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Cuba

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Colonial splendour and a step back in time

Long hidden beneath the cloak of 1959's Communist Revolution, Cuba is now open to visitors. Witness the painstaking restoration of the crumbling colonial splendour of the old capital, Habana Vieja, see the breath-taking Vinales Valley and the bay-side city of Cienfuegos, and spend three nights in Trinidad, in an 'all-inclusive' beach-front resort hotel on this wonderful - and wonderful-value - holiday.

Day One

Fly to Havana. On arrival, you will meet your tour manager and transfer to your hotel.

Day Two

Today you'll visit one of Havana's cigar factories for a behind-the-scenes glimpse of one of the island's most important industries. Afterwards, travel by horse-drawn carriage to begin a walking tour of the Habana Vieja, the city's oldest quarter. This UNESCO-listed maze of cobbled plazas and bustling streets teems with Cuban life. The Plaza de la Catedral, dominated by the Cuban-Baroque church and the larger Plaza de Armas, with its tree-shaded book market and important museums, are focal points for visitors and locals alike.

After lunch (payable locally) climb into a classic American car for a tour of Havana's modern city. See elegant, tree-lined Paseo del Prado, verdant Parque Central and follow the sweeping, seafront Malecon from Centro Habana to Vedado, where the space-age lines of the gigantic Coppelia ice-cream store, the twin-towered grandeur of the famous Hotel Nacional, and famous Plaza de la Revolucion all await.

Day Three

Spend the day relaxing, or join our optional excursion. Transfer to Habana del Este, across the bay from the old city, and the village of Casablanca, site of El Cristo, the statue of Christ which overlooks Habana Vieja, and departure point for the electric Hershey train, originally built by the chocolate company to transport cocoa beans and sugar cane from the plantations to the city.

Enjoy a slow journey out through stunning scenery - entertained by Cuban musicians and dancers - and the chance, at journey's end, to cut your own sugar cane, before returning to the city by coach. (Lunch is included in this excursion.)

This evening there's an opportunity to join the nightly party at the famous Tropicana, the world's oldest and most lavish cabaret, with its outdoor stages surrounded by tropical forest.

Day Four

A whole world away from the capital, you'll find the extraordinary landscape of the Vinales Valley. This broad flatland covered in tobacco-growing plantations, is studded with extraordinary limestone outcrops called mogotes, rising vertically out of the ground to give the fertile, green valley an almost prehistoric look.

After a lunch-stop at the landmark Mural de Prehistorica, a depiction of evolution painted on the side of a mogote, we'll visit the cave system at Cueva del Indio, a subterranean hideaway for native Americans during the Spanish Occupation, for a fascinating tour including an underground boat ride through the cave.

Day Five

Today we head to Cienfuegos, jewel in the crown of the province of the same name. This afternoon you're free to relax or get to know this appealing coastal city, centred on colourful Parque Jose Marti, with its grand buildings and beautiful playhouse, the Teatro Tomas Terry, on an optional city tour.

Day Six

Take to the water for this morning's included trip across the bay to the Jagua fortress. Lunch is taken on board the boat, and after your return to the hotel this afternoon, you'll be free to soak up the atmosphere of the city.

Day Seven

This morning we'll head to Trinidad, for a walking tour of this stunning 16th-century settlement, its cobbled streets lined with red-roofed, pastel-painted mansions. Visit the restored Palacio Cantero, a museum revealing colonial life, and climb the rickety staircase in the museum's tower for a wonderful view of the city and its surroundings.

Days Eight and Nine

Indulge yourself at the hotel - stirring only for meals or drinks (all included in the price) - or perhaps head into Trinidad to explore. A catamaran cruise, a journey by steam train to the colonial sugar plantation at Manaca-Iznaga, or a chance to swim beneath the waterfall at Topes de Collantes National Park are all possibilities during your stay here.

Day 10

Today you'll return to Havana by coach and enjoy a final night in the city. Bid 'adios' to Cuba this evening by joining our optional visit to the famous Club Habana, where you'll be treated to an evening of Fifties-flavoured music, dancing and entertainment.

Day 11

Say "hasta luego" to Havana and Cuba today, as you return to the airport at the end of a marvellous, thoroughly absorbing and enjoyable 'four-centre' stay in this fascinating country.

Day 12

Arrive back in the UK after an overnight flight.

Wining and dining

Cuba cuisine is a mix of Spanish and Afro-Caribbean, heavily reliant on rice, beans, chicken and pork. National specialities include soup made of chicken or black beans, black beans & rice, plantains, baked or fried, and omelettes, often stuffed with meat and cheese. Look out for strong Cuban coffee, tasty Cuban beers and, of course, rum cocktails like the the daiquiri, mojito and cuba libre.

 
 

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