Gardner Tours

21/09/2024

A few months ago, I was contacted by an old college friend, Jessica. She told me she had always wanted to visit Cuba, but now that she has a son and he is half-Cuban, she surely wanted to go. After looking at our Gardner Tours website, she decided that she wanted to create a custom tour, especially since her son was going to be meeting his grandma and brother for the first time in his life. Long story short, it was such an honor to be a part of their family reunion and I want to share their edited photos with you!

300 new items added to shared album

07/09/2024

Traveling Cuba soon? View our Top 5 Things To Do in Havana, Cuba!

Discover the vibrant charm of Havana with our top 5 must-do experiences. From classic car tours to authentic Cuban cuisine, explore the heart of Cuba's colorful capital. Plan your custom Havana tour today!

05/09/2024

Lake Atitlán, shrouded in mist and legend, is where mystery meets incredible beauty. The ancient Mayans believed this deep volcanic lake held sacred powers, and today, its depths still whisper secrets untold (especially since National Geographic couldn't find the bottom of the lake). From the ever-changing colors of the water to the hidden stories of its people above and below its waters, Lake Atitlán is a mystical gem waiting to be explored. Discover the vibrant culture of the Mayans that still thrive here today, or go diving to discover the ruins of Mayans past that you will find beneath its waters.

Get 10% OFF by booking a tour at least three or more months in advance! Visit GardnerTours.com and book using discount code EARLYBIRD10OFF to get 10% OFF. Depending on the number of travelers in your party, this could mean thousands saved!

03/09/2024

Travel Tip: When booking travel of any kind, especially when booking in advance, check for perks. Call and ask for discounts on advance bookings. Sometimes, businesses offer discounts during low season or when they are behind their annual goals. Be realistic with your expectations, but don't hesitate to call.

Advance bookings are always a big help for businesses like ours because it helps us predict what is to come a little bit more. It also helps us begin to set-up your logistics in advance, ensuring that we safely secure the means that we desire to provide. This simply helps us prepare to serve you better.

High season is coming, so we want to offer you a 10% DISCOUNT CODE on any bookings made three or more months in advance. Simply visit GardnerTours.com and book using discount code EARLYBIRD10OFF to get 10% OFF. Depending on the number of travelers in your party, this could mean thousands saved!

Please contact us with any questions.

Note on the Photo: The quick story behind the photo is that it was taken by an artist trying to show how excited Cubans get when they can find eggs. These days, eggs are few and far between in Cuba, so when they can be found, it's quite an exciting day... if they aren't priced like gold.

30/08/2024

We often get questions about the food offered in our destinations. Today we answer a common question about Guatemalan food. Many travelers ask, "What is the food like in Guatemala?"

Most traditional foods in Guatemalan cuisine are based on Maya cuisine with a Spanish influence. They prominently feature corn, chilies, and beans as key ingredients. Of course, their main dishes include the normal varieties of chicken, fish, pork, beef, and seafood. However, Guatemala has a great and tasty variety in their cuisine with most restaurants offering international cuisine as well. We aren't sure about you, but we like a good variety! One of our favorite restaurants is Por que No? () in Antigua. They have an amazing story and their food is as good as it gets! One of our favorites that they provide is this amazing peppercorn steak! Take it from us, Carlos and Carol do it up right at Por que No? They always have a variety of dishes, but every single one of them will blow your mind!

Carlos & Carol, thank y'all for always providing the most amazing time when we come to see you on our tours!

28/08/2024

Did you know that not all Spanish-ruled countries gained independence at the same time? For example, some countries or territories gained independence starting in 1648 (the Netherlands) and the last was in 1976. The last colony to gain independence from Spain and become an official country was Morocco in 1956. You might be surprised to know that Cuba was one of the last to gain independence and become its own self-governing country. Cuba's independence was on October 10, 1898. At that time, under the Treaty of Paris, Cuba, the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico all gained independence from Spain. However, only two of those four previously occupied Spanish colonies have become their own sovereign nation. Can you name them?

26/08/2024

One of our favorite things to surprise our travelers with are taking them to places or finding the things that we hear them mention in our conversations! It takes a good listening ear, but via geniune conversation and a bit of detail, we often pull it off! On Blair and Michael's Luxury Cuban Cigar Tour, Blair mentioned buying some fancy clothes that would remind them of Cuba when they returned home. In that case, we knew just the place! Loipa and Bexy at Color Café are absolute masters of art when it comes to making beautiful and unique clothing! We took Blair and Michael to the café to get them measured and then we had them choose their preferred designs and fabrics. From there, we just trusted Loipa and Bexy to do their magic... and that's exactly what they did! How amazing do they look together!? And they even got some matching items for their kids to wear so the whole family could match!

23/08/2024

In March of 2024, Holly Thompson (), one of the co-owners of Smitty's Cigar Lounge in Gainesville, GA, traveled to Cuba with friends on our Premium Cuba Cigar Tour. Here are a few things that she had to say in her TripAdvisor Review:

"Gardner Tours really created an amazing experience that we will remember for a lifetime. The accommodations were 5 stars! Our rooms were immaculate and the hospitality made me feel like a queen, anything you need they are there 24/7 to help you. ... I could talk for days about the food, but let’s move on.... There was always a cigar and beverage in our hands! The cigar pairing was phenomenal! ... I could not ask for a better vacation with the best guide, Colby, ever! There was not a person he did not know and [he] showed us how beautiful, fun, and enjoyable a vacation could be. There is still so much to say and not enough words to say about this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thank you Gardner Tours!"

Thank you for your kind words, Holly! We truly enjoyed serving y'all and hope to see y'all again sometime soon, whether in Cuba or another one of our destinations!

To read more about what Holly's travel companions and our other travelers are saying, visit our Gardner Tours TripAdvisor page.

20/07/2024

Today is National Daiquirí Day. It might be hard to believe how the Daiquiri came to be, but back in 1898, men blasted away in the mines of a small community off the coast of Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Every day after work, an engineer and his employees would gather at the Venus bar. Then one day, he mixed up Bacardi, lime, and sugar in a tall glass of ice. The drink was named after the Daiquirí mines, and it soon became a staple in Havana. Crushed ice was first added to a daiquiri by renowned Cuban bartender Constantino Ribalaigua Vert at the recommendation of world-renowned author Ernest Hemingway at El Floridita Bar (Cuba’s oldest bar) in the 1930’s.

If you’re not having a daiquirí to celebrate your day, we invite you to share one with us at El Floridita on one of our tours!

04/07/2024

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

Today is the 4th of July. In the United States of America, we celebrate Independence Day on this day. Often, in the USA, people say things like, "freedom isn't free" and make other statements regarding our own sovereignty, especially on the 4th of July. However, the truest form of freedom is getting to play a part in leading others to freedom. There are multiple forms of freedom, but each is honorable and respectable.

Although we can not liberate politically, it is our utmost goal and highest honor at Gardner Tours to assist in the empowerment and freedom of those that we serve within our destinations. These people are our dear friends: our hosts, our guides, our drivers, etc. By you choosing to travel with us, you are a part of creating freedom for others. Whether it be by the goods you bring to Support the Cuban People, the well-earned tips that you generously give, or the salary that is earned via the tours you book, thank you. Today is a day we celebrate family, and you are a part of ours. And today we celebrate giving freedom to others, even in the most humble sense. Our team at Gardner Tours wants to say a big Thank You to you, our travelers. You have made a gigantic difference in the lives of many people we love and we are humbled to call you family. God bless you.

12/06/2024

🌟 Father's Day is coming up! 🌟

Looking for the perfect gift for dad? Treat him to an unforgettable experience with Gardner Tours! 🎣✨ Whether it's a thrilling fishing trip or an immersive cigar tour, we've got the perfect adventure for the man you call "Pop". Imagine casting lines in the pristine waters of Cuba, or exploring the rich history of Cuban ci**rs together. 🐟🍂

Our expertly guided tours offer the ideal blend of adventure and relaxation, making them a fantastic way to show dad how much you care. Book now and give him the gift of an incredible experience, because we know that making memories together is the best gift to dad! 🎁💙

02/03/2024

We have decided to start posting funny stories from our tours on our GardnerTours.com blog. Check out the first funny story titled "The Ice Cream Man" here: https://gardnertours.com/blogs/tours-travel/the-ice-cream-man

It was a bright and beautiful Thursday morning when I was guiding a walking tour throughout the narrow streets of Old Havana, Cuba. Our travelers were a dear couple from the northeast United States and they were enjoying eight days throughout Cuba on a Custom Luxury Tour. As we rounded the corner ne...

09/01/2024

What is a story without experiencing the things you can see, touch, hear, smell, or taste? Is there a greater chance that you’ll forget them quickly? What happens if you hear a story and get to experience all of the senses at the same time? Do the results create something wonderful? Indeed, they create cherished memories! And if you encounter people in meaningful ways in the meantime, you have created memories that never fade.

We purposefully seek to engage all of your senses on each experience we deliver, whether it be a Classic Car Tour, a Cooking Class, or any personal surprise. Each tour we offer is full of invigorating experiences designed to create warm memories just for you.

Important Stories. Engaging Your Senses. Meaningful Connections. With the people you love. Those are the memories that last a lifetime.

23/12/2023

Calling all cowboys and cowgirls... and fans of rodeo! The International Rodeo and Livestock Show in Cuba is happening March 18-24, 2024. If you are interested in going or participating, please let us know. We are in conversation with the organizer now to get more details. Comment or send a message for more details.