The magnificent city of Havana, founded by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, will leave a lot of positive emotions in the memory of tourists. The capital of Cuba has a unique atmosphere, pierced by the rays of the Caribbean sun, filled with salsa rhythms, saturated with the aroma of rum and surrounded by the amazing charm of the local population. From the colonial past in Havana, many historical architectural monuments worthy of special attention have been preserved. Spacious squares and original quarters abound with interesting sights and places of worship. Excursions in Havana in Russian will allow tourists to feel all the charm of an amazing city.

Havana through and through

Guests of the capital of Liberty Island will have a meaningful acquaintance with one of the most contrasting cities in the Caribbean. With deep knowledge, the guide will take tourists to the iconic places of Havana, where the main cultural heritage sites of Cuba are concentrated. The six-hour route passes through historic districts, spacious squares, gentrified boulevards, manicured waterfronts, business districts and distinctive slums. The cost of the tour is 120 euros per group.

During the walk, the participants of the expedition will see palace ensembles of the colonial era, high-rise buildings of the socialist period, memorial structures and numerous dilapidated buildings. Some architectural complexes are striking in their pomposity, while others are in a dilapidated dilapidated state. The guide will tell tourists many fascinating stories about the first settlers of the city, the real life of Cubans, revolutionary events and symbols of the patriotic movement.

Noteworthy is the expressive building of Havana – the government building of the Capitol. The monumental building is crowned with a majestic dome and outwardly resembles the White House in Washington. Near it is the Grand Theater of Havana, lavishly decorated with sculptures. It will be impossible to pass by the parking lot of vintage cars of the last century, painted in all the colors of the rainbow. Tourists will feel the cheerful and relaxed atmosphere of Cuban life, walking along the Malecon and Prado Boulevard. These favorite corners of local residents and visiting vacationers are replete with original buildings with colorful facades, cozy restaurants and shops.

Under the canopy of palm trees, benches and sculptural compositions are installed. An ideal place for a magical photo session is the Almendariz Forest Park with forests of lianas, age-old ficuses and tall sprawling trees. A mandatory point of the excursion program will be a visit to the Cathedral Square. Here rises the ancient Cathedral of St. Christopher, built in the 18th century from limestone slabs. A single ensemble is formed by mansions that belonged to Spanish aristocrats of past centuries.

History of Colonial Havana

A professional guide with extensive knowledge of Cuban history and culture invites tourists for 120 euros to take part in a walking tour through the old quarters of Havana. The program of the walk includes visiting significant and beautiful places of the city, fanned by a special colorful atmosphere. Since ancient times, Cuba has been the key to the New World and the most important economic and political center of the Spanish conquerors in the Caribbean. At the end of the 19th century, a new redistribution of the world served to make Havana the personification of the stronghold of the national liberation movement, which lasted for decades.

Changes in the political system of Cuba in the 20th century are undoubtedly associated with the names of Fidel Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara. Historical events have left their mark on the streets and squares, where the architectural appearance of Havana of that time has been preserved, attracting numerous tourists. The guide will tell the group about Cuba's patriotic symbols, revolutionary exploits, and underground communities.

The ancient part of Havana is full of unique buildings and structures that have an attractive power. Tourists will see beautiful mansions that belonged to the Spanish aristocrats of past centuries. The pearl of the colonial baroque of the XVIII century is the Cathedral of St. Christopher, the review of which is included in the mandatory excursion program. Its facade, erected from hewn stone slabs, is decorated with columns and two asymmetrical bell towers.

From Varadero to Havana: a journey through the iconic places of the capital

A Russian-speaking connoisseur of Cuban sights invites guests of Havana to trace the development of the island from pre-Columbian civilization to the creation of a socialist system. Legends of the pirates of the Caribbean, old houses, and the influence of cult personalities on the formation of the image of Liberty Island give the Cuban capital its unique identity. A fascinating excursion will cost vacationers 180 euros.

Many tourists prefer to relax in the luxurious resort of Varadero, from where they then rush to Havana. On the way to the capital, they will meet with the city of Matanzas, based on the banks of two rivers, across which there are five original bridges. Having reached Havana, travelers will have to plunge into the world of the former Spanish rule, as evidenced by the preserved ancient facades of luxurious mansions.

The path of the group passes through the popular squares and districts of Havana. The guide will show the fountain built in 1836, the Cathedral, the building of the Ministry of the Interior with a huge portrait of Che Guevara on one of the walls, fortifications, the Bolshoi Theater with an exquisite facade, the Capitol and much more. Inspection of architectural monuments will be accompanied by fascinating stories of the guide about Cuban sights.

Fall in love with Havana

Pleasant impressions will leave a four-hour walk through the old streets of Havana, fanned by the era of past centuries. These are unique corners, where each lane opens up a colorful kaleidoscope of life and way of life of cheerful Cubans. The historical part of the city is replete with amazing architectural masterpieces built centuries ago in the baroque and neoclassical styles. Here, restored monumental buildings, luxurious mansions contrast with dilapidated abandoned buildings.

Squares, parks and squares are buried in the greenery of marvelous trees, the lush crowns of which create shade and freshness on a hot Cuban day. An endless stream of multi-colored rare cars scurrying before your eyes causes genuine delight in any tourist. An erudite connoisseur of the sights of Havana for 90 euros will introduce curious travelers to colorful colonial buildings, palace ensembles, cozy courtyards, atmospheric bars and pompous hotels of the Old Town.

Of interest are the famous squares – Plaza de Armas, Plaza de Catedral, Plaza de San Francisco and Plaza Vieja. Each of these places has a centuries-old architectural heritage and important historical significance, which the guide will tell you in detail.

The Old Man and the Sea. In the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway

Havana is famous for places associated with the life and work of the famous American writer Ernest Hemingway. Having traveled half the world, the Nobel Prize winner in literature lived intermittently on Liberty Island for more than twenty years. Here he wrote his outstanding works, including the popular story “The Old Man and the Sea“. An omniscient guide offers tourists for 120 euros to walk in the footsteps of E. Hemingway's stay in order to feel his hobbies.

Tourists will go to see the first refuge of the famous writer in Havana – the AMBOS MUNDOS hotel. An old five-story building with a pink facade rises in the center of the Old Town. On one of the walls of the hotel there is a characteristic portrait of a writer. In a small room on the fifth floor, where Hemingway stayed, there is a museum with expositions of the personal belongings of the prose writer.

Next, the group will proceed to drinking establishments, where the old man “Ham” liked to drop in with enviable regularity to enjoy the Cuban alcoholic Daiquiri cocktail. In the bars-restaurants “Florida” and “Bogedita del Medio” you can see many archival photographs with his autographs. A full-length bronze statue of the writer is installed near the bar of one of the establishments, which arouses genuine interest among visitors.

A six-hour tour program cannot do without a visit to the Finca Vigia estate, located in the suburbs of Havana. A small park with tall trees surrounds a one-story stone manor. Hemingway spent the last years of his life here. In the interiors of the house, the atmosphere that was during the life of the writer is preserved. The rooms of the villa are filled with personal belongings of the writer. These are bookcases, clothes, souvenirs, hunting trophies, portraits and much more. In the garden of the estate, the boat “Pilar”, on which E. Hemingway liked to sail, anchored in the eternal parking lot.

Author's tour of non-tourist Havana

At the disposal of tourists there is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the informal side of Havana. The Russian-speaking author of the tour will open the original and authentic part of the capital of Cuba to the guests. A few blocks from the central districts of Havana, the life of Cubans flows steadily. Delving into the maze of streets, travelers will admire the pompous restored mansions of the colonial period and the building of the Partagas tobacco factory.

It is worth turning literally around the corner and dilapidated houses will appear before tourists, as well as numerous bars, beauty salons, markets and religious shops. The guide will tell you in detail about the famous Cuban triad – tobacco, rum and coffee. A walking tour can be diversified with a ride on a rare car along the beautiful Malecon promenade. Foamy ocean waves crash against the parapet, spraying passing cars. The price of a two-hour voyage is 29 euros per person.

Las Terrazas and Viñales Valley – the beauty of Cuban nature

Not far from the Cuban capital, there is an amazing picturesque place that attracts tourists with its unique nature and diverse landscapes. This is the province of Pinar del Rio, where you can admire the protected green areas with tropical jungles, tobacco plantations, botanical gardens and karst caves.

Together with a professional guide, tourists will visit the settlement of Las Terrazas and Viñales. The majestic sheer hills covered with dense forest brought the greatest fame to these places. The central natural composition of the province is Lake San Juan, washing glades with exotic plantings. About six million seedlings of plants have been planted here, including cedro, teka, caoba and almasigo.

Paths winding between sprawling trees lead vacationers to a waterfall and a terrace, from where an amazing view of the surrounding landscapes opens up. Nothing will prevent tourists from taking a boat ride on the lake, visiting the gallery of local artists, tasting coffee in the Maria cafe, taking a walk around the ranch and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere in the bosom of pristine nature. The cost of the expedition is 150 euros for a group of six people.

Havana with rum, cigars, coffee and salsa

It is impossible to imagine Havana without unsurpassed rum, the aroma of fresh coffee, incendiary rhythms of salsa and noble tobacco. An erudite guide for 216 euros will help tourists immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the original Cuban capital. Tour participants will walk along the historic Obispo Walking Street. This is the main artery of the Old Town, full of old buildings, museums, souvenir shops, cafeterias and bars.

Guests of Havana will learn a lot of useful information about the sights of the city, the mentality of the Cubans, the musical and dancing tastes of the inhabitants of Havana. Tobacco connoisseurs will love a visit to the cigar factory, where the production process of rolling the world famous Cuban cigars will be presented. In numerous drinking establishments, tourists can taste alcoholic drinks, including the famous rum and Daiquiri cocktail. Memorable emotions for the audience are guaranteed by attractive dance shows held in the bars and taverns of Havana.

Philosophy of Cuban street art

While in Havana, tourists will certainly pay attention to the fences and facades of houses, decorated with intricate drawings. This characteristic expression of street art has become one of the assets of Cuban culture. An erudite guide will conduct an entertaining tour for the guests of Havana, the program of which is dedicated to the study of the work of local artists. The painting of Liberty Island is full of non-trivial symbols and images that reflect tropical surrealism and traditional African motifs. The walk costs 120 euros and takes about six hours.

Travelers will proceed to the remote area of Haimanitas, where there is a whole art district. The festive colorful street has become a kind of canvas on which the artist José Fuster has embodied his creative ideas. Walls, roofs, doorways of houses, as well as benches, fences and stops are decorated with mosaic panels with picturesque drawings that evoke positive emotions in the audience. Here you can see mermaids, spiders, roosters, flowers, trees, crocodiles, heroes of the revolution and other images.

Next, tourists will proceed to the central street of El Callejon de Hamel, famous for its masterpieces of wall art. Gorgeous drawings are filled with wisdom, fantasy and optimism. Many vivid images are reminiscent of the African roots of the Cubans. Natural curiosity is caused by paintings expressing a symbiosis of realism and mythology. At the same time, each story is rethought in a surreal way, which makes viewers study the picturesque panel in detail.

Havana: Full Immersion

The halo of the romance of the revolution, rare cars, colonial architectural monuments, contrasting buildings, spicy aromas of cigars and rum – all this makes up the current image of Liberty Island. A professional guide will help visitors to Havana to fill the associative impressions with meaning and comprehend the cultural values of the Cubans. A six-hour walk costing 176 euros will allow tourists to feel the pulse of the capital of Cuba.

The tour program includes a tour of the Bolshoi Theater, the Capitol, the palace ensemble, majestic old hotels and many other attractions. The route of the group runs through pedestrian boulevards, embankments, squares and green park areas. It will be impossible to ignore the historical center, picturesque lanes and various public places of Havana. Tourists will be interested to see luxurious buildings that contrast strongly with aristocratic mansions that have lost their former splendor.

In all its glory, the picturesque and prestigious Havana district of Miramar will appear, stretching along the ocean. Here are located foreign embassies, offices of representative offices of international organizations and private villas. The wide main avenue of the district is immersed in the greenery of tall trees with spreading lush crowns.

ancient fortresses

In the era of geographical discoveries of the New World, Cuba was one of the most important strategic colonies of the Kingdom of Spain. Spanish ships sailing from America with gold entered the main connecting port of the Caribbean region – Havana Bay. Havana was protected from the encroachments of pirate invaders by four fortresses, for the construction of which a lot of money was invested.

The powerful fortifications represent the centuries-old history of the island of Freedom. The guide invites travelers to visit the forts, which are examples of medieval defensive architecture. An overview of the citadels will be accompanied by fascinating stories from the guide about filibusters, ghosts, treasures, sunken ships and political intrigues between maritime empires. The cost of the guide services is 120 euros for a group of five people.

The objects of observation will be such fortresses as Del Morro, La Fuerza, La Cabaña and La Punta. Each of these impregnable forts still amazes with massive fortifications and wise engineering solutions. Artillery guns, powerful thick walls, narrow loopholes, corner towers convey the atmosphere of antiquity. Today, the fortresses serve as museums and welcome guests.

Religious flavor of Cuba

Cognitive acquaintance with the religious side of the inhabitants of Havana will expand the palette of impressions from your stay in Cuba. Most of the population of the island professes the pagan cult of Santeria, which mixed Catholic and African beliefs. Many tourists want to be at the site of sacred ceremonies, where the main role is played by ritual dances to the accompaniment of drums, as well as the conscious entry of believers into a hallucinogenic trance.

A connoisseur of Cuban sights and traditions for 120 euros organizes a tour of the sacred places of Cubans. Travelers will find themselves in the enchanted forest of Almendares. The trunks and crowns of tall trees are densely entwined with vines and ivy. A river flows through the park, along the banks of which the adherents of Santeria perform bloody rites of sacrifice. Numerous bones and rotting heads of birds testify to this.

The tour will continue in Hamel lane, which is a small corner of the popularization of Afro-Cuban folklore. Every Sunday there are colorful performances with dances, songs and drums. The facades of the quarter's houses are decorated with colorful graffiti with various religious quotes and abstract images. Tourists will have a trip to the temple of St. Regla, dedicated to the patroness of the oceans and seas.

Walk along the Malecon at sunset

One of the pearls is the Malecon, a leisurely walk along which, together with a guide, will leave pleasant impressions in the memory of tourists. This favorite place of the townspeople originates from the fortress of San Salvador de la Punta and stretches along the Havana Bay for seven kilometers. Magnificent during the day, mesmerizing at sunset and mysterious at night, the embankment consists of a wide avenue for traffic and a narrow footpath.

The waves of the ocean break on a solid parapet, which is popularly called the longest “bench” of Havana. The unique original atmosphere of the Malecon is given by the architectural ensemble. Ancient diverse buildings alternate with modern buildings. Tourists will see a high-rise building – the National Hospital (31st floor) and the legendary National Hotel.

Numerous sculptural statues installed on the embankment remind of the heroic battles of bygone years for the independence of Cuba. With the onset of dusk, the Malecon transforms into a busy avenue. Companies of cheerful Havanese gather here to have a carefree and daring time. Tourists can extend a four-hour walk worth 90 euros by visiting bars with a tasting of Cuban cocktails.

Hot Rhythms of the Caribbean

The true nature of the capital of Cuba is revealed after ten o'clock in the evening. Numerous bars, clubs and drinking establishments attract visitors to Havana with incendiary salsa rhythms, famous alcoholic cocktails, cigar flavors and a relaxed atmosphere. The author of the tour has prepared for tourists an entertaining night walk through the picturesque districts and boulevards of the city. The route of the group runs through such places in Havana as the Old Square, Teniente Rey streets, Oreili, Mercaderes, St. Francis Square, Varadero and Miramar districts.

These lively quarters are built up with the most interesting architectural complexes of the colonial and modern periods. Noteworthy are the elegantly restored mansions with luxurious multi-colored facades. Cuban musicians play invitingly in bars and restaurants. During the walk, tourists will hear fascinating information about the sights of Havana, Cuban culinary traditions, various ways of drinking rum, and the musical tastes of the local population.

The guide will advise you to visit haunting places where you can taste mojitos, watch dance shows and spend time culturally. A non-fatiguing evening excursion will cost 176 euros for a group of four people.

Cienfuegos and El Nicho waterfall

A professional Russian-speaking guide invites tourists to go to the resort town of Cienfuegos, which is one of the pearls of the Caribbean. The price of the trip is 150 euros per group. The settlement, founded by the French in the 19th century, is located on the southern coast of the island of Cuba. The city is famous for its magnificent colonial architecture, the cleanliness of the streets and the exotic protected area.

The central place of Cienfuegos, where groups of tourists rush first of all, is Marti Square. There is a picturesque square with a rotunda and a triumphal arch, around which graceful buildings and structures with their rich history rise. Palace ensembles decorated with colonnades, arches, stucco, towers, terraces, balustrades, balconies and mosaics evoke enthusiastic sensations. The greatest architectural value is the de Valle mansion, built in the Moorish and Gothic style. Its facade attracts with an abundance of carved columns and openwork elements.

After admiring the historical beautiful buildings, travelers will proceed to the picturesque natural reserve, which is located in the vicinity of Cienfuegos at an altitude of 500 meters above sea level. This is the amazingly beautiful El Nicho National Park, striking with a riot of amazing tropical greenery. Primordial lush jungles, mountains and lagoons of rivers captivate the spirit. The main attraction of the reserve is the waterfall. Wide streams of water fall rapidly from a height of ten meters. Ranches are built near the waterfall, where tourists will have the opportunity to taste traditional Cuban dishes.