Rhythms of Cuba

Latin rhythms and colonial splendour

Discover Old Havana, as lovingly preserved as the classic American cars that act as taxis, then head inland to the Viñales Valley and its prehistoric rock formations. A visit to the Bay of the Pigs is followed by a stay at coastal Cienfuegos – all elegance and colour – and calls at colonial UNESCO-listed Trinidad and historic Santa Clara, site of the Cuban Revolution’s decisive battle, before four nights' blissful relaxation at an idyllic beach resort.

Highlights

Discover Old and New Havana, Cuba’s beguiling capital, on included tours
Head inland to the stunning Viñales Valley
Spend a day at the Bay of Pigs, site of the failed US-backed 1960 invasion
Discover UNESCO-listed colonial Trinidad on walking tour
Take in elegant Cienfuegos and historic Santa Marta
Spend four blissful nights relaxing at a five-star all-inclusive beachfront resort on idyllic Cayo Santa Maria
The chance to take in a Buena Vista Social Club show

Inclusions

Seven tours and excursions
Ten nights’ carefully chosen full-board accommodation, plus one night on the aircraft
30 meals, including 10 breakfast, 10 lunches and 10 dinners, including all drinks at the resort on Cayo Santa Maria
Return flights to Havana
Comfortable, air-conditioned transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Day 1

Upon arrival meet your guide and transfer to your hotel in Havana. Settle in and unwind before an included welcome dinner with live Cuban music at a local restaurant this evening.

Day 2

Join your guide this morning for an included walking tour of Old and New Havana. You’ll start in the heart of Old Havana, at the Four Squares around which the city formed. Call at the Museum of the City of Havana, housed in the former residence of the governors, and then continue to the nearby Rum Museum before taking a cooking class. Enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant before the tour continues to Obispo Street, Parque Central, the Capitol and Paseo del Prado. This evening, enjoy an included dinner at the famous Floridita Restaurant, birthplace of the daiquiri. Later on, visit La Cabaña Fortress and enjoy the Nine Canyon Ceremony before the chance to take in the Buena Vista Social Club show.

Day 3

Today’s included tour, which will be long but rewarding, will take in the stunning UNESCO-listed Viñales Valley, an area scattered with underground rivers, caves and prehistoric mogotes – isolated, steep hills – that form a spectacular landscape. Call at a colourful local mural, take a boat ride to a cave and then visit a tobacco plantation. Enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant, then visit a local cigar factory before returning to Havana. This evening, whet your whistle with a cocktail lesson before dinner. Later, you’ll have the chance to take in a Tropicana show.

Day 4

Transfer to the Bay of Pigs, scene of the 1960 disastrous US-backed invasion of Cuba. Today, the Bay of Pigs is a place of natural beauty, popular with divers and snorkelers, thanks to its underwater caves and offshore wreck. Visit the Playa Giron Museum, which tells the story of the ill-fated invasion attempt, before lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, you’ll have some free time to relax at the beach, with the possibility of snorkelling in the clear Caribbean water, before continuing to Cienfuegos.

Day 5

Join your tour manager for an included walking tour of UNESCO-listed colonial Trinidad. Enjoy a wonderful morning spent wandering the city’s atmospheric, historical streets as you visit the Romantic Museum, set in the 18th-century former palace of Count Brunet, then continue to Bar La Canchanchara, for an included cocktail, before lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, enjoy a Cuban music lesson and visits to the Santander Fine Art Family House and the historic sugarcane plantation at Manaca Iznaga before returning to Cienfuegos, where the evening is at leisure.

Day 6

After breakfast, enjoy a tour of Cienfuegos, one of Cuba's most important sea ports. The tour will take in the 19th-century Tomás Terry Theatre, with its marble embellishments, ceiling frescoes and hand-carved Cuban hardwood, before visiting Cienfuegos’ famous boulevard with its statue of Benny Moré, one of Cuba’s most revered musicians. The tour continues to Santa Clara, where the final and decisive battle of the Cuban Revolution was fought. Pause for lunch at a local restaurant and then have a look around the city, taking in the Che Guevara Revolution Square and the mausoleum where his remains are kept, before transferring to idyllic Cayo Santa Maria for an-inclusive four-night stay.

Day 7

Enjoy the first of three blissful days at leisure on Cayo Santa Maria, perhaps making use of the resort’s facilities, or taking a stroll on the idyllic whitesand beach.

Day 8

Spend another blissful day at leisure, enjoying the delights of Cayo Santa Maria today.

Day 9

Enjoy a final day relaxing in your idyllic surroundings.

Day 10

After a leisurely breakfast and morning, transfer to Havana this afternoon for a final one-night stay. This evening, an included farewell dinner adds to the pleasures of a marvellous tour.

Day 11

Check out this morning and enjoy a final tour of Havana, which includes a one-hour ride in a vintage American car and sweeping views of the Miramar and Vedado neighbourhoods, before calling at Revolution Square and Finca Vigía (former residence of Ernest Hemingway), located in the traditional Cojímar district. An included lunch is followed by some free time to shop at a local craft market before you transfer to the airport for your overnight return flight.

Day 12

Early morning arrival.

Further Information

Accommodation standards

Cuba is a very unique and attractive destination but the tourism infrastructure and the cuisine can, at times, be quite basic. Wi-Fi access is usually available, but often at extra cost.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 30 minutes.

Passports and visas

If you are travelling to Cuba with a British Passport, as a tourist, you will need a visa in order to clear immigration checkpoints in Cuba. Obtaining a visa to visit Cuba is very simple. For more information, see https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cuba/entry-requirements.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Luggage allowance

You are permitted to take one suitcase per person on the aircraft, which should not exceed 23kg.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Travel vaccinations

Requirements and advice can vary over time, and from person to person, so please contact your GP about eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or any other preventive measures.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.