Day 1
- Arrival in Cuba
Our meeting point is Santa Clara Airport. (There are Air Canada flights from
Toronto and Montreal direct to Santa Clara). Our accommodation for
the first night is at a pretty hotel in
the countryside near Santa Clara. Hotel Los Caneyes is set in the countryside amid lovely gardens
filled with tropical flowers, eucalyptus and palms as well as Taino
artwork and sculpture. The Tainos were the pre-Columbian people of Cuba
and the hotel recreates a Taino village. Depending on flight time
we may have time for a little sightseeing in the afternoon. Santa
Clara is Che Guevara's city in the centre of the island and here
stands the massive
and impressive Monumento Ernesto Che Guevara. The monument, in classic
Cuban revolutionary style, is big, bold, made of concrete and looming
over Che's remains.
Day 2 - In the morning we have walking and sightseeing in Santa Clara and hear about
the last battle of the guerrilla war which marked the end of Batista's
dictatorship in 1958. We see the Tren Blindado,
a boxcar where Che and his band of 18 rifle-wielding revolutionaries
barely out of their teens derailed an armoured train using a borrowed
bulldozer and home-made Molotov cocktails. We then head for
the Valley of the Sugar Mills (UNESCO). This is
an open air museum from the days of the 18th century when Cuba produced
over 1/3 of the world's sugar. We walk to see the area which is filled with romantic ruins that were once home to scheming "Dallas"
style sugar baron dynasties . After lunch
we start our walk
in El Cubano National Park. The shaded path (5 km) takes in the remains
of a colonial sugar ranch as well as a bohio (a traditional rural peasant house).
The path goes through a pristine forest of agave, palms & papyrus
passing clear pools. Along the way we see wooden plaques
explaining that the trail was originally used by "cimarrones" (runaway
slaves).
At the end of the walk we continue (25 minutes) to our hotel. Set against a
backdrop of the green Sierra Escambray Mountains, our hotel enjoys a
glorious beach-front setting on pristine Ancon Beach which stretches for
4 km. This is one of the loveliest beaches in Cuba with perfect white
sand, warm turquoise water and few tourists. The colonial city of Trinidad is just 15
minutes away and easily reached by a shuttle bus or vintage cars that
function as inexpensive taxis. BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER INCLUDED
Day
3 - Today's walking is northwest of Trinidad in the thickly
pine-covered mountains of the Sierra Escambray (UNESCO), a beautiful
range that cuts across central Cuba. This was Che Guevara’s second front
in the late 1950s, and, following Castro’s victory,
counter-revolutionaries sheltered here. The National Park is a cool
refuge from the coast as the mountainous area has its own microclimate and
is always a few degrees cooler than Trinidad. It is a splendid area for
hiking with some of the most spectacular scenery in Cuba.
All-terrain vehicles transport the group up the mountain (about 700
metres) to the National Park where we walk. Trails are well marked and shady, cutting through dense
woodlands opening out here and there for breathtaking views of the
landscape.
Our hike follows the Guanayara River down
to Salto El Rocio, a beautiful waterfall. Along the way it incorporates some memorable views of the tallest
peak in the range. A barbeque lunch is included. Later
in the afternoon we
return to the hotel in time to have a little beach and pool time.
ALL INCLUSIVE - BREAKFAST, PICNIC LUNCH AND DINNER INCLUDED
(including drinks)
Day
4 - This morning we explore Old Trinidad (UNESCO) on foot.
Tiny Trinidad is one of the finest colonial towns in all the
Americas, ranking as one of Cuba's greatest attractions. Founded in 1514
by Diego Velasquez, it was his base for searching the surrounding
mountains for gold. The original cobblestone streets and houses give the
impression that time has scarcely moved on since the days of the Spanish
Main. The exquisite buildings are fronted by mahogany balustrades,
fancy wrought iron and massive wooden doors with swinging
shutters that open to let the breeze flow through. From the
1600s to 1800s the city was a major centre for the sugar and slave
trades and the buildings around the Plaza Mayor bear witness to the
wealth of the landowners of the time. The historic centre has been
skilfully restored, down to details like the streetlights and its
cobblestone streets are more populated by horse-drawn carts than
automobile traffic. The Museo Romantico is a grand affair with fine
murals of classical scenes, scrolls and pediments over doorways and
windows. Once the home of a wealthy plantation owner, it features Roman
style baths that amused 19th century travellers with a
fountain that spouted cologne for ladies and gin for gents.
There is free time for lunch and for browsing. Since the change in
communist government restrictions allowing locally owned businesses,
Trinidad seems to have a business in every house with the whole family
involved.
Later in the day there is free time to enjoy the beach and pool. The
long beach of Ancon is perfect for a stroll or you may prefer to spend
more time in Trinidad.
BREAKFAST AND DINNER
INCLUDED
Day 5 - Today is a free day. There are optional excursions for snorkelling
or sailing. BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER INCLUDED
Day 6 - After breakfast we transfer to Havana and along the
way visit the Museo
de Ernesto Hemingway where we walk to explore La Finca Vigia (“the
lookout farm”) a Moorish-style house with glorious views of Havana and
of the sea. It was here Hemingway wrote nine novels including For Whom
the Bell Tolls and where he called home until 1960 when he left Cuba.
Next comes El Malecón, the seafront promenade lined with once-glorious
mansions whose original owners fled Cuba following the Revolution.
Our
four star hotel is located in the leafy and quiet Miramar district of
Havana. This is the exclusive seaside area where Cuba's
pre-revolutionary upper class built palatial homes. Today many of these
are elegant embassies centred around Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) with
its tropical gardens. Our hotel overlooks the sea and has a
beautiful pool. If you would like to stroll in the area near the hotel
you will find John Lennon Park (yes - Lennon the Beatle, not Lenin the Russian
revolutionary.)
BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER INCLUDED
Day
7 - This
morning we leave for Western Cuba and the Vinales region, famed for its spectacular mauve
coloured ‘haystacks’. These bizarre rounded mountains frame the
Valley of Vinales where Cuba’s finest tobacco is grown. The landscape
forms a perfect backdrop for walking through coffee, orange and banana
plantations. Viñales village seems to be lost in a time-warp. Its small
Botanical Garden is an Eden-like mix of ornamental and medicinal plants
as well as cascades of orchids, palms, cinnamon trees, ferns and
tropical fruit trees. There is free time for lunch and in the afternoon
we enjoy leisurely walking in the bottle green
mountains and jade valleys of Vinales. Most of the hiking here is on
gentle, well-groomed trails in the tropical plain rich with hibiscus,
papaya, pineapple, bougainvilleas and flame trees laid out among a
patchwork of tobacco fields and rice paddies. BREAKFAST and DINNER INCLUDED
Day
8
- Today is a full day of walking in the lovely Vinales region. We
have two walking guides here so there will be a choice of walks. Those who want just
a half day of walking will have the option of returning to the hotel
after lunch.
In the late afternoon we return to the hotel to swim or perhaps explore
the town. A spell seems to have been cast over sleepy Vinales with its
pastel painted small cafes and fun ‘tree house’ bars.
BREAKFAST, PICNIC LUNCH, DINNER INCLUDED
Day 9 - After breakfast we head west to Las Terrazas
Biosphere National Park. The National Park is a UNESCO site
and is a part
of the country’s budding ecotourism industry. Sierra del Rosario
encompasses an area of tropical deciduous forests with numerous rivers
and waterfalls. Many tropical birds can be spotted here, including
Cuba's 22 endemic species. At the height of the Cuban coffee boom in
the 1820’s this area had 54 coffee estates and on our walks we discover
the ruins of some of these estates.
At the end of the day we
check into La Moka, a pretty eco-hotel which is part of the Las Terrazas
Community Project. BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER INCLUDED
Day 10 -
Full day of walking in the National Park with a second night at La Moka.
BREAKFAST LUNCH AND DINNER INCLUDED
Day 11 - This
morning we transfer (about an hour) to Havana where we have a day of
sightseeing on foot. Old Havana is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a kaleidoscope of colourful
architectural treasures - cathedrals, castles, and colonial mansions
with flower bedecked balconies. We see the sheltered harbour where, in
the 1500's, Spanish galleons filled with plundered gold from the New
World waited before setting off for Spain. We stroll through picturesque San
Francisco Plaza bordering the old port. Next comes the elegant Plaza de Armas which is lined with Baroque buildings and overflowing with
tropical vegetation. Plaza Vieja was originally the venue for Havana’s
slave market and now its original Spanish colonial buildings have been
restored. Plaza de la Cathedral is dominated by its gracious church,
one of the most beautiful in the Americas. Our walk is a chance to soak
up the atmosphere of this sultry Caribbean city with its sensual salsa
music, brightly painted 1950's American cars, revolutionary slogans and
Che Guevera's picture etched on the walls of flaking Spanish Colonial
buildings. We see the Museum of the Revolution, housed in the ornate
former presidential palace where a string of dissolute presidents once
ruled.
After more exploring we check into our hotel and
perhaps sip a cool mojito. In the evening
there are optional visits to the famous Tropicana Nightclub or to the
Buena Vista Social Club. Havana by night is filled with
hip-swaying music and usually the hotel has entertainment for those who
want an early night. BREAKFAST INCLUDED
Day 12 - Another day in Havana. Today we stroll through
the "Joy of Living" community project where more than 80
neighbours allowed the artist Alex Fuster to use their homes as his canvas..
Then we have a fascinating walk in the flamboyant
"Cemetery of Columbus" with its extravagant chapels, vaults and tombs.
There are miniature Greco-Roman temples, an Egyptian pyramid, medieval
castles, plus sculpture by Cuba’s leading artists. Were the remains of
Christopher Columbus ever here? The stories are conflicting. It seems he
asked to be buried in the Americas and officially his remains were moved
from Spain to Dominican Republic to Havana but back in Spain the
great explorer's remains are said to be in the Cathedral of Seville. We
explore the huge El Morro Fortress. With tons of gold being transported
through Havana in the 1600s and 1700s, the harbour needed a fortress to
guard the entrance from pirates. Each night a floating chain was strung
across the harbour and a cannon was fired to announce its closing, a ceremony
that still takes place each evening. The interior of the fort
resembles a small village complete with a chapel, spacious lawns,
several (modern) cafes and cobbled streets where soldiers and officers
were billeted. With our expert guide, we explore the vast fortress with
its many exhibits including the area where, in 1959, Fidel Castro and
the revolutionaries set up their headquarters.
In the evening we walk to a private enterprise "paladar" restaurant
for a farewell dinner. BREAKFAST AND
DINNER INCLUDED
Day
12 - Morning transfer to Havana Airport (or you
may choose to stay in Cuba. From the hotel there are frequent buses to
Varadero if you would like more beach time).
Click below for details:
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