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’ll go on a panoramic tour of Santiago, Cuba’s second-largest city—an energetic place full of contrasts, known as the capital of music and the Cuban Revolution. Just 20 km outside the city, nestled among the mountains, we’ll visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, where we’ll be moved by the deep devotion to Cuba’s patron saint. Our journey will then take us to Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, the final resting place of Fidel Castro and José Martí. We’ll also visit the Bacardí Rum Factory and the Castillo del Morro, an imposing fortress perched on a promontory, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a fascinating Piracy Museum. Lunch will be included. You’ll have free time in the afternoon to continue discovering the magic of Santiago at your own pace.
Day 8: Santiago de Cuba - Holguín - Guardalavaca
We’ll journey through beautiful landscapes of tropical hills as we make our way to the northern coast. Our first stop will be a peaceful stroll through the charming center of Holguín, before continuing to Guardalavaca, where we’ll visit the Chorro de Maíta Archaeological Park. This remarkable site preserves the remains of an ancient village and an indigenous cemetery with 62 human skeletons, offering a window into Cuba’s pre-Columbian past. We’ll also explore the Taíno Village, a life-sized reconstruction that brings to life the everyday scenes of the island’s original inhabitants. Our journey will take us next to Bariay Bay, a place of breathtaking natural beauty. Lunch will be included. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to enjoy the resort and relax on the stunning beaches of Guardalavaca. Dinner will be included at the hotel.
Day 9: Guardalavaca - Laguna la redonda - Cayo Coco
We’ll travel to the west of the island, beginning our day at Laguna de la Redonda, where we’ll enjoy a beautiful one-hour boat ride through mangroves, lush tributaries, and small inland lakes. Lunch will be included. Afterward, we’ll take in the spectacular landscapes along the road that crosses the sea towards Cayo Coco. We’ll arrive in the afternoon, and dinner will be included.
Day 10: Cayo Coco - Remedios
We’ll start the day with a free morning to relax and enjoy the beach. After lunch, which will be included, we’ll head toward Yaguajay, home to the museum and memorial cemetery dedicated to Camilo Cienfuegos, one of the most revered heroes of the Cuban Revolution. In the evening, we’ll arrive in Remedios, considered one of the most beautiful colonial towns in Cuba, where time seems to stand still. Dinner will be included.
Day 11: Remedios - Sugarcane Mill - Santa Clara - Havana
Just outside Remedios, we’ll visit the former Marcelo Salado Sugar Mill, once a thriving sugar refinery that closed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today, it serves as a museum, offering a fascinating glimpse into traditional sugar production in Cuba. We’ll enjoy a short 20-minute ride on a vintage steam train (if operational), adding a nostalgic touch to our visit. Our journey will then take us to Santa Clara, where we’ll tour the Constantino Pérez Cigar Factory, home to world-renowned Montecristo and Partagás cigars. After lunch, which will be included, we’ll visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum, a deeply symbolic site honoring one of the Revolution’s most iconic figures. We’ll then make our way back to Havana, with an expected arrival around 7:00 p.m.
Day 12: Havana
Breakfast. End of our services. Transfer from the hotel to the airport not included.
