Walking In Cuba

Arrive Havana, the capital of Cuba, and check-in at our hotel. Built around a deep natural harbour, Havana is one of the most impressive surviving colonial cities in the Americas.

Overnight Standard Hotel

A tour of this most fascinating of cities this morning takes in some of the highlights of Havana’s Vieja (Old) district and the art deco architecture along the coastal Malecon and through the Vedado and Miramar suburbs, where kids play baseball below rusting street lights. On foot we’ll investigate the Vieja district with its beautiful neoclassical buildings at the Plaza de Armas and its sumptuous baroque Cathedral. Havana truly is a city in which to immerse yourself fully and after our brief orientation tour this morning, the afternoon has been left free to continue exploring at your leisure. You may wish to visit the City Museum, or the captivating Museum of the Revolution, where you can find the revered hull of the Granma, the boat that brought Castro back from exile and onto the world stage in 1956. You may wish to return to old Havana and enjoy a stroll through its cobbled streets, stopping to enjoy a mojito at a local bar, or perhaps wander through the stalls of the street markets in search of a bargain or two. Cooling breezes blowing in from the Caribbean freshen a lively sunset stroll along the Malecon, where fishermen and locals take in the magical setting before the imposing ramparts of its old Spanish forts.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we head east across Cuba, we drive through giant citrus and sugar plantations and out into the Zapata Peninsula. Further on‘cenotes’ or pools created by the ceiling collapse of the underground rivers dot the landscape and provide wonderful swimming opportunities. Later we visit the Playa Giron and the nearby museum dedicated to the infamous ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion, where a US supported attack by Cuban exiles failed to overthrow the Communist regime. Our journey then skirts the edge of the wooded Escambray mountains, hugging the coastline with views over the sparkling turquoise waters and arrive, where we will stay outside of the beautiful Spanish colonial town of Trinidad.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we wander through the old centre of Trinidad. In the early 19th century French settlers, fleeing a slave revolt in Haiti, landed and started to grow sugar cane in the Valle de Los Ingenios. This crop generated considerable wealth and consequently the town had to be regularly defended from pirates. The street layout is said to be deliberately complicated so as to confuse them! This afternoon is free to relax on nearby Playa Ancon, or continue to wander through Trinidad’s lovely colonial streets: a paradise for photographers.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we skirt the edge of the wooded Escambray Mountains with the turquoise waters of the Caribbean on our right, we then take a short drive on steep, switch-back roads which leads us into the densely wooded Escambray Mountains, to the Topes de Collantes nature reserve. We transfer onto an open-sided 4WD truck which takes us deeper into the reserve, then set off on foot through the forests with our naturalist guide. Our trail takes us along a ridge with panoramic views on all sides, then into a valley cut deep by the Guayanara River. Our guide will point out the rich and varied flora and fauna along the way, including the rare Cuban trogon, Cuba's national bird, whose red, white and blue plumage mirrors the national flag. After a walk of around 3 to 4 hours we arrive at our 'hacienda', set in a beautiful valley. Lying alongside a river with bathing pools, Hacienda de Gallega is a converted farmstead with a dining area, a bar, simple toilet and shower facilities and some flat terraces where our tents will be set up. Surrounded by beautifully tended flowerbeds and the forests of Topes de Collantes, this is a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful place to stay. After lunch there's the chance to walk along the river to the Salto de Rocio waterfall, a 3 hour round trip, through an area rich with trogons, hummingbirds and woodpeckers. Close to the waterfall there are rockpools where we can swim and - for the intrepid - swing out Tarzan-style on a liana overhanging the deepest pool. In the evening we eat a wholesome dinner at the hacienda then settle down to sleep overnight in our tents. Generous 2-man tents are provided along with foam mattresses and blankets, but we recommend you bring your own sleeping bag (or at least a sleeping sheet) in addition. If you prefer you can sleep out on the verandahs at the hacienda, under the eaves, rather than in a tent. Please note you can travel by truck to the hacienda if you prefer not to walk today.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A full day in the Escambray Mountains, exploring more of the Topes de Collantes nature reserve. In the morning we drive by truck to the start of our 3 to 4 hour walk. We follow a trail through forests and valleys, past streams and glades with flowers, butterflies and darting hummingbirds. Further on we reach La Batata, a cave through which an underground river gurgles, gently carving out rock pools. The water rarely exceeds 20°C so the swimming is exhilarating here! We walk on until we reach the beautiful, isolated Hacienda Codina, set in a green valley with manicured gardens all around. The traditional hacienda has a pleasant bar and verandah, with rocking chairs to sit back and enjoy the view. We enjoy a leisurely lunch in the dining area, surrounded by colourful flowers and birds, then rest through the heat of the day. Later in the afternoon we explore a short nature trail close to the hacienda, with rare orchids and unusual medicinal plants. At one point the trail actually passes through a cave (Cueva del Altar), emerging on the other side of the hill to beautiful views over the distant Caribbean. Later we have dinner, enjoying another traditional home-cooked meal, before settling down for the night in our tents (or, like last night, you can choose to sleep on the verandahs of the hacienda). Once again you can skip the walk today and travel to the hacienda by truck if you prefer.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today after a sort ride to the entrance we have a full days drive to Bayamo in South East Cuba. En route we will have a brief stop in Sancti Spiritus for lunch before we continue to Camaguey. We continue towards the beautiful mountains landscapes of the Sierra Maestra to Bayamo.Lying in the Granma Province, this is a region infused with the revolutionary zeal that has been such an integral part of Cuban life since the late 19th century. It was on the beaches of Granma that Fidel landed in December 1956 to start his journey on the long road to freedom, and the mountains inland are scattered with reminders of its revolutionary heritage.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we will continue further into the Sierra Maestra to Bartolome Maso, a small village lying besides the Rio Yara, amongst the cloud forest landscapes of the Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra, and provides us with an ideal base from which to explore these captivating mountains. On arrival we can either take an invigorating walk or jeeps up the steep asphalt road to Alto de Naranjo from where we start todays walk (950mts). We follow in the famous footsteps of Che, Fidel and the rest of the revolutionary heroes, who for two years fought a protracted guerrilla war amongst these beautiful highlands. For much of 1957 the guerrillas kept on the move, playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Batista’s troops, as they tried to gain a foothold after the unsuccessful uprising against Batista the previous year. Then in 1958 they set up a permanent base in the foothills of Pico Turquino, Cuba’s highest peak. This base of operations came to be known as La Comandancia de La Plata (1000mts) and its location deep in the heart of this lush jungle landscape makes it one of the country’s most fascinating and authentic experiences. A remarkable testament to the resolve and spirit of the revolutionaries, it captures a snapshot in time of one of the most pivotal periods in Cuba’s history, one that was to have worldwide repercussions in later years. It was here that Fidel Castro began to formulate his plans for the future of the country and the site presents us with a captivating glimpse of life during those dangerous and heady days of the late ‘50s. There is a small museum and press office, a field kitchen and the command centre itself, complete with a fridge with bullet holes! From here we trek back to Alto de Narango where you can walk or drive down depending on your energy levels to our accommodation. Total walking time: approx 4 hours.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we start with an early drive to Alto de Naranjo where we begin our trek up Pico Turquino (1972m), across the Sierra Maestra. Over the coming days we trek through landscapes that take us from high mountain ridges and through rain forest. Our first day sees us heading east, following the La Plata trail up towards Pico Turquino, crossing landscapes blanketed in pines and mosses, giant ferns and wild orchids to our overnight stop at the Aguada do Joaquim. Please note tonights accomodation is in basic dorm style rooms..(Your main luggage will be stored at the hotel you will only need to carry the necessary for the trek).

Overnight Basic Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we start our ascent to Pico Turquino (1972m) the highest peak in the country, we will have several rest stops on this climb. If the weather conditions are favourable the views along this section are truly outstanding and at the top of Pico Turquino we can see the bronze bust of Jose Marti, dragged up here by Castro’s charismatic mistress, Celia Sanchez in 1952. Marti was the 19th century hero of the Cuban independence movements and a man who to many is little short of a saint. From here we will return to the Aguada do Joaquim where we will spend the night our second night at the refugio.

Overnight Basic Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we will continue our descent to Alto de Naranjo (8km) from where we will meet our vehicles which will drive us to Bartolome Maso form where we will re join our bus and set out to Santiago which has been at the epicentre of revolutionary ideals since the time of Cespedes. Founded by Diego Velazquez de Cuellar in 1514 the city has been at the heart of Cuban culture and history since its inception. Briefly the country’s capital, it rose to prominence during the 17th and 18th centuries, with first the arrival of Spanish settlers from Jamaica, then French plantation owners from Haiti. The region saw much of the fighting in both wars for independence and it was in Santiago that success against Batista’s forces was finally, and very publicly, acknowledged by Fidel Castro on January 1st 1959. Little wonder then that the city has earned itself the moniker of ‘Hero City of the Republic of Cuba’. The city itself is an eclectic mix of all the best and worst of Cuban life. Its colonial architecture glimmers in attractive shades of pastel, whilst its Afro-Caribbean mix affords it the unmistakable vibrancy of a true city of the revolution. This afternoon we will take a tour of Santiago city, taking in the Plaza de la Revolucion with it’s fine monument to the heroes of the Independence wars and the remarkable cemetery where independence hero José Martí is buried we will also visit the Sta.Ifigenia cemetry. At the Moncada Barracks we visit the site of Castro’s unsuccessful attempt to instigate a general uprising against Batista, an attempt that saw him tried and imprisoned (entrance optional).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This Morning we set heading back North to the city of Camaguey, on arrival you may wish to take a city tour on one of the local bicitaxi's and we also recommend a visit to the bustling farmers market.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we will start on a full days drive to Havana, stopping on route at Santa Clara to visit Che's Mausoleum, one of Cuba's most  revolutionary landmarks. We will then continue to Havana where we will enjoy a free evening to enjoy the vibrant night life of havana Vieja.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we transfer to Las Terrazas perched on the edge of the Unesco Reserva Biosphera Sierra del Rossario. This entire region is a testament to reforestation, taking an area that has been ravaged by fire and agricultural incompetence and turning it into a bio reserve of staggering diversity. In Las Terrazas we discover some of Cuba’s most diverse and verdant natural landscapes, where we have time to wander through tropical forest and swim in jungle waterfalls. We will have an included lunch here before a free afternoon to relax and explore further.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Our tour ends in Havana after breakfast, although clients travelling back on the group flight to London will have the day free before transferring to the airport later this afternoon.

Included meals: Breakfast