Cuban Landscape Tours {Havana Day Tour}
Post Last Modified – October 29, 2023 ¦ gr8traveltips.com
Take A Private Classic Car Tour To Havana
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While on our wonderful vacation to 🏝 Varadero, Cuba a few seasons ago, my wife and I enjoyed a superb full day 🚘 Private Classic Car Tour to the City of Havana with …
I had always wanted to visit Havana for many years and finally got the opportunity while vacationing at 🏖 Varadero Beach.
Taking a private tour has so many benefits, compared to that of your typical large 🚍 bus tour and surprisingly, it really doesn’t cost that much more either!
A Look At Our Day Tour From Varadero To Havana
Pick up time at our 🏨 hotel in Varadero, was as scheduled at 8 am. Our driver and tour guide arrived in our beautifully restored Classic Car. What a treat to step back in time and enjoy a private ride and tour in one of these American Classics.
Our pick up time was perfect, as we were able to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at our resort hotel beforehand.
The journey to Havana by car is about 150 kilometers taking at least 2 hours, with a brief snack and 🚻 washroom break along the way.
Havana is the largest city in the 🏝 Caribbean and was designated a …
🏛 World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. 🏛
A Visit To Old Havana
Arriving in the city, our first stop was; Old Havana.
Without a doubt, this is the main tourist attraction in Havana. Our very informative guide (Yudith), walked us through this very historic section, also known as “La Habana Vieja.”
Yudith was extremely knowledgeable in explaining Havana’s history, culture and its people throughout the entire day. As we made our way along the historic streets of Old Havana, we walked to several beautiful locations here such as;
✔ The Museo de la Revolución (former official residence for the Presidents of Cuba prior to the revolution);
✔ The Gran Teatro de La Habana (home to the Cuban National Ballet);
✔ Central Park (Parque Central);
✔ The Bacardi Building;
✔ Havana’s Art Museum;
✔ Follow Ernest Hemingway’s (American journalist, novelist, and short-story writer) footsteps with stops at;
El Floridita Bar, La Bodeguita del Medio and Hotel Ambos Mundos.
Hemingway lived and wrote in Cuba for over 30 years!
✔ Calle Obispo;
✔ Plaza Vieja Plaza de la Cathedral;
✔ Plaza de Armas.
✔ Optional Visit to Christopher Columbus Cemetery (admission fee: 5 cuc per person)
These are just a few of the places you can experience on your own private tour. What I love most about these exclusive private tours, is you can do what you like and at your own pace throughout the day. Just tell your guide and they’ll be sure to accommodate you the best they can. 👍
Many of the buildings are being slowly restored to their original form, which is wonderful to see. Many others are still in their natural state since the Revolution, which occurred more than 50 years ago.
You can walk at your own pace throughout Old Havana, as your experienced guide leads you to the many more popular areas and explains the history of the buildings and sites along the route.
Classic Cars Of Havana
If you’re a lover of {Classic American Automobiles}, you won’t believe some of the beautifully restored cars that you will see everywhere in Havana. Be sure to check out my recent post and 📸 photos here on …
which were taken on our most recent visit.
Such care has been taken to restore these beauties! 😎
Havana’s Waterfront Market
Looking for some souvenirs to take home? ❓
No problem, located across the street from Old Havana is a huge marketplace for just that. Browse through the many shops for your favorite souvenir, or gift to take home with you. Your guide will also be happy to point the way if you’re looking to purchase authentic; Havana Cuban Rum, Cigars and Cuban Coffee.
Spend as much time as you like shopping or if you prefer not to, no problem, it’s your tour!
If you are going to be shopping for Cigars, then be sure to check out my post on …
to make sure your getting authentic Cuban Cigars.
The Morro-Cabaña Fortresses
From Old Havana, we made our way to a very scenic location across the water to view the; Historic Morro-Cabaña Fortresses.
This is a great spot to capture some 📸 photos of the city and the Fortress, before taking a break and stopping for lunch.
Authentic Cuban Lunch
Time to enjoy lunch at an lovely home based restaurant, just steps from the Fortress viewpoint.
It was great to relax in this lovely outdoor home setting, while we enjoyed some excellent; Cuban cuisine, Ice Cold Cerveza and live Cuban music on a typical hot sunny day in Cuba!
Scenic Drive Along Havana’s Malecón
After a much needed lunch break, it was time to continue our tour, with a drive along Havana’s Malecon. This is a 7 kilometer drive along the seawall of Havana, that leads to the – 🏨 Historic Hotel Nacional de Cuba.
This beautiful hotel sits on {Taganana Hill}, complete with views of; Havana harbor, the seawall and the city. It has hosted many famous guests over the years in Cuba since 1930, some of which include; Jimmy Carter, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, Mickey Mantle, Ernest Hemingway and many more!
Our tour took us down the busy streets of Havana, where you can capture some great 📸 photos of the many beautiful historic buildings, classic cars and much more in the city. It was great to sit back and observe the daily life of the locals going about their business, in this bustling city!
Revolution Square
It was then on to the {Revolution Square}, which is a very significant and historic site in Cuba. A variety of important speeches have been proclaimed and unpublished patriotic acts have been carried out here, by Fidel Castro.
“This huge square was built on a hill, imitating the style of the Place de l’Etoile in Paris. It is considered as one of the largest public squares in the world, with approximately 72000 square meters and with different avenues that are dispersed towards the city.
Formerly known as Plaza Cívica, it became known as Revolution Square when the armed struggle of the Cuban people triumphed in 1959.”
The pyramidal tower is the highest point in the City of Havana and has a 90 meter interior elevator, as well as a 579 step staircase. At the top of the tower, experience breathtaking panoramic views of the city.
It was then time to head on back to Varadero, after a great morning and afternoon spent visiting this amazing; City of Havana.
I’ve said it time and time again, it is certainly worth paying just a little bit more for a tailored private tour. In most cases, it will even surprise you how little extra a private tour costs, compared to that of a typical large bus tour.
If you are planning a trip to 🏖 Varadero or the City of Havana, then do check out 🌴 Cuban Landscape Tours. They offer a variety of tours, both day and multiple day, that can be arranged to suit your specific wants and schedule.
About Cuban Landscape Tours
Cuban Landscape Tours is a family owned and operated business, focusing on customer satisfaction and tailoring tours to your needs. Their team consisting of family members and close friends, who have more than 15 years working in the travel industry.
Their vehicles (Classic American Cars,) meet all the strict regular safety inspections in Cuba. The business is affiliated to “🚖 Taxi Cuba,” having the credentials to do local and inter-provincial travel. All vehicles and drivers are insured as required by law.
For those arriving by 🛳 Cruise Ship, no problem, your guide and driver will arrange to meet you right at the ⚓ Pier.
Update October 2023
Unfortunately at this time, it appears this business is no longer operating. However, be sure to check the many other private classic car tour companies operating in Cuba. Taking a private classic car tour is definitely worthwhile!
I have listed the 🏝 Official Gocuba Tourism website link, where you can gather all the information you need, to plan your next vacation to this 🌅 beautiful island in the Caribbean. 🗺 Be sure to check out the {Google Map} box at the bottom of this post for Cuba’s exact location. 🗺
😎 Safe and Healthy Travels!
Although our tour was provided and in collaboration with the Cuban Landscape Tours, rest assured all content and opinions are that of the author and reflect my personal views only.
All personal 📸 photographs on this post are the property of gr8traveltips.com and are copyright protected. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. 🚫
✨ Did You Know …
🌅 Private Cuban Landscape Tours – Bay Of Pigs Tour
📰 Varadero Cuba Travel Tips – For First Time Travelers
🧳 Cheap Holidays To Cuba – Exploring
🍹 Don’t Forget It … Be Sure To Pin It! 🍹
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