Designed for travelers seeking the full Cuban experience, from cars, cigars, and culture, this 6 day / 5 night Classic Cuba Tour covers it all and more! On this tour, you will encounter a world famous cigar factory, dine at Cuba’s finest restaurants, tour the city in a classic car, learn about Cuba’s classic history on an Old Havana Walking Tour, learn how to make Cuban cocktails, tour an indigenous cave, learn the heart of the tobacco and coffee trade from Cuba’s local farmers, and much more. You’ll experience Cuba’s rich history, sweet-natured people, mouth-watering cuisine, unique nature, and its world famous tobacco and coffee like never before. Your professional guide will accompany you the entire way, with three nights in awe-inspiring Havana and two nights in the jaw-dropping Viñales Valley. On this tour, it’s guaranteed that you will experience Cuban culture at its best and gain a true understanding, from experience, what this island, “frozen in time”, was like in its early years.
Book now to experience romantic Havana and awe-inspiring Viñales on this once-in-a-lifetime Classic Cuba Tour!
On this Classic Cuba Tour, you will begin and end at the José Martí International Airport in Havana. You can expect your complete itinerary from transportation, accommodations, private tours/experiences, and meals to be previously arranged and paid for by your guide. You will be accompanied the entire tour by a Gardner Tours professional guide, educated on Cuban culture, history, tobacco, coffee, etc, and all we require of you is to simply enjoy yourself! In the event that something changes or doesn’t go exactly as planned, please be patient and courteous, as it is our guarantee that our guides will handle any challenges with timely grace to ensure that you are taken care of and that you get the authentic Cuban experience you desire.
*Your accommodations will be at a Cuban BnB equipped with air-conditioner as well as a private bathroom. Each of our accommodation partners provide private rooms with a full bed and a twin bed, and can occupy up to three persons per room. If you desire to share a room with your travel companions (up to three persons per room), please specify in the details of your booking.
**Cigar Factories in Cuba are closed on the weekends as well as two longer holidays during the year. If you happen to book during these times, it is our guarantee that you will get to experience the same education and cigar rolling experience.
***Tobacco season in Cuba is during the dry season, with planting season starting in late-October and harvest season from January to early-April. If you happen to book outside of these months, know that you might see barren lands, but it is our guarantee that you will experience the same education and tobacco experience as if you were visiting in-season. You might not get to witness the acts of planting or harvest, but you will definitely encounter the world’s greatest tobacco culture at work.
****Coffee harvest in Cuba is during the part of the dry season, from September to January. If you book in these months, you might even get to help in harvest! However, if you happen to book from February to August, know that you might see barren coffee plants, but it is our guarantee that you will experience the same education and coffee experience as if you were visiting in-season. You might not get to witness the acts of harvest, but you will definitely encounter one of the world’s greatest coffee cultures at work.
Each of our guides are well versed in their culture and able to answer almost any question you may have for them! You will have complete freedom to take your tour at the pace you please, deciding to sit and enjoy the view as long as you desire, asking the tobacco farmer as many questions as you want, or simply enjoying your dinner just a little longer than you normally would. Your guide will give you time and space to enjoy your lunch each day as you like (with or without them). They meet you at the arranged time each morning to begin your day and will drop you off at your BnB each night. They will serve you along the way and ensure that you are well taken care of during your entire stay.
Gardner Tours is committed to delivering you the most professional, hospitable, and entertaining tours offered in Cuba! If you have questions or would like to adjust this tour in any way, feel free to contact us and we will gladly accommodate your desires.
Based upon the time your flight arrives to José Martí International Airport in Havana, your professional guide will be waiting for you at your final customs exit. Following a quick meet and greet, you will ride into Old Havana, get settled into your BnB, then kick your tour off with a bang on a two-hour Classic Car Tour of the city! You will visit Havana’s most remarkable sites such as the Christ Statue overlooking the city, the Morro Castle, Revolution Square, the Capitol, the Vedado neighborhood, and finish with a breezy cruise down the Malecón (seawall) at sunset. After your classic car tour, you will be dropped off at our favorite restaurant in the city to experience their mouth-watering cuisine and the live music that the alley offers! If you choose, your guide will drop you off at your BnB after dinner. If you desire to explore the nightlife of Old Havana, you will be free to do so.
At the arranged time you choose, your professional guide will meet you at your BnB to begin your day. You will receive a completely comprehensive education on Cuban culture, history, folklore, and much more on an Old Havana Walking Tour. You will be walked through the city to learn of and visit some of its most historic and romantic sites like the Castle of the Royal Force, Plaza Vieja, the Havana Cathedral, La Bodeguita del Medio (one of Hemingway’s hangout), and so much more. You will meet local artists at their shops and might even bump into a few of Havana’s personalities. Who knows, you might even find yourself dancing to traditional Cuban music with locals in the street! Your Old Havana Walking Tour will begin in the morning in the oldest part of the city, and following lunch at the location of your choice (your guide can give recommendations), you will complete the walking tour in the Capitol Area visiting locations like an artisan’s market, Central Park, the Capitol, the Original Partagas Cigar Factory, and the Museum of the Revolution among others.
After your walking tour is complete, you will have the time and freedom to rest and clean up before dinner if you so choose. For dinner, your guide will take you to one of our favorite places, a quiet and private rooftop restaurant in the thick of the city. This restaurant was originally a home constructed in the mid-1800s and now serves as a restaurant, art gallery, and BnB. This is the perfect opportunity to sit back, relax, and enjoy your company. Following dinner, your guide will drop you off at your BnB if you so choose. If you desire to further explore the nightlife of Old Havana, you will be free to do so.
Day three will be icing on the cake with a Cigar Factory Tour, Cuban Cocktail Lesson (includes a minimum of one drink), time to purchase more souvenirs, and dinner during a private cigar event with live jazz!
Again, your guide will meet you at your chosen time in the morning, then you will be transported to one of Havana’s famous cigar factories to receive a complete education on the process of Cuba’s world-renowned tobacco!
Following your visit to the cigar factory and Habanos store, you will be transported back to Old Havana for lunch at the restaurant of your choice (your guide can give recommendations). After taking lunch, you may have a time of rest if you please, then you will get a private lesson on how to make Cuban cocktails where you will receive at least one cocktail to enjoy! Be sure to bring pen and paper to take notes!
Just before dinner, you will take time to clean up and put your Cuban best on to experience one of the best nights you will have in Cuba, an incredible dinner accompanied with live jazz! Following, you may want to explore more of Havana’s nightlife on your final night, but if not, your guide will escort you to your BnB.
After breakfast, at a predetermined time, you will take off for Viñales in a private car. After your arrival, you will get settled into your BnB, then walk into town for lunch at a restaurant of your choice on the city’s main street!
You will then have the opportunity to either rest a bit and get acclimated to the slow pace of Viñales or take off for a tour of a local tobacco farm where you will receive an education on Cuban tobacco from seed to harvest from a local campesino (farmer). Depending on the season and availability of tobacco, you might even get to help in the process of harvest or roll your own cigar! At the end of the Tobacco Farm Tour, you will have the opportunity to kick your feet back with the farmers and enjoy a smoke, a drink, and the view as long as you please.
Following, you will be transported to what many claim as the best view in all of Cuba, a panoramic view of the Viñales Valley. You will see farms and mogotes (random mountainous formations in the valley) for miles and dream of what life was like as the natives roamed the land.
Following a time of relaxation and photographs at the viewpoint, you will be taken just a short walk away to a restaurant with one of the best views in all of Viñales. You will taste their exquisite cuisine and relax as you soak in the view and assume the slow-paced lifestyle of the campesino. And if you’re one to enjoy a Cuban cocktail, this restaurant places a bottle of rum on your table and simply explains, “Here is a bottle for your table, in case you would like to add more rum to your cocktail.”
After dinner, if you so choose, your guide will drop you off at your BnB. If you desire to explore the nightlife of Viñales, you will be free to do so.
At the arranged time you choose, your professional guide will meet you at your BnB to begin your day. You will first be escorted to a local farm for an extensive education on Cuban coffee from a local farmer. There you will have the opportunity to learn the entire process that Cuban coffee undergoes from plant to espresso. Depending on the season and availability of coffee, you might even get to help in harvest and join in the process all the way from picking the beans to brewing your own espresso!
After the coffee experience, you will have the opportunity to eat lunch at a local restaurant. If you desire a more relaxed lunch, you can arrange to eat a home cooked meal at your BnB.
Following your lunch, you will then be transported to the Cave of the Indian, a relaxed tour, where you will encounter a performance by the natives, explore the insides of a great cave, and finish on a boat through the cave.
To finish your evening in the most immaculate style, after cleaning up, your private car will take you into the valley to a former tobacco farm that has been converted into an acclaimed restaurant manned by a Cuban chef that can’t be matched (he was trained by the King’s Chef in Spain). You will dine at what we claim is Cuba’s best restaurant and experience true Cuban hospitality and the fine food that comes with it! We can guarantee that this will be the best dining experience that you will have in all of Cuba. The view, the hospitality, the cuisine, and the atmosphere simply can’t be beat.
If you choose, after dinner, your guide will drop you off at your BnB to relax as you wind down your evening. If you decide to explore the nightlife of Viñales on your final night in Cuba, you will be free to do so.
Depending on the departure time of your flight, you might have the opportunity to relax and enjoy your last few hours in Viñales. If so, you will have time to purchase any last-minute souvenirs from local artisans and/or take those photos that you may have missed. At the appointed time, you will be picked up by your private taxi, escorted directly to the José Martí International Airport, and dropped off three to four hours prior to your departure for an ample amount of time to purchase any last-minute souvenirs, check your bags, go through security and customs, and arrive at your gate for a safe flight home.
Gardner Tours is committed to delivering you the most professional, comprehensive, and entertaining tours offered in Cuba! If you have questions or would like to adjust this tour in any way, feel free to contact us and we will gladly accommodate your desires.
If you have questions or would like to adjust this tour in any way, please contact us using the form below.
Carlynn G.
I booked a trip with Gardner Tours and it was amazing!! My guide, Colby, took care of everything in a very professional way. He took us to the hot spots of top interest in Havana, as well as some of hidden treasures off the beaten path. In Viñales, we took a horseback ride down in the valley where the tobacco fields were and met some of the farmers. All in all, the experience was full of great cultural experiences that I will never forget. Thank you so much, Gardner Tours!!
Colby
Thank you for your review! It’s was a treat serving you in Cuba! 🙂
Jimmy H.
Had a great trip to Cuba back in January, one I will never forget!!! Got to see and experience some amazing places and people. Had a couple of days in Havana taking in the architecture, shopping, great food and entertainment. Then we spent a few in Vinales where we took a private tour of a tobacco farm learning the process of growing, harvesting and drying the tobacco leaves. They even showed us how they hand roll the best Cuban cigars!! Took a bike ride across the valley to some mountains for a cave tour. Boats took us through part of the cave which was way cool!! All our accommodations, from the hostel, travel arrangements and activities were well taken care of for us!! I couldn’t be more happy with experience in Cuba! Hope to return soon.
Colby Gardner
Thank you sir! It was a great trip indeed and we hope to have you again some day!
Cara B.
Best vacation ever! Gardner Tours is so awesome! I couldn’t imagine anyone not enjoying their time, it is an amazing experience. Colby knows so much about Cuba and all of the best places to go. You will truly feel catered to and leave wanting to come back. I highly recommend this trip!
Colby Gardner
Thank you, Cara! 🙂 You were a pleasure to serve!
Cindi E.
The most amazing tour with the most amazing tour company of a most amazing country! Gardner Tours provided a suggested hosted itinerary, but allowed personal jaunts as well…with ample down time to just soak it all in. From cigars to fine coffee, from city to country side, from vintage cars to horseback rides ~ the knowledge of country, culture, comfort and cuisine was exemplary! Felt completely safe, with never a worry or concern. Thanks for the fantastic time Gardner Tours ~ I’ll be calling in the future!
Colby Gardner
Thank you, Cindi! It was absolutely wonderful serving you ladies during that week! Y’all were a breath of fresh air!
JIm P.
I recently traveled with Gardner Tours and it was a trip of a lifetime! Colby was attentive, knowledgeable, and made it memorable. The history tour, local connections, From his willingness to go the extra mile to actually documenting things with his professional camera it was the best of the best. I travel a few times a year for pleasure and Garner Tours is the best!
Colby Gardner
Thank you, Jim! It was more than a blast to have you guys! We are looking forward to your upcoming tour in September!
Amber H.
Had a wonderful time! The guides Yunior and Albert were phenomenal. The trip was one I’ll definitely remember.
Colby Gardner
Thank you, Amber! Yunior & Albert really are great guides that care well for their travelers and help them have the best time! We are glad you guys enjoyed it so much!
Irma C.
It had always been a dream of mine to go to Cuba. Like everyone else I was a little apprehensive about it. Gardner Tours took care of everything for us. They were always was a few steps ahead of any questions we might have. They truly prepared a wonderful, unforgettable, trip for us. Our tour guides Yunior and Albert were phenomenal. Enveloping us in the culture, and submerging us into their history. The bed and breakfast were not only quaint and beautiful, but also very welcoming, making you feel at home. I found it hard to leave. I fell in love with Old Havana and the cute fisherman towns that surrounded us. Please don’t get me going on the food! Everything was so delicious! I still have dreams about the coffee! I love everything about this trip the tour guides, the excursions, the bed and breakfast and the overall experience. Thank you Gardner Tours, Colby, Yunior and Albert for making this such a wonderful experience. I will definitely be coming back.
Colby Gardner
Irma, thank you! It was a pleasure serving you guys! I know that Yunior and Albert enjoyed serving y’all as well! They still talk about your group from time to time.
Gene S.
This was the most incredible tour of Cuba that I had been dreaming of for years! Thank you!
Colby Gardner
Thank you, Gene! It was great seeing how much you were enjoying Cuba and even more wonderful to serve you in it!
Alicia P.
What a great tour! Thank you!
Colby Gardner
Thank you, Alicia! We sure enjoyed serving you guys!
Riah S.
This trip was absolutely amazing from start to finish, Colby and his team are so awesome and welcoming, and the hotel was the coolest! The classic car tour was by far one of the most fun things I’ve ever done! I loved getting to know the Cuban people and their culture!
Colby Gardner
Wow, Riah! Thank you for your kind review. We had the best time serving your amazing group! We hope to see y’all again sometime!
Bob R.
Colby, Yunior, and Albert are the most reliable, professional, caring, and pretty funny guys you’ll find anywhere. Finding them in Cuba was a treasure!
Colby Gardner
Thank you for your kind comments and review! We are so happy that you enjoyed it!
Clay R.
The sites were amazing! The Gardner Tours crew take you on an experience of a lifetime for sure. The classic cars are beautiful and the walk was perfect! This was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life!
Colby Gardner
Wow. Thank you so much! We are so glad to hear that it was one of the best experiences that you’ve ever had!
Antonio D.
Colby and his team went above and beyond to me this trip an amazing adventure. Taking care of even the smallest details, leading tours and always having a best kept secret restaurant available. Don’t waste your time, just call Gardner Tours. I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time, like I did!
Colby Gardner
Thank you, Antonio! It was a joy to serve y’all!
Brittany G.
There is no better way to travel to Cuba than through Gardner Tours. The guides have a deep love for the country and share that passion through their service. Our group got an incredible hand’s on experiences, which I believe were only possible because of our guides personal connection and relationship with each place we visited. Overall, if you want to experience the real Cuba, Gardner Tours is the way to go!
Colby Gardner
Thank you, Brittany! We had the best time serving y’all!
Jason W.
I can’t say enough about Colby and the Gardner Tours guides, they really did give us a one of a kind experience. Colby’s passion for the country, its people, and the rich history is apparent has he guides you through the streets of Havana. I loved the opportunity to leave the city and get more rural, the 2 difference experiences is really like going on 2 different trips. I can’t wait to go back to Cuba with Gardner Tours!
Colby Gardner
Thank you for your kind review! We hope to serve you guys again sometime.
Manny U.
Colby is a person who clearly has a passion for Cuba. You can see that simply by the way he speaks of the island, the way he shows you the island, and how he gets you to those places on the island. Through his classic car tour, the old Havana walking tour, the restaurants, and most importantly the knowledge he shares, truly gives you a taste of the real Cuba.
Colby Gardner
Thank you, Manny! We greatly loved introducing you guys to our country! Hope to see y’all again soon!
Rana S.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Gardner Tours! We had an amazing time in Cuba. Colby did more than just “lead a tour.” He created a wonderful experience for the entire group. Rana
Colby Gardner
Rana, thank you for your kind words! Yunior, Albert, and I sure enjoyed you and your group to the full! We hope to serve y’all again sometime soon!
Jeremy B.
Classic car tours, fantastic restaurants, a beautiful bnb and city, and experiencing Cuban culture and history. What more could you ask for? How about being guided by a team who is passionate about these things and people as well? What a fantastic week we had with Colby Gardner, and his guides Albert, and Yunior. Can not recommend these guys enough. Very pleased with my experience.
Colby Gardner
Jeremy, it was a pleasure to serve y’all! Thank you for your kind review! Hope to see you and your group again!
Debi B.
See the sites and learn the history of Cuba and the people. Colby, Albert and Yunior are by far the kindest people around and pretty entertaining as well. You will not be disappointed!!
Colby Gardner
Debi, it was such an honor serving you guys and introducing y’all to the country we love so much! Please come see us again!
Crystal S.
I can’t begin to describe how wonderful this trip was because of our tours! Gardner tours first and foremost has the best people to interact with, Colby, Yunior and Albert are not only nice but they are actually personable and a blast to be around. They know the city very well and each and every tour was full of interesting history, architectural and local info. Honestly, I left Cuba with such a new aw of beautiful and culturally rich it is. I was part of several tours and let me tell you, these guys were just as efficient with small personal groups as they were with large groups. Of course a personal favorite was the car tour, which was conducted right before sunset for us. This was an amazing way to see the city and really you can’t go to Cuba and miss this experience. Everything ran so smooth and I clearly don’t have a single thing that sticks out in my memory that could have been better. There is no doubt I would use Gardner Tours in the future and look forward to my next trip but kinda feel bad for other company’s having to reach my new found expectations lol.
Colby Gardner
Crystal, you are so kind! And we are happy that we raised your expectations of tour companies! That is our hope! We hope to see you guys again sometime!
Brett B.
Colby and his team of guides are absolutely amazing. They are passionate about what they do.It’s amazing the knowledge that Colby has. With his team we never had to want for anything they were always there. Their attention to detail goes above and beyond. Can’t wait to take another trip with them.
Colby Gardner
Wow. Thank you, Brett! We had the most fun time serving you guys! And we would be humbled to serve y’all again! Thank you again!
CJ R.
Hah! Caught you looking for a bad review! I’m happy to say it’s not coming from me.
We had a blast! I can’t thank Colby, Yunior, and Albert enough for introducing us to the wonderful Cuban culture! Our trip was excellent & I can’t wait to go back! Thank you. Thank you!
Colby Gardner
Hahahahaha I can’t tell you how much I laughed at your review title and then the first sentence of your review! Thank you, CJ! We were honored to serve you guys and introduce you to our lovely country! We hope to see you again!
Michael D.
We had a great time on our Gardner Tours Cuba trip. Colby is the consummate trio leader and host. You will have all your needs taken care of and be allowed to just enjoy the wonder of the trip. I can not recommend him and Gardner Tours more highly!
Colby Gardner
Thank you for your review, Mike! We sure did enjoy serving you guys!
Cheryl S.
Taking a dive into the Cuban culture was nothing like I thought it would be.
We had five days of adventure from the city of Havana to the quiet country in Vinales. Colby and his staff are dedicated to bringing alive a beautiful tapestry of Cuba and it’s people. Woven with history, salsa dancing, art, cigar tours, storytelling, and many other interesting sites, sounds, and flavors.
Above all, you are cared for and a valued visitor. Experience Cuba with Gardner Tours.
Colby Gardner
Wow. Thank you, Cheryl! It was as honor to serve y’all! Hopefully we will see y’all soon!
John S.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Colby for my visit to Cuba. It was my first time to visit Cuba and I knew immediately when I met Colby that he has a love for Cuba and a passion for the culture and history of the people and the country. He has an intimate knowledge of the local people and knows all the great local restaurants for authentic Cuban food. He shares the history of Cuba with passion and a great sense of humour. I recommend Gardner tours unreservedly.
Colby Gardner
John, it was such a great time serving you guys in Havana! Thanks for trusting us with your holiday and we hope to see y’all again soon!
Shane S.
Everything about this experience was exceptional. From the moment we landed Colby and his team made us feel comfortable and cared for. The passion of Colby and his team for what they were doing was amazing and infectious. We got to see the very best while getting immersed into the culture in a very personal way.
You will find it hard not to fall in love with Cuba with Gardner Tours!
Colby Gardner
Shane, thank you for your heartfelt review! We were honored to serve you guys and hope to see y’all again soon!
Jordan J.
As professional guide myself with several countries and destinations in my portfolio I went into my adventure with Gardner tours with some healthy skepticism. I have been on other tours in the past that did not measure up with how I would run my own tours and level of professionalism I think all tours should have. Colby and his local team were outstanding in every capacity. Many times, when you book a trip you know where you want to go, and you know some of what you want to do. With Gardner tools you really get the why as well. Colby has a deep love of Cuban people and passion for them as individuals. That passion is infectious and allows you to see not only the natural beauty of the country, but you see Cuba through his lens and it changes not only your perspective of how you see Cuba but also how you feel and interpret Cuba. With most tours they show you the superficial perfect post card with Gardner tours you get the ground level documentary that tells they rich history with all the sights, smells and adventure. You can book a superficial trip that will look great on Instagram with any tour guide, but you get a life changing experience that will stay with you for rest of your life without Gardner tours.
Colby Gardner
Wow. Thank you for your kind review, Jordan! It was an honor to serve you guys!
Eric N.
If you want to see the beating heart of Cuba, understand its history and connect with the Cuban people look no further, Gardner Tours is the BEST. With 40 countries under my belt I can say that the quality of tour including accommodations, food, cities and adventure options was outstanding. Colby is well connected in this island nation. I felt well taken care of and protected. Between Colby and his staff there is no other place I would go when I return.
Colby Gardner
Eric, thank you for your kindness and encouragement on the tour and in your review. You were a joy to serve!
Georgia S.
Colby and his guides are phenomenal. I felt immediately safe and part of thier family from minute one. Their knowledge on culture and the ability to immerse groups in their surroundings was awesome. I enjoyed every minute from learning salsa, down to meals and the places I laid my head at night. Thank you so much for opening up our eyes and hearts to the people and their country. Just Wow!
10/10 would recommend and do it again.
Colby Gardner
Thank you so much for your review! We were so honored and humbled to serve an amazing group like y’all!
Molly W.
Everything about this trip was AMAZING! The attention to detail by Gardner Tours went above and beyond. Every adventure, every meal, every moment was carefully planned; and the results were fantastic. Hats off to Colby and his staff for making this an unforgettable journey!
Colby Gardner
Thank you for your humbling review. We sure enjoyed serving all of you guys!
Ken H.
I’m a professional guide with a tour company in the USA. I had a great time in Cuba with Gardner Tours. The professional guides with Gardner tours served our entire company of 19 professional guides. They took care of every detail and created a custom experience for our staff. Needless to say we learned a lot from Gardner Tours. I can’t brag enough on their staff!
Colby Gardner
Wow. Thank you for your kind review! We learned a lot from you guys as well! We are excited to hopefully serve y’all again someday!
Shawn S.
As the Executive Director of an adventure tour company that creates voyages on all seven continents, I scoured the globe for an organization that I could entrust all of my guides for the celebration of our 20th anniversary as an organization. When I met Colby Gardner I knew his company was the one that could take on 20 professional guides and help them experience an adventure they’d never forget.
For five days, GT took us on a deep dive into Cuban culture, including salsa dancing, cigar tours, the best climbing spot in Cuba, spelunking, feasting, frolicking and little gems found nowhere else. More importantly, through passionate storytelling and insightful thoughts GT taught us the history, culture, political state and art of Cuba. It was imperative that we experienced Cuba as invited insiders instead of sterilized tourists.
If you are looking for a visit to Cuba, Gardner Tours cannot be topped.
Colby Gardner
Shawn, we truly can not say how honored we were to serve you and your organization on this once-in-a-lifetime tour for your 20th anniversary. Thanks for trusting us with your group of amazing professionals and know that we had just as much fun as y’all did! Thank you again and hope to see you soon!
Brent R.
Takes any possible anxiety about traveling to Cuba out of the picture. Incredible knowledge of the history of every location we visited. Logistics were always on point and managed behind the scenes so things just flow perfectly. And most of all these folks have an incredible passion for the Cuban people and are so well connected in the communities there that you feel like part of the family too. 100% recommend.
Colby Gardner
Thank you for your kind review, Brent! Being a professional guide yourself, I know that you understand the hard work that goes behind all of the logistics and, as you know, it could have been accomplished so well without everyone on our team. We are also happy that you guys felt a part of the family! Hope to see you guys again soon!
Laurel C.
On this, my second trip to Cuba, I had the privilege to work with Gardner Tours and Colby. From our arrival, throughout the journey, to our final drop off at the airport, the experience was exceptional. Friendly and professional with a full knowledge of the destination, history, and culture, Colby and his team are dedicated to creating and delivering a customized Cuban experience that is based upon relationship, connection and integrity. The result is that we were privileged to receive a broad exposure to all the beauty and rich history of Cuba, to enjoy delicious Cuban food, lovely and comfortable accommodations and to immerse ourselves in the culture in a way that transformed our hearts. If you come to see Cuba, you must book with Colby and Gardner Tours!
Colby Gardner
Laurel, thank you so much for your kind review! It was such a joy to serve you!
Global580762
Thanks to Colby and his professional staff our group had an outstanding adventure in Cuba. We immediately connected with them on a personal and professional manner. We learned a lot about the culture and the people. Because of Gardner Tours i fell in love with this great country.
Colby Gardner
Wow. Thank you for your amazing review! We were honored to serve you and your great group!
Kameron K.
A Cuba Tour with kids: When we told our friends and family that we were heading to Cuba by air for 6 days after our planned cruise with an overnight stay in Cuba was suddenly cancelled, the first reply was, “You can go to Cuba? Is that safe?!” My husband and I got back yesterday after a 6 day trip with our 3 young boys (ages 11, 8, and 5), and I can say with 100% certainty that yes – you can go, and yes – I felt 100% safe at all times with our guide.
Because we were traveling with young kids, we decided to have our trip 100% guided by Gardner tours instead of just doing day tours, especially when we priced it out and found out how economical it was to have someone available to us 24/7 to facilitate our trip.
Colby Gardner, the owner, was our guide and was PHENOMENAL. Despite Cuba still being very much a developing country and the hot temperature in August, the only small bumps we saw were so immediately smoothed over that we didn’t even really notice them. A pre-booked taxi showed up and was too small to fit our group (despite having promised a large one when being booked), but because we had a guide, we simply sat on the porch in rocking chairs and read while Colby took care of getting another one there in 10 minutes.
He was also incredibly gracious and flexible with some schedule changes – the little kids were wiped out one afternoon, and the oldest had a broken foot…. so our whole planned afternoon museum tour turned into an hour with my husband and oldest while the rest of us took a few hours to recover :). One night after transferring from Havana to Vinales, we were TIRED of restaurants (however wonderful they are!), so he suggested and quickly arranged for the hosts of our BNB to make us “breakfast for dinner” in our own private accommodations – which was wonderful and refreshing.
Colby jokes that he knows everyone, and it’s at least 90% true. You don’t go far before someone flags him down, yells out his name across the street, or stops to offer a handshake. And Colby’s friends become your friends. Every single person we met was incredibly kind and went out of their way to make sure that we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves – including a couple of REALLY nice restaurants who went off-menu and made butter noodles for a picky eater :).
If you’re thinking about it, do it. Especially from the east coast, it was inexpensive, and having a guide to handle things really helped make it a smooth and wonderful trip. But maybe a different month than August ;).
Colby Gardner
Kameron, thank you guys so much for booking with us and for trusting us with your entire holiday! We all were honored to serve you! And thank you for your thorough review.
Scott K.
A Cuba Vacation with the fam! My wife and three young boys had a fantastic time traveling to Havana and Viñales. It was a taste of the history of Cuba in Havana for us and we got great pictures and information from our guide, Colby. He planned the entire tour as well to the small village in Viñales where our boys got to ride horseback to a coffee and tobacco farm where we learned about the local culture. We explored the Saint Thomas Cave another day which was a great adventure for our young boys. The entire time we were well taken care of and met many local people and tasted the cuisine of Cuba.
Colby Gardner
Wow Scott, thank you for your kind review! It was a great week serving you and your family!