Cradle of the Revolution Tour

• 7 day escorted tour from:£499per person

Tour in brief:

• Sunday
• After arriving to Holguin airport from Havana or directly from Europe you will be warmly welcomed and transferred the short distance to your Holguin Hotel where the remainder of the day will be free to relax or explore Holguin on an independent basis. Overnight accommodation at Hotel El Bosque or Pernik Hotel on BB basis.

• Monday
• After breakfast there will be a short orientation tour of Holguin the provincial capital known for its many peaceful, tree-lined squares, before we continue to Cayo Saetia. On arrival at this picturesque former private game reserve there will be time for a relaxing swim, some leisure time on the stunning white sandy beach, a jeep safari to spot zebra, antelope and deer, and a local Cuban style lunch. In the afternoon we will continue to Baracoa where the scenery gradually becomes more dramatic and beautiful as we enter the Humbolt National Park. Stops can be made en route where local farmers sell homemade sweets and drinks. In the late afternoon we will arrive in Baracoa, fascinating and idyllic small town surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. There will be an orientation tour of Baracoa including the possibility of a stroll down Baracoa’s seafront promenade the “Malecon”. Dinner and overnight will be taken at the Hotel Villa Baracoa or similar.

• Tuesday
• After breakfast we will travel to Finca Duaba, a traditional Cuban farm surrounded by unspoilt tropical scenery, which gives an excellent insight into rural way of life in Cuba. The tour will continue with a visit to Rio Toa Cuba’s widest river which runs through a UNESCO protected reserve where there will be a chance to have a short boat ride up the river and lunch will be taken in the reserve. In the afternoon we will return back to Baracoa with a chance to spend some time at leisure before taking dinner in the hotel. The evening will be at leisure to enjoy the local sights and sounds of Baracoa at night! Dinner and overnight will be taken at the Hotel Villa Baracoa or similar.

• Wednesday
• We will leave early in the morning and travel over the breath taking mountain scenery, past palm fringed bays and sleepy towns towards Guantanamo a typical Cuban town living in the shadow of the naval base. After a short orientation tour of Guantanamo with a chance to take some refreshments we will continue to Santiago de Cuba A late lunch awaits at Cayo Granma, reached by a short boat crossing the restaurant looks out across the bay and there will be time to wander around the small island before heading into the central area of the city to settle in at the hotel. Dinner this evening will be at the hotel. Overnight accommodation at Melia Santiago.

• Thursday
• After breakfast at the hotel we will spend the day with a full exploration of this city that has been of crucial importance throughout Cuba’s history. We will visit the Moncada Barracks, central square Parque Cespedes, Calle Heredia, one of the city’s liveliest streets, and Padre Pico Street, made famous by the intense games of draughts played by the locals. The day continues to Castillo del Morro, a historical fortress offering fantastic views across the Caribbean Sea and the impressive Sierra Maestra Mountains. We will enjoy a traditional Cuban lunch at a restaurant next to the fortress offering stunning views of the coastal scenery. After lunch we will visit the picturesque church of El Cobre, Cuba’s most sacred pilgrimage site in Cuba and a shrine to the Virgin Mary. In the evening, we will enjoy dinner in a local restaurant followed by an optional visit to one of Cuba’s famous “ Casa de la Trova” for live music - Cuban style! Overnight accommodation at Melia Santiago.

• Friday
• After a leisurely breakfast, we will head out of the city into the mountain region of the Gran Piedra National Park where we will pass through some beautiful scenery as we head to the viewpoint situated over 1200metres above sea level. As we climb up the winding road the views open up and after walking up to ‘The Big Rock’, a relic of an ancient boulder, you might be able to see Jamaica or they say even Haiti if the weather is very clear. There will be time to enjoy the magnificent views and explore the local area with its lush vegetation before taking lunch at the local restaurant. After lunch we will head back towards the city where the remainder of the afternoon will be free with dinner available at the hotel. Overnight accommodation at Melia Santiago.

• Saturday
• Today we will be up early and head for the airport for the flight to Havana or another onward destination and say goodbye to the guide, as the tour will end at the airport. For those clients traveling back to the UK or Europe there will be connections this evening on Iberia and Air France. For clients flying on Virgin the last night will be spent after one night in Havana before the return flights.

• TOUR EXTENSION
• The tour has been arranged so that a number of extensions can be promoted in conjunction with the tour, with the following options suggested: · On the last day of the tour, the coach will drop off at Santiago de Cuba airport to coincide with the morning departure to Havana. · Clients can enjoy a number of extension opportunities to Cuba’s many beach resorts by taking a transfer from Santiago de Cuba to Guardalavaca or after arriving in Havana, a transfer can be arranged to Varadero.

Price includes:

• Accommodation as per itinerary description.

  Transportation/Guide:
  · All transportation as required in the itinerary using fully air-conditioned transportation.
  · The services of an English speaking guide throughout the itinerary.

  Restaurant Lunches/Dinner:
   Day 2, Lunch at Cayo Saetia beach restaurant .
  · Day 3, Lunch at Finca Duaba restaurant , Baracoa .
  · Day 4, Lunch at Cayo Granma  restaurant, Santiago de Cuba
  · Day 5, Lunch at Morro Castle restaurant , Santiago De Cuba
  · Day 5, Dinner at La Maison restaurant, Santiago de Cuba 
  · Day 6, Lunch at Gran Piedra  restaurant,

  Entrances:
  · Day 2, Jeep Safari Cayo Saetia.
  · Day 3, Entrance to Finca Duaba, Baracoa.
  · Day 3, Boat ride on Rio Toa, Baracoa.
  · Day 5, Entrance to Moncada Barracks, Santiago De Cuba
  · Day 5, Entrance to El Cobre: Santiago de Cuba
  · Day 5, Entrance to Castillo Del Morro: Santiago de Cuba
  · Day 6, Entrance to Gran Piedra .

  Entrance to Casa De La Trova Santiago De Cuba NOT INCLUDED 

Cost Exclusions:

• International flights, transfers, meals and accommodation in Havana and the domestic flights combining Havana and Holguin are NOT included in the tour cost.

Flight information:

• Virgin Atlantic flies direct from London Gatwick to Havana on Wednesdays and Sundays.

  Air France flies out 6 times a week from most of UK airports to Havana via Paris.

  Air Europa and Iberia Airlines also fly via Madrid daily.

  Cubana Airlines flies direct from London Gatwick to Holguin and stops over for one hour before terminating at Havana International Airport. The return is an overnight flight direct from Havana, on Tuesday evening, landing at Gatwick on Wednesday morning.