Day 1: Arrival in Havana

Arrive at the international airport in Havana. Transfer to the Hotel Plaza.
Overnight - Hotel Plaza

Day 2: Havana

Today you will meet our colleagues in Havana. They will give you your travel documents as well as your travel itinerary, with suggestions which we have put together especially for you. To make your stay in Cuba easy our employees are always ready to help you with individual questions and give
advice. Use the afternoon to explore the Havana’s historical centre, only a few minutes away with the car.
Overnight accommodation is in the Hotel Plaza.
Breakfast - Hotel Plaza
Overnight - Hotel Plaza

Day 3: Havana – Pinar del Río – Viñales: 190km

You pick up the rental car at 10 a.m. in Havana and travel to Viñales. The legendary Cuban tobacco grows here in the valleys with stretched flat fields among the steep and towering rocky peaks. We recommend a detour on your way to visit the Las Terrazas community. This community is in the Sierra Rosario, 25,000 hectares of almost untouched piece of land, declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The river San Juan, with its small waterfalls, flows through the thick forests of the Sierra del Rosario and you will notice lakes, ruins, coffee plantations from the 19th century and sulphurcontaining water sources as well. Most of the farmers in the Sierra live in communes which formed back in 1968 under the auspices of a government project; the most famous of which is Las Terrazas. The name comes from the moss‐covered terraced fields which are typical for the region today. The 900 inhabitants of this community live from forestry and eco‐tourism. One can also visit the orchid
gardens at Soroa.
Overnight accommodation is in the Hotel Rancho San Vicente.
Breakfast - Hotel Plaza
Overnight - Rancho san Vicente

Day 4: Viñales

After breakfast you should use the opportunity to explore the wonderful surroundings. The Valle Viñales offers a spectacular countryside with its unique rocky mounds (mogotes) and numerous bizarre cave formations. We recommend a visit to one of many tobacco plantations which have made this region famous. Another destination to visit is the impressive cave Cueva del Indio.
The town of Viñales has been declared a monument and is dominated by low rise wooden houses and their verandas. Around this small town there is a whole list of excursions to undertake: the Valley of the Two Sisters or the island Cayo Levisa on the north coast.
Accommodation is in the Hotel Rancho San Vicente.
Breakfast - Rancho San Vicente
Overnight - Rancho San Vicente

Day 5: Viñales – Cienfuegos: 443 km

Today’s destination is Cienfuegos. On the way you should use the opportunity to take a detour to Playa Girón. Expect to find wonderful beaches and small bays which are perfect for snorkelling. This city is amongst the prettiest and liveliest on the island and has lots of French flair. The extensively
restored colonial centre offers us lots of architecturally interesting sights. Castillo de Jagua was built to protect the region from the Jamaican pirates and was the third biggest castle in Cuba and the only one in central Cuba during the 18th century. The ceramic masks on the gable‐ends on the façade come from Venice and portray the Three Graces. The entrance to the monumental cemetery, Cementario Monumental Tomás de Acea, is a replica of the Parthenon in Athens. Again many styles are combined gracefully together here. The cemetery is set out like a garden with paths and fruit trees. The Palacio de Valle was built between 1913 and1917 and designed by both foreign and Cuban‐born architects.
Accommodation is at the Hotel La Union.
Breakfast - Rancho San Vicente
Overnight - Hotel La Union

Day 6: Cienfuegos – Trinidad: 81 km
You continue to Trinidad, which was founded in 1514 by Diego Velázquez and has since been declared a UNESCO world heritage site. It is worth visiting the Palacio Brunet which is situated in the mainly colonial style historical centre of Trinidad. The Palacio Cantero was built at the beginning of the 19th century and is now the Museo Histórico Municipal with many records about the history of this region. The palace is one of the most elegant houses of the city. From the tower you have a wonderful view of the old city.
Just like the Palacio Brunet, the Casa Sánchez Iznaga is right on the Plaza Mayor, around which are grouped the town palaces of Trinidad’s richest families. The Casa is today, the Museo de Arquitectura Trinitaria and shows an interesting overview of the different building styles from stone and clay walls. Window grills typical of Trinidad are also produced here.
Accommodation is in Finca Maria Dolores or in Hotel Las Cuevas.
Breakfast - Hotel La Union
Overnight - Finca Maria Dolores/Las Cuevas

Day 7: Trinidad

You should use this day to get to know this special place. You can head towards the colonial centre which is only 15 minutes away from the hotel. Let yourself be transported back to the Colonial era on a stroll through the Colonial area with its cobbled streets and colourful one‐storey houses. Trinidad arts and crafts are popular too, which can help you when buying a souvenir or two. In Trinidad you will find numerous small restaurants, maisonettes and paladares where you can eat local specialities. If you like nightlife there are many bars and discos in the town with live music too.
Accommodation is in Finca Maria Dolores or in Hotel Las Cuevas.
Breakfast - Finca Maria Dolores/Las Cuevas
Overnight - Finca Maria Dolores/ Las Cuevas

Day 8: Trinidad – Camagüey: 254 km

The next stage takes you to Camagüey in central Cuba. The typical rambling streets of the town were supposed to help for depredation. The town´s landmarks are the Tinajónes, which are mugs made of pottery and about two meters high. You can find them all over the city; in parks, gardens or the yards of the colonial houses. The most famous artwork of the church is the holy grave with the picture of Jesus. In the theater, which was opened 1850 and rebuilt after a fire in 1926, the famous ballet of Camagüey – on of the leading dancing ensembles in Latin America – is situated.
Accommodation is at the Gran Hotel Camagüey.
Breakfast - Finca Maria Dolores/Las Cuevas
Overnight - Gran Hotel Camaguey

Day 9: Camagüey – Bayamo: 210 km

After breakfast you will leave to the east of the country, to Bayamo. The town, founded by Diego Vélaquez, is the capital of the province Granma today. The town looks back to a long tradition of uproars. Because of rebuilding of most of the houses and sights, the city is modern.
Accommodation at the Hotel Royalton.
Breakfast - Gran Hotel Camguey
Overnight - Hotel Royalton

Day 10: Bayamo – Santiago de Cuba: 117 km

The next stage takes you to Santiago de Cuba. Santiago de Cuba is perhaps the most African, most musical and most passionate city in Cuba. It is a lively and exciting city where people both celebrate and dance in style. After Havana it is the second biggest city on the island and unique with its
mysteriously enchanting charm. Various museums, impressive monuments and a cemetery are amongst the main sights in this town.
Accommodation is at the Hotel Las Américas.
Breakfast - Hotel Royalton
Overnight - Hotel Las Americas

Day 11: Santiago de Cuba

In the morning you can go for a walk in the city of Santiago de Cuba. We recommend a detour to the exemplary restored Castillo del Morro, a 17th century castle in which the rebels were detained during the Wars of Independence. Also see the Museum Moncada, 19th century former barracks, today hosting a primary school and an informative museum on Cuban history.
The village of El Cobre is situated north‐west of Santiago. The pilgrimage church Caridad del Cobre was built at the beginning of the 17th century for the Holy Virgin who was the patron saint of slaves working in the mines. 40 km south‐east of Santiago is the Parque Baconao which has been recognised by UNESCO as a bio‐sphere reserve worthy of protection because of its variety of species of trees. If you want to enjoy the nightlife, we recommend a visit to the famous Cabarets Tropicana or the Casa de la Trova where you can watch and listen to excellent live Cuban music.
If you wish for a more relaxing time, we suggest you take a walk through the Vista Alegre area of the town where many cultural sites are located.
Accommodation is in the Hotel Las Américas.
Breakfast - Las Americas
Overnight - Las Americas

Day 12: Santiago de Cuba – Holguin: 138 km

Today we proceed to Holguín, the capital of the province of the same name, where cultural and musical traditions are kept alive. The town offers different events, such as las Romerias del Mayo, a traditional festival that always begins at the beginning of May and the Festival de Cultura
Iberoamericano. The town of Holguín can compete with some of the prettiest squares in Cuba and is worth visiting simply for this reason. The extensive main square, the Plaza Calixto García, dominates the scene. Around this square there are diverse sites, for example the Museo Provincial de Historia, the Casa de la Trova (musical events take place here) as well as the Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas (art gallery). Further squares and tourist sites in the town are the Plaza Julio Grave de Peralta, the Catedral de San Isidro, the Plaza San José with the Iglesia San José and the only barrelorgan factory in the country (Fábrica de Órganos) and the Plaza de la Revolucíon close to the baseball stadium.
Accommodation in Holguín is in the Villa El Bosque.
Breakfast - Las Americas
Overnight - Villa El Bosque

Day 13: Flight Holguín ‐ Havana

After breakfast you still have a short while to wander through the town before you return the rental car and fly back to Havana. In Havana you will be taken from the airport to the Hotel Plaza.
Breakfast - Villa El Bosque
Overnight - Hotel Plaza

Day 14: Havana

You should use the day to stroll through the old town area of Havana again. Transfer to airport or to a town hotel in Havana.
Breakfast - Hotel Plaza