Start in the colonial alleyways of Havana and marvel at the well-preserved vintage cars, on which time seems to have left no trace. Learn all about the world-famous tobacco on the farm of a well-known tobacco farmer, listen to the conversations of the farmers in the Viñales Valley and visit an artist's workshop known for its modern art in the Cuban Venice of Matanzas. Enjoy the only city founded by French immigrants, Cienfuegos, and be captivated by the architectural diversity of Trinidad.
Day 1 (Mon) Havana
Reception and welcome at Havana airport. Then transfer to your accommodation. If you are staying in Havana beforehand, pick-up from the hotel. Dinner on your own.
Day 2 (Tue): Havana city tour by cocotaxi, vintage car, on foot and in a bicitaxi (B, L)
After breakfast, explore the city by various typical means of transportation. Start by cocotaxi through the alleyways of Centro Habana, continue to Vedado and finally to the emblematic Plaza de La Revolución. From the viewing platform, you can see almost the entire city. Hop off here and enjoy the comfort of an American classic car to continue your journey. These beautiful vehicles, symbols of the prosperity of the 1950s, are still in perfect condition today thanks to Cuban ingenuity. You will discover the "Quinta Avenida" and Old Havana "Habana Vieja" on foot. Lunch takes place in a so-called "Paladar", a private local restaurant, before returning to the accommodation by bicitaxi.
Day 3 (Wed): Havana - Sabor cubano (B, L)
Today you will get to know Cuban cuisine. You start with a visit to an agro market, where the tour guide will explain which foods are part of a typical Cuban dinner and how difficult it is to procure them. Later, you will reach the fishing village of Cojímar, where Ernest Hemingway once enjoyed chatting with the fishermen. Together with the chef, you will prepare a traditional Cuban dish and enjoy a refreshing cocktail in the meantime. In the afternoon, immerse yourself in Afro-Cuban religious customs and traditions. An expert will let you in on all the secrets and tell you more about deities and the connection to European Catholicism.
Day 4 (Thu): The tobacco route (B, L)
Set off for what is probably the greenest province in the country, Pinar del Rio, home to the best tobacco soils in the world. On the farm "Finca Quemado de Rubí" of Hector Luis, who was awarded the Oscar of Tobacco, you will learn more about these fascinating plants, the entire production process and the manual rolling of the cigars. If you wish, you can light up a real cigar after lunch and enjoy the sweet yet spicy aroma of tobacco. The tour continues to Viñales. The Viñales Valley is known for its limestone formations, the so-called "mogotes".
Day 5 (Fri): Viñales and its famous mogotes (B, L)
The Viñales Valley not only impresses with its diverse flora and fauna. During today's walk, you will see how the farmers cultivate the land with often very rudimentary tools and how they plant the seeds in the traditional way, often without pesticides. Depending on the season, you can taste traditional products such as honey and delicious tropical fruits. Lunch will take place in an organic restaurant, where delicious meals are served using sustainable products. You will then visit the botanical garden of Caridad. The afternoon is at leisure.
Day 6 (Sat): Viñales - Matanzas (B)
You leave the tobacco region of Cuba in the direction of Matanzas - the Athens of Cuba, a Venetian-style city known for its art. Before you get there, enjoy the best piña colada in Cuba on the Bacunayagua Bridge, a jewel of Cuban engineering. Built over the Yumuri Valley, it is the highest bridge in Cuba at 103 meters and has a beautiful viewpoint from which you can admire the splendor of the construction, the sea and the wide valley. Here you will find the Pharmaceutical Museum, a former French pharmacy which, with its original bottles and instruments from the 19th century and almost 800,000 prescriptions, is considered to be the best preserved antique pharmacy in the world.
Day 7 (Sun): Matanzas - Cienfuegos - Trinidad (B, L)
Early morning drive towards central Cuba to the only city founded by the French, Cienfuegos. Stroll through the main square "Parque Martí" with the nostalgic Terry Theater, where Caruso once sang, and visit the Ferrer Palace, the old Spanish casino and the cathedral. During lunch you can sample local delicacies from the sea. In the afternoon, continue along the panoramic coast to Trinidad, a city with a colonial past, cobbled streets, villas with high windows and courtyards and unique 19th century handicrafts. Here you will visit the main square and a pottery workshop. In the evening, we recommend a foray into the romantic musical nightlife with live music in the "Casa de la Música".
Day 8 (Mon): Trinidad - a day in the Caribbean (B)
Today's destination is the colorful Caribbean Sea. You spend part of the day on the beach of Ancón in Trinidad or go on an excursion (not included) to a Robinson Crusoe-style Caribbean island. You will be picked up by transportation at 8.15 am and taken to the beach. If you book the excursion separately, the transfer will take you to the departure point of the boat to Cayo Iguana. Price per person € 73. Return transfer to your accommodation in Trinidad in the afternoon at around 4.30 pm.
Day 9 (Tue): Trinidad - Sancti Spiritus - Camagüey (B, L)
The day begins with a stop in the nearby "Valle de los Ingenios". In the 19th century, the sugar cane mill valley achieved great fame and brought prosperity to Trinidad. The owners of these mills became rich thanks to the African slaves. The Manaca Iznaga tower is the highest tower in the valley, from which the slave mills were guarded. The next stop is in Sanctí Spíritus, home to the only colonial bridge still in use in Cuba: the bridge over the Yayabo River. You will enjoy lunch near this place today. In the afternoon, continue along the main road to Camagüey, the city of tinajones (bulbous clay jugs). Take a bicycle cab through the labyrinthine alleyways, where some visitors still lose their bearings today, as did pirates and corsairs in the past who tried to plunder the town on their raids.
Day 10 (Wed): Camagüey - Bayamo - El Cobre - Santiago de Cuba (B, D)
After today you will understand why the Cubans are so proud of their nation and their history! Start with a visit to the city of Bayamo, the birthplace of the Cuban nation and the first city in Cuba to be liberated from Spanish colonization. It was here that the current national anthem was sung for the first time and the tradition of riding in the typical local "calesas" (carriages), in which you will also explore the city, survives to this day. Here you will also find the shrine of the "Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre", the patron saint of Cuba and to this day revered by many Cubans as a spiritual leader and saint. We continue to Santiago de Cuba, the cradle of the Cuban Son and the revolution. Here you can feel the pulsating rhythm and hear the music on every street corner. To round off the day, enjoy a delicious dinner at your accommodation.
Day 11 (Thu): Santiago de Cuba - the city of heroes (B)
"Rebellious yesterday, hospitable today, but always heroic" is the slogan of the second largest city on this island. After breakfast, the tour through the city of heroes begins. You will pass the Moncada barracks and visit the beautiful Santa Ifigenia cemetery, where you will find the graves of Cuba's most famous national heroes such as José Martí and the remains of former President Fidel Castro and Mariana Grajales. You will end the morning with a walk through the city center, where you will discover famous places such as Céspedes Park and Ramada Street. In the afternoon, continue south of the city to the San Pedro de la Roca fortress, a jewel of military engineering in the Caribbean. From here you can enjoy a unique view of the sea and the mountains. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 12 (Fri): Santiago de Cuba - Guantánamo - Baracoa (B, D)
Today's route takes you through small towns, cultivated fields and past vendors selling their wares on both sides of the road. You reach Guantánamo, the cradle of the French "Tumba", a dance that originates from a mixture of the customs of the French settlers and the Haitian slaves. Guantánamo is also home to the US naval base. The coastal landscape with its intense turquoise-blue sea and a cactus semi-desert gives way to a tropical paradise full of forests and high mountains, an area with the highest rainfall in Cuba. On the impressive highway "La Farola", one of the 7 wonders of Cuban engineering, you will pass strange cone-shaped objects called "cucuruchos". Try this local delicacy based on coconut and fruit. In the afternoon you reach Baracoa, where you can visit the Matachín fortress and the main square. Accommodation in a private house and dinner. The traditional Baracoan cuisine is unique in Cuba and is based on local products such as coconuts, cocoa, bananas and seafood.
Day 13 (Sat): Natural paradise Baracoa (B, L)
Baracoa is nestled in the lush natural landscape of the beautiful Yunque Plateau, surrounded by rivers and coconut palms. Today you will go on an excursion into the majestic, tropical surroundings and travel in "cayucas" (local boats) through the mouth of the Río Miel river. On the way, you will receive explanations about the flora and fauna of the region and can cool off in a little-explored cave. Lunch is prepared with fresh local produce. You will also have the opportunity to swim at one of the pristine beaches in the area. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 14 (Sun): Baracoa - Guardalavaca (F)
On the last day, you drive along a deserted and somewhat outdated highway that circles the coast of Humboldt Park, past exotic bays full of palm trees. Cross the area of Moa, one of Cuba's nickel mining regions. Later you will arrive in Holguin and about 40 km further on you will reach the bathing paradise of Guardalavaca, where the tour ends. A timely connection to a flight on the same day cannot be guaranteed. We recommend a few extra nights on the beaches of Guardalavaca.
B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner
Please note: We reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary with the same scope of services. The road to Moa is in very poor condition (bumpy, with potholes and unpaved in places). It is therefore often necessary to drive slowly. Animals and carriages are also not uncommon on the road. For these reasons, the journey takes longer.
