|
COMPREHENSIVE CUBA
17 nights from £2129 per
person
17 night
holiday including flights, transfers and accommodation
Flights
from Gatwick
ITINERARY
Combine
our Comprehensive Cuba tour that combines a tour of western Cuba with a tour of eastern Cuba, with some time on one of Cuba's beautiful beaches. Perfect for
the Cuba enthusiast.
DAY 1
Fly from Gatwick to Havana. Welcome at Jose Marti Airport
where we will be transferred to Old Havana for overnight at the historic
Sevilla Hotel, which is, situated in an excellent position within a very
short walk of Old Havana.
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. 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 day 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 breakfast we will drive outside Havana to Finca
Vigia, the former Cuban home of Ernest Hemingway,
the contents of which remain untouched since he left the home for the last
time. We will continue east through the sugar plantations for the city of Santa Clara the final resting place of “Che “ Guevara. On arrival
we will visit the mausoleum and the 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. After lunch
in a local hotel we will continue through the Escambray Mountains to Trinidad a UNESCO heritage site and one of
the best-preserved colonial cities in the world. Overnight and dinner will be
at the Iberostar Grand Hotel located in the town centre.
DAY 4
After a leisurely breakfast, we will explore Trinidad visiting 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 and sugar cane juice
cocktail. Lunch will be taken at the Grand Hotel Trinidad and there will also
be some time to explore the historic city independently. Dinner this evening
will be taken in the hotel restaurant.
DAY 5
After an
early breakfast, we will enjoy a tour of Cienfuegos before departing for Pinar Del Rio province, an area known throughout the
world as Cuba’s main tobacco growing region,
where steep sided “Mogote” mountains stand guard
over fertile valleys. En route we will stop at Guama
where we will take a boat through the mangrove swamps to a replica stilted Taino Indian village on the shores of Treasure Lake. Lunch will be taken in a local
countryside restaurant, before continuing to the Moka
hotel, situated deep in the Sierra Del Rosario Nature Reserve. On arrival
dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant and the remainder of the
evening will be free to relax .
DAY 6
Today there will be the chance to relax on one of Cuba’s unspoilt
islands at Cayo Levisa. After
a short drive and boat crossing to the island, the day will be free to relax
on a most beautiful quiet beach, catch some sunshine and swim in the sea. The
island is idyllic and well known for its clear waters and stunning beach. A
small hotel is situated on the island where drinks are available and lunch
will also be served for you at this hotel. Lunch will be prepared for
you and in the late afternoon we will catch the boat and return to the Moka hotel. Alternatively clients can stay at the Moka hotel for the day and relax in this peaceful rural
setting. Guided walks can be booked locally and clients could also take a
canopy tour through the tree tops. 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, 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 Cuban’s only restaurant specializing in organic vegetarian cuisine with all
ingredients produced within the 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, a visit will be made to the local community of Las Terrazas, maybe buy a locally produce coffee and cake at
Maria’s coffee shop on a hill overlooking the village followed by a cooling
swim in the San
Juan River.
After lunch overlooking the lake we will transfer back to Havana for your
flight to Holguin After arriving to Holguin airport from Havana 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 9
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 private 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 10
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 11
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 some refreshments we
will continue to Santiago de Cuba A late lunch
awaits at Cayo Granma,
reached by a short boat crossing the restaurant looks out across the bay and
there will be time to wander around the small island before heading into the
central area of the city to settle in at the hotel. Dinner this evening will
be at the hotel.
DAY 12
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 Maestra 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 visit the picturesque church of El Cobre, Cuba’s most sacred pilgrimage site in Cuba and a shrine to the Virgin Mary.
In the evening, we will enjoy dinner in a local restaurant followed by an
optional visit to one of Cuba’s famous “ Casa
de la Trova” for live music - Cuban style!
DAY 13
After a
leisurely breakfast, we will head out of the city into the mountain region of
the Gran Piedra National Park where we will pass through some
beautiful scenery as we head to the viewpoint situated over 1200metres above sea level. As we climb up the winding
road the views open up and after walking up to ‘The Big Rock’, a relic of an
ancient boulder, you might be able to see Jamaica or they say even Haiti if
the weather is very clear. There will be time to enjoy the magnificent views and
explore the local area with its lush vegetation before taking lunch at the
local restaurant. After lunch we will head back towards the city where the
remainder of the afternoon will be free with dinner available at the hotel.
DAY 14
Today we
will be up early and head for the airport for the flight to Havana. On arrival, transfer to Varadero
for a four night stay at the Villa Cuba, on an All Inclusive basis.
DAY 18
Transfer
to Havana airport for your return flight to the UK.
|
Comprehensive Cuba + Varadero
Tour - mainly Full Board
Beach – All Inclusive
|
|
17 nights – 13 June
|
|
13 night
tour plus 4 nights Villa Cuba
|
£2129 per person
|
|
13 night
tour plus 4 nights Iberostar Tainos
|
£2185 per person
|
|
13 night
tour plus 4 nights Paradisus Varadero
|
£2365 per person
|
|
|