Cuba, One of a Kind

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrive in Havana

  

  Havana has to be one of the most exciting cities in the world. It's definitely intriguing and unique. Your included airport arrival transfer will take you to your Havana guesthouse for the first night. If you arrive early today, you'll have time to do some exploring on your own before meeting the rest of your tour group and your tour leader tonight. Your tour leader will leave you a note at your guesthouse with details about the group meeting time and place. Your accommodation in Havana for the tour will either be in Old Havana, Central Havana, or Vedado. The neighborhoods of Old Havana and Central Havana are some of the places where you will feel Cuba at its most intense—narrow streets with old, crumbling buildings, full of locals who are not there for the tourists but rather because this is their home. You will see them working, going to school, socializing, and going about their daily lives. Simply wandering the streets will give you a new experience and fill you with many questions about how Cuba functions as a country. Vedado is another interesting part of Havana, where there is a concentration of restaurants, bars, majestic mansions, and historic mafia-built hotels. The tour package itself does not include much time in Havana, so we recommend that you book an extra night or two in Havana, either before or after the tour. After the tour is probably preferable, as by then you will have learned a bit about how things work in Cuba and how to get around. Plus, you'll have the chance to talk to your tour leader and get some recommendations on what to do and see in Havana. When you book the tour, you can request these extra nights on your booking form. Suggested Optional Activities: Havana day tours

• from day 2 to day 3

  Vinales with optional activities - Tobacco farm visit, dinner at a local organic farm, salsa

  

  

  Before departing Havana, we have a guided walking tour of the historic centre of Havana (approx 2 hours). From Havana to Viñales, it's about a 4-hour drive, and on the way we usually stop for lunch. Surrounded by picturesque limestone pincushion hills (“mogotes”), Viñales is a small and culturally rich village with friendly and welcoming residents and a wide variety of outdoor activities available. Exploring caves, hiking, biking, horseback riding, or simply enjoying the views of the valley and sprawling tobacco fields below are all options. Viñales is one of the more agriculturally productive areas, so an abundance of local seasonal fruit and vegetables is always on offer, such as enormous avocados and mangoes, pineapples, papaya, guava, and several varieties of sweet potatoes. It's one of the cooler areas of Cuba, so it's also a nice escape from the hotter parts of the country. The nightlife is very active in this village, with the local residents more than willing participants in dancing to the local live music. Suggested Optional Activities: Tobacco farm visit Meal at local organic farm Dance lesson

• day 4

  Playa Larga (Bay of Pigs) - swimming, optional snorkeling

  

  We head back past Havana through the densely vegetated Peninsula de Zapata swamplands to Playa Larga, on the beautiful Bay of Pigs. This is where the landing of counter-revolutionary exile militia occurred in 1961. There is a museum here that recounts the events of this conflict, which resulted in the first defeat of a U.S.-backed takeover in Latin America. Weather and time permitting, we will have time for a swim and optional snorkeling.

• from day 5 to day 6

  Trinidad via Cienfuegos - optional activities: waterfall hike, dance lessons, craft market, Ancon Beach

  

  

  On the road to Trinidad, we stop first for a visit to Guanaroca Lagoon, a natural reserve known for its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes. Lush mangroves surround this serene lagoon, and it serves as a crucial habitat for a variety of bird species, including the majestic flamingos that gather in large flocks during certain times of the year. Our next stop is in Cienfuegos, whose appeal lies partly in the European flavour of its colonial hub, with a wide Parisian-style boulevard and elegant colonnades. Cuba’s most celebrated Son singer was inspired to write the words, “Cienfuegos is the city I like best.” For many visitors to Cuba, Trinidad is their standout favourite destination. No other colonial city in Cuba is so well preserved, and the local residents are extremely friendly and festive. Trinidad is steeped in religiosity, not least of which is Santeria, one of several Afro-Cuban religions. However, the thing that visitors most love about Trinidad is the nightlife. There are no fewer than 10 live music venues, all within a short walking distance. Many of these have lovely outdoor settings, in courtyards, and within the walls of old colonial ruins. Not far inland is the Valley of the Sugar Mills. This area of rich, fertile soil is where the Trinidad colonists got most of their ludicrous wealth. A 10-minute drive in the opposite direction will get you to a beautiful, calm Caribbean beach called Playa Ancón. If the weather is fine, your tour leader might propose a dinner BBQ here to witness the sunset over the ocean. Other optional activities in Trinidad include snorkeling, scuba diving, and a popular trek to a waterfall where you can swim in the fresh, clear spring water.

• day 7

  Havana via Santa Clara

  On the way back to Havana, we stop in at the town of Santa Clara, a key city in the Cuban Revolution. Upon entering Santa Clara, there is a huge statue of Ernesto Ché Guevara to commemorate his death and that of the revolutionaries who died along with him in Bolivia. There is also a museum here dedicated to his amazing life. It's one final night of the tour in Havana, and your tour leader will have some suggestions for a farewell dinner and a fun night out.

• day 8

  Depart Havana

  

  You are free to depart at any time. We can also arrange fabulous day tours if you wish to extend your stay in Havana after the tour. These include the Street Eats Tour, Mafia Tour, LGBT Havana Tour, Murals & Mosaics, Afro-Cuban Culture, and Classic Car Tour.