On arrival at Havana airport you will be met by a representative and chauffeur-driven in a classic American car to your Hotel

 

This evening is at your leisure. We recommend wandering through the streets and, perhaps, soaking up the atmosphere and music in a bar whilst sipping on a Mojito.

You will first enjoy a short walking tour around Old Havana including its most important squares and fortresses being picked up at the Plaza de Armas in your chauffeur-driven, classic American car for a scenic drive along the Malecón seafront to the elegant suburb of Miramar, with a stop at Revolution Square. Finally we include a traditional Cuban lunch, a visit to the Ernest Hemingway museum and drop you off at your hotel.

This evening is at your leisure. You might want to consider taking in a cabaret show at Havana’s famous Tropicana nightclub, which boasts more than two hundred performers, a fabulous orchestra, and astonishing acrobatic feats.

Today we’ll travel into the Pinar del Rio province, in the west of Cuba, and to the small town of Viñales, which possesses some of Cuba’s most dramatic landscapes and is the world’s best tobacco growing region. This beautiful, fertile valley is surrounded by unusual limestone outcrops known as ‘Mogotes’. A visit here is a great way of gaining an insight into rural Cuban life.

In transit from Havana, you will enjoy a visit to a cigar factory and a working tobacco farm, where you will learn about the lifestyle of local peasants as well as about the growing of tobacco. In Viñales, we include a visit to the ‘Mural de Prehistorica’ where a history of evolution is painted in bright colours on the side of a Mogote and an underground boat ride in the ‘Cueva del Indio’, one of Viñales many fascinating caves.

The afternoon is at your leisure and you’ll find an abundance of opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast, such as horse riding and hiking.

Today we include a tour the beautiful island of Cayo Jutias, 60km from Viñales, which offers 3km of white sand and turquoise water. This area is relatively undiscovered and unspoilt, and is an ideal place to switch off and relax on a possibly deserted beach. The area offers snorkelling opportunities, and whenever you’ve had enough we will return you to your hotel in Viñales where the afternoon and evening are at your leisure.

This morning we transfer you to Cienfuegos, approximately a four hour drive southeast. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to stop whenever you would like and there are several spectacular Caribbean beaches where you might like to enjoy a swim. Another stop will be at the historic Bay of Pigs where you’ll see the actual place where US forces landed during the 1961 invasion of Cuba as well as visiting a fascinating museum about the invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. On arrival in Cienfuegos you will check in to the Hotel La Union, one of the most charming boutique hotels in Cuba, before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant (own expense).

 

After lunch, your guide will take you on a walking tour of this laid back maritime city, known as the 'Pearl of the South', due to its lovely location on a picturesque Caribbean bay. Walk through the city’s well preserved colonial centre and learn about its proud musical tradition and its famous musicians, like Benny More.

The evening is at your leisure. We recommend relaxing in your hotel pool or enjoying a drink on the rooftop terrace, which offers unsurpassed views of the city.

This morning we’ll transfer you to the town of Trinidad, which is often referred to as the Soul of Cuba.  If you choose our comfort or superior level of accommodation we include the next 2 nights at a local home in central Trinidad where you will experience true Cuban hospitality. Dinner is available at an additional cost.

 

If you prefer to stay in a hotel we recommend the Iberostar Grand Hotel which is in our opinion Cuba’s finest property. Must be booked well in advance.

On arrival, we’ll include a walking tour of the main sights of the city. The city was founded in 1514 by the Spanish conquistador Diego Velasquez and became a major centre for trading sugar and slaves for almost two hundred years. The wealth generated by the landowners during this region's dark past is reflected by the well restored colonial architecture found in Trinidad's colonial centre, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

After further walking the cobble stoned colonial heart of Trinidad, you should consider a drive out to Playa Ancón for beach time and perhaps even some scuba diving. Tonight we recommend you check out Casa de la Musica for some salsa dancing, before heading to the Disco Ayala, set in a cave.

 

Breakfast included.

Day 7: Day at Leisure

Today is at your leisure with your driver at your disposal. We suggest you take the opportunity to visit  one of Cuba’s best beaches – Playa Ancon which is a short drive from Trinidad, or further explore the town. If you’re feeling more energetic, you could also consider a day trip to the beautiful 'El Nicho’ waterfalls in the Escambary National Park.

Today we will transfer you to Cayo Santa Maria an island paradise on the northern coast of Cuba where you will spend four days relaxing on its long, powder white sand beaches lapped by warm, blue water.

Along the way, we’ll stop in the city of Santa Clara, a key location in the history of the Revolution. We visit three key historical sites, including the massive Che Guevara monument and mausoleum (closed on Mondays), his final resting place.

Afternoon and evening at leisure. Dinner is included at your hotel.

Breakfast, Dinner included.

Days 9 & 10: Cayo Santa Maria

Days at leisure with all meals and drinks included at your hotel.

Cayo Santa Maria offers a secluded beach setting and one of the country's best kept secrets. With only seven resorts and no towns it remains largely development-free, and with more than 50kms of spectacular beaches is the perfect option if you prefer to lay back and relax on hammocks or beach chairs. The waters around the cays offer a variety of activities, including snorkelling, diving, sports fishing and even bird watching. You can find nearly two hundred species of birds here as well, such as herons, ibis, pelicans, cormorants and oystercatchers.

A representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Havana airport for your departure flight. The drive will take approximately four hours, so if your flight is an early departure we will need to reduce your stay in Cayo Santa Maria by one night and replace this with a night in Havana.