive across the bay for a sunset photo shoot accompanied by two of Havana’s skilled ballerinas
• Group dinner

➜ Accommodation: Hostal Las Maletas
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

March 3rd: Havana

• Morning performance by Cuban folkloric dancers from Guantanamo, showcasing their athletic prowess and choreography
• Lunch at a charming restaurant surrounded by beautiful gardens
• Continue to the University of Arts of Cuba (ISA), where we’ll meet some of the students and enjoy a glimpse into their creative projects
• Dinner at our local guide’s house, where we’ll indulge in the island’s best canchanchara
• Optional visit the famous Tropicana, Cuba’s quintessential cabaret show since 1939

➜ Accommodation: Hostal Las Maletas
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

March 4th: Havana

• Visit to the fishing base of Cojimar, famously frequented by Ernest Hemingway.
• Tour around the fishing village and lunch
• Free afternoon at leisure
• Farewell Italian dinner at a renowned restaurant in the Miramar district of Havana

➜ Accommodation: Hostal Las Maletas
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

March 5th: Havana / Departure day

• You will be picked up at the hotel by a private driver who will take you to the airport for your departing flight

➜ Included meals: Breakfast

*Please note: While we do our best to follow the above itinerary, changes may be made to any aspect of the tour due to a variety of potential situations or unforeseen circumstances.

What’s Included?

• Wandering Earl Tours Expert Tour Leader
• Small group (maximum 12 participants)
• Accommodation (8 nights – boutique guesthouse and private casas particulares)
• Breakfast every day, 7 lunches and 8 dinners
• Transportation within Cuba (private vans and classic cars in Havana)
• Local English-speaking guides in each destination
• All mentioned activities and entrance fees
• Gratuities at hotels/included meals
• All airport transfers

What’s Not Included?

• Flights to/from Cuba
• Passport/visa fees
• Meals and activities not mentioned
• Travel insurance (mandatory)
• Gratuities

To read the previous information that we sent out, please click here: What to Expect

That’s all for now! If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at team@wanderingearl.com.