Cuba

Day 1: UK/Havana
Leave the UK on your scheduled flight to Havana, Cuba, where you will transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 2: Guardalavaca
Today, you will fly to Holguin, in the east of the island, and take the short drive through hilly Cuban countryside to Guardalavaca for your two-night, all-inclusive stay. You’ll be starting your holiday with some sun-kissed Caribbean relaxation at this idyllic beach resort.

Day 3: Guardalavaca
Guardalavaca boasts dazzling white sands, fringed by palm trees, with crystal-clear waters that are perfect for swimming. Relax on the beach, or go snorkelling to get a closer view of the thriving marine life and coral reefs. You might like to take an optional tour to visit the Indian village nearby.

Day 4: Santiago de Cuba
Today you will drive through the scenic Sierra Maestra Mountains, en route to Santiago de Cuba for a two-night stay. Named the country’s ‘Heroic City’, it was here that the revolution was launched in the 1950s.

Latin American rhythms are the heartbeat of this cosmopolitan city, and it is not unusual to see musicians and dancers performing in the main plaza. Enjoy a relaxing lunch today at a restaurant overlooking the sea, before embarking on our included sightseeing tour, visiting Castillo del Morro, a magnificent castle which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 5: Santiago de Cuba
Soak up some of Cuba’s colourful history today, on our included tour to Baconao National Park, where you can visit Granjita Siboney, the famous farmhouse from which Fidel Castro launched his attack on the city.

Later, Cuban hero Jose Marti’s tomb is a must-see, before you get the chance to sample salsa dancing – or just watch the locals, if you prefer – during our included visit to Casa de la Trova, one of Cuba’s best-known music venues.

Day 6: Camaguey
Leaving Santiago de Cuba, you’ll drive through the island’s Camaguey region, stopping for a visit in Bayamo, the town where the Cuban National Anthem was composed. It’s your chance to see authentic, rural Cuba as you pass through small villages and farming regions en route to the city of Camaguey itself, with its narrow, winding streets opening out into attractive plazas. You will stay here overnight.

Day 7: Trinidad
Today, you’ll travel through the splendid colonial city of Sancti Spiritus to reach the cobblestone streets and pastel-coloured houses of Trinidad for your two-night, all-inclusive stay.

Day 8: Trinidad
This morning enjoy an included sightseeing tour of Trinidad’s picturesque colonial architecture, which remains largely untouched by the trappings of the 20th century – the whole city is a National Monument. This afternoon is at your leisure. You might like to browse the wide range of arts and crafts on sale in the city’s pretty side streets or relax on the pristine white sands of nearby beaches.

Day 9: Cienfuegos
Today you’ll arrive in in the beautiful port of Cienfuegos, known as ‘The Pearl of the South’ for a two-night stay. This charming town still retains its strong French influence inherited from those who migrated here from Louisiana in the 19th century. En route, you will also visit also the Botanical Gardens, which are home to more than 2,000 different species of plants.

Day 10: Cienfuegos
Relax and soak up Cienfuegos’s unique atmosphere at your own pace – perhaps from the lovely poolside bar at the Union Hotel, or taking in a show at the theatre on the main square. You could also visit the Palacio de Valle to take in the sunset – this former Gothic mansion is now a lively casino. Or take to the water for an optional sunset cruise.

There’s also the chance to join an optional half-day excursion to Santa Clara. Situated halfway between Cuba’s north and south coasts, it features Che Guevara’s memorial.

Day 11: Vinales
Today you will travel to the awe-inspiring mountains and lush vegetation of the Vinales Valley and Pinar del Rio. En route, you will follow the coastline along the famous Bay of Pigs, before arriving at your Vinales hotel for the night.

Day 12: Havana
Spend the morning at your leisure, or take an optional guided walk to discover more about the local flora and fauna in the Vinales area. You’ll then drive to the working community of Las Terrazas for an included lunch, before arriving in Havana for your three-night stay.

Day 13: Havana
Cuba’s capital is the biggest city in the Caribbean and one of the most amazing in the world. La Habana Vieja (Old Havana) is a wonderful place to explore. Old American Chevrolets and Cadillacs roll along the streets, which are lined with faded elegant building façades, a reminder of the city’s Spanish heritage. Over recent years, many of these buildings have been magnificently restored, reminding us Cuba was once known as “the pearl of the Caribbean”.

Your included sightseeing tour will also take in the Plaza de Armas (main square), the old Presidential Palace and Cathedral Square.

Day 14: Havana
Explore this fascinating city at your own pace today before a farewell dinner and the opportunity to visit the world-famous Tropicana nightclub.

Day 15: Havana/UK
After a morning at leisure in Havana, you will transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

Day 16: UK
You’ll arrive in the UK today.

Please note
This holiday includes walking in areas of rough ground, gradients and steps.

Accommodation throughout is in hotels of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotels you will stay in are:

3-star Brisas Hotel in Guardalavaca
3-star Melia Santiago in Santiago de Cuba
basic 2-star Colon Hotel in Camaguey
4-star Brisas Trinidad in Trinidad
3-star Jagua Hotel in Cienfuegos
3-star Los Jasmines Hotel in the Vinales Valleyv
3-star Sevilla Hotel in Havana
Tourism is still developing in Cuba, which means that accommodation can sometimes be simple in style and service can be slow. However, all your hotels feature rooms with air conditioning and en suite facilities. Some also feature a swimming pool.

All hotels will be confirmed in your final documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Santiago de Cuba sightseeing tour
Casa La Trova music venue, Santiago
Baconao National Park visit (half day)
Trinidad sightseeing tour (half day)
Cienfuegos city tour and Botanical Gardens
Havana sightseeing tour (half day)

Optional excursions

Indian Village, Guardalavaca (half day)
Santa Clara (half day)
Cienfuegos sunset cruise
Vinales guided walk
Tropicana night club, Havana

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights, internal flights, overseas transfers & other transportation
14 nights’ accommodation with breakfast, plus 4 lunches and 9 dinners
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guide
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”