Cuba - Itinerary

Day 1:

The flight leaves Sweden for Havana. We reach Cuba late the same evening and go directly to our hotel in downtown Havana. We check in and get something to eat before going to bed after a long day. Maybe you will meet some of Havana’s famous figures already the very first day?

Overnight Hotel Plaza in Havana.

Day 2:

We begin our first whole day in Havana with a guided tour on foot in the old city center: Habana Vieja. We discover the four squares Plaza de Catedral (picture), Plaza de Armas, Plaza de San Francisco and Plaza Vieja which are the centers around which the people in Habana Vieja meet. There is plenty of interesting architecture, markets and famous spots along these streets. We finish the tour with a visit to a museum showing how the brew for which Cuba is famous, rum, is destilled. In the afternoon you will have time on your own to continue your exploration of the historic Havana: do some shopping or relax in any of the cosy cafés in the area.

Overnight Hotel Plaza in Havana. Breakfast included.

Day 3:

We begin the third day of our journey with a tour of the central parts of Havana: Centro Habana and Prado where we among other things visit the Capitolium of Havana: “Capitolio” (the picture) which is one of the most impressive buildings of Latin America. After that we walk the most picturesque boulevard of Havana: Paeso del Prado to the Museum of the Revolution in the formal presidential palace. We also visit the biggest cigar factory in Cuba before lunch. In the afternoon you have some free time to walk around on your own and explore the city.

Overnight Hotel Plaza in Havana. Breakfast included.

Day 4:

Today we meet a local family in their home for some coffee and good stories about the Cuban way of life. Afterwards we go to La Finca Vigia, where Ernest Hemingway spent the major part of his time in Cuba. His house has been transformed to a nice museum. At lunchtime we visit the fisherman’s village Cojímar. In the afternoon you have the choice of spending time on one of the beautiful beaches Playas del Este or going back to Havana for a last tour of the streets.

Overnight Hotel Plaza in Havana. Breakfast included.

Day 5:

This day we have the opportunity to take the “Hop on- Hop off” bus around Havana, which will include seeing the Vedado area. The ticket, which is valid for the whole day, is handed out and then you can choose whether you want to discover the city on your own or with the others in the group. If you want, you can see the famous beach promenade Malecon with its fascinating mix of fishermen and bathing youth. The bus also passes the square of the Revolution where Fidel Castro has held many long speeches in front of huge crowds in the past. You can also stop for a snack or a drink in the park by the very beautiful Hotel Nacional, where the view over the sea is spectacular, or take a walk a few blocks away to have a look at Hotel Habana Libre (former Hotel Hilton) from where Cuba was run for some time just after the revolution. We recommend a walk along Malecon and further to Callejón de Hammel (picture), a marvelous art project displaying among other things a 200 m long wallpainting, along with wonderful paintings and lots of other things to see and do.

Overnight Hotel Plaza in Havana. Breakfast included.

Day 6:

We leave Havana by bus in a southeasterly direction to Cienfuegos, also known as the Southern pearl, which is beautifully located in a bay on the south coast of Cuba. Here are many things to be seen, a fort built in the 1700s for protection against Caribbean pirates among others. We begin by exploring the city on foot through the boulevard and with a visit at Plaza Jose Marti. Thereafter we are going on a bus ride along the promenade, the beautiful Club Cienfuegos and the Palacio de Valle. We check into our hotel which is located on the beach and later at night we take the bus in to the city where we have time to stroll around and enjoy the Cuban atmosphere.

Overnight Hotel Faro Luna in Cienfuegos. Breakfast included.

Day 7:

After breakfast we visit the Cienfuegos Botanical Garden, and then it's time to go to the Trinidad de Cuba, often referred to as the "Pearl of the Caribbean". Trinidad is at the World Heritage List of UNESCO and is a wonderful and cozy little town. Upon our arrival we are accommodated in Cuban families / homes where we will be staying the following days. For those who wish there is a possibility that, at an additional cost, stay at the Hotel Las Cuevas instead. We make ourselves feel like home and then we gather for a guided walking tour around Trinidad. The city is quite small and is divided into a so-called historic district and a more modern part. We walk around the most important places in both parts of town so that you quickly learn how to find the way in the city. In the evening we eat dinner together in Trinidad's historic part.

Overnight Casa Particular (at home), or Las Cuevas (extra charge) in Trinidad de Cuba. Breakfast included.

Day 8:

After eating breakfast at our host families the day is used for individual exploration. You can choose to continue the roundtrip around town or you can take a bus/taxi to Playa de Ancon (see picture), approximately 7 kilometers from Trinidad. The beach is said to be the best on the southern coast with crystal clear water and white sand. The South coast is not windy at all most of the time and that is why there are no waves either. There are amazingly few people on the beach if you choose to walk away from the hotel where the bus/taxi stops. There is also the possibility to take a boat out to the reefs for some snorkeling/diving. In the afternoon you find plenty of places to go to if you want to listen to local live music. The clubs are both indoors and outside and people of all ages sit and sip rum/coffee listening to the fantastic Cuban rhythms. It is difficult not feel the urge to dance.

Overnight Casa Particular (at home), or Las Cuevas (extra charge) in Trinidad de Cuba. Breakfast included.

Day 9:

We start the day by visiting the incredibly beautiful valley Valle de los Ingenious (on the UNESCO World Heritage list as well) where sugar-canes were grown before. These plantations were what made the economy of Trinidad bloom for hundreds of years. We make a visit to an old sugar plantation, Manaca Iznaga, and look at the Hazienda, where the wealthy plantation owners lived. We learn about the conditions in which their slaves had to live and work. You will also have the opportunity to climb the highest ”Slave tower” in Cuba (see the picture) from where the slaves were supervised and where they also signaled to the fields and other plantations if that was needed. On the way back we stop at a factory making ceramics where we see the pieces of ceramic being made. If we find anything nice there is a shop as well. In the afternoon you might want to stroll about the backstreets of Trinidad or make a visit to the beach. A short distance away on foot lays the ruin of the church Ermita de Nuestra Senora on a hill.

Overnight Casa Particular (at home), or Las Cuevas (extra charge) in Trinidad de Cuba. Breakfast included.

Day 10:

This is the last day spent wholly in Trinidad. We made it into your own day for you to decide what you want to do. If you want to discover the city on your own, you do that and for those of you who want to do something in common, our tour guide can set up a program according to your common requests. For example, you can visit the Topes Collantes, a beautiful nature reserve where it grows 40 different kinds of orchids, 100 kinds of ferns, 40 varieties of coffee and much more. You can also choose to stay in the town and visit the small museums in the historic part of the town, such as the Archaeological Museum and the Romantic Museum. You can also visit a small palace, Palacio Cantero, which was owned by a rich owner of a sugar plantation. From the tower of the palace you will have a splendid view of Trinidad and the sea. The last night in Trinidad we definitely will go and listen to some music and maybe we will take a few steps on the dance floor as well…?

Overnight Casa Particular (at home), or Las Cuevas (extra charge) in Trinidad de Cuba. Breakfast included.

Day 11:

After bidding farewell to our host family (picture), which might have become our friends for life, we continue our journey to the north by bus, heading for Santa Clara. We start from Parque Vidal in the middle of the city and we also visit the magnificent monument, museum and grave of the greatest revolutionary hero in Cuba, the Argentinian doctor Ernesto "Che" Guevara. After lunch, which is eaten on our own, we take seat on the bus and travel to the old colonial town of Remedios, founded in 1514 by the Spaniards. Here we stop for a couple of hours so that you can walk around and feel of the relaxed mood of the locals. We take seat in the square and drink a wonderful drink coffee and enjoy the leisurely pace. We can also take a look at one of Cuba's most important cathedrals located on the square, an amazing building.

We leave Remedios and go the last mile to our modern luxurious all-inclusive hotel on the island Cayo Santa Maria. The road to the island goes through wet areas and mangrove swamps. We cross 54 small bridges before reaching the hotel. After checking in there is only one thing to do: jump in the pool or into the sea!

Overnight Melia Cayo Santa Maria in Cayo Santa Maria. All-inclusive.

Day 12:

During the following days we relax by the pool or the sea and try to digest everything that we have experienced so far. Cuba is a country full of contradictions and it is very fruitful to discuss the good and the bad aspects of what you have seen. When we now stay in a modern hotel, that offers all that an international tourist might need, we have left the “real” Cuba. This side of Cuba shows us their biggest export industry today: tourism. The food is tasteful, there are lots of activities and crystal clear turquoise water so there is only one thing to do: enjoy!

Overnight Melia Cayo Santa Maria in Cayo Santa Maria. All-inclusive.

Day 13:

Sunbathing and swimming at Cayo Santa Maria!

Overnight Melia Cayo Santa Maria in Cayo Santa Maria. All-inclusive.

Day 14:

After having lunch at our hotel, we travel from Cayo Santa Maria back to Havana. We travel through central Cuba on one of the few highways in Cuba. You will see a lot of sugar plantations, a truly picturesque scenery and even a horse and wagon (picture) using the highway! Once in Havana, we check in at our hotel and then we head out on the streets or stay for some rest at the hotel room if we feel like it.

Overnight Deauville or Hotel Parkview in Havana. Breakfast and lunch are included.

Dag 15:

After breakfast, we enjoy one last day in Havana and there is time to explore the city once again. Maybe buy some last souvenirs? In the afternoon we travel to the airport and take the flight back home to Sweden.

Breakfast included.

Day 16:

We reach Sweden with lots and lots of impressions and memories. We will not forget the wonderful Cuban atmosphere and all the fantastic people we have met!!

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