US$ 1785 + 350 CUC Local Payment
- Duration: 22 days / 21 nights
- Group Size: Minimum 2 / Maximum 12 / Average 7
- Accommodation: Twin-share. 5 nights simple hotels, 16 nights homestays
- Transport: Local bus, domestic flight, private mini-bus, taxi.
- Inclusions: 21 breakfasts, local guide throughout, entry to: Bay of Pigs museum; Che Guevara Memorial; Moncada Barracks.
Itinerary Summary
- Day 1 - Arrival Day Havana
- Day 2 - Cienfuegos via Bay of Pigs
- Day 3 - Santa Clara
- Day 4,5,6 - Trinidad
- Day 7 - Camagüey
- Day 8,9 - Holguin
- Day 10 - Bayamo
- Day 11,12 - Sierra Maestra - Santo Domingo
- Day 13,14,15 - Santiago
- Day 16,17,18 - Baracoa
- Day 19,20,21 - Havana
- Day 22 - Departure Day
Please Note: Occassionally there is not availability for the whole group on the flight from Baracoa to Havana (Day 19). In this case we take private transport from Baracoa to Santiago and fly from there to Havana.
Description
Follow in the footsteps of Cuba's Revolution on our 22 day Revolution Trail tour. Journey the island to the sites of vital historical importance to Cuba's Revolution such as the Bay of Pigs, Santa Clara, and Santiago's Moncada Barracks. You will be accompanied throughout by a guide who has specialist knowledge of Cuban history and who will also provide a balanced views of Cuba's Revolution and its current situation. Our focus is on Cuban history, its Revolution, and Cuba's contemporary politics. Opportunities will also be available for excursions to experience some of Cuba's natural highlights, and as always to interact with the Cuban people and their culture.
Itinerary Details
Day 1 - Arrive Havana
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. Adventure among the splendorous 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'
. We will provide you with contacts for local guides, so if you wish, you can pay a small price to have someone show you around.
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. Adventure among the splendorous 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 Day 2 - Cienfuegos
We head east along the island past some large citrus plantations, until turning South toward the Bay of Pigs - the site of the 1961 military conflict between counter-revolutionary exile militia and the Cuban Revolutionary Army. Before getting there we travel through a large area of densely vegetated swamp where the natural fauna includes boa snakes and crocodiles. The Bay of Pigs presents us with a scenic drive along a stretch of Caribbean coastline framed in limestone rock and decorated with small white-sand beaches. We eventually reach the landing site of the counter-revolutionaries where we visit a museum that recounts the events of this conflict that resulted in the first defeat of a U.S backed take-over in Latin America. Not far beyond this, you will get your first taste of Cuban homestay accommodation in Cienfuegos. This French founded city is known by Cubans as La Perla del Sur (the “pearl of the south”), and its appeal lies partly in the European flavour of its colonial hub, with a wide Parisian-style boulevard and elegant colonnades, and there is an ambiance to inspire Cuba's most celebrated Son singer to write the words “Cienfuegos is the city I like best”.
Day 3 - Santa Clara
Heading back inland, our next desination is a key city in the success of the Cuban Revolution. Upon entering Santa Clara, there is a huge statue of Ernesto Ché Guevara, to commemorate his death and that of the revolutionaries who were murdered along with him in Bolivia. We visit the museum here that is dedicated to his amazing life. 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. Be sure to check out the site of the derailed train and the very interesting statue of Che in front of the Cuban Communist Party provincial headquarters.
Heading back inland, our next desination is a key city in the success of the Cuban Revolution. Upon entering Santa Clara,
there is a huge statue of Ernesto Ché Guevara, to commemorate
his death and that of the revolutionaries who were murdered along
with him in Bolivia. We visit the museum here that is dedicated to his amazing
life. 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. Be sure to check out the site of the derailed train and the very interesting statue of Che in front of the Cuban Communist Party provincial headquarters.Day 4,5,6 - Trinidad
The beautiful colonial city of 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 beautiful colonial city of 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 amongst the enchanting setting of old colonial buildings and the cobblestone streets.
Day 7 - Camagüey
Cuba's third largest city lies about half way between Havana and Santiago de Cuba - about a 5 hour drive 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.
Cuba's third
largest city lies about half way between Havana and Santiago de Cuba - about a 5 hour drive 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 8,9 - Holguin
The genteel city of Holguin features colonnaded squares and gardens and a friendly atmosphere. Its a pleasant place to explore in an unruffled way. There are several museums and some interesting churches to see in the day, while in the evening there is nothing nicer than to sit in one of the squares and watch the townspeople go by. We'll be staying at the hotel Villa Islazul Don Lino which is right in front of a beach area 285 m long by 50 m wide and 57 kilometers from Holguin. Holguin province has a fascinating history going back to at least Taino Indian times. It is also the birthplace of the Castro brothers and of Batista, the dictator they overthrew. Visit the Plaza de la Revolucion most revered in Cuba, where there are huge monuments to the heroes of the Cuban revolution. Massive rallies are held here each May 1, the tomb of Calixto Garcia is also here.
Day 10 - Bayamo
The proud capital of the province of Granma, Bayamo is a calm, typically Cuban town with immaculate colonial buildings and a rich history. There are many live music venues where you can while away the afternoon listening to Boleros or dance the night away in the Trova hot-spot. Bayamo was an instigator of Cuba's war of independence and also of the abolition of slavery on the island. The birth place of Cespedes - hero of the first war of independence. Here you can visit the museum - Casa Natal de Carlos Manuel de Cespedes. During the independence struggle its inhabitants burnt down the original town rather than hand it over to the Spanish. The road south of Bayamo to Santo Domingo is lush and tropical with the green Sierra Maestra looming in the background.
Day 11, 12 - Sierra Maestra - Santo Domingo
The next two nights we stay in the Villa Santo Domingo in the Sierra Maestra mountains. This is near La Comandancia La Plata - the campsite where Castro and his guerrillas established themselves while they regrouped and set about inspiring the Cuban people towards their revolution. This is a must-see location for followers of the revolutionary trail and also an area of great natural beauty. La Comandancia La Plata can be visited from Santo Domingo on an optional day excursion that involves transport up steep roads in a Russian jeep, and then a 1 hour jungle hike. There is a museum, field hospital, command post, original site of Radio Rebelde, and Fidel Castro's residence during the revolution. Other options are to simply enjoy the pituresque cabins at Santo Domingo that are set along a river, or some longer day-hikes in the National Park. Entry to the park is regarded as an optional activity - it includes escort from the Centro de Informacion de Flora y Fauna at the entrance to the park.
Day 13,14,15 - Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is known as the “cradle of the Revolution” and 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. 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. We include a guided tour of the Moncada Barracks, the scene of Castro's first military action against the Batista government. On a a day trip from Santiago you can also pay an optional visit to la Granjita Siboney. This farm-house was chosen by the members of the command that attacked the Moncada Barracks, and used to gather the men and weapons for the strike. Today this location is a museum featuring testimonies and personal belongings of the revolutionaries who attacked the Moncada Barracks.
Santiago de Cuba is known as the “cradle of the Revolution” and is home to much of Day 16,17,18 - Baracoa
A spectacular drive past the region's most controversial leasehold of Guantanamo Bay, then along the coast and finally through lush mountains of eastern Cuban, brings us to Cuba's first colonial capital. The road through the mountains is very impressive and its construction was one of the first notable achievements of the Revolution. When Christopher Columbus first encountered Cuba it was in this region, 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 after the road was completed at the end of the 1960s. There are numerous options for outdoor activities in the nearby mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches. There is wide variety of delicious seafood available in Baracoa.
A spectacular drive past the region's most controversial leasehold of Guantanamo Bay, then along the coast and finally through lush mountains of eastern Cuban, brings us to Cuba's first colonial capital. The road through the mountains is very impressive and its construction was one of the first notable achievements of the Revolution. When Christopher Columbus first encountered Cuba it was in this region, 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 after the road was completed at the end of the 1960s. There are numerous options for outdoor activities in the nearby mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches. There is wide variety of delicious seafood available in Baracoa.Day 19,20,21 - Havana
Make the most of a full 2 day stay in the Caribbean's largest and most exciting urban concentration. One of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere, Havana was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Options are to take a walking tour of the Old town, a visit the famous Revolution Museum with a local guide, or to find your own adventure.
Day 22 Depart Havana
Today you are free to depart at anytime.
If you have more time to spend in Cuba before flying out, the tour guide 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.
Summary of Travel Times
- Havana to Cienfuegos - 5 hours
- Cienfuegos to Santa Clara - 2 hours
- Santa Clara to Trinidad - 3 hours
- Trinidad to Camaguey - 6 hours
- Camaguey to Holguin - 3.5 hours
- Holguin to Bayamo - 1.5 hours
- Bayamo to Santo Domingo - 1.5 hours
- Santo Domingo to Santiago - 2.5 hours
- Santiago to Baracoa - 6 hours
- Baraoca to Havana - 4 hours (flight 1.5 hours)
Joining Hotel Havana
Hotel Colina
Calle L e/ 25 y 27
Vedado, Havana
Tel/Fax: + 537-836-4071
The hotel is centrally situated in Havana’s vibrant district of Vedado just down the road from the Hotel Havana Libre, which was formerly the Havana Hilton. It is diagonally opposite the University of Havana and 2 blocks from Vedado’s central park and Cuba’s largest ice-cream palour - La Coppelia. Vedado is also known as “New Havana” as many of Havana’s newer hotels, business and government offices, restaurants, and bars are found there. The hotel is also just a few blocks from the Malecon, which is the scenic walkway along the bay of Havana and a thriving centre of Havana social life.
HOTEL UPGRADE - Most of our travellers find the 2 star Hotel Colina adequate. However, for a little more comfort we offer some upgrade options for your accommodation in Havana.
Extra Accommodation
If you require extra accommodation at the joining hotel in Havana before or after the tour, you can book this on the booking form when you sign up for the tour. Current prices per night are:
If you require extra accommodation at the joining hotel in Havana before or after the tour, you can book this on the - Single room - US$45
- Double or matrimonial room - US$65
- Triple room - US$85
Single Supplement
Accommodation on the tour is twin-share. This means two people to a room, and if you join the tour as an individual, you may be sharing a room of two beds, with another member of the same sex from the group. If there is no-one to share with, and you end up with a room to yourself, you don't have to pay extra. If you decide at the booking stage, that you want a single room throughout the tour, the “single supplement” amount is US$545. This is payable along with your payment for the tour.
Not Included in the Tour
- International Flights
- Visa and passport fees
- Insurance (Travel Medical Insurance is required to participate on the tour)
- All meals (except for 21 breakfasts)
- Drinks
- Tips
- Optional activities/day-tours/excursions
- Departure taxes and excess baggage fees
Spending Money
We estimate you will need between US$900 and US$1300 for local expenses during the tour, such food and optional activities (but not including the Local Payment). Click here to see details of expenses you will have while on the tour in Cuba.
