Itinerary

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DAY 1 - Dec 26, Saturday: ARRIVE HAVANA

Arrive at José Martí International Airport and meet your English-speaking driver who will transfer you to our beautiful hotel in Old Havana. You will have some free time to rest after your flight. In the late afternoon we will gather in the lobby to meet your tour manager and your fellow travelers. We will then head out for a short walk in Old Havana, through the colonial past of this magnificent city and UNESCO World Heritage site. We will then enjoy a welcome drink and watch the sunset from a dreamy rooftop terrace of Ambos Mundos, the place where Hemingway lived for a while. Bici taxis will pick us up from there and take us through central Havana. We will stop for another drink before we arrive at a retro 50s-style amazing restaurant in Old Havana where we will enjoy a perfect meal and a live band performance. The last stop for today to wrap up this exhilarating first day will be a very special basement jazz club that we will enter through a red British-style telephone booth. We will return to our hotel in the late evening hours. (D)

 

DAY2 - Dec 27, Sunday: EXPLORE HAVANA

Today we explore Havana in a convertible vintage car, visiting all the main sites in style! We will see the Havana Almendares forest, Cristobal Colon Cemetery, and many legendary buildings and attractions. Afterward we will have lunch with stunning ocean views and superb specialties. Our next adventure today is a visit to a Salsa club, as no visit to Havana is complete without learning to move to the magical sounds of Salsa, the rhythm of Cuba. Cuba’s soul is in those 2 simple steps that you will learn today from our local Salsa expert and teacher. On our way back to the hotel we will visit the Callejon de Hamel, a unique place, part community project, part art gallery. We will enjoy some time at leisure at the hotel. In the late afternoon, we will gather again and head out for another warm Havana night. First drinks at an exciting local bar and then dinner in one of the best restaurants in Havana. The crown jewel of the day will be a visit to the lively Casa de la Musica where you can put your salsa lesson to work and hit the dance floor, or just sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. (B, L, D)

 

DAY3 - Dec 28, Monday: EXPLORE HAVANA

This morning will be filled with different tastes of Havana. First, we will visit the market and a local store to learn more about the life and rhythm of Havana. Then, we will have lunch at a small funky restaurant in Old Havana. Here, we will also learn how to make a real Cuban mojito and feast on typical Cuban dishes with a twist! This place is one of the best kept secrets of Havana, with an interesting décor from salvaged pieces of Old Havana architecture. Just around the corner, you will be able to see one of the most spectacular churches in Havana. In the afternoon we will continue our immersion in this unique city and will have the chance to visit 2 Cuban artists and their studios and later on, we will also visit the Museum of Fine Arts. We will have some time at leisure at the hotel before we head out to dinner at La Guardia, a magical restaurant with an interesting history. A day as spectacular as today must end in style, so before returning to our hotel we will visit another iconic place, the Hotel National, here we will indulge in Cuban life with a tasting of rum and cigars! (B, L, D)

 

DAY4 - Dec 29, Tuesday: HAVANA – CIENFUEGOS

This morning we will drive from Havana to Cienfuegos, a colonial city on Cuba’s south coast. Upon arrival we will embark on a boat that will take us around the harbor of Cienfuegos for fantastic views of the Caribbean waters. A delicious fresh seafood lunch will be served, giving you the most memorable experience of Cuba seen from the sea. After lunch we will check in our beautiful hotel and enjoy some time at leisure. Tonight, we will have dinner together at a local restaurant in Cienfuegos, and later on enjoy some live music performances. (B, L, D)

 

DAY5 - Dec 30, Wednesday: CIENFUEGOS – TRINIDAD

This morning we bid farewell to Cienfuegos and head out to discover yet another Cuban jewel, Trinidad. Located in central Cuba and well known for its colonial cobblestoned old town and its neo-baroque main square. Make sure to have your beach gear and sunscreen with you today, because our first stop will be snorkeling in Guajimico, considered one of the best places for snorkeling and diving. Guajimico means ‘place of the fishes’ in the language of indigenous tribes that once lived here. We will snorkel with a guide in this colorful coral ridge and come back hungry to enjoy our stop for lunch. Later we will check into our hotel in Trinidad and rest for a few hours before we go out for another memorable evening. First, dinner at a restaurant inside of a colonial house dating from the 1800’s. Here we will taste fresh food and produce from the nearby farms with rum-infused drinks and a band that will make us want to dance before and after dinner. Later in the evening we will visit yet another iconic place where you can dance if you wish! (B, L, D)

 

DAY6 - Dec 31, Thursday: TRINIDAD

Today we will have a wonderful adventure! First, we will ride up to the Escambray mountains in 4×4 SUVs, all the way up to Guanavra where we will have an easy hike through the tropical forest of Topes. This place is ideal for bird watching, and if you ever dreamt of jumping in crystal clear lakes and chasing waterfalls, today is the day your dream comes true! We will have time to enjoy a swim at a beautiful waterfall in the middle of this tropical paradise. Here, we will also learn about the endemic species as well as the connection of this area to the history of the Cuban revolution. We will have a typical Cuban lunch at a restaurant here before returning to Trinidad for an afternoon at leisure by the beach, sunbathing and relaxing. After we freshen up and rest at our hotel, we will head out for the New Year’s Eve celebration to Cofradia, in the very heart of Trinidad. This beautiful Colonial house, built in the 18th century and surrounded by art galleries, boutiques and other restaurants will be the place where we step into 2021 with style. Dinner, drinks, music and dance! Happy New Year! (B, L, D)

 

DAY7 - Jan 1 Friday: TRINIDAD – SANTA CLARA – HAVANA

Today we go to Santa Clara, the capital of the central Cuban province and famous for its revolutionary landmarks. Our first visit will be to the Che Guevara memorial and later we will have lunch in a local restaurant that pays respects to the Santa Clara history through its décor and many interesting photos, as well as unique uniforms. Afterward, we continue on our way to Havana and check into our hotel. Later tonight, a farewell dinner with modern Cuban cuisine and a late-night drink with dancing at the VIP lounge of the Fabrica del Arte. (B, L, D)

 

DAY8 - Jan 2 Saturday: DEPART HAVANA

Today you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport in time for your flight. (B)