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Cuba highlights and hammocks

Want a good mix of culture, nature and beaches? If so, then this two week Cuba adventure holiday will be right up street, offering you lots of freedom and exciting activities.

During this Cuba adventure you'll see the very best Cuba has to offer. With time in Cuba's nostalgic capital Havana, hikes around Las Terraces and horse rides through the tobacco fields of Viñales. You'll spend a few nights with a Cuban host family in a casa particular (home stay) in Trinidad, which many of our clients tell us is a highlight of their Cuba adventure. As well as these classic Cuba highlights, you'll also stay in Cienfegos, a town renowned for it French colonial-style grandeur. A trip to Cuba wouldn't be complete without a visit to Santa Clara, the town which played a pivotal part in the Che Guevara inspired Cuban revolution. To round of your this Cuba adventure we'll arrange three nights on the unspoilt island of Cayo Las Brujas. The beaches here are simply stunning.

If you would like to book this 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	15 days - 14 nights Departs daily - please note the Che Guevara museum is closed on Mondays	Accommodation	14 nights in comfortable accommodation category 3
Price	By transfers £815 per person or By car hire £855 per person Both based on two people travelling	Includes	14 nights accommodation including breakfast, transport as described, cuban visa (tourist card), excursions as described in itinerary below Private and group transfers as described below. or 14 days mid size rental car with air-con and roadmap.
Transport	Private and group transfer or Rental car	Excludes	International flights, travel insurance, other meals, tips, optional excursions and entrance fees. Car insurance (from 15 CUC per day) paid locally, optional car hire extras.

Day 1: Arrival in Havana

Once you've landed in Havana, a representative will be waiting to take you by classic American vintage car to Latin America's largest colonial city centre, where your Cuban adventure 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 for the first few nights night of this Cuba adventure are 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.

Cuba adventure- The Ministry of Interior

Day 2: Havana

There are no planned activities for you today, so 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 3: Havana - Las Terraces

Private Transfer Time - hours
Rental Car Driving Time - hours

After breakfast you'll start your Cuba adventure by leaving Havana and setting off to Las Terrazas. Because of the mild climate, high humidity and frequent rainfall, this area is known as 'Cuba's rainbow'. It's a very tropical environment and a natural greenhouse of ferns, orchids, begonias and other flowers. Back in the 70's these hills were filled with dusty yellow and brown scrub due to extreme deforestation. Luckily the government started a reforestation programme and built an ecological hotel on a hill top near town to attract eco tourists. The hotel's unique reception area is built around a large tree, which grows through the roof. The hotel also has its own swimming pool, restaurant and an open-air bar, and your air conditioned room looks out across the town and lake. If you wonder into town you'll find a few paladares - small Cuban restaurants.

Day 4: Las Terraces

This morning on your Cuba adventure we'll arrange a guide to take you for a hike through the UNESCO biosphere of Sierra del Rosario. Farmers from neighbouring areas came to work here years ago, and knowing the area better than anyone else, have now become trained tourist guides of the area.

Thanks to the mild climate and high humidity, this area is known as Cuba's rainbow. The entire area is bathed in every imaginable shade of green and during your hike you'll see ferns, orchids, begonias and other flowering plants. There are no activities planned for this afternoon on your Cuba holiday, however you could visit the scenic viewpoint at Mirador and then cool off at the San Juan River waterfall (don't forget your mosquito repellent).

Day 5: Las Terraces - Viñales

Private Transfer Time - 1.5 hour
Rental Car Driving Time - 1.5 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.

Day 6: Viñales

Get ready for an fun packed day on your Cuba adventure, as 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 7: Viñales - Cienfuegos

Group Transfer Time - 7 hours
Rental Car Driving Time - 6 hours

Whether you are travelling by transfer or hire car, there is a long journey ahead of you today. If you're travelling by transfer then it's an early start today as you head to Cienfuegos, the next stop on this Cuba adventure holiday. If you are travelling by hire car, it's possible to stop at the Bay of Pigs, the scene of America's ill fated invasion of Cuba.

Cienfuegos is known for its French architecture located around the central square. It's a lovely city and small enough to explore on foot. Stop off for a drink at one of the bars on Parque Marti as the sounds of Cuban music fill the air. Whilst you're there visit the former casino Palacio de Valle. You'll spend the night in a cosy hotel in the city centre. In the early evening take a stroll over to the beach where the local residents come together to watch the sun go down.

Cuba adventure- Trinidad casa particular (homestay)

Day 8: Cienfuegos - Trinidad

Private Transfer Time - 1.5 hours
Rental Car Driving Time - 1.5 hours

This morning is free time, so take a stroll through the tree-filled parks of Santa Clara and enjoy the peace and quiet before you head to Trinidad this afternoon. If you are self driving, plan your day so you arrive into Trinidad around 4pm, as this is when your Cuban host family will be expecting you. You could drive through the picturesque route through the Escambray Mountains and through the Topes de Collantes nature reserve. If we are arranging your transfer we'll pick you up at your hotel after lunchtime.

Cuban families have started opening their own bed and breakfast known as casa particulars. The casas offer a very welcome addition to their income and it offers you a first-hand look into the Cuban way of life. You'll have your own key to the house and your own room with a shower, toilet, warm water and electricity. The casas are generally very modest, as although the Cubans are very warm and welcoming people, they aren't very affluent. During our visit, we 'stayed in' during the evenings and enjoyed lovely home cooked Cuban meals with the family.

Day 9: Trinidad

Trinidad was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and like many of our clients, it's likely to be a real highlight of your Cuba holiday. As soon as you see the pastel-coloured houses in its historic hub, you'll understand why. The city is an open-air museum of cobbled streets, small houses with red tiled roofs, vintage cars, donkeys, horse drawn carriages, art shops and friendly bodegas (small grocery stores).

There are plenty of interesting sights to see near the palm tree-lined promenades of Plaza Mayor. For instance, you can visit the citys iconic yellow San Francisco Monastery and the bell tower. Also one of Trinidad's best museums is the beautifully renovated Museo Romántico which overlooks the main square (closed Mondays, entrance fee 1 CUC). The colonial mansion that it's housed within was once owned by a wealthy family of Spanish sugarcane plantation owners. The museum will give you a good idea of what it was like to live in the days of the sugar barons. Around 16:00 live bands will start to play on the terraces, plazas, bodegas and streets of Trinidad. In the evening head to the stairs leading up to the Plaza Mayor. The stairs are always laden with fun-loving people having a chat and drinking a canchanchara, a tasty local concoction of lime juice, honey and white rum. Before you know it a band will have started playing and everyone will be dancing in the streets. Music and dancing are in the blood of Cuban people and this is your chance to be a part of a spontaneous celebration on your Cuba holiday.

Day 10: Trinidad - Santa Clara

Private Transfer Time - 4 hours
Rental Car Driving Time - 4 hours

Today your Cuba adventure will take you from the colourful Trindidad to Santa Clara, the town famous for it's links to Che Guevara.

It was in this city that Che Guevara won the 1958 battle against General Batista, giving communism its firm grip on the country. Che's mausoleum (closed Mondays), is a museum featuring his clothing, guns and a statue honouring this national hero is a lasting reminder of this victory. As you get close to the museum you'll start to hear marching band music flowing from crackling speakers as a part of history comes to life. You'll spend tonight night in a confortable bungalow on the outskirts of Santa Clara.

Day 11: Santa Clara - Cayo Las Brujas

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

Your Cuba adventure so far will have been pretty non stop, so it's now time to kick off your sandals and sink your feet into the white sands and turquoise waters of Cayo Las Brujas and relax.

Cayo las Brujas is the quiet and modest neighbour of the more upscale Caro Las Santa Maria, which is full of all-inclusive hotels. Cayo las Brujas is not a luxury destination, but it does have a small intimate atmosphere and the location is idyllic. The hotel has 24 cabins which are linked together by a communal boardwalk that overlooks mangroves full of wildlife. There are even a few Jacuzzis located along the boardwalk. All the cabins have air con, en-suite facilities and a balcony. There is a bar and restaurant with a thatched roof which offers great views out over the beach.

Cuba adventure- Cayo Las Brujas is just stunning

Day 12 & 13: Cayo Las Brujas

The next few days of your Cuba adventure are free time to do with as you wish. It's certainly time to slow the pace and get into the rhythm of the beach life.

Maybe it's time to find a shaded spot under a palm tree and start that book you brought on holiday with you. Alternatively if you're not the kind of person that can just laze around, there are plenty of beach based activities you can do. The snorkelling here is fantastic as the waters here are some of the clearest we're ever seen, so you're bound to see lots of underwater wonders just off the shore.

Make sure you've got yourself a cold beer or fruit cocktail sundowner for the spectacular sunsets you get here.

Day 14: Cayo Las Brujas - Havana

Group Transfer Time - 6.5 hours
Rental Car Driving Time - 5.5 hours

Unfortunately today it's time to leave your island paradise and head back to civilization. You'll have the morning to go for one last swim, or walk up and down the beautiful white sands.

The drive back to Havana is quite a long one (approx 6-7 hours), so sometime in the early afternoon you'll start your journey arriving in the evening, there is some great scenery to see on the way.

Once you arrive back into Havana, you'll check back into the hotel where you stayed at before. After a long day of travelling you may want to hit the sack early, or, if you can conjure enough energy head out for one last night in Havana.

Cuba adventure- Scenery on the way to Havana

Day 15: Havana - UK

Sadly today is the last day of your Cuba adventure, so after breakfast it's time to check out of your hotel.

We'll arrange a private driver to collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Havana's international airport. The timing of this transfer will depend on the departure time of your flight, but in general we'll make sure you're at the airport 3 hours prior to your scheduled departure time.

On the flight home you'll have time to reflect on your fantastic Cuba adventure and look back over the pictures you'll take home with you.

A sneak peek at your Cuba adventure accommodation... (Click to enlarge)

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