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Classic Cuba in StyleThis is the Cuba tour which has the best hotels - 14 nights from just £2142 per person.
Cuba is a land of spirited Caribbean culture, revolutionary zeal and stunning landscapes. Set in the heart of the Caribbean, few countries on earth can boast such a dazzling mix of cultural influences, staggering natural beauty and fascinating history as this tiny island, and this superb journey takes us in style through a land that combines graceful Spanish architecture, rebellion, independence, salsa and rum! All in equal measures. From the elegant comforts of the iconic Hotel Nacional in Havana, we have a chance to explore something of its vibrancy, colour and colonial charms. We will head for a day trip to the verdant natural beauty of Vinales, where we discover some of Cuba’s most diverse natural and cultural landscapes and explore the magical karst landscapes of its unique mogotes formations. Travelling onto the colonial jewel of Trinidad we have an opportunity to enjoy what is surely one of the highlights of this exceptional journey before continuing onto Santiago, a city steeped in the rich history and lore of Cuba’s revolutionary spirit. Heading into the Sierra Maestra Mountains we’ll visit Castro’s old base in the Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra, a region that saw some of the most bitter fighting during the struggle against Batista’s forces. Finally, after a brief return to Havana we head to Royal Hideaway on Cayo Ensenachos to relax amidst the serene tranquillity of Cuba’s best coastal retreat. Enjoying hotels that truly encapsulate the colonial style and rich vibrancy of Cuba’s captivating heritage, this exceptional journey affords a fascinating insight into one of the most remarkable countries in the Caribbean. Cuba Tours : Key features
Your Itinerary
Havana (3 nights) Day 1 - to Havana Fly to Havana and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Day 2 - Havana A tour of this most fascinating of cities this morning takes in some of the highlights of Havana’s Vieja (Old) district and the art deco architecture along the coastal Malecon and through the Vedado and Miramar suburbs, where kids play baseball below rusting street lights. After taking in the opulent marbled grandeur of the Capitolio and the symbolic expanse of the Plaza de la Revolucion we take a stroll through old Havana, investigating the Vieja district, with its beautiful neoclassical buildings at the Plaza de Armas and its sumptuous baroque cathedral finishing with a lunch at the famous La Bodegvita del Medio, home to Hemingways favourite Mojito. Havana truly is a city in which to immerse yourself fully and after our brief introduction to the city this morning the afternoon has been left free to continue exploring at your leisure. You may wish to visit the City Museum, or the captivating Museum of the Revolution, where you can find the revered hull of the Granma, the boat that brought Castro back from exile and onto the world stage in 1956. Alternatively you may wish to return to old Havana and enjoy a stroll through its cobbled streets, stopping to enjoy a mojito at a local bar, or perhaps wander through the stalls of the street markets in search of a bargain or two. Breakfast & Lunch Day 3 - Visit Vinales This morning we head towards Vinales located in the spectacular lush majesty of the Valle de Vinales, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vinales nestles within the breathtaking landscapes of the Sierra de los Organos Mountains, a region that is home to some of the most spectacular scenery and colours in Cuba. Millions of years ago underground rivers cut tunnels through the soft limestone hills and, as the roofs of these tunnels collapsed, they left behind strange hills or ‘mogotes’, that today present us with a staggering landscape of karst limestone valleys. We will take a walk amongst this spectacular landscape to El Palmaito with the Mogetes towering above us passing through the tobacco and coffee plantations. This remarkably diverse area contains endemic flora and a rich selection of birdlife, including hummingbirds, Cuban trogons and mockingbirds. We will stop to have lunch before visiting the Cueva del Indio; the largest cave system in the country, filled with surreal rock formations and subterranean pools before returning to Havana this afternoon. Breakfast & Lunch Accommodation 1 night at the Hotel Nacional - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Trinidad (2 nights) Day 4 - to Trinidad Today we head to the colonial town of Trinidad. We drive through the citrus and sugar plantations onto the Zapata Peninsula stopping en route at one of the ‘cenote’ natural swimming pools. Continuing on to Playa Giron, we will visit the nearby museum dedicated to the infamous bay of pigs invasion where a US supported attack by Cuban Exiles failed to overthrow the Communist regime. Our journey then skirts the edge of the wooded Escambray mountains, hugging the coastline with the views over the sparkling turquoise waters. We will have a brief stop at Cienfuegos before continuing our journey. Upon arrival in Trinidad you will have some free time to wander through the centre of old Trinidad, a UNESCO World heritage Site, whose cobblestone streets and colonial architecture make it one of the most bewitching heritage sites in the country. Breakfast Day 5 - Trinidad This morning we have a guided walk that takes us to the lovely setting of the central square and the cathedral, as well as the Museo de la Cultura and a local house, affording us a fascinating insight into what is in effect a stunning living museum. Founded in 1514, Trinidad became something of a colonial backwater over the intervening years, a haven for pirates and slave traders, until the arrival of French settlers fleeing the slave revolt in Haiti began arriving in the early years of the 19th century. These plantation owners began to build sugar mills in the nearby Valle de Los Ingenios and the town reinvented itself, going on to be responsible for a third of all Cuba’s sugar production by the mid 19th century. This afternoon is left free to enjoy at your leisure, you can simply relax on the white sands of nearby Playa Ancon, or continue to wander through Trinidad’s lovely colonial streets: a paradise for photographers. Breakfast Accommodation 2 nights at the Iberostar Grand Hotel - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Bayamo (1 night) Day 6 - to Bayamo Today is a full days drive to Bayamo in South East Cuba. En route we will have a brief stop in Sancti Spiritus before we continue to Camaguey for lunch, another of Velasquez’s seven villas and a city whose colonial heritage is hidden amongst a labyrinthine network of narrow streets that we will have time to wander through during our time here. We will complete today’s journey in Bayamo, our stop over on route across the country. Breakfast Accommodation 1 night at the Royalton Hotel Santiago de Cuba (2 nights) Day 7 - to Santiago de Cuba An early start sees us heading into the beautiful mountains landscapes of the Sierra Maestra this morning. Travelling via Bartolome Maso up the steep asphalt road to Alto de Naranjo we then head out into the mountains on foot, following in the famous footsteps of Che, Fidel and the rest of the revolutionary heroes, who for two years fought a protracted guerrilla war amongst these beautiful highlands. At the base deep in the heart of this lush jungle landscape, there is a small museum and press office, a field kitchen and the command centre itself, complete with a fridge with bullet holes! We will complete out day with a journey to Santiago which has been at the epicentre of revolutionary ideals since the time of Cespedes. Breakfast & Lunch Day 8 - Santiago This morning we take a walking tour of Santiago city, taking in the Plaza de la Revolucion with its fine monument to the heroes of the Independence wars and the remarkable cemetery where independence hero José Martí is buried. This afternoon is left free to continue enjoying this most engaging of cities at your leisure. One possibility is a visit to take in the imposing grandeur of the Castillo de San Pedro del Morro, (optional) one of the best-preserved fortresses in the Cuba. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this superb 17th century citadel occupies a dramatic position overlooking the city and the Caribbean, from where you can get some superb views across the harbour and onto the distant peaks of the Sierra Maestra. Santiago is also blessed with a number of interesting museums to visit that pretty much cover every subject, from the heroes of the wars for independence, to Cuban rum and carnival, so there should be something for everyone. This evening you can the opportunity to explore something of Santiago’s dazzling nightlife, experiencing some of the colour, music and raw charm of this most remarkable of cities. Breakfast Accommodation 2 nights at the Melia Santiago - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Sancti Spiritus (1 night) Day 9 - to Sancti Spiritus Today we start our full days travel north to Sancti Spiritus, one of the seven settlements founded by Diego Velasquez when he claimed Cuba for Spain. You can spend the remains of the afternoon wandering through the colonial architecture remnants from the great days of the sugar cane production in the area. Breakfast Accommodation 1 night at the Hotel Plaza Cayo Ensenachos (3 nights) Day 10 - to Cayo Ensenachos Our destination today is the all-inclusive resort of the Royal Hideaway, lying close to the spectacular Caribbean jewels of the Archipelago de Sabana. On arrival there will be time to relax and enjoy the luxurious pleasure of two of Cuba’s most pristine beaches. Breakfast & Dinner, plus all drinks at the Royal Hideaway Days 11 and 12 Time at Royal Hideaway is left free to enjoy at your own leisure. The resort offers a range of water-based activities to choose from, as well as tennis courts, volleyball, windsurfing and some of the most beautifully clear waters in the island. The small keys that dot this archipelago are also home to flamingos, herons, cormorants and a host of other birds, making it a delightful spot to simply relax and enjoy a little well-earned indulgence. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, plus all drinks Accommodation 3 nights at the Royal Hideaway - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Havana (2 nights) Day 13 - to Havana After a last free morning at the resort we return to Havana, on arrival in Havana you will have an evening free to wander the streets of Havana Vieja enjoying the live music. Breakfast Day 14 - Las Terrazas Today we will spend the day at Las Terrazas, as an eco-tourism centre and where they do valuable research into biodiversity in the reserve. There are plenty of interesting walks in the rolling hills to choose from, all at around 500m above sea level. We will take an easy strolls around old coffee plantations and around the Terrazas community before lunch. Bird watching opportunities abound and we hope to sight the rare Cuban Trogon, Cuba’s national bird, as well as small songbirds, including nightingales. Other wildlife includes reptiles such as water lizards, and one of the smallest species of frogs in the world. You may also want to take an optional Zip wire trip in the Canopy or a swim in the San Juan River before returning to Havana. Breakfast & Lunch Day 15 - fly home Clients flying back on the group flight to London will have some more free time in Havana before the transfer to the airport later this afternoon. Breakfast Accommodation 2 nights at Hotel Nacional | Itinerary Map 2012 prices Call 01462 677 111 to book your place today
What's Included
Call now for more details 01462 677 111 or visit us at 65 Station Road Letchworth, SG6 3BJ To Book
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