Cuban Experience - Havana to the East and West

You are free to arrive in Havana at whatever time you can today. We have set aside this first day for this purpose, so you won't miss out on anything, even if you arrive late in the evening. Your included airport arrival transfer will be provided. This will be either a government taxi or a private car, and will take you directly from the Havana airport to your guesthouse for the first night in Havana.

Your tour guide will leave a note for you in the guesthouse with some information for you to get settled and details of any tour group meeting times. The first of these will be a get together for dinner on the first night for those tour group members that have arrived in time.

If you do happen to arrive earlier in the day, you may have time to go and explore some of Havana. At some stage during the tour, your tour guide will include a walking tour of Old Havana. After confirming your tour booking with us, we will also send you a set of maps for each city you will visit in Cuba. This is like a mini guide book that we update every year - so it is usually more up-to-date than a typical guide book. We do recommend the guide books for Cuba however, especially for the background historical and cultural information sections.

On our way to Cienfuegos, we drive along the beautiful coastline of the Bay of Pigs. This is where the landing of a counter-revolutionary exile militia occurred in 1961. The ensuing battle with the Cuban Revolutionary forces resulted in the first defeat of a U.S backed take-over in Latin America. Your guide will explain in more detail the dramatic events. If the conditions are favourable, we can stop for a swim at a beautiful spot on the bay that is ideal for snorkelling. Snorkelling masks are available at a small cost.

Cienfuegos appeal lies partly in the European flavour of its colonial hub, with a wide Parisian-style boulevard and elegant colonnades, and there is an ambience to inspire Cuba’s most celebrated Son singer to write the words “Cienfuegos is the city I like best”. You'll have time to take in the ambience with a pleasant stroll along the boulevard and to the main square.

Before reaching Camaguey we first drop in on the historic inland city of Santa Clara. It's here that we encounter a huge statue of Ernesto Ché Guevara. We take time to visit the museum that is directly under the statue, and which tells the story of Ché's fascinating life. There is also a mausoleum with an eternal flame that commemorates his death and that of the revolutionaries who were with him in Bolivia.

Cuba's third largest city lies about halfway between Havana and Santiago de Cuba. Camaguey was designed in the 17th century to disorientate potential invaders such as pirates and plunderers, so the street layout is a jumble of narrow alleys where no two streets are parallel. There are large parks, various private art galleries, and a thriving market garden, and one will enjoy strolling through this city. This is also a university town and has a rich cultural tradition, and like just about everywhere in Cuba, there is plenty of night time entertainment to be had.

Camaguey is a proud and cultural city, and has some of the best schools and institutions in Cuba.

Before we set off for Holguin we will start the morning with a guided visit to the ballet school in Camaguey. We then head to the province of Holguin - the third largest province in Cuba. While Holguin is popular mostly as a beach resort destination, it is also known for its rich architectural structures that date back to the 19th century, among many other historical places in the city which we will see on our walking tour. The rest of the day is free to wander this interesting city and visit some of the many historical sites and museums, take a cultural trip to learn more about the original inhabitants of the island, or visit some of the beautiful parks and green spaces or walk to the Loma de la Cruz (the hill of the cross) well worth a visit with spectacular views. Holguin has a number of places related to a Cuban hero called Calixto Garcia. There are numerous great venues for music and to enjoy the nightlife, and many good places to eat.

When Christopher Columbus first encountered Cuba it was here, and he duly noted in his log-book that this was the most beautiful land that human eyes could set upon. You will understand what he meant when you see the beaches and verdant mountain landscape that surround Baracoa. Situated on a beautiful bay with the mountains of the Sierra del Purial in the background, Baracoa was the first settlement founded by the Spanish in Cuba, and was only accessible by sea until the end of the 1960s.
There are numerous options for outdoor activities in the nearby mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches. Baracoa is also known for its variety of fresh seafood, and chocolate made from local cacao plantations.

So much to see and do in the fun destination.
Why not stroll the streets and join in the music and dance fun with the locals

A spectacular drive through lush mountains of eastern Cuba, then along a rugged and beautiful section of coast, and later past the region’s most controversial leasehold of Guantanamo Bay, brings us to what is known as the “cradle of Cuba's Revolution”. Santiago is home to much of Cuba’s famed music, like the Son. There are also museums, colonial churches and buildings of more recent historical importance, such as the Moncada Barracks, which are well worth exploring.

Santiago de Cuba has a very vibrant traditional music scene, and it's here that we include what we call a Noche Santiaguera. It's an interactive night of music and dance where we invite some local Santiago friends of ours to come with us to a local traditional music venue, and they will invite you to join them on the dance floor to learn some dance moves. For those that are willing, you'll have the chance to get up on stage and play an instrument with the local Cuban band. Culturally, Santiago has a different feel to the rest of Cuba, undoubtedly coming from the mix of French speaking slaves from Haiti and its proximity to Jamaica.

Today we head to Bayamo from Santiago de Cuba, via the Sanctuary of El Cobre. El Cobre is a small town with a significant statue to Cimmaron, commemorating the copper mine slave uprising in the 17th century. It is also the most important place of worship in Cuba and the home of the patron Saint of Cuba - Our Lady of Charity. This is a fascinating stop and insight into Cuba culture, religion and customs.

After we leave El Cobre we continue onto Bayamo, a small quiet town, not what you would expect for the capital of this province. The people in Bayamo are very laid back and it is a pleasant contrast to the hustle and bustle of vibrant Santiago de Cuba. Bayamo is the second Spanish city founded in Cuba (1513) as was named Villa de San Salvador de Bayamo”. During the 17th and 18th century, the idea of Cuban Independence began here with Cespedes who freed his slave and formed a small army, starting the War of Independence against Spain. Rather than surrender, the rebels famously held Bayamo for three days before burning it to the ground. There is an interesting wax museum we will visit during our walking tour.

Bayamo sits at the foot of the Sierra Maestra, where you can do an optional hike into the mountains to visit Fidel’s hideout & rebel radio encampment as it was during the 1950’s. If you prefer not to visit the Sierra Maestra you can relax in Santo Domingo from where the hike begins. Santo Domingo is located at the entrance to the Pico Turquino National Park and on the banks of the Yara river where you can take a swim in the cool water. There is one hotel here in Santo Domingo where you can sit and enjoy the fresh, crisp mountain air overlooking the river. Read more about this Sierra Maestra excursion here .

Trinidad is home to numerous churches and many beautiful colonial buildings. We are near the lovely Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of Sugarmills) and Playa Ancón, where you can enjoy long stretches of unspoiled, white sand beaches. Scuba diving, snorkelling, swimming in waterfalls and horse-riding are other optional activities.

The nightlife in Trinidad is probably the most accessible and intense in all of Cuba, with numerous live music venues and many dance performances everyday of the week, all amongst the enchanting setting of old colonial buildings and the cobblestone streets.

So many choices of activities and sightseeing

Why not spend this day on one of the white sand beaches and relax

We arrive late in the afternoon of Day 13, so you have 3 nights and 2 whole days to experience the Caribbean's largest and most famous city in this middle part of the tour. Your tour guide will provide an introduction with the included walking tour of the Old town scheduled for the morning of Day 14. You always have the option to skip this and explore on your own. We also offer a range of other day tours in Havana that you can add to your package.

The Caribbean's largest and most exciting urban concentration, Havana is one of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere, and was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Options are to take the included walking tour of the Old town with the guide or to find your own adventure.

This concludes the first section of your tour. On Day 15 you may lose some of your travelling companions and possibly welcome some others to the group who are only doing the last section of this tour. It's also possible that you will have a change of tour guide, however we do always try to schedule things so that the same guide takes you for the entire 20 days.

Heading west of Havana in private transport, we stop in a couple of Havana neighbourhoods to see some community art projects. The first one is an alley called the Callejon de Hammel. This is where local artist Salvador Gonzáles Escalona has done some colourful decorations of the street with a distinctive African flavour. In fact, many of the works are dedications to specific Afro-Cuban religious demi-gods.

Next we visit a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Havana called Jaimanitas. It is here that Jose Fuster has made a very impressive project called Fusterlandia in which works are made in mosaic ceramics. It extends from his own residence to surrounding houses and streets. Even the local medical clinic has been targeted by his creative efforts.

Next stop is a mountainous area called Las Terrazas. The town itself was built as part of an environmental project in the early days of the Revolution. You'll have time for a walk around the town and to meet some of the locals. Apart from its environmental characteristics, Las Terrazas is also known as for its art, and there are a few woodwork, painting and pottery studios, that are open to the public.

Eventually we reach the tiny settlement of Soroa, which for many is the prettiest area of the region. We stay in local guesthouses.

On the way to Vinales we check out a Soroa which is a beautiful area in the mountains with quite a few interesting things to see. There is an excellent orchid garden with about 200 different types of orchids, more than half of which are Cuban species.

For the more actively minded, there are a couple of short walks. One short one to a waterfall and a longer one to the peak of a mountain with some fantastic views.

Before reaching the town of Vinales we can stop at a lookout which has some great views of the Vinales valley. Parts of this stunning area are listed with UNESCO for the value of their rural scenery and heritage.

In the afternoon we have time to take you to the home of a local tobacco farmer, who will show you his life and how he rolls his own cigars.

Today you have a full day with no included activities. This is you opportunity to do as you please, and there are plenty of options available that your guide can arrange for you. Our travelers in the past have highly recommended the walk through parts of the valley with a guide that is local to the Vinales area. There are also caving, horse riding, and biking excursions available.

Another option is to do some voluntary work on a local organic farm (and staying for dinner!), or heading to one of the beautiful beaches nearby - Cayo Levisa or Cayo Jutias.

There are a couple of hotels on the outskirts of the town with some swimming pools you can use for a small fee - a good option if you just want to relax and enjoy the views while drinking a cocktail or two.

The nightlife in Vinales is very friendly and active, and the locals are always enthusiastically involved. There is live music nightly and usually a dance performance or two. But the main emphasis is on participation and the locals are not shy in asking visitors to share a dance. In fact, many travelers will tell you that Vinales is one of the best places in Cuba to interact with the locals.

We return to Havana to celebrate the last night of the tour, and for some, their last night in Cuba. With recent changes to the laws in Cuba, and legal opportunities for Cubans to open their own businesses, there are many more good options for restaurants, bars, and night spots. Your tour guide will no doubt suggest a few for a group celebration.

Today is the departure day of the tour, and you are free to depart at anytime. Don't hesitate to ask your guide for help if you want to organise a few extra days in Havana at the end of your tour.