Havana (3 nights), Cienfuegos (2 nights), Sancti Spiritus (1 night).
An excellent introduction to the highlights of Cuba. The perfect combination with a week on the Beach. Hotels used on the tour are of a simple medium class standard.

Sat :Depart Gatwick for Havana. Meet on arrival and transfer to the Bello Caribe Hotel for the next 3 nights.

Sun: A full day tour of old and new Havana including lunch at a typical local restaurant. Visit the imposing colonial
fortress of EL Morro, the City Museum, Cathedral Square, Plaza de Armas and the Palace of the Captain General. In Modern Havana see Revolution Square and drive along La Rampa, the Cultural heart of the city.

Mon: Today follow the Hemingway trial. Drive to Finca la Vigia. Ernest Hemingway's former home which is now a museum. The interior has remained unchanged since the day Hemingway left. Continue to the picturesque village of Cojimar where Hemingway kept his boat El Pilar and was the inspiration for his novel "The Old Man and the Sea".

Tue: After breakfast leave Havana driving South East towards Guama. Visit the crocodile farm, then take a short boat trip on a canal to Treasure Lake and the reconstructed site of an ancient Arawak Indian village. After lunch drive to the infamous Bay of Pigs invasion site and nearby museum. Continue to Cienfuegos for two nights stay at the Jagua Hotel.

Wed: Morning city tour of with its many historical buildings including the 1870 Cathedral, also visit the Botanical Gardens. Continue to the Spanish colonial town of Trinidad founded by Valazquez in 1514, with its evocative old churches, palaces, museums and unspoiled cobblestone streets. Lunch at a local restaurant followed by a city tour including the Romantic Museum: a mansion converted into a museum and filled with locally made 19th century furnishings. Return to Cienfuegos for dinner and overnight at Jagua Hotel.

Thu: A beautiful morning drive through Sugar Mills Valley with spectacular views of the countryside. The ruins of  dozens of small 19th century sugar mills including warehouses, slave quarters and manor houses are dotted throughout the valley. Visit the Manaca Izaga watchtower which dates back to 1750. Lunch in the area and continue to sancti spiritus. A brief tour of this colonial town including a visit to the local museum. Dinner and overnight at Rancho Hatuey.

Fri: Drive to Varadero for a further week on the beach, or return to Havana for your overnight flight to Gatwick arriving Saturday morning.

GRAND TOUR OF CUBA -13 Nights

Havana (3 nights), Cienfuegos (2 nights), Sancti spiritis (1 night), Moron (1 night), Holgiun (1 night), Sanctiago de Cuba (3 nights), Varadero (2 nights).
                                 
A comprehensive and fascinating tour travelling by road from Havana to Varadero  finishing with a couple of days to relax by the beach. A wonderful opportunity to study Cuba's history and culture and to enjoy th island's beautiful countryside.

 Day 1 Depart London for Havana.  On arrival  transfer to the Novot Miramar for the next 3 nights.

 Day 2-6 Follow the same itinerary as the Images of Cuba tour days 2-6.

 Day 7 Drive to Ciego de Avila. On the way visit the small town of Florenci for lunch by the river. After lunch continue to Moron for dinner and overnight at the Moron Hotel Day 8 Drive to Camaguey, a city renowned for its white colonial buildings  and lush courtyard gardens. Tour the city including a visit to the museum.  Lunch and continue to Holguin. City tour including visits to the main square, General Calixto Garcia monument and La Loma de la Cruz, a hill overlooking the city. Day 9 Drive to the historic city of Bayamo where in 1868 the plantation owner Carlos Manuel de Cespedes freed his slaves to fight the Spanish. After lunch continue to Santiago de Cuba, the nation's second city, which nestles by the sea in the foothills of the impressive Sierra Maestra.
 Day 10 A tour of the city including some of Cuba's oldest palaces churches and museums. Visit Cespedes Park and Moncada Barracks where in 1953 revolutionaries led by Castro attacked Batista's troops, the beginning of the build-up to the 1959 revolution. Also visit El Morro Castle perched high above the bay.
 Day 11 Tour of Baconao National Park including a visit to Valle de la Prehistoric with its sculptures of prehistoric dinosaurs. Visit the Sierra Maestro Region where Castro and his revolutionaries fought the Batista Regime.
  Day 12 Transfer by road to Varadero where you spend the next three nights at the comfortable Cuatro Palmas located by the sea in Varadero town
Day 13-14 At leisure in Varadero (overnight Cuatro Palmas).
  Day 15 At leisure before the transfer to the airport to catch your overnight British Airways flight back to London.

                                         What's Included
                                         • Full board meals (no lunch day 7), breakfast only in Varadero
                                         • Services of an English speaking guide
                                         • All entrance fees as appropriate
                                         • Air-conditioned transportation
                                         • Hotels as per itinerary

Location: In a residential area approximately 15 minutes by taxi from the centre of Havana.

Accommodation: 136 air-conditioned rooms with a double or twin beds, satellite TV, telephone, shower & w.c, and balcony.

Facilities: A number of restaurants and bars including a pizzeria, swimming pool, gym, sauna, disco (only weekends), shops, hairdresser, tennis courts, pool room and bowling hall.

Opinion: An unpretentious and friendly hotel offering excellent value.

Prices based on Bed & Breakfast. Supplements per person per night: Single room £8 (1 May-30 Jun NIL). Dinner £6.

CHILD REDUCTION: 40%.

Location: Downtown within walking distance of Havana's historical sites. Established in 1909, the hotel was fully refurbished in 1991. All 188 air-conditioned rooms have a double or twin beds, satellite TV, telephone, safe, shower & w.c.

Facilities: Include two restaurants, lobby bar and cafe, shops and roof terrace bar with splendid views of the city.

Opinion: A comfortable medium class hotel with lots of character in a superb downtown location. Supplements per person per night: Single room £9.

Child Reduction: One child sharing with two adults 50% (Two children in own room 30%).

3. Bello Caribe Hotel

Location: In playa, on the western side of Havana in a residential area approximately 15 minutes by taxi from the centre of Havana.

Accommodation: 120 air-conditioned rooms with a double or twin beds, satellite TV, telephone, radio, safety box, shower & w.c, and some rooms with balcony.

Facilities: 2 restaurants, cafetaria, 4  bars, swimming pool,  shops, hairdresser, games area and tennis courts.

Opinion: An unpretentious, friendly and lively  hotel offers a good base for the independent traveller.

Location: Set back aa short walk from the beach through the hotel's sister properties and just a brief taxxi ride from the centre of Varadero.

Accommodation: 260 air-conditioned rooms with a double or twin beds, satellite TV, telephone, bath, shower & w.c. and balcony or terrace. Most of the rooms from the 2nd floor upwrds have a sea view.

Facilities: A beautiful freeform swimming pool with children's area and aqua-bar, restaurantts, coffee shop, bars, tennis court, hairdresser, shop, pool room and watersports centre.

Opinion: A livelly meddium class hotel offering excellent valluuee.

Prices baseddd on All Inclusive.

Supplements per person per night: Single room£13. Child Reduction 40%

Location: Set adjacent to a beautiful beach some 11km from the centre of Varadero

Accommodation: 331 air-conditioned rooms with a double or twin beds, satellite TV, phone, safe fridge, bath, shower & w.c.

Facilities:Two swimming pools, jacuzzi, a variety of restaurants including a 24 hour coffee bar, a number of bars, shops and watersports centre by the beach.

Opinion: A comfortable all inclusive hotel with a great choice of facilties. Excellent value for money.

Child Reduction: One child sharing with two adults 50% (Two children in own room 30%).

Location: Directly on the beach just 3 km from the centre of Varadero and sharing the gardens with its sister hotel LTI Bella Cost.

Accommodation: 233 comfortable air-conditioned rooms,( some connecting) with a double or twin beds, satellite TV, phone, safe, fridge, bath, shower & w.c. and balcony or terrace with either garden or seaviews.

Facilities: A spacious swimming pool with jacuzzi and childrens area, Mini Club,(4-12yrs) a variety of restaurants including A la carte, bars,  shops, two tennis courts, disco, daily entertainment and activities programme and watersports centre on the beach.

Opinion: A well managed All Inclusive hotel with an excellent choice of facilties.
 

Location: Next to the Isla del Sur Hotel a short walk from the beach.

Accommodation: 114 air-conditioned rooms built in two storey blocks, with a double or twin beds, satellite TV, telephone bath or shower & w.c.

Facilities: A buffet restaurant, bar and swimming pool.

Opinion: A simple and relaxed hotel with a beautiful beachfront setting. Supplements per person per night: single room £9.

Child Reduction: One child sharing with two adults 50% (two children in own room 30%).

2. ISLA DEL SUR HOTEL

Location: Directly on the beach some 6 km from the airport.

Accommodation: 57 large and tastefully decorated air-conditioned rooms in a two storey building, with a double or twin beds, satellite TV, telephone bath or shower & w.c. and balcony or terrace.

Facilities: A snack bar, 24 hour bar and swimming pool.

Opinion: A comfortable medium class hotel, ideal for families. Supplements per person per night: single room £9.

Child Reduction: One child sharing with two adults 50% (two children in own room 30%).

3. HOTEL PELICANO

Location: Directly on the beach some 3 km from the airport.

Accommodation: 230 comfortable air-conditioned rooms built in village style set in six blocks, with a double or twin beds, satellite TV, minifridge, telephone, bath or shower & w.c and balcony or terrace.

Facilities: Buffet restaurant, A la carte restaurant serving International cuisine, snack bar, 24 hours bar, shops, a large saltwater swimming pool, night club and tennis courts.

Opinion: A comfortable and relaxed beach hotel away from the pressures of everyday life. Supplements per person per night: single room £12.

Child Reduction: One child sharing with two adults 50% (two children in own room 30%