Your Travel Experience with Tierra Maya Tours
Day 1
Arrival Havana
Meet and greet at Havana airport. Then transfer to your accommodation. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner at your own discretion.
Included meals: none
Overnight stay in Casa Particular
Day 2
Havana in a day
Immerse yourself in the everyday life of Cubans. Your day kicks off hopping on a bicitaxi that will take you to the Old Square in the historical center of the city. As if through a magnifying glass, you will view the old city centre and everyday life during a visit to the Cámera Oscura. Watch the freshly washed laundry blowing in the wind and the children playing hide-and-seek in the alleyways. After lunch, board a cocotaxi, a travelling nutshell that has gained popularity over the years, especially in the centre of Havana. Enjoy the breezy ride, which leads you to some car repair workshops. Here, you will definitely be impressed by the local inventiveness. Discover the secret of how the Cubans manage to keep the classic old-timers functioning from a patchwork of individual and spare parts. At the end of the day, take a ride in a restored classic car through the more modern part of Havana. Get to know the neighbourhoods of Vedado and Miramar and drive along the famous Malecón.
Included meals today: breakfast
Overnight stay in Casa Particular
Day 3
Havana - Viñales
In the morning, head for Pinar del Río, the greenest of Cuba’s provinces and home to the best tobacco in the world. Stop at the lookout point Los Jazmines to appreciate the stunning Viñales Valley with its distinctive limestone outcrops called Mogotes. Head on to the renowned Mural de la Prehistoria and relax while enjoying a scenic view and a refreshing cocktail. After a short tour of the valley, you will have the afternoon at your leisure. In the evening it is time to savour a typical Cuban dinner with an exclusive cocktail class.
Included meals today: breakfast and dinner
Overnight stay in Casa Particular
Day 4
Viñales - Nature and adventure
In Viñales, time seems to stand still. Nature, almost unspoiled, and the local fauna definitely contribute to the ideal portrait. Enjoy a morning walk by the lush greenery and cultivated fields. Chances are you will run across a farmer working the traditional way, with rustic tools and ox-drawn carts. You can look forward to a candid talk about his work and life experiences. After the trek, savour a delicious lunch, courtesy of Alberto Vitamina, a singular local farmer with a keen creole sense of humor. Your host rose to notoriety selling fruits, his trademark being his loquaciousness with guests. After the re-energizing pause, rid yourself of any source of stress in our special adventure: the canopy tour. With every stretch, enjoy the sensation of literary having the valley at your feet. Enjoy the evening adventure as you glide along the treetops and admire nature from a different angle. The afternoon is then at your leisure and dinner is at your own discretion.
Included meals: Breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay in Casa Particular
Day 5
Viñales - Angerona - Cienfuegos
Depart in the morning towards central Cuba to Cienfuegos, marked by French colonial architecture. On your way there, stop at the ruins of the Angerona coffee plantation, an estate owned by the German immigrant Cornelio Souchay back in the 19th century. Vestiges of the property that have withstood the passing of time include parts of the manor house, the walls of the slaves’ quarters and the reservoirs used to water the plantations. The place is wrapped with a mystic atmosphere of legends and stories about slavery and love. After further 300 km you will reach Cienfuegos, a charming seaside town with the same name bay. The picturesque setting earned it the name "Pearl of the South" - a centuries-old designation. The city's architectural highlights are magnificent ensembles of buildings. The legendary Benny Moré, one of the most famous Cuban soneros, whose bronze statue adorns one of the streets, and who grew up in nearby Santa Isabel de las Lajas, adds a special flair to the city.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight stay in Casa Particular
Day 6
Cienfuegos - El Nicho - Cienfuegos
In the morning, head to the "El Nicho" park. Hike through the multifaceted nature to one of the largest and most impressive waterfalls in Cuba, which spills over rocks into a lake. Further along the hiking trail you will pass other smaller cascades where you can also take a refreshing swim. Back at the starting point of the hike, sit down under the wooden roof of the restaurant and enjoy your lunch in the middle of nature. In the afternoon, take a stroll through the pedestrian zone of Cienfuegos and across the main square Parque Martí with the Terry Theatre, where the famous Italian tenor Caruso once sang. End the day leisurely with a gorgeous sea view and a delicious cocktail on the rooftop terrace of the Palacio de Valle at the southernmost point of the city.
Included meals: Breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay in Casa Particular
Day 7
Cienfuegos - Trinidad
Following the panoramic coastal road, today's journey takes you to Trinidad, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting unique colonial architecture. On a walk through the romantic cobblestone streets, it will be easy to understand why Trinidad is often referred to as a "living museum". Stroll past the city's main square, which is surrounded by magnificent mansions. Visit the city museum and climb the observation tower for a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Let yourself be introduced to the typical Trinidadian craft during a visit to a pottery workshop. In the evening, enjoy Cuban sounds at the "Casa de la Trova" after a delicious dinner in a private restaurant.
Included meals: Breakfast and dinner
Overnight stay in Casa Particular
Day 8
Trinidad - Cayo Iguana - Trinidad
Today is all about the Caribbean Sea. Move by water heading to Cayo Iguana and catch a different perspective of Trinidad on the way to this small Caribbean dream island. Passing it and the small fishing village of Casilda, you will reach your first stopover. Jump into the cool water and take the chance to observe the underwater world while snorkelling. On the boat as well as on Cayo Iguana you will have plenty of time to soak up the sun and unwind while listening to Cuban rhythms. Enjoy a typical Creole lunch on "Robinson Crusoe" Island before returning to Trinidad in the early afternoon.
Included meals: Breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay in Casa Particular
Day 9
Trinidad - Santa Clara - Cayo Santa Maria / Varadero / Jibacoa - Havana
Leaving Trinidad, you set off for the university town of Santa Clara, where Ernesto Che Guevara, the famous guerrilla warrior, won his greatest victory and found his final resting place and memorial. You will visit the Tren Blindado, the armoured train that "el Comandante" derailed in Santa Clara and thus made the decisive contribution to the success of the Cuban Revolution. A visit to the mausoleum is also planned. Then continue via Cayo Santa Maria, Varadero, Jibacoa to your reserved beach hotel or to Havana.
(Note: Timely connection to an international return flight cannot be guaranteed and is therefore not recommended on the same day. For this reason, we strongly advise booking an extra night!)
Meals included: Breakfast