Cuba I Cigar-tour Cigar Aficionado - Cohiba, Partagas, Montecristo & Co.

1st day of tour
You are met at the airport by our guide. Transfer to the colonial hotel Conde de Villanueva in Old Havana.
Reception and complementary welcome cocktail.

Hotel Conde de Villanueva

2nd day of tour
Guided tour of the old part of the city with its stunning architecture and sites. Lunch in a restaurant of colonial architecture. Your first highlight of your travel: Nostalgia on wheels, a trip in a Classic Car of the 50s through the city and suburbs and back to your hotel. In the afternoon you partake in a meeting in reference to the history and production of the Habano cigar with a Cuban cigar specialist, which will be held in a stylish cigar lounge in Old Havana. You will sample from different famous cigar brands and Cuba’s other passion – the Rum. The evening is at your own disposal. On request we can organize for you an evening at the exotic Cabaret Tropicana.

Original box with cigars of the 50s, the brand "Don Joaquín"

4th day of tour
Visit of a “Casa de Seleccion” with an experts introduction about the selection of tobacco leafs according to quality and color and the process of the ripening. Afterwards you will visit an amazing small botanical garden. Lunch in an open-air restaurant, tucked alongside a mountain range in the Valley of Vinales. In the afternoon you will enjoy the opportunity to see the cave of “Cueva del Indio”, formerly a living space of native Indians. Visitors will be guided to an underground river on which will be lead out by boat. At night you will enjoy the taste of Cuban cuisine for dinner at a private restaurant, a “paladar”, in the small village of Vinales.

Province of Pinar del Rio

7th day of tour
A day at the exclusive „Club Habana“. Situated in the Diplomat's quarter, this club provides for its members a private beach, two swimming pools, deck chairs and beach towels. Adjacent to the Club house, which includes a bar and restaurant, the distinguished guest enjoys a fine selecction of cigars in the clubs cigarshop. The club is frequented by its members, diplomats and their families, foreign businessmen and airline staff of Havana and selected guests. (Drinks, snacks, meals or cigars on your own expense)
Optional: We provide your transfer to and from the beaches of "Playa del Este", located about 25 km east of Havana where you will be able to enjoy the warm Caribbean waters of the most famous hangout for Habaneros, the habitants of the capital. Bars and restaurants, watersports and deck chair rental are located at the beaches. (Drinks, snacks,meals or rental equipment on your own expense; we would like to mention that prices are very affordable)
This evening you will enjoy fine dining with the opportunity to recapture the experience and knowledge attained of getting closer to the source of the Habano cigar.

Havana Club Rum Museum

TOUR "CIGAR AFICIONADO"
	Tour dates 2011	Price
CA07	08.-15.07.	938
CA10	29.10.-05.11	990
CA11	18.-25.11.	1065
CA12	09.-16.12.	1065
	Tour dates 2012
CA01	20.-27.01.	1065
CA03	09.-16.03.	1065
CA04	01.-08.04.	1065
Single room supplement € 182
> RESERVATION > Prices in EUR > Currency converter > Included: > Welcome greeting at airport by tour guide > Qualified guide for introduction of Cuban tobacco > Hotel Conde de Villanueva 4* - 2 Overnight stays > Hotel Presidente 4* - 3 Overnight stays > Hotel Los Jazmines / La Ermita 3* - 2 Overnight stays > Breakfast, lunch and dinner as described > All transfer in air-conditioned vehicle > All excursions, visits and entrance fees as indicated > Cigars and rum tastings as indicated > Farewell dinner > Participants: 6-10 pers. > Not included: > Flight ticket: Feel free to contact us for your flight booking > Note: During travel date of 08.-15.07. there is no planting or harvesting season at the tobacco plantations. > All travel arrangements can be booked individually, as a single choice, or as part of a package. We will be glad to send you offers. > This tour is also available at your requested date for groups or just two participants - please contact us. > How do I book travel arrangements? > RESERVE "CIGAR AFICIONADO"

The myth and cult surrounding the Havana cigar
is a worldwide phenomenon that draws many fans and is traced back to the exceptional quality of Cuban tobacco. The enjoyment of a "Habano" is something quite special, embodying that feeling of pure harmony in the shape of a cigar.
The journey to the source of this phenomenon examines the process of a tobacco farm, the manufacturing and quality control of the product through to the final retail product. We have the opportunity to get to know some of the more famous brands and to taste Cuba's other specialty, excellent brands of rum. This tour goes to the Mecca of tobacco farms, the province Pinar del Rio, with its idyllic Vinales village and on to the fields of Vuelta Abajo - the very heart and soul of the biggest Cuban cigar brands. You will enjoy lively Havana, brimming with charm, nostalgia and history.

Photo Gallery: Cigar Aficionado

Deceased tobacco genious Don Alejandro Robaina

3rd day of tour
Excursion to the western 'tobacco' province of Pinar del Rio, where the world’s most famous tobacco is being grown and harvested. Visit of a tobacco plantain, called “Vega”, and getting to know and speak with the owner who will introduce his vega. On our way to the region we will enjoy our lunch in typical and cozy restaurant. Further on to the Valley of Vinales and reception at either the hotel Los Jazmines or La Ermita - both with a stunning view of the Valley. The pool of the hotel provides an opportunity for a refreshing swim. For dinner, a suckling pig will be prepared at a farmers house, a finca, including a smoke of freshly prepared cigars.

Vinales Valley
Valley of Vinales

5th day of tour
Transfer back to Havana with a stop in Soroa and visit of the botanical garden where the biggest selection of orchids in Cuba is being grown. Arriving in Havana, you visit the “Casa del Tabaco” and have lunch in the adjacent “Ranchón” Restaurant. This stylish complex not only offers just cigars but provides one of the best selections of brands and sizes in town. In the afternoon you check into the classical and cozy Hotel Presidente. The evening is free at your disposal. We happily provide ideas or hints of what to do and where to go.

Hotel Presidente

6th day of tour
Visit of the famous cigar factory “Real Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás” where the process of selecting leafs according to brand and size of cigars and rolling, cutting and packaging will be seen. A visit to the “Cabana” castle overseeing the port of Habana will not only allow a splendid view of the city but exhibits the worlds largest handmade cigar as is noted in the Guiness book of records. You will get to know "Cueto" who produced this cigar and will try your luck by rolling your own handmade cigar. Back in Old Havana you visit the “Havana Club” rum museum in colonial buildings, where you will get to know the process of rum making and sample old aged rum at its best. The afternoon allows you to enjoy the charme of the city or hotel including a swimming pool for relaxation. This night you enjoy a dinner at the Cabana castle and will be witness of the “Canonazo” ceremony at 9 pm which illustrates in a traditional way the closing of the gates of town with a booming cannon shot. Transfer back to the hotel. You are invited to stroll around town and explore Havana’s famous night life.

Havana Club Rum Museum

8th day of tour
Today, the journey about the Cuban culture of cigars and tasting of its samples will come to an end. After breakfast, perhaps there is still time left to stroll around or to purchas souvenirs. ICheck out of the hotel is scheduled for late morning. In case necessary, hotel staff can be consulted to provide storage of your luggage until later departure during the day.

De Soto Classic Car Havana Cuba
'De Soto' Classic Car

The journey for lovers of Cuban Habanos, recommended both for beginners and true aficionados, reflects, besides the impressive architecture of the old colonial city of Havana and the stunning views of the valleys and tobacco plantations of the province of Pinar del Rio, an in-depth knowledge and insight of the plantation, the harvest (harvest November to April ) until the final product, the hand-rolled, Habano. Tastings of cigars and rum do not come short and will pamper your palate and senses.