CHARISMATIC CUBA

On arrival transfer to your gorgeous boutique hotel in the centre of captivating, very safe and pedestrian friendly Old Havana – walking distance from major historic sites, with lively music all around.

A relaxed morning walk to admire the legendary beauty of the old city and understand how Havana became so wealthy. Later, a panoramic tour of the city riding in an open topped classic vehicle to visit the mosaic wonderland of Fusterlandia.
Sip a Cuba Libre at the famed Hotel Nacional on the terrace overlooking the Gulf.

Travel west through the picturesque rolling green hills of Pinar de Rio. The valley of Viñales is spiked with dramatic karst limestone peaks interspersed with tobacco fields and colourful drying sheds. A gentle walk to see how the famous Cuban cigars are made from growing the leaves to rolling the finished product.

Return for an easy day back in Havana to break the long journey south. Perhaps take a salsa class, listen to fabulous music or scout for terrific modern art at affordable prices. This evening experience a classical parador, where the chef welcomes you into their home for a lovingly prepared meal.

The turquoise arc of Playa Girón nestles peacefully near the infamous Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs), backed by one of those gloriously old-fashioned Cuban villages. After a refreshing swim continue to Cienfuegos to walk this gracious nautical city founded in 1819 by French émigrés, whose homogeneous grid of elegant classical architecture earned it a UNESCO World Heritage Site listing in 2005.

Trinidad, also a UNESCO World Heritage site founded its sugar cane fortunes in the 19thC colonial era, and fabulously rich Spanish families raised gorgeous mansions around Trinidad's main square. After walking the town, a gentle trek through the tropical natural park of Topes de Collantes for lunch with a local family. The walk ends in refreshing waterfalls for those who wish to take a swim.

Stop for a wonderful Mediterranean influenced lunch in a beautiful restored colonial mansion in the university town whose liberation in December 1958 marked the end of the Batista regime. It is famous for its revolutionary landmarks, the Che Guevara mausoleum, and ongoing cultural, social and artistic revolutions. Overnight in a beautifully restored mansion.

A day devoted to the Arts with an art curator. Visit the Cuban Collection at the Museo de Bellas Artes. Later, a personalised visit to the studios of leading young contemporary practitioners. After lunch, the Fabrica de Arte Cubano, a labyrinth of artistic creation, a repurposed former oil mill, this ‘art factory’ is a “hybrid project that is part business, part community project, part art gallery, part nightclub, part theatre and part cinema”.

Today's highlight is a private visit to the home of Acosta Danza where you'll be enthralled by the stupendous talent of the dancers at one of the world’s leading contemporary dance companies during a practice class.

Unfinished business: Today will be curated according to guests interests. This might be a stroll along the seafront, The Malecón, or through the La Necrópolis de Cristóbal Colón with its elaborate marble monuments; a visit to El Museo de la Revolución whose interiors were decorated by Tiffany's, or Hemingway's Villa; or last minute shopping.

SUGGESTED EXTENSIONS
Spend some extra days in the alluring city of Havana with treasures in every nook and cranny and some great museums.

Allow 5 | 6 days to explore Eastern Cuba and the ambient towns of Camagüey, Bayamo, Baracoa and Santiago de Cuba.
Take a seaside break by the crystalline waters.