DAY 2

After breakfast we will depart for a detailed guided sightseeing tour of Havana. A unique experience, the tour will visit all the major sights of the city including the historic Plaza de Armas and Cathedral Square. We can absorb the atmosphere of the narrow cobblestone streets of Old Havana, flanked by old colonial buildings dating back as far as the 16th Century. We will visit the impressive Museum of the Revolution and experience how Cuba’s famous cigars are still handmade by local experts by visiting one of Havana’s famous cigar factories. Also we will stop at the Havana Club Rum factory where there may be the chance to sample the different rums. Lunch will be taken at the famous El Patio restaurant situated in a beautiful location overlooking the historic Cathedral Square in the heart of Old Havana, before continuing to the impressive Revolution Square overlooked by the mural of Ernesto “Che” Guevara with the tour ending with a drive along the “Malecon”, Havana’s seafront promenade. The remainder of the late afternoon will be at leisure to enjoy exploring Old Havana or relax by the hotel pool! In the evening dinner will be taken at El Aljibe restaurant specialising in traditional Cuban cuisine. After dinner there will be an option to visit the world famous Tropicana Cabaret. Set under the stars, the show depicts the history of Cuban dance and music involving over 100 dancers, making the evening an amazing spectacle.

DAY 3

After an early breakfast, we will leave for Santa Clara, the final resting place of “Che” Guevara. We will visit the mausoleum and museum dedicated to his extraordinary life, followed by a short orientation tour of the city including the train “Tren Blindado” that was attacked in the decisive moments of the Cuban Revolution. Lunch will be taken in a local hotel restaurant, before continuing to Cienfuegos, known as the “Pearl of the South” and characterised by palaces and mansions overlooking a deep bay. After arriving into the city we will settle in at the Jagua hotel and enjoy dinner.

DAY 4

After an early breakfast, we will enjoy an orientation tour of Cienfuegos including a stroll through the leafy squares of this colonial city. We will continue along the coast to Trinidad, a UNESCO heritage site and one of the best-preserved colonial cities in the world. The city can be explored by walking and our tour will include visits to the Romantic Museum, which depicts the lifestyle and architectural design of Trinidad’s colonial past. Enjoy traditional Cuban music at the Casa de la Trova followed by a visit to La Canchanchara, an old house dating back to the 18th century, where we can try the unique Trinidad rum cocktail, made with cane juice. Lunch will be taken in the Grand Hotel in the city. After returning to Cienfuegos, dinner this evening will be at the elegant Palacio Del Valle restaurant overlooking the bay in Cienfues.

DAY 5

After breakfast we will journey to Guama where a boat is taken through the mangrove swamps to a replica stilted Taino Indian village on the shores of Treasure Lake. After lunch in a local restaurant we will leave for the Moka hotel, situated deep in the Sierra Del Rosario Nature Reserve. On arrival dinner will be served at the hotel restaurant and the remainder of the evening will be free to relax.

DAY 6

Today we will visit Soroa’s prize attraction, the Orchid garden, which covers three hectares and claims to be the world’s second largest, with over 20,000 plants representing over 700 species, 250 of them indigenous to Cuba. A walk will then be taken to the waterfall ‘Cascadas el Salto’ which descends through fragrant woodlands to the bottom of the falls, which tumbles into pools good for bathing, these waters are also said to have medicinal properties. Lunch will be taken at the Buena Vista coffee plantation restaurant after which a visit will be made to the local community of Las Terrazas, maybe buy a locally produced coffee and cake at Maria’s coffee shop on a hill overlooking the village followed by a cooling swim in the San Juan River. Dinner will be served in a farmer’s restaurant specialising in Cuban cuisine and set in a peaceful rural setting where you dine at the farmer’s house on his terrace!

DAY 7

Today we will depart for the famous Vinales Valley where we will drive through the valley, with stops for absorbing the beauty of the area. There will be a subterranean boat ride through the El Indio limestone cave system followed by lunch in the Ranchon San Vicente countryside restaurant. In the late afternoon, we will return to the Moka Hotel, and dinner will be taken in Cuba’s only restaurant specialising in organic vegetarian cuisine with all ingredients produced within Las Terrazas community! Many previous visitors have said this is the best restaurant in Cuba, an excellent end to the day.

DAY 8

After breakfast, free time to enjoy the additional activities on offer at the Moka Hotel and Las Terrazas. After lunch overlooking the lake we will transfer back to Havana for your return flights or onwards to Varadero where the tour ends.

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Accommodation

Two nights’ accommodation at the Sevilla or Parque Central hotel on B&B basis

Two nights’ accommodation at the Jagua hotel two nights half board basis

Three nights’ accommodation at the Moka hotel one night half board and two nights B&B basis

Transportation/Guide

All transportation as required in the itinerary using fully air-conditioned transportation

The services of an English-speaking guide throughout the itinerary

Restaurant Lunches/Dinner

Day 2, Lunch at El Patio restaurant, Havana

Day 2, Dinner at El Aljibe restaurant, Havana

Day 3, Lunch at Los Caneyes Hotel Restaurant

Day 4, Lunch at Grand Hotel Trinidad

Day 4, Dinner at Palacio Del Valle Restaurant, Cienfuegos

Day 5, Lunch at La Boca restaurant near Guama

Day 6, Lunch at Buena Vista Coffee Plantation restaurant

Day 6, Dinner at Restaurant Casa del Campesino, Moka

Day 7, Lunch at Ranchon San Vicente restaurant, Vinales

Day 7, Dinner at the Vegetariano Restaurant, Moka

Entrances

Day 2, Entrance to the Museum of the Revolution, Havana

Day 2, Entrance to Havana Club Rum Factory, Havana

Day 2, Entrance to Cigar Factory, Havana

Day 3, Entrance to Che Guevara’s Museum and Mausoleum, Santa Clara

Day 4, River trip and entrance to Taino Indian Village in Guama

Day 4, Entrance to the Romantic Museum, Trinidad

Day 4, Entrance to La Canchanchara, Trinidad

Day 6, Entrance to the Orchid Farm

Day 7, Entrance to the El Indio Limestone Cave system, Vinales Valley

International Flights

The tour is specifically suited to Wednesday from Europe with Virgin Atlantic, Iberia Airlines and Air France. It is also possible for passengers to arrive on alternative airlines or indeed a few days earlier. However, in these cases, please add the extra transfer from Havana Airport to Havana and hotel nights on top of core tour price.

Tour Extensions

The tour has been arranged so that a number of extensions can be promoted in conjunction with the tour, with the following options suggested:

On the last day of the tour, the coach will drop off at Havana Airport to coincide with the evening departures from Havana Airport to domestic locations within Cuba.

Clients can take a domestic flight to Holguin in order to connect with the start of the Cradle of the Revolution tour that explores the fascinating Eastern part of Cuba.

The coach will also drop the clients at the hotels in Havana offered through Havanatur. After a stay of one night, it would be possible to connect with early morning departures to the beautiful islands of Cayo Largo or Cayo Coco or the beaches of Guardalavava near Holguin.

Dependent upon the flight schedules, it is also possible to connect from Havana to other Caribbean, Latin and South American destinations.

Please contact Havanatur for updated possibilities.

The coach will also drop off clients at the beach resort of Varadero, to all the hotels offered by Havanatur

Clients flying into Havana on the services of Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Iberia and other airlines on a Sunday, can catch the 2000hr flight from Havana to Holguin for the start of the tour.

Day 1 Sunday

After arriving Holguin airport from Havana or directly from Europe, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred the short distance to your Holguin Hotel where the remainder of the day will be free to relax or explore Holguin on an independent basis.

Day 2 Monday

After breakfast there will be a short orientation tour of Holguin, the provincial capital known for its many peaceful, tree-lined squares, before we continue to Cayo Saetia. On arrival at this picturesque former game reserve, there will be time for a relaxing swim, some leisure time on the stunning white sandy beach, a jeep safari to spot zebra, antelope and deer, and a local Cuban style lunch. In the afternoon we will continue to Baracoa, where the scenery gradually becomes more dramatic and beautiful as we enter the Humbolt National Park. Stops can be made en route where local farmers sell homemade sweets and drinks. In the late afternoon we will arrive in Baracoa, fascinating and idyllic small town surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. There will be an orientation tour of Baracoa, including the possibility of a stroll down Baracoa’s seafront promenade, the “Malecon”. Dinner and overnight will be taken at the Hotel Villa Baracoa or similar.

Day 3 Tuesday

After breakfast we will travel to Finca Duaba, a traditional Cuban farm surrounded by unspoilt tropical scenery, which gives an excellent insight into rural way of life in Cuba. The tour will continue with a visit to Rio Toa, Cuba’s widest river which runs through a UNESCO protected reserve where there will be a chance to have a short boat ride up the river and lunch will be taken in the reserve. In the afternoon we will return back to Baracoa with a chance to spend some time at leisure before taking dinner in the hotel. The evening will be at leisure to enjoy the local sights and sounds of Baracoa at night!

Day 4 Wednesday

We will leave early in the morning and travel over the breath-taking mountain scenery, past palm fringed bays and sleepy towns towards Guantanamo, a typical Cuban town living in the shadow of the naval base. After a short orientation tour of Guantanamo with a chance to take lunch in the city, we will continue through the hills to Santiago de Cuba. On arrival in the late afternoon, there will be a chance for a swim in the hotel pool or relax in the sun. Dinner this evening will be at the hotel.

Day 5 Thursday

After breakfast at the hotel we will spend the day with a full exploration of this city that has been of crucial importance throughout Cuba’s history. We will visit the Moncada Barracks, central square Parque Cespedes, Calle Heredia, one of the city’s liveliest streets, and Padre Pico Street, made famous by the intense games of draughts played by the locals. The day continues to Castillo del Morro, a historical fortress offering fantastic views across the Caribbean Sea and the impressive Sierra Maestro mountains. We will enjoy a traditional Cuban lunch at a restaurant next to the fortress offering stunning views of the coastal scenery. After lunch we will return to our hotel in the city and the remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure to explore Santiago De Cuba independently or relax and catch the sun by the hotel pool! Dinner this evening will be in the hotel and there will be the chance to spend some time exploring the city on an independent basis.

Day 6 Friday

After a leisurely breakfast we will leave the city and head towards the Sierra Mountains to the picturesque church of El Cobre, Cuba’s most sacred pilgrimage site and a shrine to Virgin Mary. Locals are adamant that this is the most beautiful location in Cuba and will take a tour of the church and its many historic gifts bestowed by visitors! There will also be time to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery surrounding the church. Lunch awaits at Cayo Granma, reached by a short boat crossing, the restaurant looks out across the bay towards Morra Fortress and after lunch there will be time to wander around the small island before heading back to the hotel. The remainder of the day will be free to relax or explore the city before dinner taken in the hotel. After dinner there will be an optional visit to one of Cuba’s famous ‘Casa de la Trova’ for live music – Cuban style!

Day 7 Saturday

Today we will be up early and head for the airport for the flight to Havana or another onward destination and say goodbye to the guide, as the tour will end at the airport. For those clients travelling back to the UK or Europe, there will be connections this evening on Iberia and Air France. For clients flying on Virgin, the last night will be spent after one night in Havana before the return flights.

COST INCLUDES:

Accommodation

One night’s accommodation at the El Bosque, or similar on Bed and Breakfast basis

Two nights’ accommodation at the Villa Baracoa hotel on Half Board basis

Three nights’ accommodation at Melia Santiago hotel on Half Board basis

Transportation/Guide

All transportation as required in the itinerary using fully air-conditioned transportation

The services of an English-speaking guide throughout the itinerary

Restaurant Lunches/Dinner

Day 2, lunch at Cayo Saetia beach restaurant

Day 3, lunch at Finca Duaba restaurant, Baracoa

Day 4, lunch at Guantanamo hotel

Day 5, lunch at Morro Castle restaurant, Santiago De Cuba

Day 6, lunch at Cayo Granma restaurant, Santiago De Cuba

Entrances

Day 2, jeep safari Cayo Saetia

Day 3, entrance to Finca Duaba, Baracoa

Day 3, boat ride on Rio Toa, Baracoa

Day 5, entrance to Moncada Barracks, Santiago De Cuba

Day 5, entrance to Castillo Del Morro, Santiago De Cuba

Day 6, entrance to El Cobre, Santiago De Cuba

Entrance to Casa De La Trova Santiago De Cuba NOT INCLUDED

Cost exclusions:

The cost of transfers, meals and accommodation in Havana and the domestic flights combining Havana-Holguin and Santiago-Havana are NOT included in the tour cost.