Cuba Photography Tour: La Ruta Del Són (Complete Loop)
Discover the magic of photography with Buena Vista Photo Club! Join us to master your camera skills and share inspiring moments.
Overview
Discover the vibrant heart of Cuba through our meticulously crafted tour, designed especially for photography enthusiasts and amateurs alike. Immerse yourself in a journey that seamlessly blends street photography, iconic sites, and unique opportunities to engage with Cuban impromptu models all set to the captivating rhythms of Cuban music. Enjoy ample free time to explore the streets at your own pace, capturing the essence of Cuban life through your lens.
Embrace the flexibility of our Remote Expedition tour, which allows you to dive into the spontaneous spirit of Cuban culture and connect with the welcoming locals. This adventure is not just about capturing moments; it’s about becoming part of them.
Our commitment to ethical travel ensures that this tour is 100% compliant with the “Support for Cuban People” regulation. Experience authentic Cuban hospitality by staying in guest houses, traveling in comfortable private transportation, and dining in charming local restaurants. We also encourage you to bring gifts for the Cuban people, a gesture of goodwill that fosters deeper connections and enriches your travel experience.
- Day 1: Bienvenidos a Cuba!
- Day 2: Havana Old Town
- Day 3: Havana Centro & Surroundings
- Day 4: Havana to Viñales
- Day 5: Viñales
- Day 6: Viñales – Cienfuegos – Trinidad
- Day 7: Trinidad
- Day 8: Trinidad
- Day 9: Trinidad - Havana
- Day 10: Havana ✈️ Santiago de Cuba
- Day 11: Santiago de Cuba's Old Town
- Day 12: Santiago de Cuba & Cayo Granma
- Day 13: Santiago to Baracoa
- Day 14: Baracoa
- Day 15: Baracoa to Santiago ✈️ Havana
- Day 16: Havana & Departure ✈️
Trip Details
Country
- Cuba
Group Size
- 8 Travelers Max
Schedule
- Normal
Tour Highlights
- Capture the essence of Cuba on a relaxed photo walk.
- Experience the vibrant boxing culture in Havana Vieja.
- Sunset views from Viñales' stunning Hotel Jasmin.
- Discover Trinidad's history with a morning city walk.
- Immerse in Santiago's musical and cultural vibrancy.
- End your journey with a Havana rooftop cocktail.
What to expect
- Travel Style: a 70% photography and 30% Cultural Immersion
- Lodging: Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character
- Transportation: Transportation in confortable Vehicles
- Dining Options: Authentic Local Cuisine for Lunch and Upscale Dining Experiences in the Evening
- Physical Rating: Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
Tour Type
- Customizable
- Private Trip
- Scheduled
Next Departures
- Apr 20th, 2025
- Mar 15th, 2026
Thematics
- Cultural Immersion
- Highlights
- Photography
Itinerary
Bienvenidos a Cuba!
- Arrival day
- Meeting with Tristan at the airport and transfert to your Guest House
- Meeting and tour presentation
- First relax photo walk to get acquainted with the city
- Meeting Dinner in the center
Havana Old Town
- 8am Stroll and street and portrait photography in Havana Vieja
- 10am Privilege to document a boxing training, national sport in Cuba
- 12am Lunch in a charming restaurant
- 1pm Discover of the iconic sites and squares
- 2pm St...
Havana Centro & Surroundings
- 8am Morning walk in Paseo Del Prado
- 9am Chinese quarter
- 10am Havana Centro for a street photo session
- 11am Capitolio Area
- 1:30pm Free Time
- 3:30pm Riding in an American car & discovery of the surroundings of Havana
- 6pm B...
Havana to Viñales
- 8:30am Departure to Viñales
- 12:30pm Lunch in a charming restaurant
- 2pm Check-in at the Guest House and rest
- 3:30pm Viñales Discovery tour
- 5pm Sunset from Hotel Jasmin
- 6:30pm Dinner
Viñales
- 6am Sunrise from a nice viewpoint
- 7:00am Walk ecological herbolistic walk Viñales’s field
- 9am Visit of a Tobacco farm
- 10:30am Break (or optional walk to los Acuaticos hills for a lunch – 2hours)
- 12:30pm Head to a charmi...
Viñales – Cienfuegos – Trinidad
- 8am departure from Viñales Classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site
- Lunch on the road
- 13:30pm Stop in Cienfuegos for a walk in its main square and boulevard.
- 3:30pm Check-in
- 4:30pm first walk in Trinidad to discover t...
Trinidad
- 7am Morning walk before breakfast to see the city waking up.
- 8am Breakfast
- 9am Visit of the palaces of the city
- 10am Photo shooting with a musicien and Street Photography
- 12:30pm Lunch
- 13:30pm Break
- 3pm Car ride to Mana...
Trinidad
- 8:30am Departure to El Cubano Park for a morning hike and photography
- 10am Arrival Javira Waterfall. Possibility to swim
- 11am Return by the same way and photograph the Tocororo, national bird of Cuba
- 12am Lunch followed...
Trinidad - Havana
- 9am Return to Havana
- 11am Lunch on the road
- 2pm Check-in
- 3pm Break
- Photo walk in Havana Centro & Malecon or free time for solo street photography
- 6pm Cocktail on a Rooftop with one of the best view of the city
- 7pm Dinne...
Havana ✈️ Santiago de Cuba
- 8am Optionnal Photo walk in Havana Center (depending on the flight schedule)
- 10am transfer to Havana Airport
- 1:30pm Flight to Santiago
- 2:30pm transfer to Santiago’s Old town and check-in
- 3:30pm Relax photowalk in Santia...
Santiago de Cuba's Old Town
- 8am photo walk in Santiagos center, passing by Calle Enramada and squares
- 9:30am Meeting with a famous musicien for an exclusive photo shooting
- 10:30am We will keep shooting in Santiago’s musical venues and documents th...
Santiago de Cuba & Cayo Granma
- 9am Discovery of the Afro Cuban Culture with a private show in a beautiful Colonial setting
- 11am Walk in Santiago’s Malecon (Alameda)
- 12:30pm Lunch
- 1:30pm Transfer to Ciudad mar and Cayo Granma
- 2:30pm Interaction and ph...
Santiago to Baracoa
- 8am Departure to Baracoa with some breaks on the road
- 1pm Checkin & Lunch
- 2:30pm Photo walk in Baracoa’s old town
- 6pm Sunset photoshoot over the Yunke
Baracoa
- 9am visit of the last families hairs of Tainos Indigenous Culture for some portrait photography
- (Optionnally you can opt for a an organized tour to discover Baracoa’s surroundings and Rio de Yumuri. Starting 8h30pm to 4...
Baracoa to Santiago ✈️ Havana
- 6am Early return to Santiago Airport
- 2pm Flight Santiago to Havana
- 3pm transfer to your hotel
- 4:30pm Last photo walk together
- 6pm Cocktail from a rooftop
- 7pm farewell dinner
Havana & Departure ✈️
- 8:30am Free Morning / Optional photo review or editing session with Tristan
- Transfer to the airport
Interested in a Private Tour?
This tour is available for private booking. I can help you customize the itinerary to suit your preferences!
Hotels
In our journeys around the world, we are known for selecting the finest available accommodations, ensuring both comfort and unique experiences. However, in Cuba, we adhere closely to the “Support for Cuban People” license guidelines, which means we stay exclusively in privately owned guesthouses known as casas particulares. This choice allows us to support local entrepreneurs directly, immersing you deeper into the vibrant Cuban culture.
These guesthouses offer a unique charm, especially in iconic cities like Havana and Trinidad, where you’ll find beautifully restored colonial homes and hospitable families eager to share their way of life. In more rural areas, such as the serene valley of Viñales, options can be more modest and limited. However, the warmth and hospitality of our Cuban hosts, combined with the character of these local homes, create an atmosphere that quickly makes us forget any lack of conventional luxury.
Please note that due to high demand, many of the most charming and sought-after casas particulares tend to get booked well in advance. To ensure we secure the best accommodations for you, we recommend confirming your booking as early as possible. This allows us to reserve the finest options, enhancing your experience with the comfort and authenticity that make our journeys in Cuba so unforgettable.
Chacon 160
Hotel Boutique | $$
High comfort, private bathroom, minibar and Internet access. The Chacón 160 hostel, with 4 rooms in total, is located in the heart of Old Havana in a 2-story colonial house built in 1890, completely remodeled for modern and elegant décor. Restaurants, bars and historic sites abound in its surroundings to complement your stay.
Cubao
Guest House | $
Cubao Viñales is a guest house with more than 7 years of experience. It is one of our favorites because the terraces of the house offer an exceptional view of the Viñales valley. It has two large rooms that can accommodate up to 4 people each. Over the years, Cuba has become a favorite place for visitors from all over the world. The location, the design, the typical Cuban cuisine and the attention of the family make it an exclusive place.
Casa Lili
Guest House | $
Hostal Lili is one of the oldest houses in Amargura Street, the oldest neighborhood in the city, and quite simply the most beautiful guest house we have visited in Trinidad. It has high windows with handmade wooden balusters, cedar doors decorated with rows of round nails, a spacious living and dining room, and a large patio with time-worn clay tiles. It is one of the typical houses of the colonial period that has been preserved despite the passage of years and retains its original structure with its wide walls dating from the mid-eighteenth century and its roofs with overhanging eaves. Here you can discover the atmosphere of antiquity, charm and romance that surrounds the historic center of the city.
Hotel San Basilio
Hotel Boutique | $$
This beautiful pastel green mansion is very close to Parc Céspedes, and is also the only boutique hotel in Santiago.With its 8 rooms equipped with air conditioning and television, its restaurant and lobby bar, this hotel remains charming, comfortable and refreshing – with a romantic colonial setting including a small patio dripping with ferns.
Villa Esmeralda
Resort | $$
Your host Migdalia Leonor offers private vacation accommodations in Baracoa in a privileged location. From the balconies and the terrace you have an indescribable panoramic view of the Bay of Baracoa with the harbor and the mountains with El Yunque and the Atlantic. In this private house you are guaranteed a fantastic stay in Baracoa. The two guest apartments are very spacious and have all the comforts, such as modern air conditioning, private living area, multimedia package, private bathroom and balcony and terrace. Your hostess speaks perfect English. Migdalia Leonor will be happy to help you plan excursions, for example to the Alexander von Humboldt National Park, to the cocoa plantations, to the various beaches of Playa Maguana or Playa Manglito and to rivers such as the Rio Toa and Rio Miel. Baracoa is one of the most romantic cities in Cuba, surrounded by beautiful nature and has preserved much of the charm of bygone times.
Gallery
Price Details
Included
- Meals indicated in the program
- Transportation in comfortable vehicles
- Tour leader and English speaking guide
- Entrance Fees
- Domestic flights
- Local transportation
- Boat transportation
- 1h skype session of photo editing in Lightroom or Photoshop
- Accommodation in Guest House
Not Included
- International flights
- Additional drinks and meals
- Medical insurance
- Expenses not specified in the program
- Tips
- Tourist Card
Minimum Deposit
- 50% (The last payment must be completed 45 days prior to the start of the trip.)
Price Base
- Price for 1 people: 8895 €
- Price for 2 people: 8195 €
- Price from 3 to 4 people: 7498 €
- Price from 5 to 6 people: 6795 €
- Price from 7 to 8 people: 5995 €
Payment Options
- Bank Transfer: No fees within Europe. 1.5% fee for transfers from the U.S
- Please note: Due to U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba, payment options such as Stripe, PayPal, and Wise are not available for this tour.
Testimonials
Colorful photography tour in Cuba
We had a wonderful tour in Cuba with Tristan. He knows the island very well and can spot perfect photo opportunities. He is also a great and patient teacher, and spares no effort to make the traveler's experience memorable.
Thank you, Tristan, for this new experience by your side
Thank you, Tristan, for this new experience by your side. Cuba is truly a world of its own that is worth discovering. Thank you for all the wonderful encounters, for your patience, and for the valuable advice :-)
Traveling with you is always the best.
Hope to see you very soon.
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