Highlights of Cuba

An arrival transfer is included to the tour’s starting point, a “casa particular” (a local home used as a bed and breakfast), for an authentic Cuban experience. Havana is one of the oldest cities in the western hemisphere, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. As you drive to your accommodation look out for the popular colonial architecture and famed old cars of this creative and resilient city.

Pass through thick green forests and lush plains as you drive east along the Carretera Central towards the city of Santa Clara. Learn about the famous CIA-backed attempted invasion of Cuba and the involvement of the US military at the Bay of Pigs museum in Playa Girón. Enjoy an included lunch in Caleta Buena and choose to take a relaxing swim or snorkel in the beautiful, crystal clear waters of the Caribbean before finishing the journey to your “casa particular” in Santa Clara.

• Wake up in Santa Clara, the final resting place of Che Guevara and tour the massive Che monument in the city. Enter the mausoleum lit by an eternal flame ignited by Fidel Castro, and explore the adjacent museum, which exhibits pieces from Guevara’s childhood and beyond.
• Travel south through the picturesque mountain region of Topes de Collantes stopping at the Casa de Café. This pleasant little coffee shop and museum, filled with contemporary Cuban artwork is rumoured to sell some of the freshest and tastiest coffee in Cuba. Learn about the history of Cuba’s involvement in the industry and observe tools used in the past to make and manufacture this delicious bean.Then, immerse yourself in nature on a short walk in the national park; think waterfalls, secret swimming pools, underground rivers, and caves amid coffee plantations, jungle, and mountains. End the day upon arrival in the coastal city of Trinidad.

• Discover the Spanish colonial town of Trinidad, founded in the 16th century on a free day. Learn about this UNESCO World Heritage site on a short orientation walk in the morning, then use the afternoon to further explore the cobblestone streets and past of this well preserved town. Trinidad also happens to be a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Choose to spend the afternoon lounging on the beach, swimming in the calm waters, or searching for sea life as you snorkel.
• In the evening dust off those party shoes and take part in a lively salsa dancing lesson before practicing those new moves on a night out at the historic Casa de la Trova, featuring live Cuban music and a spirited atmosphere.

• It’s off to Cienfuegos, known as Cuba’s “Pearl of the South”. Embark on an orientation walk of this town with French airs and a feisty Caribbean spirit. Wander around admiring the contrasting architecture and the turquoise blue of the water lapping at the iconic sea wall.
• Travel back to Havana for a short, but panoramic bus tour of the city. Spend the evening as you wish, search for art among the buildings in Habana Vieja, or people watch from a local rooftop bar, sipping a refreshing mojito as the night settles in.

Depart at any time.