Luxury trip of Cuba

11 days – from €3,745 per person

off the beaten track – nature – history

Day 3: Havana – Santa Clara

After breakfast, you will be taken to Santa Clara, a city founded in 1689 and the capital of Villa Clara province. Santa Clara is situated to the west, at the foot of the Sierra del Escambray mountain range. The victory of Che Guevara and his followers in the final battles against General Batista in late 1958 is what has made this place famous. The origins of the city of Santa Clara lie in the settlement established here by coastal dwellers in 1689, when they were forced to flee from invading pirates. It has always been a liberal city, where independence, philanthropy, Che Guevara, the Revolution and, now, the LGBTI community are held in high regard. You will therefore make a brief stop at the Che monument, which pays tribute to the leader of the Cuban Revolution. You will be staying at Suite Florencia, built in 1940 and fully restored in 2016, and situated in the centre of Santa Clara. Here you’ll enjoy colonial charm, from high ceilings, floors with stunning mosaics and large windows to elegant communal areas. The hotel has just three camere (rooms), which are comfortably furnished with fine Italian cotton linen and feature a large terrace. In the evening, you can choose to have a bite to eat at the hotel, where the Cuban dishes are strongly influenced by Spanish and Italian recipes. In the afternoon, you can explore the city at your leisure and enjoy traditional Cuban cuisine.
Overnight stay: Suite Florencia | bed and breakfast

Day 4: Santa Clara – Trinidad

Today you’ll take a city walk through Santa Clara, a city steeped in history. Its history dates back to peoples fleeing from pirates. Your guide will take you on a journey through Santa Clara’s history. The walk begins in the city centre, where many of these routes converge. The walk takes about 2 hours and takes in, amongst other sights, the Caridad Theatre, the del Carmen and Vidal parks, and the Plaza de la Revolución. Afterwards, you’ll travel on to Trinidad. You’ll be staying at Casa Zenia Ana, situated in the historic centre of the city.
Overnight stay: Casa Zenia | bed and breakfast

Day 6: Trinidad

In the morning, you’ll be taken to the Escambray Mountains. You’ll drive up the mountain and hike through the tropical forest of Topes de Colantes. The Sierra del Escambray is Cuba’s second-highest mountain range and a paradise for walkers. The area is named after the health clinic founded by former dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1937. Here, you’ll visit the local people and their homes. You’ll receive a warm welcome from Mercedes and Ramon, who live self-sufficiently in the Cuban mountains. They harvest and produce their own food and even make their own coffee. Enjoy the homemade lunch they have prepared for you. For true nature lovers, this is the ideal spot to spot the various bird species or go for a swim at the waterfall. Come and unwind in this beautiful nature reserve. The afternoon is yours to spend at your leisure in Trinidad.
Overnight stay: Casa Zenia | bed and breakfast

Day 7: Trinidad – Cienfuegos – Havana

Today you’ll travel on to Cuba’s capital, Havana. On the way, you’ll stop in Cienfuegos for a city walk. Cienfuegos is one of Cuba’s youngest cities, around 200 years old. The city was once very prosperous. You’ll visit the Terry Theatre, which has recently been restored. The theatre still retains all the features it had when it was built around 1900. It has ceiling murals, balconies and a stage. The seats are set at a slight angle to ensure a good view. The theatre was quite modern for its time; for instance, it was possible to remove the seats and level the floor, transforming it into a dance hall. This is still possible today, as it has been well restored. Next, you’ll visit Palacio Valle, a city palace situated at the end of the boulevard, which is considered the city’s most elegant building. After exploring Cienfuegos, you’ll be taken to your accommodation in Havana.
Overnight stay: Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski | bed and breakfast

Day 8: Havana

After breakfast, you will be taken to El Paseo del Prado. El Prado, which was designed at the end of the 18th century as a promenade outside the city walls, took on its final form in 1920 under the guidance of the French urban planner Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier. A boulevard that combines granite and limestone, marble and bronze also offers an opportunity to take a stroll through the history of Cuba from the late 19th to the early 20th century. On both sides of the boulevard stand magnificent buildings that once symbolised power and wealth. Here you will find, for example, the Spanish Casino or the Balaguer Palace, the school where José Martí once studied, and the Teatro Fausto, an outstanding example of the predominant use of the Art Deco style in Cuba during the first half of the 20th century. El Prado ends opposite the entrance to the bay, and La Punta and El Morro Fort will catch your eye from here. In the afternoon, you’ll go on another cycle trip through Havana, visiting, amongst other places, the Jardines de Tropical. This park was laid out around 1912 and quickly became a hotspot for high society and the most popular orchestras of the time.
Overnight stay: Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski | bed and breakfast

Day 9: Havana

No visit to Cuba would be complete without a ride in a classic car. You’ll climb into an American classic car for a two-hour drive through Havana and feel as though you’ve been transported back to the 1950s. You’ll then stop at a workshop that restores classic American cars. Here, you’ll gain an exclusive insight into the process of restoring these cars and learn more about the history of classic cars in Cuba. In the afternoon, you’ll visit two studios of Cuban artists with your guide. These may be either well-known or up-and-coming artists. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish. Enjoy your last day!
Overnight stay: Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski | bed and breakfast

Day 10: Havana – Amsterdam

Unfortunately, your unique journey through Cuba comes to an end today. One of our local staff members will take you to Havana airport, where you will board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam

Day 11: Amsterdam

You will arrive in Amsterdam today.