Senast uppdaterad: 2012-04-24

Itinerary

Day 1

The tour starts in Havana.

Day 2, Havana

You will get a first chance to experience Cuba's atmospheric capital with its old cars, beautiful architecture and easy going way of life. You will only have time to get to know some parts of the city this time, but don't worry, you'll come back.

Day 3-5, Santiago de Cuba

By plane to Santiago de Cuba in the morning. Santiago is a tropical place with lots of music and movement. It's Cuba's second largest city with about 400 000 inhabitants and if people in Santiago could decide, this would be the capital of Cuba. This city is what many call "The Caribbean Cuba" or the "The black Cuba". It was here that the first slaves arrived from West Africa, and today Santiago has a larger percentage of black people than anywhere else in Cuba. Afro-Cuban culture and music is very present and you should not miss to visit the music place La Casa de la Music (Trova). The national hero José Martí is buried in Santiago and the proud inhabitants call their city "La Ciudad de los Heroes" (The city of the heroes) It was here that the revolutionary struggle started in the 1950s. Don't miss the Morro fortress, where you can study the history of the famous pirate Henry Morgan. You have a nice view from the fortress and it isn't difficult to imagine that the pirates had big difficulties to invade the city. If you want to know a bit more about Cuba's modern history, Santiago and the surroundings have a lot to offer. As you probably already know the U.S. have a military base in Guantanamo. During the last couple of years the Guantanamo base has become infamous for the abuses against the prisoners being held there.

Day 6-7, Baracoa

Baracoa is set on Cuba's southeastern tip and protected by mountains. Baracoa is the place where Columbus first arrived on the 27th of October 1492 and it was also from here the Spanish conquered the island. Baracoa was the first Spanish town in Cuba founded in 1512 by Diego Velasquez, and it was also Cuba's first capital. Visit Parque de la Independencia (The Park of the independence), where the indigenous leader Hatuey was burned to death by the Spanish conquerors. The early conquistadors never quite succeeded in exterminating the indigenous population and direct descendants of the Taíno population still alive in this part of the country. Today the region's abundance of cacao trees makes Baracoa Cuba's chocolate capital. You will have three days to walk around in this nice little town, visit one of the fine beaches or do some other excursions.

Day 8, Bayamo

Bus to Bayamo in the morning. Bayamo is a nice little town where you can experience more of Cuba's small town life. On the way you will pass La Caridad the Cobre, the most famous church in Cuba, where you'll find the saint Virgen the la Caridad. Ernest Hemingway donated his Nobel price here and the mother of Fidel Castro came here to thank the holy virgin when here son had survived the revolution.

Day 9-10, Camagüey

Camagüey is Cuba's third largest city with 300 000 inhabitants and it has also got one of the countries most important universities. In Camagüey there is a very nice Casa de la trova (culture- music center). The town is also known for the tinajones - big ceramic pots where one guarded water during the dry period. Enjoy the colonial buildings, the small narrow streets and the vibrant street life.

Day 11-14, Trinidad

Trinidad was founded in 1514 by the Spanish explorer Diego de Velazquez. Today Trinidad is one of the most beautiful and best preserved colonial towns in the Americas. Trinidad has been a centre for the slave trade and for the sugar industry during the years. Once more then 2000 sugar mills existed in the surroundings. Trinidad is a great town for to walk around, listen to music and take a beer at a nice café or restaurant. If you are interested in a different dancing place, very popular both among tourists and locals, you can visit La Cueva (the cave), where you even can feel the drops of water from the roof. One of the days you will walk to a waterfall near Trinidad (Parque Nacional Topes de Collante). After a steep walk downhill through lush vegetation you'll reach the waterfall. Take some snacks and swimming suit with you to enjoy the natural pool. Near Trinidad there are some fantastic beaches, one is Playa Ancón, which you can easily visit.

Day 15, Santa Clara and Bay of Pigs

You continue to the west by bus. On the way you stop in Santa Clara, one of the largest and most happening cities in Cuba. Santa Clara is home to Cuba's third largest university. One of the most important battles between Batista's troups and and Fidel Castro's revolutionaries took place here and in the southeastern reaches of the city you will visit the impressive memorial for Che Guevara with a statue of the revolutionary leader on the top. After the stop in Santa Clara you will continue towards the Bay of Pigs where the U.S. led a failed invasion attempt in 1961. You will visit a crocodile farm in Cuba's most important wetlands Ciénaga de Zapata. The night will be spent in a hotel near the Bay of Pigs.

Day 16-17, Viñales

By bus to Santa Clara, a town rich in history. Santa Clara was a very important town during the revolution and just after, because of that you will see the mausoleum of Che Guevara in the city. You will visit the mausoleum and the "tren blindado", where the troops of Batista were attacked by Che Guevara and his men. After the visit you will continue to Viñales. On the way to Viñales we visit Soroa and the very nice orchid garden there. Viñales lies about 180 km west of Havana in the province Pinar del Rio. The area around Viñales is famous for its rock formations known as mogotes. This is a good opportunity to see the Cuban rural life. There's a very relaxed atmosphere in this town. It's also nice to stroll around on your own in the town or make longer walks in the country side. During the stay in Viñales you will also visit the famous Indian cave, once a hiding-place for the Indians Gunahatabey. There a lot of histories about this cave that was refound in 1920 and you can go in there with a boat. You can also visit an enormous mural painting. It was Fidel that got the idea inspired by the Mexican painter Diego Rivera. The artist who did this painting is Leovigildo Gonzales. On the rock you can see the whole revolutionary process. A masterpiece or just propaganda? Whatever, it's interesting to think about the history of mural paintings in Latin America and be aware of that the many links between the Mexican history (including the revolution) and the Cuban. If you don't like this type of activities we can recommend you to enjoy the beautiful nature in the surroundings. Hire a horse, a bicycle or just walk around. Visit a farmer and see how they cultivate Tobacco. This is Cuba's most famous tobacco growing region, said to give the best cigars in the world.

Day 18-19, Havana

Havana is an interesting place. Everybody can find "his or her" Havana. You can just sit outside Capitolium and look as the old cars are passing by. Go and talk to the drivers, take a picture, ask them about their cars. Who owned it before, when was the car produced, why do they still use it? When you learn about the history behind the cars, you learn a lot about the last 50 years in Cuba. You can also go for a walk at Malecon and observe the fishermenThis is a place where locals gather in the evenings.During your days in Havana you will be able to follow in the footprints of Hemingway. He went to Cuba and fell in love in the island. One day you will do a Hemingway tour. His first home was room number 511 at the Hotel Ambos Mundos. Hemingway adapted the Cuban lifestyle, he went to La Bodeguita and like all others he wrote on the walls: "Mi mojito en la Bodeguita, Mi daiquirí en el Floridita". It's fascinating to study Cuba through the eyes of Hemingway. He was out chasing German submarines with his boat Pilar, he went to Cojimar where he met the man (Gregorio Fuentes) who inspired him to write "The Old Man and the Sea". One of the days in Havana you can visit the house he bought just outside the city, Finca la Vigía. If you are interested in history you will have a lot to do in Havanna. For example visit the castle El Castillo de la Real Fuerza (the oldest in America). If you would like to study what happened during the revolution of 1959 go to El Museo de la Revolución. There you can see everything: the clothes, the weapons and the boat Granma, in which Fidel and the other revolutionaries arrived to Cuba. All nights are special in Havana. Why don't spend the first night at Café Paris and enjoy the music. If you are interested in dance, there are a lot of opportunities. Tropicana is world-famous. It's expensive, so check the price before you go. If you like to see more traditional dance you can visit Palenque in Vedado where Conjunto folklorico de Cuba have rumba every Saturday in the afternoon. There are other good place to see rumba - your tourleader will be happy to help you find out.

Day 20

The tour ends in Havana.