Tour Price

US$ 1045 / £ 531 / € 672 ( + 200 CUC (“Cuban Dollars”) local payment )

Summary

Day 1 - Arrival Day Havana
Day 2 - Santa Clara
Day 3, 4, 5 - Trinidad
Day 6 - Camaguey
Day 7,8,9 - Santiago de Cuba
Day 10, 11, 12 - Baracoa
Day 13 - Flight back to Havana
Day 14 - Havana
Day 15 - Departure Day

Please Note: Occassionally we run this itinerary in reverse, depending on the availability of the local flight.

15 Day Cuban Adventure Includes

14 nights hotel and family stay
1 internal flight
Local bus/private van
Local tour leader throughout
All breakfasts
Small group size - maximum 10 (average 7) people + tour leader

Itinerary Details

Day 1 Arrive Havana

An image of Havana's Malecon 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. Adventure among the splendorously crumbling architecture of the streets of 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'.

Day 2 Santa Clara

An image of the Statue of Che Guevara in Santa Clara, Cuba We head east along the island to Santa Clara, a key city in the Cuban Revolution. It’s about a 4 hour bus ride through the flat central region of Cuba, where there are lots of citrus plantations. Upon entering Santa Clara, there is a huge statue of Ernesto Ché Guevara, to commemorate his death and that of the heroic revolutionaries who were murdered along with him in Bolivia. There is also a museum here dedicated to his amazing life (free entry).

This is where you will get your first experience staying with a Cuban family. You’ll have time in the afternoon to check out this small city. Santa Clara isn’t a thriving tourism hub, and that in itself creates its own interest as you can experience a more authentic Cuban city. Take a walking tour with the tour leader or explore on your own. It is Sunday, so there will be lots of families relaxing in the central plaza and flowers for sale.

Day 3-5 Trinidad

An image of the historical centre of Trinidad, Cuba We head South, and after about 3 hours bus ride, we reach the Caribbean Sea and the beautiful colonial city of Trinidad, which 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 amongst the enchanting setting of old colonial buildings and the cobblestone streets.

Day 6, Camagüey

An image of children eating icecream in Camaguey, Cuba Cuba's third largest city lies about half way between Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba - about a 5 hour bus ride from Trinidad. 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.

Day 7-9 Santiago de Cuba

An image of busking musicians in the street in Santiago de Cuba Continuing a further 6 hours east along Cuba's Carretera Central we arrive at Santiago de Cuba, the cradle of the Revolution, and 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, which will entice even the shyest dancer out to experiment with some salsa moves. 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.

Day 10-12 Baracoa

An image of the landscape around Baracoa, Cuba 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.

The wide variely of seafood that can be found in Baracoa can be described as nothing short of sumptuous.

Day 13, 14 Havana

We return to Santiago de Cuba for our flight back to the capital. We have one more day here before our final evening of the tour.

Day 15 Depart Havana

If you have more time to spend in Cuba before flying out, the tour leader can suggest a number of excellent options for spending a few extra days, and give you details on how to get there and where to stay.

Notes - Itineraries for the tour of Cuba can and do change during the course of the year due to a variety of reasons. We are not always able to advise you in advance of these changes. We ask for your understanding and flexibility in these cases.