20 Day Complete Cuba

Arrive in Havana at any time. Today is the arrival day of the tour so there are no planned activities and you can check into the hotel and relax or go and explore the city. One of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere, Havana was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Wander through old Havana and sit on the famous sea wall (malecon) to take in the view and some fresh air, and to socialize with the colourful and friendly ‘Habaneros’.

Meals Included: None

We take a mid-morning flight from Havana to Baracoa. Baracoa is a special place within Cuba and feels even more lost in time than the rest of Cuba. This is because, despite being the first Spanish settlement in Cuba, its location is quite remote and difficult to access from the rest of the country.

The natural environment that surrounds the town of Baracoa is nothing short of spectacular. In fact Christopher Columbus noted in his log-book that this was the most beautiful land that human eyes could set upon. Apart from the forested mountains, you can find pristine beaches with sand of various colours, coffee and chocolate plantations, and some stunning freshwater rivers (in fact, the biggest rivers in Cuba are found here). We have 2 full days here and your tour guide will offer you the options and offer to organise the best ways to explore it.

Meals Included: 3 Breakfasts

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 de Cuba 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.

Meals Included: 2 Breakfasts

Cuba’s third largest city lies about halfway between Santiago de Cuba and Havana – about a 7 hour bus ride from 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. We include a guided visit to a ballet school.

Meals Included: 2 Breakfasts

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, snorkeling, 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 amidst the enchanting setting of old colonial buildings and the cobblestone streets.

Meals Included: 3 Breakfasts

Before reaching the French founded city of Cienfuegos, 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. 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast

On our way back to the capital, we drive along the beautiful coastline of the Bay of Pigs. 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 snorkeling.

We then pass through an area of densely vegetated swamp-lands called the Cienage de Zapata, before arriving bank in Havana.

Meals Included: Breakfast

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. Plenty of free time here to do exploring and experience the sights and sounds of Havana.

Meals Included: 2 Breakfasts

Heading west of Havana, 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. 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. 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. Eventually we reach the tiny settlement of Soroa, which for many is the prettiest area of the region.

Meals Included: Breakfast

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. 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today you have a full day with no included activities. This is your opportunity to do as you please, and there are plenty of options available that your guide can arrange for you.

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 travellers will tell you that Vinales is one of the best places in Cuba to interact with the locals.

Meals Included: Breakfast

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.

Meals Included: Breakfast

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.

Meals Included: Breakfast