Your Travel Experience with Tierra Maya Tours
Day 1
Arrival Havana
Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Dinner at own expense. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Included meals: none
Overnight stay: B&B Casa Boutique 504 or similar
Day 2
Old and Vibrant Havana
Your day kicks off with a cocotaxi (Cuban tuk tuk) ride to the historic centre of Havana. Travelling through the streets of Vedado, you will discover places and buildings which have become iconic postcard motifs of Havana, such as the Malecón promenade, the magnificent Capitol and the Paseo del Prado street. Arriving at the Plaza de la Catedral, you will head out on foot to explore the historic part of the city. Walk through the cobbled streets to the Plaza de Armas and visit the majestic Palace of the Captains General. The route then takes you via the Plaza de San Francisco to the Havana Club Rum Museum where you can learn more about the history of rum in Cuba and, of course, try a sip of this national spirit. After a delicious lunch in a private restaurant, hop into a classic car and enjoy a drive through the modern part of Havana, past the Revolution Square, through the Miramar district to Havana's forest. Finally, you will go back to the Havana of the 50s to the legendary Hotel Nacional. In the evening, optional visit to the world-famous Tropicana Show.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch
Overnight stay: B&B Casa Boutique 504 or similar
Day 3
Scenic Havana
There is no authentic Havana experience without a 1950s classic American car. Today you will do a sightseeing tour of some of the most beautiful places of Havana in a convertible. In the morning, visit the Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro to enjoy a spectacular view of the city. Proceed to the sculpture of Jesus Christ, a monumental work that was blessed by Pope Pío XII and erected on December 1958, just before the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. Ironically, it was precisely that ground-breaking event what the statue was commissioned to safeguard against. Cruise along the underwater tunnel of the bay, onto the Malecón, the most famous avenue in Cuba and romantic hotspot in the warm Havana nights. Admire icons of the city, such as the Revolution Square, the Columbus Cemetery, the Metropolitan Park and Parque de los Jagüeyes. Continue onto the 5th Avenue to appreciate the mansions of the neighbourhood of Miramar, and finish at the Hotel Nacional with a refreshing mojito. You can then return to your accommodation and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Included meals: breakfast
Overnight stay: B&B Casa Boutique 504 or similar
Day 4
Havana - Vueltabajo - Viñales
Head early for the westernmost Cuban province, Pinar del Río. Also known as Vueltabajo, this region produces the best tobacco leaves in the world, which are used to make the famous Cuban habanos. Arrive at the vega of Héctor Luis, the youngest “Hombre Habano” in the word, who will walk you through the whole production process. Enjoy a traditional lunch and continue to Viñales. En route, stop at the lookout point of Los Jazmines to take a memorable picture of the Viñales Valley and its typical limestone outcrops of Mogotes. Proceed to the town and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore this picturesque countryside place.
Included meals today: breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay in Hotel E Central **(*) or similar
Day 5
Viñales - Soroa - Las Terrazas
In the morning, leave for Soroa, in the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve, to visit its orchid garden with more than 350 species. Continue to Las Terrazas, an environment-friendly community built in 1968 as part of a forestry project. Lunch will be served today at the heart of this artists' commune. Trek along the trail “El Contento” to learn more about the community as well as its flora and fauna. Take a deep breath, fuel your lungs with the fresh air and walk uphill to the Taburete, from where you can enjoy the picturesque view over the vastness of the former coffee valley. Afterwards, take a dip in the cool waters of the natural pool of the river San Juan River.
Included meals: Breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay in Hotel La Moka*** or similar
Day 6
Las Terrazas - Bay of Pigs - Cienfuegos
Travel in direction of Central Cuba, through the Zapata Peninsula, a wetland area with numerous endemic species of birds, plants and reptiles, including the Cuban crocodile (crocodylus rhombifer). Stop at Cueva de los Peces, an impressive crystal-clear natural pool with a depth of over 70 meters, which links with the sea through an underground tunnel. Take the opportunity to swim or snorkel. Continue to Cienfuegos, a city founded by the French at the turn of the 19th century. Walk through the Paseo de Prado and Parque Martí Explore to admire the beautiful architecture, including the Terry Theatre, where famous Italian tenor Enrico Caruso once sang. Continue to Punta Gorda Peninsula, an exclusive area overlooking the bay, and enjoy a cocktail at one of the most iconic buildings in Cuba, the Palacio de Valle, before rounding off your day with dinner in a Paladar.
Included meals: breakfast and dinner
Overnight stay in Hotel La Unión ***(*) or similar
Day 7
Cienfuegos - El Nicho - Trinidad
In the morning, depart for El Nicho Natural Park, a heavenly place in the Escambray Mountain Range. Meandering across small villages, arrive at this exceptional place, which boasts a great variety of animal and plant species. Take the opportunity to refresh in the transparent natural pools and the water fall. After lunch, proceed to Trinidad. Walk through the historical center to take in the untouched architecture dominated by colonial houses with large windows and gorgeous courtyards. Wandering among the cobblestone streets feels like a journey to the times when the sugar industry flourished and wealthy barons amassed these great mansions. The city is also rich in traditions, such as pottery, sculpture and warping. After a refreshing cocktail, enjoy your afternoon at leisure
Included meals: breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay at B&B Casa Particular Zenia Ana or similar
Day 8
Trinidad - Santa Clara - Cayo Santa Maria / Varadero / Jibacoa - Havana
Leave early in the morning for the Valle de los Ingenios, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in conjunction with the city of Trinidad. The sugar industry saw a boom here with the establishment of more than 20 mills in the 19th century, leading to the creation of great fortunes that allowed for the development of the city and the surrounding area. Visit the famous estate Manaca-Iznaga, marked by its imposing lookout tower. Continue to Santa Clara, important cultural, industrial and scientific centre of the country. Notable for the clash that determined the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, Santa Clara is the final resting place of the Argentinian-Cuban guerrilla commander Ernesto Guevara de la Serna and his fellow fighters in Bolivia. Visit the Memorial dedicated to the epoch-making personality (closed on Mondays) before your final transfer to Cayo Santa Maria, Varadero, Jibacoa or Havana to your custom-booked beach hotel or next accommodation.
Included meals: Breakfast