April 22: Depart Cape Town on Turkish Airlines
April 23: Arrive Havana met and taken to our hotel.
Overnight Panorama hotel
April 24: Las Terrazas – Vinales – Pinar Del Rio Departure for ‘Las Terrazas” Natural Reserve in Artemiza Province.
Enjoy the natural beauty of the community as well as visiting local artists’ studios, etc.
Overnight Hotel los Jazminas
April 25: Vinales
Day to explore Vinales Valley. A visit to a cigar factory in Pinar del Rio city.
Overnight Hotel los Jazminas
April 26: Depart for Matanzas.
Visit Hemingway’s Finca. This is the house Ernest Hemingway bought, and where he lived with his wife until the time of his death. The place is restored and visitors can look into the main house from the big open windows (access into the house is not allowed). The swimming pool, the tower room, and studio can be visited.
Continue to Matanzas city. Visit “San Severino’ Castle, the French pharmacy, the Cathedral, and Sausto Theater.
Overnight Hotel Velasco
April 27: Santa Clara and the memorial to Che’ Geuvara
Overnight Hotel Particular
April 28: Cienfuegos
Depart for Cienfuegos…Tour of Cienfuegos.
Here we will have some free time to walk around the main section of this small beautiful city. A tour by bus of the modern part of the city will be provided and a stop to visit the most famous building of the province, Palacio Valle.
Overnight Casa Verde – lunch and dinner included
April 29: Trinidad
Depart for Trinidad. As we drive through Cuba we will discover Pina Colada stands along the roadsides. Yes we will stop for one.
Overnight Private Home Stay – lunch and dinner included
April 30: Trinidad
Tour of colonial Trinidad.
We will have a guided walking tour of the protected section of Trinidad, which is the best preserved colonial town in Cuba. We will also have free time to wander around.
We will drop in at “La Canchanchara”, a place where a local typical drink of the same name is offered.
There will be a band playing traditional Cuban music.
Remainder of day at leisure.
After dinner we can walk to a club to listen and watch the music and dance, or jump in and try it yourself.
Overnight Private Home Stay – lunch and dinner included
May 1: Camaguey
Overnight TBA
May 2: Early departure for Santiago de Cuba
Overnight Hotel Casa Granda Melia Santiago
May 3: Santiago de Cuba
A morning tour of the city: main square, Casa de Don Diego Velazquez, Morro, Santa Ifigenia. An afternoon trip to visit the church at “El Cobre”.
This city produces the best rum in Cuba. It is sipping rum, or dark rum. It is divine with grapefruit juice…YUM!
Overnight Melia Santiago
May 4: Santiago de Cuba
Excursion to “La Gran Piedra” including lunch.
Overnight Melia Santiago
May 5:Very early departure for Coco Cayo
Overnight TBA
May 6: On to Havana
An early departure, we will continue driving through the countryside arriving in Havana in the afternoon.
Overnight TBA
May 7: Havana… Modern Havana
A Panoramic tour. An approximate 3 hour tour of modern Havana to compare architecture, life styles, and to familiarize ourselves with Havana’s dynamics and diversity. Some of the most interesting locations of Havana can be seen from the bus such as Havana University, “Colon” Cemetery, and others can be seen from a closer perspective. There are scheduled stops at the “Revolution Square” and the “National Capitol Building”.
You will hear music as you wander the streets of Havana with bands set up in the squares, on street corners, and in many of the restaurants day and night.
CDs are available everywhere and very inexpensive.
Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: TBA
May 8: Walking tour of Old Havana
An approximate 4 hour walking tour of the restored part of Havana to see and appreciate the beauty of the Colonial architecture and understand the dynamics of life in Havana city. Walk through squares, visit the Cathedral of Havana, some restored hotels and iconic buildings, such as Hotel “Ambos Mundos” where Ernest Hemingway stayed many times. A view of Havana from the hotel’s terrace can be included.
A cup of the best hot or cold chocolate awaits you at the chocolate factory.
Overnight TBA
May 9: Depart Havana
May 10: Arrive: Cape Town
Included: Hotels with breakfasts, a few lunches and dinners, all transport, transfers, tours and entrances. Some tipping.
Excluded: International airfare, most lunches and dinners, travel insurance, visas, items of a personal nature.
