Splendours of Cuba

Overview

Cuba is changing fast, so now is a great time to visit while its exotic and distinctive style remains. Discover faded colonial grandeur in Havana and Trinidad, delightful rolling countryside, tobacco and coffee plantations, the historical sites of the revolution, and the ever-present rhythms of son and mambo music.

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Havana

Fly from London (regional connections available) to Havana with Virgin Atlantic. Transfer to the Iberostar Parque Central (or similar) for 3 nights. (N)

Day 2: Havana

Morning walking tour of Old Havana, including the Camera Obscura and a stop at El Floridita, home of the daiquiri cocktail. Afternoon panoramic tour in a classic American car, visiting Revolution Square and a rum museum. (B, L)

Day 3: Havana

Day at leisure to stroll along Old Havana’s cobbled streets or take optional visits to the Bellas Artes Museum, Hemingway’s Museum, or the Revolution Museum. (B)

Day 4: Las Terrazas

In the morning, drive to Las Terrazas in the western province of Pinar del Rio for a stay of 2 nights. Established as a sustainable environmental and development project, Las Terrazas provides an ideal introduction to Cuba’s countryside life and landscapes. Visit the local community and the partially restored 19th-century coffee estate. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Viñales

Full-day tour of the beautiful Viñales Valley, its tobacco plantations and rounded limestone hills. Visit a cigar factory and take a boat ride through the Indian Cave. (B, L)

Day 6: Peninsula de Zapata – Cienfuegos

Travel to Cienfuegos via the Peninsula de Zapata. Take a boat trip through the mangroves and drive past Playa Girón, site of the 1961 invasion. Continue to the small city of Cienfuegos, known for its distinct French influence, for an overnight stay. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Cienfuegos – Trinidad

Morning tour of Cienfuegos, known as the ‘Pearl of the South’, and visit the Cienfuegos Botanical Gardens. Afternoon transfer to Trinidad for a 3-night stay in a casa particular in the heart of the old town. Dine this evening at a privately run paladar. (B, D)

Day 8: Trinidad

Morning walking tour of the town, including the Romantic Museum or Cantero Museum and a visit to Casa de la Musica. Founded in 1514, Trinidad contains well-preserved colonial buildings with hardly a trace of 20th-century architecture. Afternoon at leisure or take optional excursions. (B)

Day 9: Valley of the Sugar Mills

Morning tour of the Valley of the Sugar Mills, dotted with ruins of large former sugar plantations. Visit the watchtower of the Manaca Iznaga plantation, a reminder of Cuba’s colonization and slave trade. Have lunch before returning to Trinidad. Afternoon at leisure. (B, L)

Day 10: Santa Clara – Havana

Morning drive to Santa Clara, the site of the turning point in the Cuban revolution, and visit Che Guevara’s museum and mausoleum. After lunch, continue to Havana for a final night. Optional evening music performance. (B, L)

Days 11-12: Fly to London

Transfer to the airport. Fly to London with Virgin Atlantic and arrive the following day. (B)