Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Real travelers love South America. Andean peaks, Amazonian rainforest, Patagonian glaciers, Incan ruins, colonial towns, white-sand beaches and vertiginous nightlife: the wonders of South America set the stage for incredible adventures.

The Caribbean is a region of the Americas that comprises the Caribbean Sea, surrounding coasts & its Islands. The Islands of the Caribbean Sea or West Indies are an extensive archipelago in the far west of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly strung between North & South America. The joyous mosaic of islands beckons paradise-hunters, an explosion of color, fringed by beaches & soaked in rum. The lively & intoxicating profusion of people & places is spread over 7000 islands (fewer than 10% are inhabited) but inspite of the ‘sharing’ there is also much that makes them different. It is as though the Islands were built for travel; places that excite, thrill, challenge & infuriate.

Timeworn but magnificent, dilapidated but dignified, fun yet maddeningly frustrating – Cuba is a country of indefinable magic, a vibrant cultural melting pot of African, European & Caribbean influences.  Trapped in a time warp, it is like a prince in a poor man’s coat: behind the sometimes shabby facades, gold dust lingers. This is a country where you can wave goodbye to everyday assumptions & expect the unexpected. If Cuba were a book, it would be James Joyce's Ulysses: layered, hard to grasp, frequently misunderstood, but – above all – a classic. Just bring an open mind & prepare for a long, slow seduction…

Arrive in Havana which combines faded European grandeur with Latin passion care-free life & beaches.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? – Havana Jose Martí International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next few days.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Complicated | Art & Architecture| Cool Cafes & Bohemian Bars | History

Emptied your pockets on world-class habanos cigars & Cuban anejo rum? Don't fret, Cuba's capital city can still be your oyster. From stunning views to small, leafy gardens hidden in plain sight & underground bunkers dating back to the cold war, Havana can seem like a confusing jigsaw puzzle, but work out how to put the pieces together & a beautiful picture emerges.

No one could have invented Havana - too audacious, too contradictory & despite 60 years of withering neglect, too damned beautiful.

How, it is anyone’s guess ? Maybe it is the long history of piracy, colonialism & mobster rule. Perhaps, it is the survivalist spirit of a populace scarred by 2 Independence wars, a Revolution & continuing US animosity. Or possibly, it is something to do with the indefatigable salsa energy that ricochets off walls & emanates most emphatically from the people.

For centuries, it has served as the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. It was 1492 that Christopher Columbus was completely mesmerized looking out at the coast from the bow of his ship La Santa Maria. Right in front of his 3 ships, a magical Island appeared full of trees, birds & fruits, a completely new kind of beauty.

Originally christened La Villa de San Cristobal de la Habana, the city became a depository for treasures that Spanish fleets brought to the New World. It also became the centre of trade & commerce between the old & new worlds. Havana’s strategic geographic position was a major factor in its rapid growth & in the decision to build a sea wall in the 17^th century which took more than 100 years to complete.

More than 500 years later in Havana, history is piled up like hoarded treasure in a dusty attic - except these days, the colonial thoroughfares look a little less dusty, thanks to proactive City Historian Eusebio Leal Spengler, who has been nailing the city’s exhausted infrastructure back together piece by piece for more than 30 years.

It may not be like the scene in Paris or New York quite yet, but Havana's art culture is one of the city's biggest surprises. The creativity is nothing new. Cuban artists have been quietly challenging cultural elites since the age of Jose Nicolas de la Escalera & his depictions of enslaved black people. His work & of others, is splendidly displayed in the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, while newer, racier crews congregate for electrifying 'happenings' at the Fabrica de Arte Cubano or take to the streets with their rollers & brushes in Habana Vieja.

Walk the streets of Habana Vieja today & you will quickly feel a genuine connection with the past in imposing coastal fortifications & intimate, traffic-free Plazas stuffed with Museums. Equally engrossing are the scattered leftovers from Cuba's more recent marriages with the USA & the USSR.

Havana is new & vintage at the same time. It is the cultural center par none & the big events almost invariably take place here. If you have any chance of running into Herbie Hancock or Madonna or other A-listers, it will be in Havana. Precisely because of the coming together of so many different facets of the city (beaches, architecture, nightlife, commerce, history, etc.) Havana is the main hub of Cuba.

Life in La Havana passes by surrounded by music, tradition, culture, national monuments & natural attractions of immeasurable value. Dances & Cuban “sones” infects each one to this land’s children & to guests, as well; customs & traditions remain untouched

Today, Havana is the heart of the nation’s busy political, scientific & cultural life. Museums, Theatres, Concert halls, Art Galleries & Cultural institutions are popular venues, while some - such as the National Ballet of Cuba, House of the Americas, Foundation of New Latin American Film & National Folkloric Dance Group -have won international acclaim.

Being a major Port & capital of the most sensual & musical country, Havana upholds the core of Spanish colonial rule, culture & architectural styles and is known for its care-free life & beaches. The capital is characterized by an intense cultural activity throughout the year to delight the population & visitors.

Spanish colonial architecture in 16^th century UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Havana, the city’s historic core, includes the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, a Fort & a maritime Museum. The National Capitol Building is an iconic 1920s landmark & the baroque Catedral de San Cristobal & Plaza Vieja reflect the city’s vibrant architectural mix.

Havana is a splendid architectural rainbow as the influence of different styles & cultures - Arabic, Spanish, Italian, Greek & Roman, is illustrated in buildings. Neo-classicism style can be seen throughout the city in the buildings constructed in 18^th & 19^th centuries. At the turn of the 20^th century, large buildings were built with the international influences of art nouveau, art deco & eclectic.

Modernism, too, transformed much of the city & can be noticed by its high-quality smaller individual buildings, such as Habana Libre. The Plaza de la Revolucion, has many monumental modernist buildings including the National Theater that reminds one of the Royal Festival Hall in London. Also in the Square, there is the Jose Marti Memorial, the tallest tower in Cuba at 109 meters. Old Havana, a fundamental enclave of colonial architecture, features narrow & shady streets & some unique Squares.

In 1863, the city walls were demolished so that the city could be expanded & new splendid buildings were constructed. At the end of the 19^th century, the wealthy classes moved to the elegant neighborhood of Vedado, with its many Villas & Palaces.

Under American influence in the 20^th century, the city grew & became the capital of gambling & corruption. Many grand Hotels, Casinos & splendid Nightclubs were built, such as, still existing, Focsa & the Hotel Nacional.

With the victory of the Revolution in 1959, led by Fidel Castro Ruz, great social transformations were made, mainly in relation to education, public health, services, construction of social housing & official buildings. An extensive network of educational institutions guarantees access for all citizens to the most comprehensive educational services up to university level & the same happens with health services.

In 2014, Havana was officially conferred the status, mainly for its mythical appeal, welcoming environment, the charisma & joviality of its inhabitants, as one of the winners of the New 7 Wonder Cities Contest in a global campaign when millions of world citizens, voted in an Internet-based polls organised by the New 7 Wonders Foundation.

The global competition began in 2007 with more than 1200 nominees from 220 countries. That list was reduced to 77 as there was a limit of one city per country. It was further narrowed down by a panel of experts headed by Federico Mayor Zaragoza, former Director General of UNESCO, to 28 suggestions. Following the announcement of the 28 finalists, the winning 7 cities were chosen by voters from around the world. None of the world’s 7 winning cities are in Europe or the US. Others selected are Beirut, Doha, Durban, Havana, Kuala Lumpur, La Paz & Vigan. The Cuban government installed a commemorative plaque to endorse the recognition, on the esplanade of the UNESCO World Heritage listed San Salvador de la Punta Fortress at the entrance of the Bay. Havana continues to thrill.

Unwinding at the seaside Malecon is a quintessential Havana experience. Strolling along the Waterfront as the sun sets is a unique opportunity to witness the liveliest part of the city. Catch a glimpse of a Cuban kaleidoscope - young sweet hearts hand-in-hand, street musicians playing traditional Cuban hits, youngsters blasting reggaeton on portable speakers - you get a little bit of everything by just walking (or sitting) & people watching.

Evening, meet the Journeys Rep & proceed to enjoy a Welcome Dinner in a local Paladar.

Paladares (plural) are one of the best ways to enjoy local Cuban cuisine. A Paladar is a small, family-run restaurant, usually in a converted part of a home. Many Paladares appear & operate much like a normal restaurant. Here, guests can taste some of the best food in Cuba as well as experience intimate & warm setting with the locals, featuring traditional Cuban food & music.  (Generally, Groups cannot be accommodated). Guests are free to try one on their own in any / all the Cuban cities on their Itinerary (our local office will be able to provide suggestions & / or make arrangements based on your tastes & preferences).

Come back to the hotel.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 09:00 am & proceed for an exciting full day sightseeing tour of Havana.

Havana refuses to grow old, even with its old architecture - the seams of time visible on many of its facades.  Havana cleans itself up & is re-painted over & over again, modernizing life within its old walls. 

Begin your exploration today with a ride in one of the brightly-painted vintage American cars, which is a tourist attraction in itself..

When the US placed an embargo on Cuba in 1960, the Island’s pipeline of American cars was abruptly cut off. Now, you will find 60,000 vintage cars from the 1950s, 40s & even the 30s. Meticulously maintained for decades, the streets of Havana feel like one, big, classic car show - but not without some surprises under the hood, as Cubans used whatever they could find to keep their cars running.

The most significant US restrictions, including those on cars, began in 1960. That year, Castro’s government seized multiple American-owned businesses & converted them into publicly-owned companies. President Eisenhower retaliated in October with a total ban on all exports to Cuba. Often-overlooked is the fact that Castro banned importing foreign vehicles & parts 1959, a year before Eisenhower’s embargo.

Drive past the city’s iconic Malecon, the crystalline waterfront Avenue (the favorite place of Havana’s locals), passing through the Monuments, Forts & the art deco style buildings along the coastal esplanade & through the Vedado & Miramar suburbs.

Then, venture into the labyrinth of streets, on a walking tour, crossing Avenue del Puerto to Habana Vieja (Old Havana) with its 4 Squares, baroque Cathedral, beautiful neo-classical buildings & the main Square - Plaza de Armas. Old Havana is just 2 square miles, but packed with weeks worth of attractions.

In the early 1500s, Havana numbered 4 cobblestone streets with 18^th century facades & Calle de Los Oficios was chief among them. It is not as busy as some nearby lanes but the closest you will get to see where it all began. For more hustle, at Calle de Los Mercaderes, you will find the city’s burgeoning class of small businesses, keeping true to its name as the street of merchants. Meet local people along the way, interacting with small business ‘entrepreneurs’ speaking about their new businesses. Learn about Cuba’s dual-sector economy, in which private & government-owned businesses operate, as you wander through shops selling food, books & art.

Cultural Spaces in Havana abound - at least 21 Cinemas, 34 Video Rooms, 52 Museums, 25 Libraries, 52 Bookstores, 11 Theaters, 34 Cultural Houses, 4 Trova Houses & 35 Art Galleries.

Los Oficios also connects to the equally old Calle Obispo, a narrow street designed to protect passerby from the sun & the site of an original city gate past the walls of Old Havana.

Havana’s oldest streets lead to the city’s first public Square, 16^th century Plaza de Armas or “Square of Arms” which gained its current name as the site of military parade ground under Spanish rule & as a leafy Oasis on a sunny day. Major events are held in this Square, where the Castillo de la Real Fuerza (1577) exhibits the most important pottery art collection in the Island & the building’s Tower is crowned by La Giraldilla, an artistic wind vane that has become a symbol of the city. There is also the Captain-General’s Palace (Museum of the City), El Segundo Cabo & a statue of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, a native of Bayamo & the father of Cuban independence.

Old Havana’s other 17^th century Plazas, each with a soul all its own, surrounded by opulent Mansions, aren’t far away. Take a break in the interior courtyard of a colonial house, which had its time of grace in the 19^th century as well as now (because we all know vintage has a particular charm).

Plaza de la Catedral, once known as “Swamp Square” for its muddy terrain, is home to Havana’s most impressive Church & Covent where one of the cloisters house the Museum of Sacred Art. It also has the main conduit of Old Havana’s oldest aqueduct, as well as the area’s oldest house - Casa del Conde de Casa Bayona, circa 1720.

The recently restored Plaza Vieja, formerly known as “Plaza Nueva,” was built as an alternative to Plaza de Armas. Today, it is home to some of Havana’s best architecture & an excellent array of restaurants & coffee shops. There is Plaza de San Francisco de la Havana, which takes its name from the Franciscan convent built there in 1591, a favorite spot for pigeons.

Stop by the famous Revolutionary Square where Fidel Castro gave some of his most rousing speeches. Take-in the tropical views & classic American cars all around & see the immense images of Che Guevara & Camilo Cienfuegos that adorn the surrounding edifices. Notice the lack of advertising - nothing but political exhortations are allowed.

You will also see one of the oldest & historic hotels in Cuba, among many. Hotel Inglaterra, one of few US-owned hotels in Cuba, opened in 1875 & played host to Anna Pavlova, Winston Churchill, now countless American visitors & writer Jose Marti who in 1879, gave a speech here advocating for Cuban independence from Spain, which came less than 20 years later. Across from the Hotel, there is a marble statue of the writer, which is thought to be the oldest statue of the Marti in Cuba.

Next door, you will find the magnificent El Capitolio Nacional (National Capitol of Cuba), one of the most emblematic buildings in Havana & a landmark from the time between Cuban Independence & the Cuban Revolution. The majestic Capitol was the seat of the legislative power before the triumph of the Revolution & marks the kilometer 0 milestone of Cuba's highways.

One of the most visited sites in Havana, this majestic construction in the Centro Habana, is similar to the Capitol in Washington D.C, but a meter higher, a meter wider & a meter longer, as well as much more rich in detail. Supported by USA, the building was commissioned by Cuban President Gerardo Machado & built from 1926 to 1929 under the direction of Eugenio Rayne, with a labour force of 5000 workers, with a price tag of US$17 millions.

In between, enjoy a typical Lunch in a Paladar with mojitos, music & traditional cuisine serving homemade farm-to-table Cuban dishes.

Later, visit a good place to delve into Cuba's absorbing history, the fascinating Museum of the Revolution, housed in the impressive former Presidential Palace, the former residence for all Cuban Presidents, from Mario Garcia Menocal to Flugencio Batista.

We will end the day with a visit to one of the NGOs (non-governmental organization) overseeing sustainability projects.

Proceed to the Arte Corte community project to see how small private businesses have impacted the neighborhoods of Old Havana.

Journey up Avenida de Belgica until you reach Barrio del Santo Angel, a beautiful little neighbourhood in Old Havana flanked by a Church made famous in the legendary Cuban novel "Cecilia Valdes o la Loma del Angel" by Cirilo Villaverde”, considered the best Cuban novel of the 19^th century, perfectly evoking the Cuba of the early 1800s, echoing the growing anti-slavery sentiment & delving into the complex problems of race relations in Cuba.

Coming here, you might imagine the book’s characters coming to life in this picturesque little neighbourhood, which, has once again risen to fame this time not because of a novel but because of a rather peculiar community project.

Established about 8 years ago, Arte Corte is a Hairdressing Salon of Gilberto Valladares (Papito) that is also an “Interactive Museum” of the art of hair dressing, where the customers, while comfortably seated in a 100 year old chair awaiting their turn, may view antique scissors, razors, mirrors, vials, shaving brushes, combs, brushes & advertisements, along with original paintings & drawings by Cuban artists, all focusing on the topic of hairdressing.

Loquacious like all good barbers, Gilberto speaks at the same speed & enthusiasm as his hands handle the scissors. However, his conversations don’t involve homeruns made by his favourite baseball team or inappropriate comments about the beautiful woman who lives across the street.

Instead, Papito talks of his Projects, his most recent find for a future Hairdressing Museum, or a new addition to his art collection. It is therefore hardly surprising that we may find, seated in the salon, a popular TV announcer determined to change her look or a renowned Cuban art curator waiting for a traditional haircut.

The narrow alley Callejon de los Peluqueros literally translates as "Hairdressers’ Alleyway" & the neighbourhood has earned this nickname thanks to the visionary Barber who found a way to give back to his local community while providing jobs to unskilled workforce & idle youth &, at the same time, elevating the art of hair cutting to new heights.

This is the one place in Cuba where you will find the biggest concentration of Hairdressing salons & Barber shops, as well as a Hairdressing school churning out skilled Barbers & Hairdressers, trained by Papito himself, the mastermind behind Arte Corte & a Collector of all manner of hair-salon-related objects & barber shop artifacts, the number of youngsters who have benefitted from the Project grows by the day.

Papito’s Barber shop & salon is a living Museum with historic hairdressing relics, from antique barber chairs to old barber’s tools that are so well-looked after they can still be used.

His salon is a living work of art, a trip down memory lane, a time-lapse guests will want to step into (& maybe make the most of the occasion to have a haircut, trim your beard or style your hair in the most amazing setting ever!).

Since 2002, Arte Corte cultural Project has gained the support of the City Historian’s Office & has brought together Barbers, Hairdressers, Models, Artists & Historians who seek to preserve & disseminate the history of hairdressing in Cuba & organize exhibitions, shows & art festivals.

Thanks to Papito, the Project has breathed new life into a previously decaying neighbourhood & the place has been revived to the point that it now feels chic & trendy without having abandoned its original, deep-set, colonial beauty & architecture.

You will notice the constant references to hair cutting, thanks to the omnipresent images of scissors, the eye-catching wall art, the signs & the many private businesses who echo the Community Project. The vast majority of "Paladares" & Bars in this atmospheric alleyway, put a percentage of their profits back into this Project.

The Project also organises an annual event, presenting an award, to the most experienced & successful hair stylists of Cuba, named in honour of internationally renowned Cuban barber, poet, journalist, patriot Juan Evangelista Valdes Veitia (1836-1918).

To celebrate the Barber’s & Hairdresser’s Day, first begun in 1946, a simultaneous haircutting event gathers hundreds of barbers & hairdressers (193 in 2019) who turn Plaza Vieja into a huge outdoor salon, which also serves as the perfect setting for “Habaname” (Havana-me), a Hairstyle Show that exhibits creative & fantasy coiffures inspired by emblematic sites & monuments of the city.

Spend an hour here interacting with the locals. Walk along & admire the new private businesses that have popped up, the private hair salons, owned & run by members of the Arte Corte community.

The tour ends & you are transferred back to the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration or optional activities (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

We have not envisaged Dinner tonight to leave the evening free to enable you to walk around the hotel, visit a Music Club to enjoy the Band playing lively Cuban music or sample some of the other nightlife.

Today, you will embark on your culinary adventures in Cuba.

Morning at 08.00 am, accompanied by a Journeys Rep, proceed to an Agro-ecological & Community Project within the Finca Integral La Yoandrato, to take a look at their sustainable agriculture outreach.

The Farm owned by Yoandra Alvarez was granted a Prize for excellence by the National Urban & Suburban Agriculture Group of the Ministry of Agriculture.

In colonial times this area was called Finca La Carbonera & permanent labor in the stone quarries & tile factories was provided by African slaves. It is even said that these slaves were subcontracted by their owners for the constructions of Mansions within the city walls of Havana.

Enjoy a tour around the Farm, declared a Provincial Botanical Garden, where one can see more then 110 native plant varieties as well as other fruit trees, herbs, legumes such as yucca & plantains - all clearly marked with technical names & details - that were brought to Cuba by the slaves from Africa. Tour the medicinal gardens & visit the Nursery where Beehives are the main source of their local honey.

Visitors can see a beautiful green symphony that reflects serenity & harmony, smell the aromas of flowers & fresh herbs, touch the trees, listen to the sound of wind & chirping birds in the countryside. There is also a relic, an original cart moved from the city of Bayamo, in which slaves & sugar cane were transported centuries ago.

There are several community out-reach Projects. Best known is La Casa del Campesino, where elderly neighbors are offered free lunch, in a 19^th century Hut. Finca la Yoandra also supports a Project called “De la edad de oro a la tercera edad” which invites young kids & elderly people to the Farm for stimulating activities. For most, it has become a part of their daily routine.

Learn about the community & interact with the staff, volunteers & the people who come here.

And now comes the exciting part. Walk into the in-house restaurant called ‘Divino’s & immerse yourself in the ultimate culinary experience. Participate in a Cooking class assisted by the Chef & cook authentic mouth-watering dishes using fresh local produce. The Farm is a delightful setting for a delicious Cuban lunch on a beautiful tropical afternoon.

Divino’s specialty is its wood & charcoal cooking, dating back to the African slave days & including organic food, much of which comes from the La Yoandra Estate. Learn how to recreate classic homemade favorites like Ropa Vieja & find out about Cuban culinary culture in a fun & relaxed family-style environment.

The charming restaurant is located on the terrace of the country house on the Farm, between columns & arches among the beauty of the natural environment. In the basement, they have a wine cellar with an exquisite selection, including Margaux, Brunello di Montalcino 1997, Vega Sicilia Unico de Ribera del Duero, Chablis & Dom Perignon champagne (Lunch included | Drinks not - direct payment)  

The restaurant is filled with an extraordinary unique collection of antiques - objects, documents & photographs related to beverage & liquor brands - including tools, souvenirs, Coca-Cola made in Cuba & ceramic beer bottles brought to the Island in Galleons

With influences from Spanish, African, Caribbean & Indigenous flavors, Cuban food features a vibrant mix of homegrown recipes to savor & enjoy. Hearty stews, all kinds of beans with rice, distinctive fruits & vegetables…uniquely named dishes like ropa vieja, arroz con pollo, picadillo & lechon asado…decadently sweet desserts & meals topped off with the ultra-sweet & strong espresso Cuban coffee...these amazing flavors beckon.

Finally, it is time to reap what you sow - enjoy the dishes that you helped create.

After lunch, depart by 02.00 pm from the Farm back to the city.  

Another exciting stop before you reach the hotel.

Check out Museo del Ron Havana Club nestled in the heart of Old Havana, in an elegant 18^th century colonial house, that offers a fascinating encounter with the history of the iconic Cuban Rum.

Sugarcane & its ethereal descendant - authentic Cuban Rum - are closely associated with the legends of the Cuban nation, with its countryside, its culture, its music & its spirit.

Havana is ground zero for the best Rum & Cigar experiences in Cuba. These 2 world famous Cuban exports are found on every street corner in every town in the country. Havana & Cigars & Rum are things that go together well.

Rum is the alcohol produced by the distillation of sugarcane by-products, typically molasses. When sugarcane fields spread rapidly throughout the Caribbean, Distilleries followed close behind. By the close of the 18^th century, Rum production was well established. Diverse styles of Rum resulted from the natural variations in raw materials & different production techniques employed across the region.

The careful production of fine Rum on the Island dates only to the 19^th century. An 1827 survey counted 300 Distilleries in the country. Then, in 1862, a wine merchant in the town of Santiago named Don Facundo Bacardi y Maso began making the Rum that would make Cuba famous.

A ‘must visit’ stop in Old Havana for any Connoisseur is the Museo del Ron Havana Club & a Tasting.

Rum grew along Cuban identity & Havana Club is an outstanding champion of Rum culture.

The Havana Club Museum is home to everything you need to know about the history of Rum in Cuba, how it is made, as well as a sweet little Bar where you can sample fine Mojitos, Daiquiris or sip some golden Rum aged to perfection.

Havana Club doesn’t do any actual distilling in the city, their largest Distilleries can be found in Santa Cruz del Norte & in San Jose. Guests can experience the history & production of this spirit here & understand how the sugar cane changed the course of history, turning Cuba into the Cradle of Light Rum.

Enjoy a ‘guided’ tour at the Museum through the history & production of “the happy son of sugar cane” & discover an invaluable part of the Cuban culture & tradition.

After strolling through the Galleries, visitors have the opportunity to ‘taste’ 3 symbolic Rums produced by the Havana Club, with different colors, aromas & flavors, based on evolution achieved through natural aging - Anejo 3 Years, Anejo 7 Years & Seleccion de Maestros.

Once visitors have walked the Rum path, those interested in a more intensive immersion, can act at being a Bartender Apprentice. Experience the art of mixing a Cocktail with a senior Bartender as your host. Learn how to prepare 2 classic Cocktails, with the Cuban seal & surprise your friends at home.

Once the path of knowing the history & production of the Rum has been completed, if you like to combine sensations, a pairing between a Cuban Cigar & Havana Club Rum will be the experience to choose. Designed for connoisseurs, perform this ceremony accompanied by a specialist & enjoy 2 quintessential Cuban products.

The 2 hour experience ends with the Tasting & you are transferred back to the hotel by late afternoon.

Evening, meet the Journeys Rep & proceed for a delicious dinner at San Cristobal Paladar. There will a ‘Culinary’ aspect to the Dinner as you would be have the opportunity to see the kitchen & interact with the Chef.

San Cristobal, exuding authenticity & charm, is named after its owner & Chef Carlos Cristobal Marquez Valdes. Cluttered, eclectic, this is a still lived-in space occupying the downstairs floor of an early 20th-century mansion. Piles of old books are stacked atop beautiful old furniture; unique black & white photos jostle for space with antique record covers & bull fighting posters, while a selection of clocks, religious artefacts & even a full-size zebra pelt add to the mix. China elephants share the front room with a model Red Indian & a shrine to the black Virgin Mary (famously depicted in Our Lady of Regla image in the Church of the same name).

The food is purely Cuban-creole -Malanga (taro), yucca (cassava), cerdo asado (roast pork), lobster, fresh fish, shrimp & other traditional fare. A medium rare steak is a medium rare steak, not bloody as hell or burnt to a crisp. Perhaps the place is over-dependent on Carlos but at least while he is there, the food is reliably good. The desserts are expansive & perhaps here the imagination runs a little wilder with the Pudin San Cristobal (pudding made with eggs, fruit, milk & almonds), excellent; the fruit tart & rice puddings are pretty passable. The wine list is broad enough & reasonably priced (Dinner included | Drinks not – direct payment).

Transfer back to the hotel.

Morning, get ready to depart for the countryside by 08.00 am.

Today’s adventure begins with a visit to Finca Vista Hermosa - a wholly organic, rural experience a stone’s throw from Havana’s bustling city centre, offers an idyllic natural oasis just minutes from Old Havana’s bustling historic city centre.

Known for its Salsa, Cocktails & colonial cities, Cuba’s green credentials have taken a back seat - until recently. With a growing organic farming movement & an increasing focus on healthy produce amidst Cuba’s picturesque green landscapes, the local col communities are spearheading the Island’s green revolution.

Finca Vista Hermosa is a beautiful Farm offering authentic green experiences that are also 100% organic; from free-roaming animals to sustainable cattle-rearing to ethically-grown crops & harvesting practices to eco-friendly delicious, freshly prepared locally-grown food cooked & served by warm, candid “guajiros” (the term for Cuban countrymen) in the open-air is beginning to attract weary travelers in search of countryside charm.

One of the things that make this Havana Farm stand out from others; (beyond organic food) are the idyllic picture postcard views all around.

Finca Vista Hermosa’s approach to farming is all about sustainability. Both for the end consumers but most importantly, for the benefit of the environment & the health & wellbeing of animals. No chemicals or artificial fertilisers are ever used here. Not on the fields & the crops and certainly not on the animals raised for meat and dairy. Everything here is organic to the core.

The animals here are one of the happiest & best-fed in Cuba. From peacocks to chicken, pigs & cows, they all graze & feed on naturally nutrient-rich soil. King grass & mulberry bushes abounds & the pigs love munching on “palmiche”. Visitors can witness their feeding routine as they search for their favourite fruit under the tall palm trees & they have a lot of space to roam around. And, as the biggest producer of goat’s milk in the province, there is no shortage of goats to spot here!

Farm to Table is a concept that’s rarely applied elsewhere in Havana, or just beginning to be, but here, the utterly delicious & wholesome food, is a way of life. What they produce here, both, crops & cattle raised for meat & dairy, is exclusively served at the onsite restaurant & at a few city restaurants.

You will not only be shown the Farm’s stock of cheeses & cold meats but the Meal here, includes a selection of these homemade cheeses & salami, accompanied by homemade bread. For mains, there is roasted pork, rice & black beans with a side of fresh vegetables grown here followed by a traditional homecooked desert.

You may even talk to the Chef & observe the farm-to-table Cuban cuisine being prepared. And if you want to, you can even enjoy a horse ride that takes you to a panoramic lookout point with amazing views over land & sea.

Finally, it is time to go back.

Reach the hotel by afternoon & relax (or we would be happy to offer suggestions if you want to move around Old Havana).

Evening, we have an exciting adventure lined up.

Meet the Journeys Rep / Driver at 07.30 pm & proceed to El Tropicana Night Club.

Tropicana Cabaret is a Vegas-style extravaganza with 200 beautiful dancers & performers going through the full range of popular local dances with excellent choreography & routines that narrates the story of Cuban history & its people through interpretive dance.

The 3 hour Show features flamboyant cabaret routines highlighted by a never-ending parade of mulata (mixed-race) showgirls in their see-through fishnet body suits dripping with silver baubles that dangle like still-wet tiny fishes, silver thigh-high boots, ruffled frills, sensational headdresses & feathers more ostentatious than peacocks’ with glowing chandeliers atop their heads, sashaying & shaking as they strut down the aisle. Jugglers, Acrobats, even Comedians are often featured, as are solo Singers who perform everything from boleros to romantic opera - all a legacy of the 19^th century Cuban music halls that were the modern Cabarets’ antecedent.

Tropicana’s performers are selected from the creme de la creme of Cuba’s beauties, dancers & singers & artists. So esteemed are figurantes & bailarinas that more than 10,000 hopefuls a year apply for auditions.

International celebrities such as Nat “King” Cole, Josephine Baker, Carmen Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Rita Montaner, Elena Burke & Bola de Nieve, amongst others.  headlined the shows, drawing the Havana elite.

The Tropicana Club came into being in 1939, as an open-air theater in the lush tropical gardens of the former residence of the U.S. Ambassador in a 6 acre Estate in the Marianao neighborhood. The surroundings featured effusive tropical foliage as part of its setting. Guests instantly feel welcomed by large majestic trees, such as royal palm trees, ackee & mango trees, cedars & interesting sculptures such as the Fountain of the Nymphs & the Slender Dancer by the entrance, surely symbolic of the decadence of earlier times in Cuba that adorn the Entrance. The greenery forms part of the interior design, giving this enchanted place the aspect sensation of a magic forest. As you watch people exit vintage cars by the entrance, imagine how it must have been to drive up to the Club during its heyday!

It was initially designed to accommodate 300 guests, something that seemed like an unrealistic feat at the time. The fabulous Show also takes place from 8.30 p.m. till dawn on the open-air Terrace surrounded by a luxuriant forest, with a seating for up to 1400 people & last till dawn. Today, the Tropicana fills almost to capacity for its showstopping performance.

With an oral history of the Club’s heyday, the decadent jet-set heaven of 1950s Havana, the only place to be was Tropicana, a pleasure dome where the Shows (& Showgirls) were dazzling, the gambling was high-stakes & the revelers included Marlon Brando, Ernest Hemingway, Rita Hayworth & J.F.K., to name a few.

The Show was so popular that a 50 passenger “Tropicana Special” flew nightly from Miami for an evening of entertainment that ended in the Nightclub’s Casino, which offered a daily $10,000 Bingo jackpot & on Sundays, a free Raffle give-away of a new Automobile.

Jean Stein chronicles the whirl of sexual freedom, official corruption & Mafia control, that fueled the party - until the night Fidel Castro’s revolutionaries took the floor.

Watch the spectacular performance under the stars in one of the largest & most beautiful Nightclubs in Cuba, as you enjoy Dinner. The chords of the Violin & Piano, the moon filtering through the greenery & an encompassing view of the surrounding Garden confirm the exoticism & sophistication of this luxurious settings.

Transfer back to the hotel.

Today, you will enjoy an exciting experience, internationally famous, not to be missed.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 07:00 am & proceed to arguably the most picturesque part of Cuba - the Vinales region, for a full day excursion.

If you have ever wondered where the world’s finest Cigars start out, it is in the innumerable lovingly cultivated Tobacco Plantations of Cuba’s Pinar del Rio province known as the Capital of Tobacco. But those Plantations are only part of the area’s magic.

Pinar del Rio city is the capital of the most western province that bears the same name. It owes its name to the great numbers of enormous pines that you will find as you enter the province.

Follow the Tobacco route traveling to the province of Pinar del Rio, specifically to the region of Vuelta Abajo, where the best Tobacco in the world is harvested.

Travelling west through thousands of acres of farmland, mostly grains, rice, sugarcane & coffee, pass by the surreal limestone mountains strung along flat plains, called 'Mogotes' (translating as 'haystacks' - a relevant term, considering their steep sides & rounded jungly tops) by the locals, jutting out of the landscape, formed by the erosion of limestone over millions of years.

These plains, where Cuban cowboys roam & dreamy villages doze, are ringed by mountain ranges crowned by vast stretches of tropical forests.

Around them, the iron-rich, red soil creates a patchwork of fields growing some of the best Tobacco in the world - the raw material for Cuba's celebrated Cigars. Mogotes tower above as you pass through Tobacco fields & drying barns.

Pinar del Rio may seem simple compared to other big cities in Cuba but that doesn't take away from its beauty. Among its most emblematic architectural treasures is the Palacio de Guasch dating back to 1909 & combining various architectural styles reminiscent of early 20^th century Catalonian modernism, which houses the Museo de Ciencias Naturales Sandalio de Noda (Sandalio de Noda Museum of Natural Sciences) offering impressive collections of the history of the fauna & flora of the Island.

Teatro Jose Jacinto Milanes (Milanese Theatre) named after the poet Jacinto Milanes, in a 19^th century recently restored neoclassical building, is Cuba's most interesting theater. The Provincial History Museum offers a good overview of the history of the province & the city of Pinar del Rio, from pre-Columbian times to the present day.

Due to its proximity to the area’s Tobacco Farms (though most bigger Farms have their own production facilities in-house), it is no wonder that there is a Cigar Factory in the city. The Francisco Donatie Cigar Factory, housed in a building that was once a hospital & then a prison, today produces some of the best Cigars in the country.

Several highways criss-cross the area, through the mountains or along the coast, yielding spectacular views at every turn. The Central Highway winds through most of Pinar del Rio's mountain ranges & swings by Pan de Guajaibon - Cuba's highest western mountain peak.

There are a few other things to see just outside the city. The 22 metre high, spring-fed Soroa (Rainbow) Waterfall is home to about 1,000 species of exotic orchids. Cueva de los Portales was one of Che Guevara’s hideout during the 1962 Missile Crisis & the Cave houses a small Museum. Cuban Mantua is a small village & a National Monument where in January, 1896, the Independence Army's western campaign came to an end.

Spend 2 hours in the city before continuing on the tour.

Somewhat far from the city, you will be able to admire how traditional Havana cigars are produced.

But, before leaving the city limts, you must taste a typical rum, unique to this area. Since 1892, the Garay house has produced the exquisite Guayabita del Pinar, the famous Pinar del Rio liqueur produced in 2 versions, sweet or dry rum, prepared from guayabitas (a variety of small guavas that only grows in the surrounding woods). Enjoy a brief tour of the Factory & taste the liqueur. You may even purchase a bottle.

And now, proceed to the raison d’etre of today’s excursion - to discover how Cigars are produced.

Tobacco is still king on Cuba's western fingertip, a rolling canvas of rust-red oxen-furrowed fields, thatched tobacco-drying houses & sombrero-clad Guajiros (country folk).

Tobacco experts often say that the best & the worst Tobacco in the world come from Cuba. The leaf is grown in just about every region of the Island. However, it is the rich red soil of the Vuelta Abajo that produces the best, both for Filler & Wrapper.

80 percent of the land in Pinar del Rio is in the hands of small farmers who are members of cooperatives who share their land & other resources, such as tractors, equipment & supplies. All over the Island, Cuban agriculture benefits from the traditions passed down through generations of farm families, who know best how to make the most of their crops. Nationwide, about 60,000 people are employed in Tobacco industry during most of the year & during “peak” seasons, that number can grow to 150,000, many of whom are volunteers.

To learn about this exciting field, we chose La Finca de Quemado de Rubi owned by Hector Luis, one of Cuba's most famous Tobacco farmer, who was awarded Hombre Habano prize for the excellence of his leaves.

A 25 minute tour of the Farm will illustrate the complex process of cutting, drying, aging & selection of the leaves which must be picked within a month in a harvest process that is very interesting to observe. Witness the creation of the much-exported Cuban Cigars in their infancy & learn about how they are made & for the novelty, even try one yourself.

You will visit the fields & an Escogida, where leaves are selected & a Despalillo workshop, where Tobacco is removed of its stems. Then, see the production center where Cigars are finally produced.

Not only will you be able to watch the manufacturing process & the traditional way of working of the Guajiros, the Cuban farmers, but you will also be able to taste them.

Making a Cigar with a handful of dried leaves may seem easy ... until you try it for yourself. All the tradition behind a Cigar is inherited from one generation to another & knowledge of this crop is of great value to the locals of Pinar del Río.

Made entirely by hand, Cuban Cigars ignite the most intense passions in thousands of smokers around the world. It is interesting to compare the commercial Cigar market with the farmers who actually grow the Tobacco & you will meet some of them along the way.

In true PDR form, the Tobaccos are well-packed, giving the Cigar a nice firmness throughout & a closed foot. The aromatic wrapper is an attractive blonde, even in color & sealed with a perfectly fashioned Cuban pigtail at the head.

Continue on to the next destination - serene Vinales, a small rural town known for its small limestone cliffs (but, you have seen them before). Along the way, stop at Mirador los Jazmines (Jazmines Viewpoint), one of the best places to see the mogotes in their full glory.

When Pinar del Rio's greenery starts to erupt into craggy mogotes & you spy a cigar-chewing Guajiro driving his oxen & plough through a rust-colored tobacco field, you know you have arrived.

People don't come here for the music or the mojitos, they come to dip indulgently into the natural world, hiking, horse-riding or cycling through some of the most wonderful landscapes in Cuba. Beautifully rural, Vinales is endowed in large limestone cliffs covered with flat flora & plant life over a circular end, something that is very similar to Vietnam.

Despite its longstanding love affair with tourism, this slow, relaxed, wonderfully traditional settlement is a place that steadfastly refuses to put on a show. What you see here is what you get - an agricultural town where front doors are left wide open, everyone knows everyone else & a night out on the tiles involves house owners far in a rural area, will gently sway back & forth in their rocking chairs (sillon) whilst on their rustic porch analyzing the Milky Way. Workers will be manning horse & carts as they collect goods.

Vinales is a perfect example of the work ‘behind the scenes’ that produces Cuba's crops as any farming town would be, but the authentic production of the world-famous Cuban cigars gives it a unique selling point. The streets epitomise the laid back nature of it’s surroundings.

Although there isn’t a huge market, Vinales does have some impressive & noteworthy buildings. Galeria da Arte has a small collection of work from local artists that you will really want in your living room. Next door is Casa de la Cultura, which dates back to the 1830’s, a small colonial style Theatre with its original furniture still in place. Jardin Botanico de Caridad is a charming garden with dozens of trees, shrubs & flowers all jam-packed with one another. Take a picture with a Palma Corcho – these trees have been around since the Jurassic period. Vinales also has the largest cave system on the Island.

Pass by the the magnificent Mural de la Prehistoria (Mural of the Prehistory), a gigantic painting 120 meters long & 80 meters wide, exhibited on the mogote Pita hillside, depicting evolution. It was commissioned by Fidel Castro himself & the multi-colour images show small creatures, dinosaur & man.

Vinales is ideal for cycling because it has safe & relatively flat roads, so your biggest concern will be deciding where to stop for a nice, big mojito with lots of ice. For those, not interested in biking, there are horseback excursions to the surrounding Farms.

Reaching the town, enjoy Lunch in a restaurant against the backdrop of the picturesque mogotes, tasting food directly produced in the countryside. There are many options, from local Cuban cuisine to special western delights, sandwiches, pizza. At night, there are Bars like Complejo Recreativo Polo Montanez that features both salsa & other music genres.

Post lunch, proceed on an hour long exploration to see the huge Cave complex. Board a Boat, traversing the 2 rivers that run through Cueva del Indio (Indio Cave). In the San Miguel Cave, you will find numerous examples of rock art depicting the lives of the first inhabitants of the Island, the pre-Colombian aborigines.

Come back & if time permits, enjoy a short Horse ride through the vicinity. Locals say, understanding one of these beautiful animals is the first step to comprehension about the rest of the valley. Every horizon seems to be filled with a host of quintessential 'come to the Cuban countryside' images

And finally, it is time to go home, to your hotel in Havana.

Reach the hotel by evening & relax for a while. However, the discovery day is not over yet.

In time, meet the Journey Rep & proceed to enjoy a Cigar & Rum in the right ambience.

Havana is ground zero for the best Rum & Cigar experiences in Cuba. These 2 world famous Cuban exports are found on every street corner in every town in the country. Havana & Cigars & Rum are things that go together well.

A ‘must visit’ stop in Old Havana should include one or two of Cuba’s watering holes made famous by Nobel Prize winning author Ernest Hemingway during his time in the city. The 2 most frequent were El Floridita & Bodeguita Del Medio.

You will stop at El Floridita where history shows that he spent a lot of time. Legend says he dropped into the Bar one day & noticed the popularity of the frozen Daiquiri, a fruity drink created by El Floridita’s owner. Hemingway sampled an offering & declared he would prefer it without sugar & double the rum. The Bartender prepared the drink to Hemingway’s taste & a new drink was born - the famous Papa Hemingway Daiquiri.

Hemingway was fond of rum, well let’s just say Hemingway was fond of drinking & spent much of his leisure time sipping fine spirits, so you would expect that he would be an expert at choosing the right place & the right drink for any occasion.

And he is still there - memorialized in a bronze Statue at the end of the Bar, filled with other Hemingway memorabilia & tourists drinking in both the ambience of its lovely mid-century decor & rum daiquiris. The feeling of pre-revolution Cuba is alive & well here, complete with Bartenders in red coats.

Spend an hour sipping a Papa Hemingway Daiquiri before walking to restaurant for dinner.

Come back to the hotel.

Today, we have an exciting day lined up.

This tour will allow you to experience the Island’s talent with the opportunity to meet some of the artists behind Cuba’s contemporary art scene.

Meet the Tour-guide at 09.00 am & proceed to discover the diversity of the Cuban art & experience the Island’s talent with an opportunity to meet some of the Artists behind Cuba’s contemporary art scene.

Cuban art - art of the people - is hidden in every corner of this Island. It appears around an old alley, in a small gallery, in a painting by Wilfredo Lam or through the shoes of a young ballet star. Cuba’s art has been compared to that created in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London & other art capitals and has been placed amongst the best in the world for its cultural diversity.

Begin with a visit to the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana founded in 1913 to oversee documenting, restoring, conserving, promoting, & investigating the works that are part of Cuba’s visual arts heritage.

It has an essential collection of existing Cuban art, which dates from the 16^th century to the present day. The colonial engravings of the 19^th century, the works produced between 1898 & 1920 (academic painting), the avant-garde art from the first half of the 20^th century & the series of the great Cuban masters, such as Fidelio Ponce, Víctor Manuel, Carlos Enriquez & Wilfredo Lam are housed in the Museum.

Spend an hour here before visiting different artists’ studios.

First interaction will be with Kelvin V. Lopez Nieves who teaches at Higher Institute of Art in the city. He has had personal exhibits displayed in various parts of the Island, as well as in the United States & Canada. This artist surprised many with the exhibition centered around his flowers at the Galiano Gallery in Havana. Kelvin’s floral paintings need to be appreciated as an exercise in style variations that vindicates & at the same time demystifies, the traditional stereotypes of beauty. The flowers jump from their canvas to life, and that’s how they exist.

Next stop will be at Mabel Poblet’s Studio. She is a contemporary Cuban artist who, despite her youth, has reached tremendous success both nationally & internationally. Even though she has shown interest in installations, photography & performance, the novel artist doesn’t hesitate to use the different resources that the artistic process offers her; therefore, she often prefers linking the various art forms & building hybrids of a real visual force & strength of meaning.

Spend time talking to the Artist before moving on.

Visit the studios of Flora Fong who has received several accolades, including the Distinction for National Culture, awarded by the Cuban Ministry of Culture. A contemporary visual artist who stands out in Cuba for the way she takes autochthonous landscapes to the canvas or the cardboard. In her work, tropical sensuality & Asian tenacity are highlighted. In addition to Painting & Drawing, Flora has ventured into Ceramics, stained Glass & Fabric design.

She has worked on illustrations for different national & international publications. Among her most interesting works is the 1995 collective mural in the Hotel Nacional de Cuba in Havana. Her work also includes the 1997 design of a 150 x 600 cm  stained Glass window for the Piano-Bar of El Pedregal Restaurant in the Cuban capital & the 1999 Sculpture at Varadero Beach Resort. Some of her most representative series include Remolinos y Ciclones, Tropico, El Caribe, Las Antillas & Bahia - all illustrating light, climate, vegetation & the Cuban regional environment.

And now, it is time for Lunch at the Paladar Ivan Chef Justo who was Fidel's personal Chef & one of the first to own a private restaurant in Cuba.

The tour continues. Next Studio will be of Pedro Pablo Oliva, among the most outstanding creators in the Cuban art scene of all time. His audacious body of work over more than 4 decades, is abundant in technical mastery, emotional depth & conceptual coherence. An exponent of a neo-expressionist style, transcended by magic, realism & surrealism, his works have been collected in a score of personal & collective exhibitions in various countries & are included in major auctions at Christie’s & Sotheby’s.

The last stop will be at one of Havana’s most dynamic modern art studios, La Lavanderia, bordering fancy gardens, wide avenues with huge tree parks & imposing mansions.

The name is literal - this huge white-walled space under a corrugated iron roof was once an industrial laundry. It is part workshop, part gallery & filled with playful works, from a giant purple gun & a billiard table shaped like the Americas, to a couch made of barbed wire & decorated with cushions inspired by the Cuban & American flags.

The artists here use Lithography, the art form first brought to Cuba from Europe in the 19^th century, to create bespoke labels for the country’s finest Cigars.

Lithographic print-making, the complex process of creating art with solid stone, is dying out across the world, perhaps because of its complexity & the skills required to master it. A number of those original stones have been handed down the generations & are still in use today.

You will see samples of the artistic avant-garde through audacious installations & unusual paintings by the artists - Rafael Perez Alonso & Max Delgado Corteguera.  Visitors can wander through the Gallery & purchase art prints.

The tour concludes & you are transferred back to the hotel by late afternoon.

Evening, meet the Journeys Rep & proceed to Hotel Nacional to experience authentic Cuban history, culture & music. Prepare for a colorful extravaganza of Vegas-style music & dance performance at the Cabaret Parisien.

Built in 1930, the Hotel stands out due to its refined elegance & old splendor, sitting on a hilltop just a few steps from the sea & offering a great view of the Havana harbor, the seawall & the city. Through the years, the it has attracted many famous personalities such as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, movie star & singer Frank Sinatra & scientist Alexander Fleming, among many others.

The luxurious red drapes & tables & a Mojito are the perfect frames for the spectacular Las Vegas-style show with live singers & dancers. The dynamic Performance tells a story that combines the Indigenous-American, Hispanic & African cultures and rhythms that led to the Cuban culture as it is known today. Prepare to sway in your seat & look out for the dancers unexpectedly entering the stage!

Transfer back to the hotel.

Morning, depart for Cienfuegos set along the sparkling Bahia de Jagua on Cuba’s south coast, known as La Perla del Sur (Pearl of the South) for its spacious, tranquil sea-misted streets & plazas.

Arrive by afternoon & Check-in at the hotel.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Enjoy a typical lunch in a Paladar in Punta Gorda with a relaxing view of the bay.

Balance of the day is at leisure for independent exploration or for optional activities (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

The settlement of Fernandina de Jagua on a large, calm Bay on the Caribbean Sea, was founded in 1819 by a French emigrant, don Luis D'Clouet from Bordeaux. The old town is reminiscent of French colonial times & was one of the largest colonial settlements on the Island. In 1830, when it was upgraded to a town, its name was changed to Cienfuegos, in honor of Jose Cienfuegos, a general in the Revolution who is revered in Cuba for his leadership in the education movement & later became the Governor-General.

It is one of the chief seaports of Cuba & is an important center of the sugar trade (sugarcane is the chief crop) as well as coffee & tobacco. Throughout its history, ships used the surrounding bay as a refuge during storms in the Caribbean.

Designated as a UNESCO Urban Historic Centre, Cienfuegos preserves one of the most homogeneous urban centers in Cuba, full of classical facades & slender columns on the elegant city streets lined with exquisite neo-classical buildings & classic American cars that makes visitors feel like they have stepped back in time.

Cienfuegos is a small colorful city that has managed to seduce travelers from all over the world who come to see the elegant mix of its cultivated French spirit & affable Caribbean style with the emerald green of its leafy lands & the turquoise blue of its waters. As a contrast, the Sierra del Escambray mountains rise as a pretty backdrop to the city scape.

Cienfuegos, situated right on Cuba's largest natural Bay, is open to the sea & is full of small coves, caves & coral reefs. The main attractions though, are really inland - El Nicho waterfalls, a lush natural enclave located in the Sierra de Escambray, within the Parque Natural Topes de Collantes.

Cienfuegos enjoys an enviable coastal environment & can be divided into 2 distinct areas: the central area, where the Prado & Parque Marti are located and breezy open-spaced Punta Gorda, cutting across the Bay, is home to colonial, gothic, neo-classical, art-nouveau houses & villas built by local aristocrats & numerous eclectic early 20^th century Palaces fronting directly to the peaceful bay waters.

This city was the birthplace of Benny More, one of the most iconic figures in Cuban music. In addition to a life-size statue on the boulevard, the presence of this Musician is in the air, as many places pay tribute to him. In the Bay itself, travellers can read a sign that says “Barabaro del Ritmo” (The city I like best) quoting the words of the famous singer.

The architectural diversity gives the relatively small city a personality of its own with a Port & a Promenade. The perfectly preserved UNESCO World Heritage listed Historic Centre of Cienfuegos has many notable buildings & monuments including 18^th century Castillo de Jagua (Jagua Fort), Cienfuegos Cathedral, Reina Cemetery & a unique Arc de Triomphe commemorating Cuban Independence, on the western edge of the central Jose Marti Square, in the serene Parque Jose Marti with a marble statue of revolutionary & philosopher Jose Marti. The Provincial Museum explores the city’s colonial history.

The famous Tomas Terry Theatre with gold-leaf mosaics & ceiling frescoes, organises plays, concerts, comedy performances, movies & other shows regularly. The impressive Botanical Garden just outside the city is known to contain more than 2000 different species of tropical plants & has ties to Harvard University from as early as the 1920s

In other parts of town, there are popular Bars & Clubs to have a drink & a dance. Visiting Costasur, the Cabaret style music venue is interesting visit. At Club Cienfuegos, one can enjoy Cuban music, disco & pop while enjoying a Mojito, seeing the Bay up close.

Head to the Jose Marti Square & wander around the Artisan marketplace & view the exceptional architecture, unlike anywhere else in Cuba. Visitors notice a slightly European flavour with the architecture of its main buildings & wide pedestrian boulevards. Most visitors are charmed by the setting on a wide & tranquil Bay & by its friendly residents.

Morning, depart for Trinidad, the land of the great Sugar Mills of yesteryear, of the Canchanchara cocktail, colored facades, cobblestones ... where the sounds of street music & clip-clopping horse carriages evoke centuries past.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

UNESCO World Heritage listed Trinidad is the most colonial city of Cuba. History, architecture & friendly locals make it a ‘stand out’ destination, one of the most popular cities in Cuba for guests, except for Havana, of course. This popularity arises from its location - wedged between beach coastline & scenic mountains, & the fact that the city itself is still greatly preserved from its centuries old beginning.

In 1498, Christopher Columbus claimed Trinidad as a Spanish colony. The indigenous peoples resisted for almost 100 years before the Spaniards could permanently settle on the island. ... so development of the island was delayed while the land was excavated for the precious metal.

Trinidad was one of the first Cuban towns founded by the Spanish, growing wealthy from production of sugar cane, cattle & tobacco (with the help of African slave labor) & is now a gorgeous historic city, full of laidback old charm & a well-kept colonial center with numerous Churches, beautiful buildings & steep cobblestone streets.

Much of the architecture remains & its appearance suggests that it has been preserved in a bubble. The town’s enormous, conspicuous newfound wealth spared no expense in fashioning the finest Spanish extravagant Palaces, Plazas & colonial homes for rich Plantation owners & Churches, which still stand testament to the vainglory of this profiteering era.

A city with a Latin-Caribbean flair with that natural subdued feel where you see locals harmlessly chatting away to each other on doorsteps or playing dominos by the curbs of the cobbled streets, oblivious to who comes & takes a peek, is perfect to get lost with your camera.

In the midst of the streets are colourful rooftops & century old mansions. You might hear a busker playing a tres or the sound of a tricycle's bell but generally the soothing atmosphere here is the reason why many travelers come here.

Plaza Mayor, built back when the region was rich from sugar plantation wealth, is at the centre of the colonial section of Trinidad but is mainly frequented by tourists rather than locals. This place boasts houses with small raised gardens, walkways & cobblestoned streets & Art Galleries. 18^th & 19^th century historic buildings painted in pastel colors, topped with red terracotta roofs, still surround the Plaza. Visitors will find the same Churches & Mansions previously owned by sugar barons - restored & transformed into Museums.

You can walk down cobblestone streets, listen to live Salsa music in the Plaza, cool off with fresh sugar cane juice, hop into a horse-drawn carriage, grab a seat on one of the cast-iron benches, chat with locals, or visit fascinating colonial Museums spread about town.

But, Trinidad also has an older “city center” area around Plaza Mayor where most of the historic buildings & attractions are located. It is a pedestrian walking area, no cars are allowed. Taking a long walk down some of Trinidad’s side streets, will get you a glimpse of what life in the city truly looks like. Trinidad is a place where new mixes with old to create a jumble of sights, sounds & smells.

Immediately after arrival, accompanied by the Tour-guide, begin your short exploration of the town. Begin at Plaza Mayor around which is the 1892 honey-hued La Parroquial Mayor Church. Visit Museo Romantico in the sherbet-shaded Palacio Brunet. See the turquoise-blue Mansion of sugar-baron Sanchez Iznaga, housing Museo de Arquitectura & the Gallery of Palacio Ortiz.

Walk through its old cobblestone streets adorned by its colonial houses, symbols of the power of the old sugar barons.

Next door, you will visit the Museo Historico Municipal housed in the 1830 Cantero Sugar Palace whose interiors are embellished with Baccarat crystal, frescoed walls, marble statues, handsome furniture embedded with delicate mother-of-pearl imagery, ostentatious Sevres vases, vast flower-frilled English porcelain canteens & exquisitely embroidered lace.

Next, walk to the other prominent landmark - the Convento de San Francisco, a former Convent housing the Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra Bandidos displaying artifacts from the Revolution including some armored vehicles & stuff from the United States invasion. The climb up to the top of the iconic bright yellow Bell Tower, visible from most parts of town, is worth the view.

The ‘walking’ tour finishes & now you are ready for an interesting ride out of town to the enormous & impressive UNESCO World Heritage listed Valle de los Ingenios, (Valley of the Sugar Mills) which still has some working Sugar Mills. During the 18^th & 19^th centuries, this Valley was the sugar producing capital of the world and it housed 50+ Sugar Mills & 30,000 slaves to work the fields. At its zenith, in 1827, one of the Sugar Mills harvested the biggest cane haul in the world - just under a million kilos of white pressed crystals.

Proceed to board a classic antique tourist train led by a modern ‘steam’ locomotive that rumbles out from Trinidad into the Agabama Valley (Valley of the Sugar Mills).

Disembark at the Hacienda Iznaga in Manaca Iznaga Plantation with its old slave quarters & a huge watch-tower offering views of the undulating hills.

Enjoy Lunch in the old hacienda & then explore the hidden ruins of the saccharine revolution. The interior of the Hacienda Guaimaro features the exotic faded frescoes of Italian artist Daniele Dal’Aglio, while the remains of the San Isidro de los Destiladeros Mill are framed by the boughs of a huge flame tree.

Soak up the royal palms & antique relics revealing the wealth of the region - the railway bridge, a colonial hostelry. If you are upto it, you also have the opportunity to settle down for some hard work crushing sugar cane on a working press. Then, enjoy a refreshing guarapo (sugar cane juice) plus a squirt of lemon to neutralize the super-sweet taste.

Time to go back.

Reach the hotel by late afternoon & Check-in (if you did not get the room kin the morning).

The excitement is not over yet.

Evening, meet the Journeys Rep & proceed to enjoy the nightlife & the contagious Cuban music in the Casa de la Musica.

Music is a big part of Cuban life, especially in Trinidad & Musicians set up on street corners, public parks, or inside restaurants. Every night around 7.00 pm locals & tourists alike will dance the sensual, energetic 8 count rhythms of Salsa at the town’s most popular Salsa venue - open-air Casa de Musica - with its wide stone staircase. The melody of African drums, Spanish guitar & pivotal percussion instruments will have you on your feet, twirling in time to the beat of the music in this partner-led dance.

These Steps are one of Trinidad’s few public wi-fi hotspots, so you will see plenty of people on their smartphones for a quick Facebook or Instagram fix. Order a cocktail, sit down on the Steps to watch the sunset, soaking up the atmosphere.

Finally, it is time to return back to the hotel.

Early morning, depart for Cayo Santa Maria is a Resort town known primarily for its beaches.

Enroute, stop at a couple of interesting places.

First stop will be at Santa Clara, the landlocked provincial capital of Villa Clara province.

What is that word hanging in the air over Villa Clara, one of the nation's most diverse provinces? 'Revolution,' perhaps? And not just because Che Guevara liberated its capital, Santa Clara, from Batista's corrupt regime to kick-start the Castro brothers' 58-year stint in power. The region is indelibly stamped with Che's legacy & associated sights.

Santa Clara is Cuba's most revolutionary city & not just because of its historical obsession with Argentine doctor turned guerrillero Ernesto Che Guevara who was neither born nor did he die here, but this is where the Cuban Revolution took place in 1958, saving Santa Clara from the Batista dictatorship. Famous for the Battle of Santa Clara, the city was taken over by a revolutionary battalion led by Che by the afternoon on New Years Eve 1958 when they derailed an armored train carrying more than 350 armed soldiers from the east. It is seen as a decisive chapter in the Revolution as President Batista escaped Cuba within 12 hours afterwards. Little cultural revolutions have been erupting here ever since.

Santa Clara was founded in 1689 by families fleeing constant pirate threats in coastal Remedios. It occupies the site of the ancient Indian town of Cubanacan, which, according to some authorities, Christopher Columbus mistook for the headquarters of the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. Initially, the settlement depended on livestock & associated industries, but by the mid 20^th century, the city was flourishing on sugar & tobacco.

One of the largest & liveliest cities in Cuba, it has long been a place of pilgrimage for Che Guevara worshippers. Not only does it house his remains at the Che Guevara Mausoluem but there are monuments scattered throughout the city, commemorating the man, his life & his part in the rebel victory. Due to his handsome appearance & legendary bravery, his many travels & upstanding profession as a doctor, Che is normally affiliated with any sort of romanticism with the Revolution more than others.

Smack bang in the geographic center of Cuba, ultra-cultural Santa Clara is also guardian of the Cuban avant-garde where an edgy youth culture with new trends & insatiable creativity, has been testing the boundaries of Cuba’s censorship police for years.

Unique Santa Clara offerings include Cuba’s only official drag show, a graphic artists' collective that produces satirical political cartoons & the best rock festival in the country: Ciudad Metal.

The city’s fiery personality has been shaped over time by the presence of the nation’s most prestigious University outside Havana & a long association with Che. Home to a large student population, there is a strong sense here that the city is getting on with its own business despite receiving coachloads of tourists & managing to retain its identity.

Its social life revolves around Parque Vidal, named for Colonel Leoncio Vidal y Caro, who was killed here on March 23, 1896, the vibrant central Square is a veritable alfresco theater. It was encircled by twin sidewalks during the colonial era, with a fence separating blacks & whites. Scars of more recent division are evident on the facade of mint-green Hotel Santa Clara Libre on the Square’s west side: it is pockmarked by bullet holes from the 1958 battle.

Traditionally designed yet spacious & crowded at the same time, this town Square has a lively atmosphere that is particularly prominent in the evenings. Littered with a mix of colonial & neo-colonial buildings & structures, the streets become full quickly with all ages of workers, shoppers, travelers & local musicians.

Just a block away is pedestrianized Calle Independencia, a shopping street with lots of shops for local residents, a fascinating insight into the prices & what is available to Cubans via official channels.

On the Square itself, the Museo de Artes Decorativas offers accurate reconstructions of colonial aristocratic living conditions, while within walking distance is one of 2 famous Che national memorial sites - Monumento a la Toma del Tren Blindado where the derailed train signifies the decisive event in the revolutionary war. You can even see inside the carriages!

On the other side of town, the Plaza de la Revolucion is the open space that is overlooked by a huge bronze Statue of Che Guevara atop a 16 metre high pedestal, that sits atop the Museum & Mausoleum. The Statue was erected in 1987 to mark the 20^th anniversary of Guevara's murder in Bolivia. In 1997 the remains of 17 of them, including Guevara, were recovered from a secret mass grave in Bolivia & reburied in this Mausoleum that contains 38 stone-carved niches dedicated to the other guerrillas killed in the failed Bolivian revolution. Fidel Castro lit the eternal flame on October 17, 1997.

The Complejo Monumental Ernesto Che Guevara is a eulogy to the man himself. It displays photographs, depictions, writings, exhibits & memorabilia related to Che Guevara, not just of his revolutionary days but right from his early childhood throughout his life.

Santa Clara is peppered with comic book style Murals, the work of a local graphic artists' collective called Melaito, which produces a monthly supplement to the local Vanguardia newspaper. The cartoons change regularly, but there are usually a good selection splattered on the walls around the Vanguardia office near Parque Vidal.

3 blocks away is the Catedral de las Santas Hermanas de Santa Clara de Asís which contains a fantastic collection of stained-glass windows, & a mythical white statue of La Virgen de la Charca (Virgin of the Pond or Mother Mary).

The city is filled with many more historic attractions & Museums & a vibrant nightlife.

Spend an hour walking around before continuing on your journey.

Drive to the picturesque colonial town of Remedios, a short ride away.

San Juan de los Remedios was one of the oldest Spanish Settlement located near the northern coast, in the center of the Island now part of the province of Villa Clara, founded by nobleman Vasco Porcallo de Figueroa between1513 & 1524. It was declared a City by Isabella II of Spain, when the Island was still a colony.

The magnificent Plaza Mayor offers a treasure trove of 18^th & 19^th century buildings. It is the only central Square in the country with 2 Churches: Nuestra Senora del Buen Viaje & the Parroquial Mayor de San Juan Bautista. Calm & beautiful, the dynamic city was designed according to Spanish urban standard, surrounded by exquisite colonial buildings, beautiful monuments, palm trees, walks, parks, a gazebo & schools.

Remedios is famous for its Christian festival, “Las Parrandas de Remedios”, one of the most popular events in Cuba, commemorating John the Baptist & the Virgin of the Buenviaje. The euphoric locals from city neighborhoods compete against each to create the ‘best’ Floats, Fireworks & Dance competitions. The Celebration attracts people from all over the Island & is so important that the city has a Museo de las Parrandas Remedianas (Las Parrandas Remedianas Museum) which tells the history of the most important celebrations & displays the memorabilia collected over the years.

Museo Municipal Francisco Javier Balmaseda (Francisco Javier Balmaseda Municipal Museum) is perhaps a must visit, as it' s one of the oldest History Museums in all of Cuba & occasionally has exhibitions or social events.

The colonial style Teatro Ruben Martínez Villena (Ruben Martinez Villena Theater) dedicated to the acclaimed Havana writer Ruben M. Villena, is another impressive building.

The Museo de Musica Alejandro García Caturla (Alejandro García Caturla Music Museum) has 2 Sections, one dedicated to Cuban music in general & the other to the singer-songwriter Alejandro García Caturla after whom the Museum is named.

In the Galería de Arte Carlos Enríquez (Carlos Enríquez Art Gallery) one can see paintings by local Painters & some travelling exhibitions.

Spend an hour here & drive on to your final destination.

Reach the hotel by late afternoon & Check-in.

Idyllic Canayo Sta María is a small island off Cuba’s northern coast, part of the Villa Clara province. A place blessed by nature, ideal for relaxation & leisure, where it is summer year round. surrounded by salt water, separated from civilization by about 50 kilometers of road.

Pristine beaches? Lush nature? Water sports galore? What more do you need for the perfect getaway with family or friends?

Seaside bliss for all, big & small. Its main attraction is without a doubt its 13 kilometres of magnificent fine white sand beaches divided in 3 sections & pristine turquoise water.

The beaches & hotels are all located along the northern coast of the island, while the south coast is mainly dominated by forests, salt marshes & mangroves.

This Caribbean island has so much more to offer than beautiful white-sand beaches & all-inclusive Resorts!

Playa Las Gaviotas beach, in the northeast, is backed by the lush vegetation of Cayo Santa María Wildlife Refuge, which shelters birds such as the Cuban trogon. The Pueblo La Estrella complex features a handicraft market, restaurants, bars & shops. Dolphins perform at the Acuario Delfinario Cayo Santa Maria.

Snorkel in Cayo Las Brujas, an isolated cay teeming with fish & wonderful coral reefs, try a multitude of water sports or simply relax on the beach.

Balance of the day is at leisure to explore the Resort or lie on the beach.

 Space or tech constraints. Details for this day to be advised via email.