8D7N Cuba From West to East

<p>Arrival. <strong>Welcome to Cuba!</strong>. Transfer to the hotel and, depending on the time of your flight, free time. To welcome you at the end of the afternoon we will include a trip in an old classic car to the <strong>fortress of San Carlos</strong> passing the ‘Malecón’ and we will attend the <strong>cannon shooting ceremony(admission included)</strong>. Return to the hotel (by coach or vehicles) and accommodation.</p>

<p>This morning we include a visit of about 4 hours; we will include a stroll through Colonial Havana; declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a panoramic tour of Revolution Square and the University. We will include a <strong>boat trip</strong> across the bay in the little boat to Regla where we will see the church of the Virgin of Regla, a place of great devotion where there is a strong syncretism between the Catholic religion and the Afro-Cuban. Will you buy flowers and have a daughter of Ochun read your hand? After this, at lunchtime, we will take you to the area of the <strong>‘Callejón del Chorro’</strong>, an area with multiple “paladares” (private restaurants) where you can have lunch. Afternoon free. In the evening, those who wish may optionally attend the famous Tropicana cabaret-show.</p>

<p>We will leave Havana for the south of the island, where we can enjoy its beautiful tropical landscapes. Arrival in <strong>GUAMA</strong>, and a visit to the <strong>crocodile farm</strong>, including a <strong>boat trip</strong> to admire this area declared a national park. In the village of Taina we will see a little more about the population that existed before the arrival of the Europeans. We continue along the Caribbean coastal road. Have your swimsuit to hand! We will have time in <strong>CALETA BUENA</strong>, where we will <strong>include lunch</strong>, and you can swim, see its cenotes or snorkel! After that in <strong>GIRON</strong>, we will visit the <strong>Girón Beach Museum</strong> which tells us about the Bay of Pigs invasion and the revolution. Continuation to <strong>CIENFUEGOS</strong>, “the pearl of the south”, a very nice colonial city, where we will walk through its French neoclassical colonial streets. <strong>Dinner included</strong> and accommodation.</p>

<p>A little under a hundred kilometres take us to <strong>TRINIDAD</strong>, arrival and visit to Cuba’s most beautiful and best-preserved colonial city, a true “open-air museum”, declared a world heritage site. After the visit we will see the <strong>“Temple of Santería Yemayá”</strong>, dedicated to the orisha (God) of the Sea, with its offerings of fruit, water and stones; a santero will tell us about this religion and its beliefs. After the <strong>visit and lunch included</strong>, we will stay at our resort hotel at Ancon beach. You will have the afternoon free to enjoy the Caribbean Sea on this magnificent beach, or, if you prefer, to stroll at leisure in Trinidad. At night we provide a transfer to the cathedral to enjoy the “place of music” and its little restaurants with Cuban music.</p>

<p>Our day is full of beautiful landscapes and unforgettable experiences. By coach we travel to <strong>MANACA IZNAGA</strong>, at the centre of the sugar zone that brought Trinidad prosperity; here we will remember the story of the slaves next to the ancient 44-metre tower that was used to watch over them. We will then take a <strong>historic train</strong> with its old wooden carriages that slowly runs through the hacienda. The train stops at <strong>FENOTA</strong>, a sugar mill today a museum, and goes on to <strong>GUACHINANGO</strong>, in this beautiful area of hills we will have time to relax over <strong>lunch (included)</strong>. In the afternoon, by coach, we will continue to <strong>SANCTI SPIRITUS</strong>, a charming little colonial town little visited by tourism, where we will have time for a walk and a coffee. Continuation through the centre of the island towards <strong>CAMAGÜEY</strong>-Arrival in the country’s third city, considered the city of art and with a lot of atmosphere at night.-</p>

<p><strong>Morning visit</strong> to the city’s great historical centre with its many theatres, squares, alleys and churches. We will include a visit to the <strong>Camaguey Ballet Centre</strong>, where they will tell us about the origin of the company, and we will watch dancers, teachers and choreographers rehearsing and assembling their works. <strong>Lunch included</strong>. We continue on our route, with a brief stop in <strong>GUÁIMARO</strong> where the first Cuban constitution which was approved, and the slaves’ emancipation was demanded. <strong>BAYAMO</strong>, a picturesque small colonial town; here we will stroll and see the schoolchildren practising at the chess academy. <strong>SANTIAGO DE CUBA</strong>, arrival at the end of the afternoon. In the evening we will go to <strong>CASA DE LA TROVA</strong>, a meeting place for Cuban music lovers, with its live performances.</p>

<p>We include a <strong>tour of SANTIAGO</strong>, Cuba’s second city and one of contrasts, capital of the ‘son’ and the revolution. Around 20 km from the city, in the mountains, we will go to the <strong>Basilica of our Lady of Charity of Copper</strong>, where we will be surprised at the veneration for the virgin patron of Cuba. After that we will go to the <strong>Santa Ifigenia cemetery</strong>, where Fidel Castro and José Martí are buried. We will see the <strong>Ron Bacardí factory</strong> and go to the <strong>CASTILLO DEL MORRO</strong>, an impregnable citadel on a promontory declared a world heritage site, which houses an interesting museum on Piracy. <strong>Lunch included</strong>. Free time in the afternoon.</p>

<p>After breakfast, end of our services. </p>