+44 (0)20 8741 7390 The largest of the Caribbean Islands, Cuba boasts stunning beaches and world renowned nature reserves, captivating World Heritage cities and some of the finest colonial architecture in Latin America. It is also home to some of the most infectious music anywhere on the continent. This absorbing adventure takes in some of its most important highlights including the cultural epicentres of Havana and Santiago de Cuba, the rich colonial ambience of Trinidad and Cienfuegos and the revolutionary history of Granma and the Sierra Maestra Mountains. Along the way you will also have a chance to enjoy the beauty of the Viñales Valley and Las Terrazas and relax along the warm sands of a Caribbean beach. The journey takes you from the streets of the capital to Baracoa, the country s oldest town, venturing deep into the Cuban countryside and unveiling a land and a history that offers up captivating Caribbean culture, colonial grandeur and some of the most iconic figureheads of the last century. HIGHLIGHTS: Explore Old Havana and enjoy the colonial ambience of Trinidad Hike through some of the Caribbean s richest nature reserves Enjoy the captivating rhythms of some of Cuba s best music venues Visit Castro s mountain hideout and the revolutionary city of Santiago de Cuba Relax on Caribbean beaches and visit plantations and cocoa farms TOUR INCLUDES: 8 nights in private houses, 5 nights in eco-lodges, 4 nights in hotels 17 breakfasts, 1 lunch One internal flight in economy class Accompanied by an English speaking local guide on private basis with some shared transfers Sightseeing programme with some entrance fees payable locally Private guided transfers to and from all airports *Please note the prices shown are per person and based on two persons sharing a twin or double room Please note the prices shown above are based on two persons sharing a twin or double room
ITINERARY DAY 1: HAVANA The adventure begins in Havana, the largest city in the Caribbean and the political and cultural centre of the country. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel, after which the rest of the day is free. DAY 2: HAVANA First thing this morning you will meet with your guide to go over the itinerary, an ideal opportunity to gain some insight into places of interest, excursions and restaurants that you may wish to try. After this you will head out on a private tour of Old Havana, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site, whose four main squares are filled with the grand reminders of Cuba's colonial past. This afternoon you will then take the 'Hemingway Tour' in a classic American car, visiting the author's old home and the small fishing community where he wrote some of his most famous novels. (B) DAY 3: HAVANA The day starts with an architecture tour of the city in the company of a local guide, spanning the city's development from Baroque through to Fifties American Modernism. After lunch you then have the chance to experience the city's famous Latin rhythm with a salsa lesson, an essential part of any visit to this pulsating city. Later this evening you will then pay a visit to the renowned Buena Vista Social Club, to enjoy an inspired performance that will transport you back to the golden age of Cuban Son Music. (B) DAY 4: HAVANA - VIÑALES Leaving the city in the company of a private driver-guide, the next few days offer you the luxury of convenience and flexibility as you head out into the Cuban countryside. The journey begins in Viñales, where you will take lunch in a traditional wooden house on a hillside overlooking the picturesque valley. This afternoon you then enjoy a walking tour of this beautiful landscape, visiting a traditional tobacco plantation and learning the finer points of how to roll a good cigar. This evening there will be more live music at an open-air restaurant off the town's main square. (B)
DAY 5: VIÑALES - LAS TERRAZAS Driving to Las Terrazas today you will visit Cuba's first UNESCO-sanctioned biosphere reserve. An innovative community project, originally designed to help with reforestation, the reserve is scattered with lakes and rivers that provide an ideal habitat for a rich range of flora and fauna. The area is also covered in a network of trails and footpaths, affording an ideal opportunity to explore this beautiful nature reserve by foot or on horseback. (B) DAY 6: LAS TERRAZAS - CIENFUEGOS From Las Terrazas the journey takes you next onto the colonial gem of Cienfuegos, a charming coastal town nestling beside the tranquil waters of Bahía de Cienfuegos. A wander through the city's streets with your guide offers a chance to take in expansive boulevards and bustling local markets renowned for their fresh seafood and delicious ice-cream. There will also be the opportunity to visit the pleasant botanical gardens on the outskirts of town, a 90-hectare site filled with some 2000 species of plants, tropical trees and bamboos. (B) DAY 7: CIENFUEGOS - TRINIDAD Along the coast from Cienfuegos lies the lovely old town of Trinidad, one of Cuba's colonial gems. Once a haven for pirates, this World Heritage Site is a living reminder of a time when the country lay at the heart of Spain's expanding American empire. After stopping off to enjoy lunch along the way, on arrival you will take a walking tour of the town with your guide, passing along cobbled streets infused with history and filled with beautifully ornate architecture. Be sure to check out one of Trinidad's fabulous music houses one evening too, you won't be disappointed. (B) DAY 8: TRINIDAD On the outskirts of Trinidad lie the ruined remains of Cuba's once powerful sugar barons. Dotted amongst the Valle de los Ingenios are dozens of 19th century mills, mansions and slaves quarters that are a lasting reminder of a time when sugar was the country's most profitable export. A tour of the area provides a fascinating insight into the history of the plantations, their slaves and their continuing production. The afternoon then provides a chance to enjoy the Caribbean, with snorkelling opportunities, boat trips and sunbathing on the golden sands of Playa Ancon. (B,L)
DAY 9: TRINIDAD A visit to the Topes de Collantes Natural Park today provides a chance to hike amongst an area of truly outstanding natural beauty and scientific value. A protected area that is home to a number of endemic species, the park is a haven for giant ferns, lichens, mosses and plantations of Arabica coffee. The end of the day also offers an opportunity for a refreshing bathe in one of the park's three large waterfalls before returning to the hotel. (B) DAY 10: TRINIDAD - CAMAGUEY Cuba's third largest city, Camaguey is a charming fusion of whitewashed colonial buildings, labyrinthine alleyways and hidden gardens. Founded in the 16th century, the city was deliberately laid out to be as confusing as possible to potential attackers, although that did little to deter the English pirate, Henry Morgan from ransacking the town in 1668. It does however make it an interesting city to explore by foot. (B) DAY 11: CAMAGUEY - GRANMA A gentle hike this afternoon takes you through the Sierra Maestra Mountains and up to Fidel Castro's old mountain hideout, from where the Cuban Revolution was planned and directed. The Comandancia de la Plata still houses the original field hospital and command post, along with a small museum and Fidel's old revolutionary residence, Radio Rebelde. Part of the Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra, the views and the fresh air alone are worth the hike up here. (B) DAY 12: GRANMA - SANTIAGO DE CUBA Transferring to Santiago de Cuba today, you journey into the heartland of the island's rich Afro-Cuban culture. The country's second largest city, this vibrant mix of African, Spanish, Haitian and European cultures has produced a city whose music, literature and politics rival that of the capital. This region had long been a focal point for independence, against both the Spanish and the American-backed Batista government and it was in Santiago de Cuba that Castro first announced the success of the revolution, on January 1, 1959. (B) DAY 13: SANTIAGO DE CUBA A guided tour of the city today will reveal a little something of its important social and political heritage. You'll visit the cemetery where great Cuban revolutionaries such as Frank País and José Marti are buried, as well as the site of San Juan Hill, where Cuban, Spanish and American troops faced each other on July 1, 1898. A tour of the charming upper-class suburb of Vista Alegre is then followed by an evening visit to El Morro fortress, the perfect spot to take in the sunset. Your guide will also be able to recommend a local music venue for the evening's entertainment. (B)
DAY 14: SANTIAGO DE CUBA - BARACOA The lovely old colonial town of Baracoa lies between the waters of two bays at the southeastern tip of the country. Blanketed in highland forest, the landscapes look out across the Atlantic Ocean and, driving there today, you will have the afternoon at leisure to relax on the long stretch of white sand beach close to your lodge. This is a great spot for snorkeling, with a coral reef lying just off the coast. (B) DAY 15: BARACOA This morning you'll take a jeep safari out into the scenic Yumuri Valley, one of the most beautiful spots on the island. Fed by the Yumuri River, the valley is surrounded by a high mountain ridge and you'll stop at a couple of scenic viewpoints during the drive today. Baracoa is actually the home of chocolate production in Cuba and later today you will take a tour of a local cocoa farm, learning about the chocolate making process and trying your hand at making (and of course eating) the finished product (B) DAY 16: BARACOA You will be picked up from your hotel today and transferred to the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site which can boast one of the most varied ecosystems anywhere in the Caribbean. Home to a rich diversity of endemic species, it has been declared one of the most biologically diverse tropical island sites on earth. Today you will have a chance to take a half day hike through this remarkable landscape and enjoy a swim in the river. (B) DAY 17: BARACOA - HAVANA Your driver will collect you today and transfer to you to the airport for your domestic flight back to Havana. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for your final evening in the Cuban capital. (B) DAY 18: HAVANA A final free day in Havana provides a chance to explore a little more of the Cuban capital, with excursions available to the artisans craft market and the city's Rum and Revolution Museums. There is also an option to take a Mafia tour of the city, visiting the former haunts of Havana's old crime bosses. Later, a private transfer to the airport in time to catch your return flight home signals the end to your Cuban adventure. (B)
ACCOMMODATION BARACOA VILLA MAGUANA Next to the wild, white-sand beach of Maguana sit these four thatched rustic villas, comprising of 16 rooms. Perfect for boho beach living, the villas are hidden in tropical gardens just off the beach and the hotel's private cove is lapped by stunning azure waters with a coral reef nearby for great snorkeling. There is a bar, restaurant and TV room on site while the rooms are equipped with air-con and a fridge. CAMAGUEY GRAN HOTEL In the historical centre of Camaguey stands this refined, elegant hotel built in 1939. It is a colonial-style building combining woodwork with delicate decoration, comprising of 72 air-conditioned en-suite rooms. There is a Cuban restaurant and international restaurant on site, plus a piano bar, snack bar and swimming pool available. CIENFUEGOS BOUTIQUE LA UNION Built 50 years after the foundation of the city of Cienfuegos and refurbished in 2000, maintaining the neoclassical style that the French settlers brought to the city, Hotel La Union is without doubt one of the architectural jewels of the Pearl of the South, as this city is known in Cuba. The hotel features marble pillars, antique furniture, two inner patios, a pool, bar, restaurant and a great roof top terrace. Its 49 comfortable rooms with balconies are equipped with the amenities you would expect from a four star hotel. GRANMA VILLA SANTO DOMINGO Villa Santo Domingo is perched high in the Sierra Maestra mountains, offering a picturesque base along the Yara River. You can hear the rushing of the river and chirping of the local birdlife from the 40 comfortable cabanas. Facilities include a bar, restaurant, TV room and games room. In the countryside you can enjoy mule and horseback riding or walks along trails of historical and natural interest. Santo Domingo is also the venue of lively guateques (Cuban countryside fiestas) where the typical music of the region can be experienced. Adventurous travellers can climb Pico Real del Turquino which is the highest point in Cuba, with a specialist guide. HAVANA
SUITE HAVANA Newly opened, this 2 bedroom Casa is fabulously located in the heart of Havana Vieja just a couple of minutes from Plaza de San Francisco. Stylishly designed, the Casa has a modern polished concrete kitchen, 2 large, airy and comfortable bedrooms complete with wonderful Cuban art on every wall. The shared bathroom is large with a Jacuzzi bath and the roof terrace with views of Havana is the perfect place to unwind after a busy day exploring the city. The food and laundry service offered here is excellent and this is the perfect place for anyone wishing to have a little independence in Havana. LAS TERRAZAS LA MOKA Casa La Moka is just 45 minutes west of Havana and is positioned on a wooded hillside in a forested area overlooking a valley with a small lake. The hotel is surrounded by a village community where locals live and work. There are plenty of activities on offer and amongst the restaurants is an organic, veggie eatery which is highly recommended. The guest house has smart, rustic bedrooms embedded in the mountain foliage of the Las Terrazas eco-community. The rooms afford intimate views of the natural landscape in this peaceful setting. SANTIAGO DE CUBA CASA GRANDA Casa Granda is located in the historic heart of Santiago de Cuba, the capital of the eastern province, across from the former Plaza de Armas. This is a priviliged setting since most of the city's cultural life is on the doorstep. Its lovely eclectic façade make it one of the most attractive buildings in the area and the 58 comfortable rooms have been remodeled to their original splendor. The hotel has an upscale restaurant where you can sit on the veranda to sip a Cuba Libre, or enjoy breathtaking views of the city and surroundings from the handsome roof garden. TRINIDAD IBEROSTAR GRAND TRINIDAD This exclusive adult-only hotel, near to the heart of Trinidad is one of the most impressive properties on the island. Drawing inspiration from traditional colonial architecture, the Iberostar Grand Hotel Trinidad takes its influences from sixteenthcentury Cuba. With its impressive interior design, this is certainly one of the most charming places to stay in Trinidad. VINALES CASA OSCAR Oscar rents out four rooms with great privacy for guests at this homestay. One of them is located on one of the upper floors, which allows for a better view of the town and its surroundings. The rooms have their own bathrooms, air conditioning, a fan as well as hot and cold water. This private house offers a cocktail service and barbeque food which can be enjoyed in the pleasant gardens.
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