Day 1: Havana – Pinar del Río – Viñales: 190km
Collect the rental car at 10 am from Havana and travel to your first stop ‐ Viñales.
The legendary Cuban tobacco grows here in the valleys with stretched flat fields among the steep
and towering rocky peaks.
We recommend a detour on your way to visit the Las Terrazas community. This community is in the
Sierra Rosario, 25,000 hectares of almost untouched land and declared a biosphere reserve by
UNESCO. The river San Juan, with its small waterfalls, flows through the thick forests of the Sierra del
Rosario and you will notice lakes, ruins, coffee plantations from the 19th century and sulphurcontaining
water sources as well. Most of the farmers in the Sierra live in communes which formed
back in 1968 under the auspices of a government project; the most famous of which is Las Terrazas.
The name comes from the moss‐covered terraced fields which are typical for the region today. The
900 inhabitants of this community live from forestry and eco‐tourism. You can also visit the orchid
gardens at Soroa.
Accommodation: Hotel La Ermita or Los Jazmines
Breakfast
Day 2: Viñales
After breakfast you should use the opportunity to explore the wonderful surroundings.
The Valle Viñales offers a spectacular countryside with its unique rocky mounds (mogotes) and
numerous bizarre cave formations. We recommend a visit to one of many tobacco plantations which
have made this region famous. Another destination to visit is the impressive cave Cueva del Indio.
The town of Viñales has been declared a monument and is dominated by low rise wooden houses
and their verandas.
Accommodation: Hotel La Ermita or Los Jazmines
Breakfast
Day 3: Viñales – Peninsula Zapata – Cienfuegos: 443 km
After breakfast we leave for the Península de Zapata. You can expect an extensive swamp region
that is inhabited by crocodiles and flamingos and also declared a National Park. Here over 900
species of flowers, 171 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles and 12 different types of mammals
have all been protected. For those who love birds, it is worthwhile to visit between October and April
because numerous water birds stop here. Another must‐see is, of course, the Bahia de los Cochinos,
the famous Bay of Pigs.
Accommodation: Hotel La Union
Breakfast
Day 4: Cienfuegos – Trinidad: 81 km
Today’s destination is Cienfuegos. On the way you should use the opportunity to make a detour to Playa Girón. Expect to find wonderful beaches and small bays which are perfect for snorkelling. This
city is amongst the prettiest and liveliest on the island and has lots of French flair. The extensively
restored colonial centre offers us lots of architecturally interesting sights. Castillo de Jagua was built
to protect the region from the Jamaican pirates and was the third biggest castle in Cuba and the only
one in central Cuba during the 18th century. The train bridges are still intact, the moat and the legend
of the lady in blue are also worth seeing. On top of this it would also be interesting to visit the Iglesia
Parroquial and the Teatro Tomás Terry. This theatre was built in 1886 according to the last wishes of
the unscrupulous factory owner Tomás Terry Adams, who became rich on the back of the slave
trade. It is built in the Italian style with an impressive U‐shaped three‐tier auditorium and has a huge
fresco. The ceramic masks on the gable‐ends on the façade come from Venice and portray the Three
Graces. The entrance to the monumental cemetery, Cementario Monumental Tomás de Acea, is a
replica of the Parthenon in Athens. Again many styles are combined gracefully together here. The
cemetery is set out like a garden with paths and fruit trees. The Palacio de Valle was built between
1913 ‐1917 and designed by both, foreign and Cuban‐born architects. In the afternoon you can
continue driving to Trinidad.
Accommodation: Finca Maria Dolores or Hotel Las Cuevas
Breakfast and dinner
Trinidad
This city was founded in 1514 by Diego Velázquez and has since been declared a UNESCO world
heritage site. It is worth visiting the Palacio Brunet which is situated in the mainly colonial style
historical centre of Trinidad. The Palacio which was built in 1812 is now the Museo Romántico. All 14
rooms belonging to the museum lead onto a courtyard arcade with elegant balustrades. As well as
floors made from Carrara marble, coffered ceilings, classical decorations and furniture made from
precious woods, there are also beautiful windows and hand‐painted Ton tiles to admire.
The Palacio Cantero was built at the beginning of the 19th century and is now the Museo Histórico
Municipal which explains the history of the region. The palace is one of the most elegant houses of
the city. From the tower you have a wonderful view of the old city.
Just like the Palacio Brunet, the Casa Sánchez Iznaga is right on the Plaza Mayor, where the town
palaces of Trinidad’s richest families are grouped. The Casa is now the Museo de Arquitectura
Trinitaria and creates an interesting overview of the different, common building styles for stone and
clay walls. Window grills, the so‐called rajas, which are typical of Trinidad are also produced here. Let
yourself be transported back to the Colonial era on a stroll through the colonial area with its cobbled
streets and colourful one‐storey houses. In Trinidad arts and crafts are particularly strong which
lends itself to buying a souvenir or two. In Trinidad you will find numerous small restaurants,
mesones and paladares where you can eat local specialities. If you like nightlife there are many bars
and discos in the town where there is live music.
Accommodation: Finca Maria Dolores or Hotel Las Cuevas
Breakfast and dinner
Day 5: Trinidad – Sancti Spíritus – Camagüey: 198 km
After breakfast you can take a little time to go for a walk in Trinidad or the beach of Playa Ancón
before you travel east to towards Sancti Spíritus. The town was founded in 1514 by Diego Velazquez
on the riverbed of the Tuinucú and eight years later it was moved to the River Yayabo. It is easy to
get to know the city centre on foot and see the typical colonial houses with their wrought iron
balconies. The nicest way into the city is from the south side via the pretty, old Yayabo Bridge. This
bridge, with its unique medieval appearance and big terracotta arches, was built in 1825 and is now
under a preservation order. According to a legend the men working on the bridge mixed goat’s milk
into the cement to make it more solid. Because it is the only access to Sancti Spíritus from Trinidad it
is an important part of the road network in the city.
Afterwards, continue your journey to Camagüey. Originally the town was founded in the Bay of
Nuevitas on the north coast, but then it was moved inland to protect it from pirate attacks and Indian
uprisings. Enjoy the sights of the town on a stroll through its narrow streets. The Iglesia de la Merced was originally built in 1601 and was then rebuilt again between 1748 and 1756. Today it has a
Baroque façade with Art Nouveau wall paintings inside. However the most famous work of art in the
church is the Holy Sepulchre with a picture of Christ, made out of 23,000 silver coins. Another church
on our tour is the Iglesia del Carmen. The once noble monastery was built in 1823 and has a
characteristic Baroque style.
Accommodation: Gran Hotel Camagüey
Breakfast
Day 6: Camagüey – Holguín: 190 km
Explore Camagüey on your own in the morning. Then drive on to Holguín.
The town offers different events, such as las Romerias del Mayo, a traditional festival that always
begins at the beginning of May, and the Festival de Cultura Iberoamericano. The town of Holguín can
compete with some of the prettiest squares in Cuba and is worth visiting simply for this reason: the
extensive main square, the Plaza Calixto García, is dominated by pink and green marble and the
statue of General Calixto Iñiguez García sitting astride his horse. Around this square there are diverse
sights, for ex. the Museo Provincial de Historia, the Casa de la Trova (where musical events take
place) as well as the Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas (art gallery). Further squares and sights in
the town are the Plaza Julio Grave de Peralta, the Catedral de San Isidro, the Plaza San José with the
Iglesia San José, as well as the only barrel‐organ factory in the country (Fábrica de Órganos) and the Plaza de la Revolucíon which is close to the baseball stadium.
Accommodation: Villa El Bosque
Breakfast
Day 7: Holguín ‐ Havana
After breakfast you still have some free time to wander through the town before you return the
rental car and fly back to Havana. At Havana airport there will be a transfer to the international
airport or to a city hotel in Havana depending on your holiday arrangements.
Breakfast |
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