Tour Havana
Join a walking tour of Old Havana, visit the Ballet School and drive a vintage car.
Ideally suited to second-time visitors to Cuba or those who simply wish to travel to lesser-visited locations that reveal insight into the Cuban Revolution, this alternative journey idea ventures to the eastern heartland.
See the places that witnessed fierce fighting and the snow-balling of Castro’s military campaign, while making time to see sleepy towns with a yesteryear quality and unwind on undeveloped white sand beaches.
Join a walking tour of Old Havana, visit the Ballet School and drive a vintage car.
Embark on a full day of trekking in the hills of the Pinares de Mayari.
Discover the important hideout of Fidel and Che in the lead up to the Cuban Revolution.
Soak up the island’s Afro-Cuban culture and visit the cultural points of interest.
This is a journey through Cuba’s revolutionary past, travelling to places that few visitors to the Caribbean island venture. Since a handful of charters fly east into Holguin, the vast majority of wayfarers make a beeline for the beaches of Guardalavaca – but this itinerary takes you away from the masses and deep into the island’s interior on a revolutionary mission. Including time spent hiking in the Sierra Maestra to see Fidel Castro and Che Guevara’s forested hideout and days revelling in the Afro-Cuban culture and rich music scene of Santiago de Cuba, this diverse trip is highly customisable and can be tailored to your specific interests. It would not be right to exclude Havana on any trip to Cuba, so there will be plenty of time to sip a rum cocktail in one of Hemingway’s favourite watering holes, but as a whole this itinerary ventures beyond the ordinary to an area of Cuba that is suited to intrepid travellers.
Days 1-2
Havana
Day 3
Havana - Holguin - Gibara
Days 4-5
Gibara
Day 6
Gibara - Sierra Maestra
Day 7
Sierra Maestra
Day 8
Sierra Maestra - Santiago de Cuba
Days 9-10
Santiago de Cuba
Day 11
Santiago de Cuba - Baracoa - Playa Maguana
Days 12-13
Playa Maguana
Day 14
Playa Maguana - Havana
Day 15
Havana
Days 1-2
Havana
Day 3
Havana - Holguin - Gibara
Days 4-5
Gibara
Day 6
Gibara - Sierra Maestra
Day 7
Sierra Maestra
Day 8
Sierra Maestra - Santiago de Cuba
Days 9-10
Santiago de Cuba
Day 11
Santiago de Cuba - Baracoa - Playa Maguana
Days 12-13
Playa Maguana
Day 14
Playa Maguana - Havana
Day 15
Havana
Weave through the extraordinary time warp of Havana in a genuine 1959 Buick, witnessing the fading grandeur of its Vieja’s colonial architecture and the maze of narrow alleys filled with classic cars that (against all odds) continue to grumble over the cobblestone streets. Walk in the footsteps of Havana’s colonial past while visiting the four plazas of Old Havana – Plaza de Armas, Plaza San Francisco de Asis, Plaza Vieja and Plaza de la Cathedral – in the company of your expert guide who can offer insightful historical context along the way. Some of the world’s best ballet dancers come from the Cuban National Ballet School, the largest in the world, and we can arrange a behind-the-scenes tour and an exclusive viewing of rehearsals.
Discover its extraordinary cultural scene, learning about its esteemed art collections and the prominent artists that hold a prominent place in Cuban history, perhaps touring the Roberto Salas Gallery and meeting Roberto himself. As Fidel’s Castro personal photographer, he will explain their relationship and touch on his time behind Vietcong lines as a photographic war correspondent. Have the opportunity to meet with four emerging Cuban artists in their studios, getting behind the façade and interacting with this thriving community. We can adapt the visits depending on your particular interests, but options include photography, sculpture and painting.
By car and internal flight, travel to the sleepy town of Gibara to see its whitewashed houses topped with red roofs – this place is an undiscovered gem with the largest amount of artists per capita in Cuba. While concerts, theatre performances and exhibitions are in no short supply, it is also the launchpad for trekking, waterfall swimming and birding in the panoramic pine-forested mountains of Pinares de Mayari. Drive with your guide to Cayo Saetia to explore the island that was artificially created in the early 20th century. Fringed by 12 sandy beaches and a coral reef that offers some excellent diving, this is the place to spot a quirky mix of endemic and imported species such as deer, zebras, antelopes, buffalo, ostriches, zebras, antelopes and wild bulls.
Journey to the Sierra Maestra, the tallest mountain range in Cuba and the place where Fidel Castro and his band of brothers, including Che Guevara, hid after they sneaked back from Mexico to plot the 1959 Revolution. Until recently, these mountains have been the reserve of lone climbers, history aficionados and adventurers, but our tailor made options allow for a private journey of discovery. Join a gentle hike through the mountains to reach the hideout, the organising and staging post for the Cuban revolution, and visit the preserved huts where Fidel and Che Guevara led the group of revolutionaries to ultimate victory in the Cuban Revolution. The views and crisp air alone are worth the hike.
Physically closer to Kingston, Jamaica than it is to Havana, Santiago de Cuba is the island’s stronghold of Afro-Cuban culture and is makes a stark contrast to the capital city. Visit Revolution Square, the Moncada Barracks and Casa Diego Velazquez, said to be Cuba’s oldest house. A hot spot for music, you must experience some live traditional music at Santiago’s Casa de la Trova, probably one of the best music houses in Cuba. Conclude the trip with days spent in Playa Maguana, staying in a cottage that overlooks an isolated white sand beach. This is a great area for nature lovers as you can explore the nearby biosphere and UNESCO World Heritage site of Cuchillas del Toa, swim in the nearby rivers or snorkel in the ocean.
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The dry season in Cuba runs from November to April. This also means that it is peak season, especially over the holiday periods. Accommodation needs to be booked well in advance, as the country’s popularity increases.
The dry season in Cuba runs from November to April. This also means that it is peak season, especially over the holiday periods. Accommodation needs to be booked well in advance, as the country’s popularity increases.
The dry season in Cuba runs from November to April. This also means that it is peak season, especially over the holiday periods. Accommodation needs to be booked well in advance, as the country’s popularity increases.
The dry season in Cuba runs from November to April. This also means that it is peak season, especially over the holiday periods. Accommodation needs to be booked well in advance, as the country’s popularity increases.
From May to July temperatures rise rapidly, and the chance of showers increase. It is the start of the rainy season, but most of the rain generally does not occur until the end of July or August.
From May to July temperatures rise rapidly, and the chance of showers increase. It is the start of the rainy season, but most of the rain generally does not occur until the end of July or August.
From May to July temperatures rise rapidly, and the chance of showers increase. It is the start of the rainy season, but most of the rain generally does not occur until the end of July or August.
Hurricane season runs from August to October. However, there are still periods of sunshine in between, and you will find that accommodation is easier to come by with the lower visitor numbers.
Hurricane season runs from August to October. However, there are still periods of sunshine in between, and you will find that accommodation is easier to come by with the lower visitor numbers.
Hurricane season runs from August to October. However, there are still periods of sunshine in between, and you will find that accommodation is easier to come by with the lower visitor numbers.
The dry season in Cuba runs from November to April. This also means that it is peak season, especially over the holiday periods. Accommodation needs to be booked well in advance, as the country’s popularity increases.
The dry season in Cuba runs from November to April. This also means that it is peak season, especially over the holiday periods. Accommodation needs to be booked well in advance, as the country’s popularity increases.
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