You’ll find yourself immediately impressed with the beautiful view below you as you visit the famous Bucunayagua Lookout. This lookout can be found along the Via Bianca connecting Varadero and Havana, and though it is a brief stop, it is arguably the most eye-catching. From this lookout, located on the highest bridge in Cuba at 100 meters, you’ll gaze upon Cuba’s beautiful countryside. What a fantastic photo opportunity this will be for you to capture the lush, green beauty of the Yumuri Valley.

Havana was once considered the Queen Jewel of the Colonial empire, and while history has changed, the beauty and charm of this city is still something to behold. The four plazas that make up Old Havana are filled with brilliant architecture built of original but restored stone and seemingly painted by a rainbow. Among these plazas you’ll not only find several unique and fascinating museums, shops, and attractions, but you’ll also be mesmerized by St Christopher’s Cathedral, whose impressive bell towers seem to dominate the area. Located in the Plaza de la Catedral, this piece of history is rumored to hold remains and relics of Christopher Columbus himself, and is rich in 18 th century beauty

Rum is such an important part of Cuba’s daily life and history that this tour wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the famous Havana Club Rum Museum. You’ll be enamored with learning the real-time step by step process of transforming sugar into this popular and delicious drink, gaining a whole new appreciation for the craftsmanship involved in creating such a masterpiece of alcohol and sugar. You’ll discover the distilleries full of authentic casks, pipes, tanks, and barrels used in distilling Cuba’s most popular beverage, and finish up with a delicious rum tasting that you’ll never forget as you seat yourself at the immense wooden bar, transforming you to the famous Havana drinking establishments of the 1930s. You can complete this tour at the boutique to purchase rum and other bar articles, Cuban cigars, and souvenirs.

Work up an appetite for lunch at El Floridita, formerly named Piña de Plata, a bar and restaurant made famous by author Ernest Hemingway.

Hemingway was a regular at this historical establishment, where the bartenders are known for their talent at crafting delicious drinks. This bar also boasts the title of “the cradle of the Daiquiri”, as it was rumored the daiquiri was first created here. Relax with one of its decadent seafood dishes and perhaps one of its legendary cocktails.

New Havana is an explosion of color amid the truly interesting contrasts of modern Cuba. There is much to see in New Havana which includes art and architecture. Even when viewing the buildings in need of updating, one can see the Cuban heritage and brilliance in a unified sense of proportion and scale that meets the needs of the climate while being irresistibly coherent to the senses.

Modern Havana peeks through at you daring you to see the charm and vitality at its core.

You’ll have plenty to talk about and plenty to remember of Cuban culture and historical beauty as you head back to the hotel in Varadero.