Day 1: Havana
Arrival. Welcome to Cuba. Transfer to the hotel and, depending on your flight schedule, free time to relax or explore at your leisure. In the late afternoon, to warmly welcome you, we’ll include a ride in a classic vintage car to the Fortress of San Carlos, passing along the iconic Malecón. There, we’ll attend the traditional Cannon Firing Ceremony (tickets included). Return to the hotel (by coach or private vehicles) and overnight stay.
Day 2: Havana
This morning, we’ll include a tour of approximately four hours. We’ll explore Colonial Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as Revolution Square and the University. We’ll also visit the Havana Club Rum Museum. Our experience continues with a short boat ride across the bay to Regla, where we’ll visit the Church of the Virgin of Regla—an important site of devotion where Catholicism and Afro-Cuban religions blend in a powerful expression of syncretism. Will you buy flowers and have your palm read by a daughter of Ochún? Around lunchtime, we’ll head to the Callejón del Chorro area, known for its many “paladares” (privately-owned restaurants), where you’ll have time to stroll and enjoy lunch. The afternoon will be free.
Day 3: Havana - Guamá - Punta perdiz - Giron - Cienfuegos
We’ll depart from Havana and head south, taking in the island’s beautiful tropical landscapes. Our first stop will be Guamá, where we’ll visit the crocodile farm and enjoy a boat ride through this area, which has been declared a National Park. In the Taina village, we’ll learn more about the indigenous population that lived here before the arrival of Europeans. We’ll continue along the road by the Caribbean Sea. Don’t forget your swimsuit! We’ll have time at Punta Perdiz, where lunch will be included, and you can swim, explore the cenotes, or go snorkeling. Afterward, in Girón, we’ll visit the Playa Girón Museum, which offers insight into the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Revolution. Our journey will then take us to Cienfuegos, known as the Pearl of the South. This charming colonial city boasts French neoclassical architecture, and we’ll pass by its historic streets. Dinner will be included.
Day 4: Cienfuegos - Trinidad
Just under one hundred kilometers separate us from Trinidad. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the most beautiful and best-preserved colonial city in Cuba, a true open-air museum and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. After our tour, we’ll visit the Yemayá Santería Temple, dedicated to the orisha (deity) of the sea, where offerings of fruit, water, and stones are placed. A local santero will share insights into this fascinating religion and its beliefs. Following the visit, lunch will be included, and we’ll head to our resort hotel in Playa Ancón. You’ll have the afternoon free to enjoy the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea on this stunning beach, or—if you prefer—to explore Trinidad at your own pace. In the evening, we’ll offer a transfer to the cathedral so you can experience the “music square,” filled with small restaurants and the vibrant sounds of Cuban music. Dinner will be included.
Day 5: Trinidad - Valle de los ingenios - Camaguey
Our day will be filled with beautiful landscapes and unforgettable experiences. We’ll travel by bus to the Valle de los Ingenios, where we’ll visit the old San Isidro de los Destiladeros sugar mill, the best-preserved in the area. Here, you’ll learn about the history of sugar production and slavery. We’ll then continue to Manaca Iznaga, located at the heart of the sugar-producing region that fueled Trinidad´s prosperity. Next, we’ll head to Sancti Spiritus, a charming colonial town rarely visited by tourists, where we’ll have time for a stroll and lunch will be included. Our journey will continue through the center of the island towards Camagüey, the third-largest city in the country, known for its vibrant art scene and lively nightlife.
Day 6: Camaguey - Guáimaro - Bayamo - Santiago de Cuba
In the morning, we’ll tour the historic center of Camagüey, famous for its theaters, squares, narrow alleys, and churches. We’ll then continue our journey with a brief stop in Guáimaro, where the first Cuban constitution was approved, and the emancipation of slaves was demanded. Our next stop will be Bayamo, a charming colonial town where we’ll take a stroll and watch schoolchildren practicing at the chess academy. Lunch will be included. We’ll then head to Santiago de Cuba, arriving in the evening. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the Casa de la Trova, a popular gathering place for Cuban music enthusiasts with live performances.
Day 7: Santiago de Cuba
We include a tour of SANTIAGO, Cuba’s second city and one of contrasts, capital of the ‘son’ and the revolution. Around 20 km from the city, in the mountains, we will go to the Basilica of our Lady of Charity of Copper, where we will be surprised at the veneration for the virgin patron of Cuba. After that we will go to the Santa Ifigenia cemetery, where Fidel Castro and José Martí are buried. We will see the Ron Bacardí factory and go to the CASTILLO DEL MORRO, an impregnable citadel on a promontory declared a world heritage site, which houses an interesting museum on Piracy. Lunch included. Free time in the afternoon.
Day 8: Santiago de Cuba
After breakfast, end of our services.