Tour length: 8 days

Price: US$550 plus a local payment of 200CUC, payable to your tour leader on arrival
Single supplement (optional, if you want to guarantee a bedroom to yourself): $250

Maximum group size: 12 people, plus your tour leader

Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival day
Day 2: Cienfuegos (via Bay of Pigs)
Day 3 and 4: Trinidad (via the Che Guevara memorial, Santa Clara)
Day 5 and 6: Viñales
Day 7: Havana (via Soroa)
Day 8: Departure day

Inclusions:
Accommodation: 7 nights in hotels and casas particulares (home stays)
Meals: All breakfasts; one lunch on day five, on the way from Trinidad to Viñales
Transport: Local buses or private coach between cities
Your arrival airport transfer in Havana is also included.

Local tour leader throughout.

Not included:
International flights
Visa and passport fees, travel insurance
Meals not listed above; drinks
Optional activities/excursions and associated transport
Tips
Departure taxes (25 Cuban Convertible Pesos – CUC) and departure airport transfer

Day 1 – Havana

Today is your arrival day, so there are no activities planned. In the evening, there will be a welcome meeting for your group; your tour leader will leave a note at the hotel reception desk with details of when to meet – usually some time around 7:30pm. This is your chance to receive important information about your trip, meet your leader and the rest of your group, and to go for dinner together or maybe explore the city at night.

Day 2 – Cienfuegos via Bay of Pigs

We leave the hotel early and drive to the Bay of Pigs. Here, we visit the Museo Playa Giron to find out about the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion, a key event in Cuban revolutionary history. Choose from optional activities, such as swimming, snorkelling or diving, before we journey on to Cienfuegos, our stop for the night.

About Cienfuegos: This often-overlooked little gem of a port sits on the southern coast of Cuba. Cienfuegos is an incredibly well-preserved example of neoclassical architecture, and her wide, beautiful esplanades conjure a sense of Mediterranean Europe. Central Cienfuegos’ grid of streets and blissfully shady colonnaded walkways were recognised by UNESCO as an excellent example of early Spanish colonial urban planning, and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Take an early evening walk down the Malecon and continue along the ‘point’ to see some of the grand architecture that the city is known for (including the palacios, which will make your jaw drop), and then reward yourself with harbour views and a sunset drink on the terrace at the yacht club.

Travel time:
Havana – Bay of Pigs: approximately 2.5 hours.
Bay of Pigs – Cienfuegos: approximately 1.5 hours.

Day 3 and 4 – Trinidad (via Santa Clara)

We leave Cienfuegos on the morning of day three, making a stop in Santa Clara before we continue to Trinidad.

In December 1958 in Santa Clara, Che Guevara essentially ensured the triumph of the revolution; he spectacularly derailed a train that was carrying a shipment of Batista’s weapons and soldiers to Santiago de Cuba to defeat Fidel Castro. Such was the significance of this act that when Che’s remains were finally returned to Cuba from Bolivia, Fidel chose to erect Che’s mausoleum and memorial here. Check out the 22-foot bronze statue of Che atop his pedestal, explore the small but comprehensive museum, take a walk around the sculptures and murals, and visit the final resting place of Cuba’s most famous hero.

Upon leaving Santa Clara, we drive to Trinidad, where you have ample time to fully explore this amazing city. We stay in Trinidad for two nights.

 About Trinidad: Trinidad has something for everyone; the lively combination of its beaches, restaurants, national parks, thumping nightlife, art galleries, handicrafts markets, Santeria temples, cobblestoned streets and effervescent locals is enough to keep anyone occupied for days or even weeks. Spend an evening at the Palenque de los Congos Reales, soaking up the sounds of son and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Find yourself a quiet corner in a bar of an afternoon and indulge in some people-watching. Join in a game of chess or dominoes, or climb the tower at the Museo de Lucha Contra Bandidos for a bird’s eye view of this historical town. Nearby, the Valley of the Sugar Mills offers insight into the opulent history of Trinidad, where sugar made millionaires of plantation owners before the industry bottomed out in the late 1800s. Many of these plantations still exist today, and though some of them have fallen into ruin they are a fascinating relic of the era, complete with bell towers, slave quarters and, at the Marques de Güaimaro hacienda, original frescoes on the walls.

Travel time:
Cienfuegos – Santa Clara: approximately 1.25 hours.
Santa Clara – Trinidad: approximately 2.5 hours.

 Day 5 and 6 – Viñales

Today we make the journey from Trinidad to provincial Viñales, in the west of Cuba. En route, we stop at a small countryside paladar (privately owned restaurant) to try some of the best rice and beans in Cuba! We have two nights in Viñales to make the most of the local hospitality and enjoy the pace of life in this small, welcoming town.

 About Viñales: The small town of Viñales, in Pinar del Rio province, is surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery to be found in Cuba. Large, tree-covered limestone karsts – also known as ‘pincushion’ hills – sprout from the ground, rising to tower above the rolling fields and small farmhouses that dot the countryside. Tobacco is one of the main crops here, and cigars infused with local flavour can be purchased directly from the farmers if you wish. Walks in the countryside and visits to caves are some of the options on offer, and in the evenings this sleepy little town really comes alive. If ever there was a place in Cuba to meet a local and be swept off your chair to dance the salsa, it is here. Live music reigns supreme, and the laid-back, welcoming, friendly locals make you feel right at home.

Travel time:
Trinidad – Viñales: approximately 8 hours.

Day 7 – Havana (via Soroa)

We bid a sad farewell to Viñales, but not TOO sad – we have Cuba’s bustling capital city to look forward to! We break our journey by making a stop in Soroa, where you can either take a short, steep hike up to a breathtaking lookout or, if you’re feeling a bit more restful, visit the famous Orquideario, a large botanical garden and nursery which is home to thousands of species of orchid and other plants, many of which are native to Cuba.

Spend your time in Havana enjoying all that the city is famed for. On your last night, enjoy a meal with your fellow travellers, and maybe indulge in some of Havana’s legendary nightlife!

About Havana: “Havana.” The word alone conjures images of cigars, rum, salsa, men in dapper suits, and buildings with grand archways crumbling in the sun. Havana is all this and more; a wondrous mix of the old and the new. Ride a classic Chevrolet convertible along the seaside walk, the Malecon, to the Plaza de San Francisco de Assisi, and from there delve into the narrow streets of Old Havana, where the clatter of carts and cars mixes with the shouts of vendors and the ever-present rumble of a nearby stereo or live band pumping out hip-swinging music. Old Havana is in the midst of transformation; many of the older buildings have been selected for renovation and reconstruction, saving some of these priceless architectural gems from almost certain collapse. These brightly-painted ‘reborn’ homes and shops stand shoulder to shoulder with the older, untouched buildings, providing stark contrast and a photographer’s dream.

Returning to the modern world in Vedado, bars, restaurants and nightclubs stand alongside the packed Coppelia ice cream outlets, where locals queue for hours to get a scoop of the icy good stuff. On the terrace of the grand Hotel Nacional, sip a mojito overlooking the Malecon as the sun sets, enjoying the sea breezes which ease the tropical heat in the evenings, serenaded by a live band. Whatever your Cuban dream, you’re bound to find it in some corner of Havana – all you have to do is look for it.

Travel time:

Viñales – Havana: approximately 4 hours, including the stop in Soroa.

Day 8 – Departure day

You are free to leave at any time today. Bon voyage!

In love with this trip? Book now!

We can assist you with finding accommodation if you wish to add extra days in Havana at the end of your trip; please let us know at the time of booking. Please see your Trip Notes for a list of optional activities in each city.

*Before booking any tour, make sure you have read the Terms & Conditions and your specific Trip Notes, which form a part of the Terms and Conditions.