Cuba - A Portrait of an Island

Following a day flight from the UK, arrive in Cuba’s capital and transfer to your hotel in Old Havana.

Stay: Hotel Vedado or similar (Superior) Hotel IBEROSTAR Parque Central or similar (Deluxe)

Today you'll enjoy a guided tour of Havana, including a typical creole lunch at Santo Angel restaurant near the city's Plaza de Armas. Begin your day with a visit to one of Havana’s famous tobacco factories is followed by a panoramic tour that reveals Havana, the Caribbean’s largest and most vivacious city. You’ll find American Chevvies, faded Spanish buildings, revolutionary squares and city-wide murals of Castro and Guevara - drive along the Malecón to Revolution Square and stroll through Old Havana’s narrow alleyways. In the evening, enjoy a cocktail at Bodeguita de Medio before riding in a classic 50s car along the Quinta Avenida to dinner at Restaurant Paladar. After dinner, an optional Tropicana show will take you on a journey through the history of Cuban music with more than 200 artists, dancers and musicians performing everything from Cha-Cha-Cha to Mambo. 

Stay: Hotel Vedado or similar (Superior) Hotel IBEROSTAR Parque Central or similar (Deluxe)

Drive along the ‘Tobacco Route’ to Pinar del Rio. Visit the house of a Veguero (tobacco farmer) and take a short photo stop at Mirador Los Jazmines which overlooks the beautiful Viñales Valley - famous for its limestone formations, Mogotes. After lunch, visit the "Prehistoric Wall", discover an Indian cave by boat and explore the private botanic gardens at Caridad before heading back to Havana.

Stay: Hotel Vedado or similar (Superior) Hotel IBEROSTAR Parque Central or similar (Deluxe)

This morning, a guide will be waiting at your hotel, ready to whisk you off in a vintage 1950s car to San Francisco de Paula, the neighbourhood where famed US writer Hemingway lived during his time on the island. Later, you'll head back to the city's historic centre where you'll visit the Christ Statue by Jilma Madera, the largest piece ever created by a female sculptor. Enjoy superb views across the city before walking to Hotel Ambos Mundos where, in room 511, Hemingway wrote his famous novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. Enjoy lunch on the hotel's rooftop terrace followed by a Cuban Daiquiri Cocktail at Hemingway's favourite bar, Floridita.

Stay: Hotel Vedado or similar (Superior) Hotel IBEROSTAR Parque Central or similar (Deluxe)

Drive to Cienfuegos, an attractive harbour city characterised by its French colonial architecture. Stroll to the main square and its Terry Theatre before sipping a cocktail at Palacio de Valle. After lunch, depart for Trinidad whose UNESCO-listed centre had its peak during the sugar boom of the 19th century. In the evening, perhaps soak up the city's traditional nightlife in music and dance, or head to one of the lively bars in the town's main square.

Stay: Casa Particular (Standard) Grand Hotel IBEROSTAR Trinidad (Superior)

A city tour takes in the faded mansions of Plaza Mayor and the Museo Municipal at the Palacio Cantero. Take a break at the rustic Canchánchara Bar to taste local honey liquor before visiting the former home and notorious slave tower of the sugar baron, Iznaga. Enjoy much at a local restaurant followed by a free afternoon.

Stay: Casa Particular (Standard) Grand Hotel IBEROSTAR Trinidad (Superior)

Continue across the Sierra Escambray to colonial Sancti Spiritus and its romantic Yayabo Bridge, then through green sugar plantations to Camagüey. After lunch, a city tour visits the birthplace of Ignacio Agramonte. Originally cattlemen, Agramonte fought against the Spaniards in the 19th century, cementing his place in local folklore. Afterwards drive to the beaches of Santa Lucía and your all-inclusive hotel.

Stay: Hotel Gran Club Santa Lucia (Standard)

Following the abundant cultural highlights of the past few days, spend some time relaxing on Santa Lucia's 21 kilometre-long white sand beach. Coral reefs and sunken ships provide endless opportunities for snorkelling and diving or perhaps simply take time out to swim in the crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Stay: Hotel Meliá Santiago (Superior)

Begin today with a drive to Bayamo, where the fight for independence from the Spanish began and Cuba's national anthem was composed. After a walk through the city, drive to Sierra Maestra and the pilgrimage site of El Cobre before continuing to Santiago – the 'city of revolution'.

Stay: Hotel Meliá Santiago (Superior)

Visit the cemetery Santa Ifigenia as well as Revolution Square and the Moncada barracks attacked by Fidel Castro in 1953. Then, take a ferry to the island of Cayo Granma in the Bay of Santiago for a visit to the fortress El Morro and a walking tour of the historic old town including Cuba's oldest house, Casa Velazquez, Calle Heredia and Plaza Dolores. This evening, enjoy live music at the popular Casa de la Trova or Casa de los Abuelos.

Stay: Hotel Meliá Santiago (Superior)

It’s an early start for the trip to the city of Guantanamo – a stronghold of the Afro-Cuban Santeria and Haitian Voodoo cult – and on via the La Farola Pass to Baracoa where Columbus once landed. Visit the Matachin museum and enjoy a walking tour of the old colonial town, including a visit to the cathedral Nuestra Senora de Asuncion.

Stay: Hotel Castillo or similar (Standard)

Discover the tropical region surrounding Baracoa on a morning tour and enjoy a boat tour on the Rio Toa. After lunch, the rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your own pace.

Take the coast road to Holguín and board a flight back to Havana for your connecting flight home. Your overnight flight back to the UK arrives on day 14. Please note, due to frequent schedule changes on domestic flights in Cuba, it's often worth spending an additional night back in the capital. Speak to our specialists for more information.