Slow Days in the Sierra del Rosario
A restorative week in the Sierra del Rosario biosphere: a gentle Havana start, then forest and lakes at Las Terrazas, the orchid hills of Soroa, and the thermal baths of San Diego de los Baños.
For: Wellness travellers, nature lovers, slow-travel couples
1 · Budget first
A transparent, itemised estimate for 2 travellers · 7 nights · comfort tier. Every line is a planner range in USD — an estimate to budget with, not a quote.
| International airfare | $1,200 – $2,800 |
| Entry documents (tourist card) | $60 – $150 |
| Travel insurance | $80 – $300 |
| Accommodation | $490 – $1,050 |
| Local transportation | $610 – $1,195 |
| Food | $560 – $1,092 |
| Guides & activities | $140 – $380 |
| Connectivity | $30 – $110 |
| Tips | $35 – $140 |
| Water, laundry & sundries | $21 – $84 |
| Emergency reserve | $203 – $675 |
| Total (2 travellers) | $3,429 – $7,976 |
- Per traveller
- $1,715 – $3,988
- Per day
- $490 – $1,139
- Ground only (no airfare)
- $2,026 – $4,501
- Airfare est. / traveller
- $600 – $1,400
Basis: standard hotel · comfortable food · private driver · 4 guided days.
Adjust every number in the planner →Estimates in USD to help you budget — not observed prices, quotes or guaranteed availability. Most US cards don’t work in Cuba; carry cash and keep the reserve.
2 · Fly in
Milan (MXP) → Havana (HAV) — José Martí International
Cuba's principal international gateway — the only truly diversified one, with links across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Example dates 2026-09-15 → 2026-09-22 (adjust on the live search). CubaAtlas books nothing — these open live results:
3 · Day by day
Where to sleep and dine each day is a real listing from the CubaAtlas provider dataset, nearest your base.
Morning
Arrive and settle into a quiet colonial casa in Old Havana.Afternoon
An unhurried walk of the plazas and a herbal-tea stop off the beaten path.Evening
A light, fresh dinner and an early rest before the hills.
StayHotel Blau Arenal Habana Beach4★ · Grupo Cubanacán · La Habana(53 7) 77991200/ 77991274Website ↗Map →Source: Cuba Travel (MINTUR official portal)DinnerCantabria, Restaurante Hotel Armadores de SantanderCimex · Internacional · La Habana(537)8628000Map →Source: Cuba Travel (MINTUR official portal)Open Havana on the map →Nearby: Viñales, Varadero, MatanzasMorning
Drive up into the Sierra del Rosario to the eco-village of Las Terrazas.Afternoon
A gentle lakeside walk and a swim in the natural pools of the river.Evening
Farm-to-table dinner overlooking the water.Morning
A slow guided forest trail past the old French coffee ruins.Afternoon
A canopy of birdsong, a yoga-quiet clearing, and a riverside picnic.Evening
Herbal steam and a light supper in the eco-village.Morning
Move to Soroa and its famous orchid garden in the hills.Afternoon
A short walk to the Salto waterfall and a cool plunge pool.Evening
Quiet casa dinner with a valley view.DinnerFonda de MercedesrestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
An easy climb to the ridge viewpoint for mist over the sierra.Afternoon
An afternoon of nothing — a hammock, a book, mountain air.Evening
Slow food and star-watching from the terrace.DinnerFonda de MercedesrestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
Drive to San Diego de los Baños, a spa town since colonial times.Afternoon
A long soak in the sulphur thermal baths and a mineral-mud treatment.Evening
A restful village dinner and deep sleep.Morning
A final morning at the springs and a walk by the Caiguanabo river.Afternoon
Drive back toward Havana, refreshed, with a countryside lunch.Evening
A calm farewell dinner before the late flight home.
4 · Visa, entry & customs
Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card (tarjeta del turista) plus a passport valid for the stay and proof of onward travel and medical insurance. Buy the tourist card before you fly — the price and colour depend on your departure country and airline.
Nationals of Italy travel on the ordinary tourist card — no consular visa for a standard holiday stay.
5 · Book direct, or compare an agency
This plan is costed to book direct — the $5,129 (expected) above is what the trip actually costs, itemised, with no package margin. A travel agency bundles flights, hotel and transfers into one price and adds a service fee for the convenience. We don’t quote agencies (we’d never invent a price) — so take a package quote and compare it line-for-line against the breakdown above.
Operating Italy agencies serving Cuba, if you prefer a package:
- Alpitour ↗
Bravo Club resorts + tours (Varadero, Cayo Largo, Cayo Coco, Havana).
Sells: packages, tours
- Turisanda ↗
Operating since 1924 (Alpitour group); Havana–Varadero, self-drive.
Sells: packages, tours · +39 011 0171111
- Veratour ↗
Veraclub resorts (Cayo Largo, Varadero) + Avana & Varadero tours.
Sells: packages, tours · 06 500 66 777
- Havanatur Italia ↗
Italian Cuba specialist since 1992; incl. casa particular.
Sells: flights, packages, hotels, cars, excursions · 02 6760691
- Eden Viaggi ↗
Ciao Club resorts (Varadero, Cayo Largo, Holguín).
Sells: packages
CubaAtlas is non-commercial and takes no commission. Agency links go straight to the operator; we don’t book, broker or earn from them.
Every Cuba agency, compiled — with the free equivalent for each →Questions
- How much does the "Slow Days in the Sierra del Rosario" trip cost?
- An estimated $3,429–$7,976 all-in for 2 traveller(s) over 7 nights ($2,565 per traveller expected), including airfare, lodging, food, transport and a reserve. It is a planner estimate, not a quote — you book each part direct, with no agency margin.
- Do I need a visa to travel to Cuba?
- Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card plus a valid passport, onward travel and medical insurance — no consular visa for a standard holiday stay. See the CubaAtlas visa & entry guide.
- When is the best time for this trip?
- Best months: November–April (mild, dry mountain air).
- Can I book this trip on CubaAtlas?
- No — CubaAtlas is a free, non-commercial planner. It gives you the itinerary, the budget, live flight-search links and real hotel and restaurant listings, and you arrange each part directly at the source. We book nothing and take no commission.