🧑🍳 Cuba's Culinary Adventure
🍽️ Cooking Tour of Cuba: Meet the People Behind the Food
An immersive journey through Cuba’s flavors, rhythms, and resilience. Offered by Mariah Travel – Legal, Authentic, Unforgettable
Step into the lively realm of Cuban gastronomy and uncover the stories, people, and traditions that shape the island’s most beloved dishes. With Mariah Travel’s authentic and legal Support for the Cuban People tour, you’ll go far beyond restaurant menus—into home kitchens, farms, markets, and hearts.
From the colonial charm of Havana to the lush Viñales Valley and the tranquil shores of Playa Larga, this journey reveals how food, community, and culture are woven into everyday Cuban life.
🌟 Tour Highlights
Hands-On Cooking Demonstrations: Join Cuban chefs in intimate settings to learn traditional recipes and cooking techniques—then sit down and enjoy the results!
Visit to a Sustainable Farm: Explore how Cuban farmers are feeding communities with ingenuity and care, despite limitations in resources.
Organic Farm-to-Table Lunch: Savor fresh, local flavors prepared right where they’re grown—in the lush Cuban countryside.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Wander through the Viñales Valley and the historic heart of Havana, with expert insights into Cuba’s agricultural and colonial legacy.
Bay of Pigs & Playa Larga: Reflect on Cuba’s complex history at this iconic site, and take in the beauty of one of Cuba’s most biodiverse regions.
Craft Cocktails, Cuban Style: Master the mojito with a seasoned mixologist and join a daiquiri-making session at a legendary Havana bar.
A Deep Dive into Daily Cuban Life: Gain rare insights as you visit:
A bustling agricultural market
A government ration store
A supermarket, and
Private Cuban homes that open their kitchens and stories to you.
Music, Dance & Cultural Connection: Learn to salsa, rumba, or simply move with the rhythm in the streets. The music of Cuba is as rich and layered as its food.
🍴 Why Travel with Mariah?
Mariah Travel goes beyond sightseeing—we connect you with real people, real food, and real stories. This isn’t just a food tour—it’s a cultural immersion through the universal language of cooking and sharing meals.
🇨🇺 8-Day Cuban Cooking Tour
Meet the People Behind the FoodAn immersive culinary & cultural journey through Havana & Viñales
Day 1: ¡Bienvenidos a La Habana!
Arrive in Havana and meet your Mariah Travel guide at José Martí International Airport.
Transfer to your guesthouse (casa particular) in the heart of Havana.
Welcome dinner at a paladar featuring a menu curated by the chef to highlight Cuban culinary creativity.
Evening orientation and a mojito toast to kick off the journey.
🏠 Overnight: Casa in Habana Vieja, Old Havana
Day 2: Markets, Rations & Home Kitchens
Visit a local farmers' market, supermarket, and government ration store for insight into Cuba’s complex food systems.
Private cooking class in a Cuban home, followed by a shared lunch and warm conversation.
Afternoon walking tour of Habana Vieja (Old Havana), including key historic squares and a visit to a Cuban coffee roaster.
Optional evening: Attend a live music show or explore a local bar with your guide.
🍴 Featured: Cooking with a Cuban family
🏠 Overnight: Casa in Habana Vieja, Old Havana
Day 3: Culture, Cocktails & Culinary Artistry
Morning visit to a culinary arts project or cultural exchange center, meeting chefs and artists who blend food with creative expression.
Lunch at a socially conscious paladar supporting local initiatives.
Afternoon cocktail workshop: Craft your own mojito and daiquiri under the guidance of a Cuban mixologist in a historic bar.
Optional: Dance class—learn basic salsa or rumba steps before dinner.
🍸 Featured: Cocktail class & rhythm session
🏠 Overnight: Casa in Habana Vieja, Old Havana
Day 4: Journey to Viñales – Into the Green Heart
Drive through rural Cuba to the Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stop for a traditional roadside lunch en route.
Afternoon tour of Viñales town and check into a countryside guesthouse.
Sunset dinner overlooking the mogotes with locally grown ingredients.
🌄 Featured: Sunset Dinner with a view at a local organic farm
🏠 Overnight: Casa in Viñales
Day 5: Organic Farms & Tobacco Traditions
Morning visit to an organic farm: Learn sustainable farming methods and pick ingredients for lunch.
Participate in a cooking demonstration and farm-to-table meal.
Afternoon visit to a tobacco farm—meet the grower, explore drying houses, and try rolling your own cigar (optional).
Dinner at a rural paladar with live Cuban trova music.
🍴 Featured: Farm-to-table lunch & tobacco experience
🏠 Overnight: Casa in Viñales
Day 6: Return to Havana + Specialty Cooking Class
Return to Havana after breakfast, with a scenic stop en route.
Afternoon options (choose one):
Seafood-focused cooking class with a Havana chef
Vegetarian Cuban cuisine workshop using market-fresh produce
Baking session exploring traditional Cuban desserts
Free time to explore galleries, take photos, or sip coffee at a local café.
Dinner on your own or with the group at an optional chef-led popup event.
🍳 Featured: Specialty culinary workshop of your choice
🏠 Overnight: Casa in Habana Vieja, Old Havana
Day 7: Havana Farewell Celebration
Morning drive back to Havana with a scenic stop for lunch along the way.
Visit Revolution Square and take a short panoramic tour in a classic car.
Free time for shopping or strolling along the Malecón.
Evening farewell dinner at one of Havana’s top paladares with a private chef introduction and live music.
🎉 Featured: Classic car ride + rooftop dinner party
🏠 Overnight: Casa in Habana Vieja, Old Havana
Day 8: Adiós, Cuba
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and transfer to the airport.
Departure assistance provided by your guide.
✈️ Until next time—gracias y buen provecho!
COST: Starting at $2699 per person, double occupancy
Single supplement is $400
INCLUDED IN THE TOUR COST:
• Airport transfers: From José Martí Int'l Airport and return.
• All breakfasts and welcome dinner. Other lunches and dinners as listed in tour itinerary.
• All activities, expert local guides, services, speakers, meetings and meals as described in tour itinerary except those noted as "optional" or "not included in cost."
• Air-conditioned transportation and a full-time driver.
• Mandatory Cuban medical insurance coverage during your island stay.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR COST:
• International airfare to and from Cuba. Mariah Travel will assist and advise with the coordination of the best flights.
• Cuba Tourist Visa
• Gratuities for Cuban tour guide, bus driver, chambermaids, restaurant staff, porters, etc. Please inquire about recommended gratuities guidelines. https://www.mariahtravel.com/planning
• Any personal items.
• Optional travel interruption and cancellation insurance is highly recommended. Mariah Travel partners with USI Affinity.
Please visit https://www.mariahtravel.com/travel-insurance
Additional Important Details:
Before embarking on our tour, it's important to note that while it won't demand rigorous physical exertion, there will be some walking, often on uneven ground, and weather conditions in Cuba can vary from hot to rainy. Flexibility is paramount in navigating the Cuban landscape, as alterations to transportation, accommodations, and activities may arise. Yet, these adjustments pale in comparison to the authentic and enriching encounters awaiting you as you engage with Cuba's dynamic populace.
In recent years, Cuba has witnessed a surge in entrepreneurial endeavors, particularly within its culinary scene, where innovative and delectable dishes are emerging. This entrepreneurial spirit also shines through in the improved customer service evident in privately-owned establishments such as paladares (restaurants) and casa particulares (guesthouses). Despite these positive transformations, some goods and services remain constrained due to both the US embargo and Cuban governmental regulations. Nevertheless, Cubans epitomize warmth, resilience, and resourcefulness, ensuring that your visit will be nothing short of unforgettable. Prepare to be captivated by the Cuban spirit, leaving you with an undeniable desire to return time and again.
