Getting to know the West and the Center of the island

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  International Airport - Cuba - Havana

  

  Departure from an international airport to José Martí Airport in Havana, Cuba. After landing and collecting your personal belongings, you will be welcomed by one of our representatives at this establishment. At the end of the meeting, you will take the transport provided to take you to the house where you will stay for 2 nights. Once there, the check-in process will be completed and you can settle comfortably into your room. Accommodation: Private house San Lázaro 17 in Old Havana. Board: Guest room (B / - / -). Transfer: From Havana airport to the private house where the accommodation will be. Distance and time: 19.7 km / 32 minutes. Recommendation (service not included in the package price): Here, we leave you a guide to discover the Cuban capital, which could begin right after settling into your accommodation. To start well, you can visit the majestic walls of the Morro fortress, which for centuries have protected the entrance to the port. Next, you can take a walking tour of the famous 4 squares of Old Havana, namely: Plaza de San Francisco de Asis, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de Armas, and Plaza de la Catedral. Then, you can continue your journey by visiting the Bodeguita del Medio (Ernest Hemingway's favorite bar) and enjoy a delicious mojito, the craft market, and the Palace of the Captains General (the most beautiful baroque palace in the country). Afterwards, you can dine in one of the excellent typical restaurants in this neighborhood. Other places to consider for a visit on other occasions are: the Paseo del Prado, the Grand Theater of Havana, the Plaza de la Revolución, the Presidential Palace, Central Park, the Capitol, the University of Havana, and the Rum Museum. Return to the planned accommodation.

• day 2

  HAVANA - VIÑALES - HAVANA

  

  If you are a lover of tranquility, silence, and wish to observe unique landscapes, this will be the getaway you need: Viñales. Departure will be early in the morning, heading west. This town is famous for its traditional tobacco and its characteristic mountains. The province of Pinar del Río (land where the best tobacco in the world is grown) produces 80% of the country's cigars. In many tobacco plantations today, you can still appreciate the techniques that were used several decades ago. You will visit one of them. Iconic places that all visitors admire: the Viñales valley, the Looker, the Palenque de los Cimarrones, the Indian cave, the Saint-Thomas cave, and the Prehistory Mural (painted in 1961 by the Mexican apprentice of Diego Rivera's era). Lunch will be served in a typical restaurant, then return to the same hotel where pick-up was done in Havana. Accommodation: Private house San Lázaro 17 in Old Havana. Board: Guest room (B / - / -). Transfer: from the Old Havana hotel to the city of Viñales. Distance and time: 186.2 km / 2 hours and 36 minutes. Recommendation (service not included in the package price): To get to the hotel which will be the starting point of the excursion to Viñales, you must request a taxi to take you from the house where you are staying to this tourist facility. On the return from the excursion and upon getting off at the entrance of the hotel, you will request a taxi to return to your place of stay. Recommendation (service not included in the package price): At night, if you want to experience an unforgettable evening full of Cuban flavor, you might as well visit a world-renowned cabaret, its name is Tropicana, for an additional cost. You will have at your disposal different options, where the location varies and whether dinner is included or not, for example: - Standard offer: €75.00 EUR per person + dinner supplement of €20.00 EUR. - Plus offer: €85.00 EUR per person + dinner supplement of €20.00 EUR. - Superior offer: €95.00 EUR per person + dinner supplement of €20.00 EUR.

• day 3

  HAVANA - MATANZAS

  

  If there is a place you wish to visit that you were not able to see the day before, you can go there in the morning. In the afternoon, she will head towards the city of bridges. It was founded more than 3 centuries ago, between the mouths of the Yumurí, San Juán, and Canimar rivers. It is the capital of the province that bears the same name. Interesting places to visit are: Narvaez Street, the Sauto Theater, the White Hall, the Triolet Pharmacy, the Monserrate Hermitage, the Bellamar Caves, and the Canimar River. Upon arrival at the planned accommodation, you can complete the check-in process and settle in. Later, you will have the pleasure of discovering some of the already mentioned iconic sites, accompanied by a local guide. At the end of the tour, you will return to the hotel and be free for the rest of the night. Accommodation: 4* Río San Juán Hotel in Matanzas. Board: Guest room (B / - / -). Transfer: From the 5* SO / Paseo del Prado La Habana hotel in Old Havana to the 4* Río San Juán hotel, where accommodation will be in the city of Matanzas. Distance and time: 104.4 km / 1 hour and 32 minutes. Recommendation (service not included in the package price): You must request a taxi to travel from your accommodation in Old Havana to the nearest hotel, where you will need to take the bus that will take you to the city of Matanzas.

• day 4

  MATANZAS - PLAYA GIRÓN

  

  Very early in the morning, the first activity of the day will begin: a guided tour of the Canimar River, one of the most beautiful places in the city. You will be able to learn more about the history of the region, enjoy a boat ride, and admire the beauty of a landscape where the color green predominates. At the end, you will visit the Bellamar caves, a set of caverns with more than 23 kilometers of galleries, which, according to estimates, began to form more than 300,000 years ago, but were only discovered in 1861. Then, we will continue to Playa Girón, where you can settle into the planned accommodation. Once settled, you will be free for the rest of the day. Accommodation: Ivette & Ronel private house in Playa Girón. Board: Guest room (B / - / -). Transfer: From the 4* Río San Juán hotel in Matanzas to the Ivette & Ronel private house where the accommodation will take place. Distance and time: 148.4 km / 2 hours and 20 minutes.

• day 5

  PLAYA GIRÓN - TRINIDAD

  

  Playa Girón is located in the region known as Ciénaga de Zapata, at the extreme south of the province of Matanzas. This marshy ecosystem constitutes the largest wetland area in the insular Caribbean, with a surface area of 300,000 hectares. This fishing village is recognized as one of the island's diving paradises. Early in the morning, the first site to visit will be the municipal museum of Playa Girón, a memorial dedicated to the battle fought by the Cuban people in April 1961. In 1978, it was named a national monument. At the end of this activity, you can continue to the Cueva de los Peces. Upon your arrival, a welcome cocktail will be offered to you. This beautiful place is one of the greatest attractions in the entire province. It is an impressive natural pool, with crystal-clear waters and more than 70 meters deep, which communicates with the sea through an underground tunnel. You can swim there and practice other types of water activities. Later, you will leave for Trinidad, a magical city, which was the third city founded in Cuba. Upon your arrival at your planned accommodation, you can settle in before a later guided tour of the historic city center and dinner in a local restaurant. Accommodation: Isla Bella private house in Trinidad. Board: Guest room (B / - / -). Transfer: From the Ivette & Ronel private house in Playa Girón to the Isla Bella private house in Trinidad, where accommodation will be provided. Distance and time: 160.1 km / 2 hours and 33 minutes. Recommendation (service not included in the package price): Have lunch at the restaurant that is part of this tourist center (the cave of the fish), where you will find excellent options on the menu.

• day 6

  TRINIDAD

  

  Its foundation dates back to 1514, headed by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar. This city, from the beginning, evolved rapidly thanks to the entrepreneurial attitude of its inhabitants, which led it to become one of the most prosperous on the island. In 1988, UNESCO inscribed the historic center of Trinidad, as well as the Valle de los Ingenios, on the World Heritage List. The aforementioned valley was a region particularly distinguished in sugar production, especially between the last decades of the 17th century and the first of the 18th. Due to this importance, the San Isidro and Manaca Iznaga mills will be visited, in addition to the Mirador del Valle. These are sites that are an integral part of the history of Trinidad. Back in town, the rest of the day will be free. Accommodation: Isla Bella private house in Trinidad. Board: Guest room (B / - / -). Recommendation (service not included in the package price): back in town, you can discover the most modern district of the city and have lunch in one of the excellent restaurants in this area. Then, you can visit the village hotels. In the evening, after dinner, a wonderful option would be to visit the Casa de la Música de Trinidad and thus end the evening beautifully.

• day 7

  TRINIDAD - CAYO SANTA MARIA

  

  At dawn, a transfer will come to pick you up to take you to the Trinidad bus terminal. Once there, you will take a bus to the reserved hotel in Cayo Santa María. This key, already mentioned, has an area of 21.4 square kilometers and belongs to the municipality of Caibarién, in the province of Santa Clara. It is known worldwide for the beauty of its natural environment and the proven quality of its hotel infrastructure. Upon your arrival at the planned hotel, you will complete the check-in process, then settle into your room. After lunch, there is no better suggestion than to go enjoy the excellent hotel beach and the rest of the facilities. Keep in mind that after dinner each evening, the entertainment team will offer you a different show. Accommodation: 5* Hotel Grand Memories Cayo Santa María. Board: all inclusive (B / L / D). Transfer: From the Trinidad bus station to the 5* Grand Memories CSM hotel in Cayo Santa María, where accommodation will take place. Distance and duration: 178.7 km / 3 hours and 11 minutes. Recommendation (service not included in the package price): Another excellent plan, once in Cayo Santa María, would be to enjoy the show at the Dolphinarium in the afternoon, then go to the town of La Estrella (where you can find craft shops, restaurants, bars, and even a bowling alley). Both are alternatives close to the establishment: the first is 8 minutes away by taxi and the second is 2 minutes away using the same route.

• day 8

  Cayo Santa Maria

  

  In the morning, you can fully enjoy the pool or the beach, as well as the activities scheduled that day by the entertainment team. For the rest of the day, you can enjoy at your leisure whatever you liked most about the facility. There are as many options to choose from as there are preferences. Accommodation: 5* Grand Memories Hotel in Cayo Santa María. Board: all inclusive (B / L / D). Recommendation (service not included in the package price): If you want to experience Cayo Santa María to the fullest, don't miss the excursion called Aventura Marina, an activity that will only enrich your sensations and the experience of your trip to this place. It consists of enjoying the beauty of a region that still retains its virginity. The excursion also includes a boat ride through a labyrinth of canals surrounding the keys of Las Brujas, Tío Pepe, and Francés. Later, you will have free time to enjoy the region's underwater fauna and flora. Snorkeling and non-alcoholic drinks are included. Only those over 15 years old can drive the boat; people under this age must be accompanied by adults during navigation.

• day 9

  Cayo Santa Maria - Havana.

  

  In the morning, you can enjoy the sea and the hotel's facilities. In the afternoon, your shared transfer will arrive in Havana. The service will end at the hotel closest to your accommodation, also located in Old Havana. The rest of the afternoon in Havana will be free. Accommodation: Private house San Lázaro 17 in Old Havana. Board: All inclusive (B / - / -). Transfer: From the 5* Grand Memories CSM hotel in Cayo Santa María to the 5* SO / Paseo del Prado La Habana hotel, the hotel closest to the private house where the accommodation will be. Distance and time: 389.2 km / 4 hours and 55 minutes. Recommendation (service not included in the package price): You must request a taxi for the transfer from the Old Havana hotel where the transfer from Cayo Santa María dropped you off, to your accommodation in Old Havana.

• day 10

  HAVANA - CUBA - INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

  

  On this last day, we still recommend that you enjoy your free time, but keep in mind the time of your pick-up so as not to take unnecessary risks. Departure from the private house to Havana José Martí International Airport. Later flight from Cuba to an international airport. Please note that you must start checking your documents at least 2 hours before the scheduled flight time. Accommodation: Private house San Lázaro 17 in Old Havana. Board: Guest room (B / - / -). Transfer: From the private house San Lázaro 17, where the accommodation will be, to Havana airport. Distance and time: 19.7 km / 32 minutes. *** End of services ***