Cuba Highlights – Cuban daily life; full of colours & rich history Join our 13-day tour on the beautiful Caribbean island Cuba where you will go behind the scenes and explore the colourful Cuban life. You will explore every side of Cuba from its culture and traditions to the beautiful scenery and leisure activities. Explore both Havana and Trinidad, colourful cities with their own sparkling characteristics. Cruise around Havana in the Old American cars, discover the Ballet culture in Santiago de Cuba, let the bicycle taxi drive you from one local market to another, swim in the crystal-clear waters in the Bay of Pigs, stroll along the waterfront of Cienfuegos, roll a cigar in the tobacco fields of Vinales and dance to Cuban rhythms in the streets of Trinidad. A trip that shows the rich history, colourful culture and the historic highlights of Cuba.
Day 1 – Havana
As the welcome briefing is at approximately 6pm this evening, there is plenty time to discover Havana for the early arrivals. Explore the city on your own pace but remember that most activities in Cuba can only be booked through the tourist desk or direct with the venue. Havana offers many good museums that are worth a visit. Check out Museo de la Revolucion and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, definitely worth a visit. Staying a few extra days is recommended to make the most of this vibrant city.
Overnight in Hotel Nacional or similar – No meals included
Day 2 – Havana Join the tour and explore all the popular suburbs of Havana including the fishing town of Jaimanitas. Continue the walking tour to Old Havana and visit several highlights of the city before you step into the Old Classic American cars for a 1-hour cruise around Havana. This tour shows you the historic grounds of Havana. It cruises via the Malecon to the Revolucion Square, Vedado and Old Havana. From here on, the tour continues by foot. Visit the cathedral, central park and several important plazas. The rest of the afternoon is free time for a lunch and explore the city further.
Overnight in Hotel Nacional or similar – Breakfast included
Day 3 – Havana – Santiago de Cuba Its an early start today as you will fly south to the hottest place of Cuba on the opposite side of the island. Enjoy the vibrant musical culture of Cuba in the afternoon during an orientation walk through the town. You will see a mix of Spanish guitar and African percussion which is the perfect place to dive into the rhythms of the salsa. Learn some salsa moves and dance with the locals.
Overnight in a Premium Guesthouse – Breakfast included
Day 4 – Santiago de Cuba Explore Santiago with a three-hour guided city tour. Stroll along El Morro Castle, Ifigenia cemetery and the Moncada barracks. Santiago is full of culture as the locals are very proud of their traditions. For example the Carnaval celebrations and lively Festival of Caribbean culture. It is all about the music and dance scene in Santiago de Cuba. In the evening have a taste of the real Cuban life with a dinner in a local Cuban home. Taste some local food far away from the hustle and bustle of the touristic centre. Enjoy your dinner on a cute decorated patio and listen to a local Cuban band.
Overnight in a Premium Guesthouse – Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 5 – Santiago de Cuba - Camaguey
Today, travel to Cuba’s third largest city Camaguey. With a stop at Bayamo, an elegant and old city with a lot of history, the trip takes approximately 6/7 hours. Use the bus trip to learn Spanish from the tour guide. Explore the colonial heritage of Camaguey in the afternoon. Camaguey is the third largest city of Cuba. The city succeeded to retain a lot of its colonial heritage with the winding historic streets, hidden plazas, baroque churches and local bars and restaurants. The historical center of Camaguey is the ninth UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cuba.
Overnight in Gran Hotel or similar – Breakfast included
Day 6 - Camaguey Today jump into a bicycle taxi and explore the city. Visit local markets, parks, plazas and an art gallery during your tour in the bicycle taxi. Do not forget to visit the local farmers’ market that the local guide may suggest. In the afternoon visit the famous ballet school in the city where you have a tour and meet some of the important people of the school. A fascinating experience as you get behind the scenes of the most famous Ballet school of Cuba
Overnight in Gran Hotel or similar – Breakfast included
Day 7 – Camaguey – Trinidad On your way to Trinidad visit the Ciego de Avila and one of the local galleries, the Pauyet group. In Santa Clara visit the Che Guevara mausoleum and memorial. Che Guevara is Cuba’s most famous son and revolutionary leader. Continue the journey to Trinidad, the most well preserved colonial city in Cuba with friendly locals.
Overnight in a Premium Guesthouse – Breakfast and Lunch included
Day 8 – Trinidad Trinidad, a great place to experience the Cuban life. Stroll around and see the most fascinating scenes with the locals smoking cigars and watching old American cars driving by. The orientation walk in the morning shows you the sugar industry, all the colourful houses and buildings as you wander around in the cobble-stoned streets. Explore Trinidad at your own pace in the afternoon. Go to Playa Ancon where you can spend the day swimming and snorkeling or enjoy the colourful buildings. Or visit one of the numerous open-air folklore venues in the town. Enjoy the hugely rich and varied music styles of Cuba.
Overnight in a Premium Guest house – Breakfast included
Day 9 – Trinidad – Cienfuegos
‘The Pearl of the South’ is today’s destination. Cienfuegos is a port town that owes its unique culture to the French enclave. Explore Cienfuegos with an orientation walk and watch the sunset from the rooftop bar at the Palacio del Valle. Perhaps stroll along the promenade for a nice evening walk.
Overnight in Hotel Union – Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 10 – Cienfuegos – Havana Today, travel to the Bay of Pigs where you discover the history. Learn more about the Cuban victory during the failed invasion of the CIA at the Museo Giron. But do not forget to enjoy the crystal clear Caribbean waters. Dive in to the ocean and explore the variety of the underwater world. After lunch return to Havana
Overnight in Hotel Nacional or similar – Breakfast included
Day 11 – Vinales Enjoy a day trip to Vinales. View the best scenery of Cuba where tobacco and agriculture fields and limestone outcrops fill in the landscape. They say that you will have the chance to look at Cuba’s best scenery so do not miss that chance. Join the walking tour through the farmlands and tobacco fields. Have a pleasant lunch with the amazing views of the valley. There is plenty of time to the explore the town after returning to Havana.
Overnight in Hotel Nacional or similar – Breakfast and Lunch included
Day 12 - Havana Enjoy Havana one more day while having a full free day in the city. Do or visit the places that you want to see. Ask your tour leader for possible activities.
Overnight in Hotel Nacional or similar – Breakfast included
Day 13 – Havana – Depart Today you will departure home with a lot of memories of this amazing tour through colourful Cuba full of history.
Included: Accommodation, daily breakfast, other meals where stated, tours with professional English speaking guide on a shared service basis unless otherwise stated, airport transfers where stated
Excluded: Any meals not mentioned in the above itinerary. Travel Insurance and tips. Any flights or services not mentioned in this itinerary.
Please Note: This itinerary and/or hotels quoted within this itinerary may change due to local operating conditions or availability at the time of booking. Please see our terms and conditions for more details. As this trip requires a minimum of 4 passengers to depart. Please do not book any non- refundable flights or services before the departure is guaranteed to depart. Please note that all flights are non-refundable and non-changeable unless advised otherwise. Viva Expeditions accepts no responsibility for flight delays and subsequent delays on tours.
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