Destination Culinary Tours

Food Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Havana. Upon arrival transfer by private vehicle to Viñales, about 3 hours from Havana. Relax, unpack, and take a walk in this beautiful and friendly town before enjoying delicious welcome dinner made by our hosts. For our tour group, we will stay at two neighboring private rooms rented in local homes, each with a private bath and air conditioning on a quiet side street. The rooms are modest but furnished with comfortable beds and rustic decor. After dinner explore the town on your own, head to a nightclub in a cave, or relax on the porch and meet the neighbors! This town is safe and walkable.

Day 2

After breakfast, we will explore Viñales Valley National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – by horse or on foot. Choose from an extended horseback riding option, exploring the trails with an experienced guide, or take private transportation and join the group on the trail. From stunning “mogotes” to expansive tobacco fields, get to know why this part of Cuba plays such an important role in preserving biodiversity and Cuban culture. We will learn about local coffee production, agriculture and taste local honey and rum!  Dinner will be a farm party–a cookout/cooking demo with a local family on their farm. Learn how to cook traditional food of the region and enjoy it with the locals. 

Day 3

You earned it – a rest day! After a delicious breakfast, we’ll take a tour of the countryside in our private vehicle to visit local artisans. We’ll learn about local coffee production, farm methods and see how rural farms are tended. See the real Cuba! We’ll return late afternoon and shower before dinner. Enjoy dinner overlooking the beautiful Vinales valley while watching the sunset from the hills of Finca Paraiso, an incredible farm to table restaurant. On weekends we go to a nightclub in a cave! 

Day 4

After an early breakfast we will head toward Havana, where we will spend the remaining days. On our way we will stop to explore the beautiful Soroa Waterfalls and Las Terrazas, an area frequented mostly by Cubans and built and preserved as an eco-town. Enjoy lunch on an old coffee plantation with one of the most stunning views you can imagine. We will learn first hand about Cuban history and culture and how this area was developed intentionally to preserve the natural beauty and diversity of the region. Arrive in Havana late afternoon at our very comfortable private home with private bathrooms, air conditioning and courtyard. Relax and get ready for dinner out. After dinner we’ll check out Havana’s lively music scene!

Day 5

Start your day with a delicious breakfast before heading to Centro Havana for a dance class with a private instructor. Get some moves for our nights out! Following class we’ll enjoy a delicious local lunch showcasing traditional Cuban food. We’ll enjoy a history and culture tour of Old Havana with guide and owner of Acubamos Tours, Amel Fonte, before heading back to our house to shower and relax. In the evening we’ll enjoy a cocktail tasting and then explore Havana by night taking in live music, dancing, or just relax at our home.

Day 6

Enjoy breakfast in our Havana home, and then indulge in a very special hands-on cooking class and cocktail class and tasting with Chef Alina and her team from Hecho en Casa, one of the best privately owned Farm to Table restaurants in Havana. Chef Alina herself says the class will not be a just a class but an “experience” taking you through Cuba via the food. She is an incredible chef who has elevated Cuban cuisine to another level. After we enjoy the lunch we learn to cook, we’ll have a free afternoon to shop for souvenirs or just relax and enjoy the sun! 

Day 7

We’ll spend the day relaxing and enjoying the festivities in the city, sightseeing or shopping before heading back to an ocean view restaurant for dinner. I am happy to help organize an outing to shop at the Artisan’s market, ride in classic cars, etc, or you are free to go out on your own!

Day 8

Departure day. We’ll start out with a wonderful breakfast and soak in the sounds of the city before taking you to the airport in our private van.

Deposits/Payments

Deposits/Payments: Cost is $3025/person double occupancy. To hold your spot in the tour an $500 non-refundable deposit is required. This can be paid by check or Zelle (address below) or Paypal (may incur fees). Any single supplement charge should also be included with the deposit. You will get an email reminder when payment is due.

Final non-refundable payment is due 60 days before the course/tour in US dollars. You can also choose to send full payment in advance of the course/tour.

Single supplement: $800 ensures a private room for the trip. In some cases there is one bed and some places twin beds. If you travel solo and don’t pay the single supplement you may room with another traveler. it is also possible that you would have the room to yourself if no one else books.

Refunds and adjustments: There will be no refunds or adjustments for unused portion of the tour. The $500 deposit is non-refundable.

Inclusions: All tours, lodging, transportation and meals as mentioned in the itinerary, plus your visa, all preparation, itineraries, and an internet card. Does NOT include rt flight to Havana, tips to housekeeping, alcoholic beverages (aside from those included in itinerary or any additional activities and transportation for activities not included in the itinerary.

Tour Policies and Procedures

Covid Protocol and Safety Measures:

We will adhere to local mask mandates and safety protocol. Currently masks are not required in Cuba.

If you test positive and must quarantine, you will be fully responsible for any fees associated with your stay including but not limited to health care costs and lodging. By joining the tour each participant voluntarily agrees to assume all of the foregoing risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury (including, but not limited to personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability or expense of any kind that they may experience or incur in connection with their Madison Eats Food Tours trip and its activities.

Cancellation and Refund: If Otehlia Travels cancels the tour, all fees paid MINUS your $500 deposit (service fee) will  be refunded. We strongly encourage trip insurance in case of unforeseen events that result in the cancellation of your trip.

Travel Insurance: Otehlia Travels requires travel insurance for all travelers with at least basic coverage for trip cancellation, delay or interruption. Two companies that offer insurance that I recommend are AIG or Allianz. You can get a quote from AIG and also Allianz offers it. You definitely need to read the fine print regarding Covid-related coverage. You would purchase your own coverage. There are various levels, but at a baseline, you want trip cancellation or delay, and medical emergency – Once you reach out to a provider, you can see the basic coverage and additions. For travel to Cuba, Cuba requires medical insurance and that is usually included in your ticket purchase (flight). We travel to Cuba under “support for the Cuban people”.

A) Minimum Group Size:

Madison Eats Food Tours’ trips are priced based on a minimum group size that varies by trip, making our trips financially viable to operate. Madison Eats Food Tours reserves the right to cancel any trip if the trip does not attract the minimum number of clients required to make the trip financially viable. Madison Eats Food Tours will not, however, cancel a trip due to minimum group size any later than 60 days prior to the commencement of the trip. In the event of cancellation, Madison Eats Food Tours shall not, in any case, be responsible for nonrefundable expenses incurred by the client, including, but not limited to airline cancellation fees or insurance purchases.

Alternatively, clients may choose to pay a small group surcharge that would be assessed to each guest in groups that fall below the minimum group size, which avoids us having to cancel the trip.

B) Force Majeure:

Madison Eats Food Tours reserves the right to cancel a trip at any stage prior to the scheduled departure due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events which make it unviable for Madison Eats Food Tours to operate our planned schedule. In such a case, Madison Eats Food Tours will, at its own discretion, refund a portion of the trip price (less incurred costs and the non-refundable deposit), reschedule the tour, or offer an alternative tour. Should the client choose to purchase “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) insurance coverage, and the tour becomes unviable for Madison Eats Food Tours to operate or reschedule, Madison Eats Food Tours will cover the client’s CFAR deductible up to 25% of the price of the tour.

Booking Amendments

If you wish to change your booking in any way, you must contact us as soon as possible and we will accommodate your request to the best of our ability. Surcharges may apply.

Substitution of a Client

If any member of the party is prevented from traveling because of the death, injury or serious illness of the passenger, close relative or friend, redundancy or jury service, it may be possible to transfer the booking to another suitable person (acceptable to Madison Eats Food Tours) provided that written notice is given at least 30 days prior to departure. An administration fee of up to $150 may be imposed by the company to cover non-refundable costs. Airlines may impose 100% cancellation charges and the cost of a new ticket.

Photography release: The tour participants permits Otehlia Travels, LLC to photographs, films, images, text, testimonials of participants for its own commercial use without compensation to participants.

Any dispute related to these terms and conditions or the program itself, directly or indirectly shall be settled solely in the courts of Madison, WI. In such litigation, Wisconsin law will apply.

*Does not include round trip airfare to Havana, any Covid testing costs, airport taxes, personal expenses, travel insurance, alcoholic beverages or tips to housekeeping, etc. Includes Cuban visa and shipping, meals, alcoholic beverages and excursions as specified in itinerary as well as tips to staff and guides for included excursions.

By registering, you agree to our Policies & Procedures including our Waiver & Liability Release policy.