Luxury journey Cuba

11 days - from € 3,689 per person

off the beaten track - nature - history

Day 3: Havana – Santa Clara

After breakfast you will be taken to your accommodation in Santa Clara. The city is the capital of the province of Villa Clara and is located west at the foot of the Sierra del Escambray Mountains. Santa Clara was founded in 1689 and is mainly known for the victory of Che Guevara and his followers in the last battles at the end of 1958 against General Batista. You will stay in Hostal Florencia. The house is located in the heart of Santa Clara and has a charming colonial atmosphere. The afternoon is scheduled off so you can explore the city on your own. In the evening you will dine at your accommodation and enjoy traditional Cuban dishes.
Overnight stay: Suite Florencia | half board

Day 4: Santa Clara – Trinidad

Today you will make a city walk through Santa Clara, which has a rich history. You will visit the best museums, beautiful churches and special monuments. First of all you go to the CheGuevara Mausoleum. At the mausoleum there is an interesting museum, where you will learn more about the revolution and about Che Guevara in particular. After this you go to the Tren Blindado monument. This monument was made by the Cuban sculptor José Delarra, who recreated the situation in which Che Guevara derailed the armoured train carrying the 408 soldiers of Batista. Here you will visit the two carriages that have been set up as a museum. Afterwards you will travel on to Trinidad. You will stay in Casa El Secreto, which is located in the heart of the historic centre. The current owner is the artist Carlos Mata, also known as ''the painter of the night''.  
Overnight stay: Casa El Secreto | bed & breakfast

Day 6: Trinidad

Today you will visit Topes de Collantes, a nature reserve high up in the Sierra del Escambray mountains by Jeep. Sierra del Escambray is the second highest mountain range in Cuba and a paradise for hikers. The area is named after the health clinic founded by former dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1937. Today the spa has an international reputation and patients from all over Latin America come here. Along the way you will stop at a viewpoint where you have a view over the Caribbean Sea and the city of Trinidad. Together with your guide you will make a short walk of 2-3 kilometres along the path El Cubano - Huellas de la Historia. You may encounter 100 different species of ferns, orchids and birds and with a bit of luck you will spot Cuba's national bird the Tocororo (Trogon). When you walk along the crystal clear water pools with small waterfalls, there is time to take a refreshing swim. In the afternoon you will have lunch at El Manantial. The restaurant works with natural ingredients, which come from the owner's farm. After a day in Topes de Collantes, you will be brought back to your accommodation in Trinidad.
Overnight stay: Casa El Secreto | bed & breakfast

Day 7: Trinidad – Cienfuegos – Havana

After breakfast you will be taken to the capital of Cuba, Havana. On the way you will stop in Cienfuegos for a city walk. Cienfuegos is one of the youngest cities in Cuba, about 200 years old. The city was very prosperous. You will visit the Terry Theatre which has recently been restored. The theatre still has all the elements from when it was built around 1900. It has ceiling paintings, balconies and a stage. The seats are slightly sloped so you have a good view. The theatre was quite modern at the time, so it was possible to remove the chairs and equalize the levels making it a dance hall. Nowadays this can still be done, it still works as it was perfectly restored. Next you will visit Palacio Valle, a city palace located at the end of the promenade, which is considered to be the most elegant building of the city. During the tour you will be offered a cocktail on the terrace of the palace. Afterwards you will be brought to Restaurant Rancho Cristal, where you will have lunch. After lunch you will be brought to your accommodation in Havana.
Overnight stay: Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski | bed & breakfast

Day 8: Havana

The morning is planned off . For example, you can visit the market of Havana Vieja on this day. Another must is the museum Maqueta de la Habana Vieja. In the museum you will find a model of the historical centre, which is made on a scale of 1:500. At the end of the afternoon you will be picked up and taken for a walk through the Barrio Chino de La Habana district. The district was created in 1847, when the first Culiés (=Chinese) arrived in Cuba by ship. During the colonial period, one hundred and fifty thousand Chinese migrants worked as cheap slaves on the sugar plantations. The 5-street neighbourhood, continued to exist after the Cuban War of Independence and even has its own Chinese newspaper, cinema with Chinese movies and pharmacy where they work with traditional Chinese recipes. You will then walk on to the popular district, El Callejon de Hammel, which is also called the heart of Afro-Cuban culture. In addition to plenty of dancing in the street and live music, you can admire the meter-high murals of the poet painter Salvador-Gonzáles. You can end the city walk in the bar Jibaro, where you will participate in a Cuban cocktail workshop.
Overnight stay: Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski | bed & breakfast

Day 9: Havana

You will be picked up today and taken to the workshop of Nostalgicar, a family business that refurbishes classic American old cars. Julio's father is the founder of the company. He worked at General Motors in 1950 and the whole family shares a passion for vintage cars ever since. The Nostalgicar garage gives you an exclusive insight into the process of repairing American cars. Then, together with your guide, you will take a drive through Havana in one of the vintage cars. You will drive through the districts of Vedado, Nuevo Vedado and Miramar. During this ride you will imagine yourself back in the 50s. You will drive to the promenade of Malecón, the fort Morro Cabaña and the statue of Christ which was made by Cuban sculptor Jilma Madera. From here you have a beautiful view over the city.
Overnight stay: Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski | bed & breakfast

Day 10: Havana – Amsterdam

Unfortunately, your unique journey through Cuba comes to an end today. You will end your journey in style and be taken in an American classical car to Havana airport, where you will board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam.

Day 11: Amsterdam 

You will arrive in Amsterdam today.