Cuba Esencial (2026)

Day 1

Welcome to Santiago de Cuba! Transfer to the hotel and free time. Our guide will get in touch with you in the evening, either in person or through the information boards located at the hotel reception.Later in the day, we’ll visit the Casa de la Trova, a popular gathering place for Cuban music lovers with live performances.

Day 2

We’ll go on a panoramic tour of Santiago, Cuba’s second-largest city—an energetic place full of contrasts, known as the capital of music and the Cuban Revolution. Just 20 km outside the city, nestled among the mountains, we’ll visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, where we’ll be moved by the deep devotion to Cuba’s patron saint. Our journey will then take us to Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, the final resting place of Fidel Castro and José Martí. We’ll also visit the Bacardí Rum Factory and the Castillo del Morro, an imposing fortress perched on a promontory, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a fascinating Piracy Museum. Lunch will be included. You’ll have free time in the afternoon to continue discovering the magic of Santiago at your own pace.

Day 3

We’ll journey through beautiful landscapes of tropical hills as we make our way to the northern coast. Our first stop will be a peaceful stroll through the charming center of Holguín, before continuing to Guardalavaca, where we’ll visit the Chorro de Maíta Archaeological Park. This remarkable site preserves the remains of an ancient village and an indigenous cemetery with 62 human skeletons, offering a window into Cuba’s pre-Columbian past. We’ll also explore the Taíno Village, a life-sized reconstruction that brings to life the everyday scenes of the island’s original inhabitants. Our journey will take us next to Bariay Bay, a place of breathtaking natural beauty. Lunch will be included. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to enjoy the resort and relax on the stunning beaches of Guardalavaca. Dinner will be included at the hotel.

Day 4

We’ll travel to the west of the island, beginning our day at Laguna de la Redonda, where we’ll enjoy a beautiful one-hour boat ride through mangroves, lush tributaries, and small inland lakes. Lunch will be included. Afterward, we’ll take in the spectacular landscapes along the road that crosses the sea towards Cayo Coco. We’ll arrive in the afternoon, and dinner will be included.

Day 5

We’ll start the day with a free morning to relax and enjoy the beach. After lunch, which will be included, we’ll head toward Yaguajay, home to the museum and memorial cemetery dedicated to Camilo Cienfuegos, one of the most revered heroes of the Cuban Revolution. In the evening, we’ll arrive in Remedios, considered one of the most beautiful colonial towns in Cuba, where time seems to stand still. Dinner will be included.

Day 6

Just outside Remedios, we’ll learn about the Marcelo Salado Sugar Mill, a former sugar factory that was closed after the fall of the USSR and is now a museum showcasing traditional sugar production. We’ll also include a 20-minute ride on an old steam train (if it’s operating). Afterward, we’ll travel to Santa Clara, where we’ll visit the Constantino Pérez Cigar Factory, home to Montecristo and Partagas cigars. After an included lunch, we’ll explore the Che Guevara Mausoleum. Our journey will then continue to Havana, where, upon arrival, we’ll include a ride in a vintage classic car to the San Carlos Fortress, passing along the Malecón. Here, we’ll attend the Cannon Shot Ceremony (admission included). Afterward, we’ll return to the hotel by bus or car and settle into our accommodation.

Day 7

This morning, we’ll include a tour of approximately four hours. We’ll explore Colonial Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as Revolution Square and the University. We’ll also visit the Havana Club Rum Museum. Our experience continues with a short boat ride across the bay to Regla, where we’ll visit the Church of the Virgin of Regla—an important site of devotion where Catholicism and Afro-Cuban religions blend in a powerful expression of syncretism. Will you buy flowers and have your palm read by a daughter of Ochún? Around lunchtime, we’ll head to the Callejón del Chorro area, known for its many “paladares” (privately-owned restaurants), where you’ll have time to stroll and enjoy lunch. The afternoon will be free.

Day 8

After breakfast, end of our services.