Destination Country: Cuba
Regions/Cities include: Havana Santiago de Cuba Camaguey Trinidad Cienfuegos Vinales Havana	Activities include: Sightseeing & discovery in a small group of women

Cuba - women only

Cuba is a popular emerging destination offering a fascinating culture full of music, dancing and food - and impresive scenery and architecture.

 

Day 1 - HAVANA How exciting, you have arrived in Cuba! Arrival, transfer and welcome meeting and dinner together. Meals: D Day 2 - HAVANA TO BARACOA Take a one-and-a-half hour flight from Havana to Baracoa. We have a couple of days here to explore and relax. Baracoa is a great place to try local foods. It's one of the best places for chocolate, and street vendors, one particularly sought-after Baracoa specialty is the cucurucho, a sweet treat of coconut, sugar, and fruit wrapped in dried cone-shaped palm leaves. (B,D)

Day 3 - BARACOA Today we take an excursion to Yumuri river. Visit farmers houses and cacao plantations to learn about the chocolate making process in Baracoa, then continue to Yumuri river and enjoy a fabulous boat trip! (B)

Day 4 - SANTIAGO DE CUBA A spectacular five-hour journey to Santiago de Cuba winds through verdant mountains. Santiago is the hottest place in Cuba - in terms of both temperature and the vibe of the city! This day you will get the chance to take a fun introductory group salsa lesson with local dancers. Orientation walk at arrival so you can explore for yourself (B,D) Day 5 - SANTIAGO DE CUBA Today we go on a three-hour city tour of Santiago. We visit El Morro Castle, Santa Ifigenia cemetery and the Moncada barracks and learn about the city's rich history. For nearly a century, the city was the island's seat of power and it also played a vital role in the Revolution. (B)

Day 6 - SANTIAGO DE CUBA to CAMAGUEY Today we travel through the centre of the country to Camaguey . Despite its size, Cuba's third largest city has managed to retain much of its colonial heritage. Exploring the city's winding streets is half the fun. Camaguey has a rich tradition of cultural and technological leadership within Cuba. Once again we have an orientation walk on arrival so that you can explore and discover by yourself! (B,D)  

Day 7- CAMAGUEY TO TRINIDAD Enjoy a tour of Camaguey by bicycle taxi! Cycling is a popular form of transport in Cuba, and bicycle taxis are very common. In the confusing streets of Camaguey, it's a particularly good way to get around. On the tour, you'll visit a local market, parks, plazas and an art gallery. Each taxi carries two passengers and the tour is led by an English-speaking local guide. After lunch, we travel to Trinidad, a beautiful colonial city, home to numerous churches and many beautiful colonial buildings. The city had some very wealthy residents in the 18th and 19th centuries who made fortunes out of the sugar industry, and some of their houses have been made into museums. Nightlife in Trinidad is probably the most accessible and intense in all of Cuba, with numerous live music venues and many dance performances every day of the week, all amongst the enchanting setting of old colonial buildings and the cobblestone streets. (B,D)

Day 8 - TRINIDAD Today we will learn about the history of the area and the local industry in an orientation walking tour. Free afternoon. (B) Day 9 - TRINIDAD TO CIENFUEGOS On the way to Cienfuegos we visit Santa Clara (approximately 1 hour), where we visit the Che Guevara mausoleum and memorial. Che's remains were brought here after they were found in a remote corner of Bolivia in 1997, where he was assassinated by the CIA-backed Bolivian army. Check out the impressive bronze statue of Che bearing his rifle and learn about his incredible life. Then it's a short drive to Cienfuegos, known affectionately as The Pearl of the South. Take a city tour of the city including a visit to Palacio de Valle (B,D)  

Day 10 - CIENFUEGO TO VINALES On the way to Vinales today WE stop at the beautiful Bay of Pigs. It was famously here that the CIA sponsored a failed invasion by exile forces in 1961. It's not just the history that's the attraction here - but also the crystal clear Caribbean waters, a deep underwater wall, and an outstanding variety of coral and fish. Continue your way to Vinales which is situated in one of the most picturesque parts of Cuba, among the limestone pincushion hills ("mogotes") of the Pinar del Rio province. (B) Day 11 - VINALES Today we spend the morning learning the tradition of Cuban cigars from a farmer and expert cigar maker. Get an insight as to how the communist system works, how much tobacco they will keep, how much produce they give back to the government, how they make ends meet! You will learn about the process from tobacco planting to rolling the final cigar. In the afternoon visit a beautiful organic farm to learn about Cuban farming and enjoy a delicious meal (B,D) Day 12 - VINALES TO HAVANA Travel back to Havana city and at arrival enjoy a fabulous convertible car tour 1 hour to see Havana neighborhoods by car (B)

Day 13 - HAVANA One of Havana's most beautiful places is the Old City. In the morning we take a guided walking tour of Old Havana. In addition to visiting historical sites, we will learn about the impact of the dual-currency economy by visiting commercial centers. In the afternoon after lunch, we start a completely different but equally enjoyable way to see some of Havana, visit one of the city's organoponicos. At night , enjoy classic Cuban music and dance at Parisien Cabaret show (B,D) Day 14 - HAVANA Say good-bye to your guide, driver and new Venus friends as you head home with your memories (and maybe a cigar or two!). Transfer to the airport(B)

 

Included:

Tour Manager, All activities, entries to cultural sites and monuments, accommodation on twin share basis (single supplement available on request), transport, transfers and guide services as stated in the itinerary, meals as indicated (B,L,D)

 

Priced in NZD land only.  Subject to change until confirmed and paid in full.  International flights additional. Travel for Solos can book best flight options for you.

 

VA