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Taste of Cuba

Route: Havana - Vinales - Cayo Levisa Island - Havana

Get a taste of the best of Cuba during this short one week holiday. During this Cuba holiday you'll travel through western Cuba and begin and end your journey in Cuba's nostalgic capital, Havana.

After visiting Havana you'll spend the next few days of your trip in Vinales which is located in countryside of Cuba's tobacco growing province, Piñar del Rio. There will be time for hikes or horseback rides through leafy green tobacco fields with your own personal 'cowboy' guide. From here you'll head to cosy Cayo Levisa Island; a secluded island paradise just off the mainland coast. This beautifully simple Cuban island destination is just the place to go for lazy days and long walks through the surf. The most active thing you might want to do here is snorkelling. After a few days chilling on the beach you'll head back to Havana to catch your flight home.

If you would like to select this itinerary, please complete a Quote Request form. Alternatively if you would like to speak to one of our friendly Cuba Travel Specialists, then just call us on 01273 322 059. We can always tweak this Cuba holiday itinerary to suit your personal needs.

Duration	8 days - 7 nights Departs daily	Accommodation	Accommodation with breakfast in charming, comfortable hotels. Category 3(See Accommodation)
Price	Transfers - £455 per person or Car Hire - £470 per person Both based on 2 people sharing	Includes	7 nights accommodation with breakfast, airport transfer on arrival in Cuba, hike or horse ride in Vinales, Cuban visa (tourist card). Transfers between major cities as described, or 6 days economy car hire with air con and roadmap.
Transport	Private & group transfers or Rental car	Excludes	International flights, travel insurance, other meals, tip, excursions and entrance fees. Car insurance (from 15 CUC per day), car hire optional extras

Day 1: Arrival in Havana

Once you've landed in Havana, a representative will be waiting to transfer you by classic American vintage car to your hotel in latin America's largest colonial city centre, where your Cuba holiday will begin. The classic cars, an abundance of music in the air and bustling plazas will make it feel as if you've stepped back into the 1950's.

Your accommodation on the first night of this Cuba holiday is located near the city's most beautiful and vivacious district, Habana Vieja. Most of the hotels here were built before the 50's and have tremendous ambience and flair. During your first night in the city we recommend dining at El Patio on the Plaza de la Cathedral. As you look out from your table on the balcony of this historic colonial building you'll see the lights being turned on across the plaza. Enjoy your first Mojito or Cuba libre and let the city's nostalgic atmosphere sink in.

Day 2 & 3: Havana

The schedule of your Cuba holiday is free from any planned activities today. This way you can explore the different parts of Havana at your own pace. The parks, cathedrals, museums, shop-lined streets, markets, monuments, fortresses and the bar made famous by writer Ernest Hemingway, 'Bodeguita del Medio', will keep you pleasantly occupied during the day. Don't forget to check out the Capitolio and the Gran Theater and go for a walk through the mafia neighbourhood, Vedado, and visit the Plaza de la Revolucion where former president Fidel Castro once held his famous speeches.

Option excursion:
We can arrange a Havana city tour this morning for you. This tour of the city in another classic American '50s car will give you a good overview of the entire city and all its neighbourhoods. Our guide will pick you up from your hotel around 9:00 for a 3-hour tour of the city. The price of this tour is around £40 per person; just let us know if you'd like to add it to your Travel Plan.

Day 4: Havana - Viñales

Group Transfer Time - 4 hours
Rental Car Driving Time - 3 hours

This morning you'll travel to the tobacco town of Viñales. The journey takes you through one of Cuba's most beautiful provinces. If you are self driving there's very little traffic in this area, making the drive even more pleasant as you pass by lakes and tropical forests. When you reach the province's capital, Piñar del Rio, you'll leave the highway and for the last 45 minutes you'll travel through undulating green landscape. After a while the red blunt mountains typical of this region will start to pop up. These 'mojotes' or karst mountains are the result of centuries of erosion. Scattered between the mojotes lie plantations where the tobacco for the famed Cuban cigars is cultivated.

You'll spend the night in a bungalow tucked away amongst tropical gardens. The resort has a swimming pool (perfect for cooling off) and is situated on the outskirts of the small town of Viñales.

Best of Cuba - Sweeping view of Viñales Valley

Best of Cuba- Horseback ride through tobacco fields

Day 5: Viñales

Today you can choose to either go hiking or horseback riding through the local tobacco fields. You'll see how horses are just as much a part of Cuba's heritage as tobacco is; you really can't do without them in this region. If you decide to saddle up, you'll ride one of the smaller Cuban working horses. A guide will lead you across winding paths through fields of tobacco. The tobacco plants grow from October until March. You'll pass through small farms with chickens pecking at the dirt and pigs foraging around in the mud. Your guide will show you how tobacco leaves are laid out to dry under slanted roofs throughout the landscape. The local farmers who grow the tobacco will try and sell you cigars to make a little extra money.

The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish. We recommend heading to Hotel Jazmines for the sweeping panoramic view of the Viñales Valley.

Day 6: Viñales - Cayo Levisa

Private Transfer Time - 30 minutes
Rental Car Driving Time - 30 minutes

After breakfast you'll continue your journey through Cuba to the cozy island of Cayo Levisa. The island is only a few hours from Viñales and only has one hotel, a 3km stretch of white sandy beach and the most crystal-clear turquoise water you can imagine. The ferry ride from Palma Rubia takes about 30 minutes and if you arrive on the early ferry, you may not be able to check into your room right away. No worries though, just keep you swimwear and a towel handy and you can leave the rest of your bags with reception whilst you hit the beach. Find find yourself a good spot beneath a palm tree, enjoy the late morning sun and read that book you haven't had time to start yet.
*Cayo Levisa is very popular and as space is so limited you'll need to book this itinerary as early as possible to secure a room. If availability on Cayo Levisa is an issue, a good alternative is Maria la Gorda or Veradero beaches.

Day 7: Cayo Levisa

The beach bungalows (cabanas) on Cayo Levisa are scattered around the beach and tropical gardens. Each cabana has air conditioning, television, a bathroom and it's own terrace. Like in most of Cuba, the electricity can go down from time to time and the warm water can be sporadic, but hopefully this won't detract from the amazing setting. There is also a restaurant, bar, shop and diving school. You can also hire surf boards and catamarans. Since there are quite a few mangroves on one part of the island, there are mosquitoes and sand flies during periods of heavy rain. Don't forget to bring along insect repellent, just in case.

If you're not really into diving, then you could arrange yourself a trip over to a tiny island where writer Ernest Hemingway once sought refuge and found inspiration. He called the island Isla Paraíso, Paradise Island. If you're interested in going on a boat trip to this tiny bit of paradise, you can ask if the boat that takes the divers and snorkelers out will stop there.

Day 8: Cayo Levisa - Havana - UK

Private Transfer Time - 2 hours
Rental Car Driving Time - 2 hours

It won't be easy, but today is time to say goodbye to this feel-good holiday destination and your Cuba holiday will come to an end. After breakfast, at around 9:00 you'll take the ferry back to civilisation on the mainland. You'll be met at the ferry port and transfered back to Havana airport where you'll catch your international flights home.

If this Cuba holiday sounds like the trip for you, just send us a quote request form.