Cuba: La Isla Grande
Highlights
Wander through Havana’s atmospheric Old Town, tour sugar cane plantations and lush national parks, and learn more about Cuba’s intriguing history. There’s even the option to take a catamaran to the idyllic white-sand island of Cayo Blanco.
Some of the highlights included are:
- Look out for brightly coloured vintage cars parked along Havana’s cobbled streets
- Explore the lush cocoa plantations surrounding the vibrant coastal town of Baracoa
- Walk along the steep mountainside pathways of jungle-clad Sierra Maestra
- Discover the history of the Castro-led revolution in Santiago de Cuba
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What's included
- Small Group Journey with maximum group size 18
- All authentic local experiences mentioned except where specified optional
- International flights
- 12 nights in comfortable hotels
- 2 nights in Casas Particulares
- All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner
- Arrival transfers & all internal transport
Need to know
- Arrives: Aeropuerto Internacional José Martí (HAV)
- Time difference: GMT-4
- Visa requirements: British passport holders require a tourist visa; please ask your travel consultant for more information
- Language: Spanish
- Currency: Cuban Peso (CUC)
- Flying time from UK: around 10 hours
- Plug type: 2 flat pins or 2 round pins
- Voltage: 120V – 220V
Your route

Itinerary
Fly from the UK to Havana and meet the rest of your group.
Fly from the UK to Havana and meet the rest of your group.
comfortable hotel

Sancti Spiritus
Sancti Spiritus
Spend the morning exploring the cobbled streets and bustling squares of Old Havana and swing by the Capitolio building and Revolution Square. Visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara, site of the last battle of the Cuban Revolution, and take a look around the train museum. Later on, arrive into Sancti Spiritus, an especially photogenic colonial city founded in 1514, and where you’ll spend the night.
comfortable hotel
Includes a city tour of Old Cuba, a visit to the train museum and the Che Guevara Mausoleum

Bayamo
Bayamo
Today is a long driving day: pass through lush sugar plantations and agricultural towns and learn how sugar cane cultivation has shaped the Cuba we know today. Break up the journey with a lunch stop in Camagüey, whose historic centre is on the World Heritage list, before continuing to Bayamo. You’ll return to Camagüey later on in your holiday.
comfortable hotel

Baracoa
Baracoa
Leaving Bayamo behind, you’ll pass through Guantanamo and stop for a refreshing dip on Cuba’s south coast before heading on to Baracoa. This former capital was settled in 1512 and was frequently attacked by pirates, leading to the construction of three protective forts in the 18th century. The town is nestled among lush mountains, and you’ll have the option to trek up El Yunque, a full-day hike. You’ll also explore the River Toa and surrounding cocoa plantations by boat.
comfortable hotel
Includes a boat trip on the River Toa and an informative walk through a Biosphere Reserve

Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Discover the history of Santiago de Cuba and the role it played in the struggle for independence. Take a look around town, taking in the Santa Ifgenia cemetery, Revolution Square, El Morro Castle and Moncada Barracks, where the first shots of the revolution were fired in 1953. You’ll have the afternoon free to explore, and perhaps catch a live musical performance at La Casa de Trova.
comfortable hotel
Includes a visit to the Santa Ifigenia cemetery, revolution Square, El Morro Castle and Moncada Barracks

Sierra Maestra
Sierra Maestra
Head for the lush green mountains of Sierra Maestra, stopping off in El Cobre, the most sacred pilgrimage site in Cuba. Ascend into the peaks of the stunning Sierra Maestra National Park, Cuba’s highest and largest mountain range and where Fidel Castro had his operations base during the Cuban Revolutionary War. There is a range of walking trails through the cloud forest, allowing you to explore the park at your own pace.
comfortable hotel
Includes a visit to El Cobre pilgrimage site and Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra

Camagüey
Camagüey
Explore the winding historic streets of Camagüey. The city was originally built on the coast in 1515, but was moved in 1528 due to persistent pirate attacks, and rebuilt with a confusing layout as a defence mechanism. You’ll have time to soak up the sights and find the ‘tinajones’ – large terracotta jugs used to store water – that you’ll see all over town.
comfortable hotel

Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad, a colonial town and one of the best preserved in all Cuba, is your next stop. You’ll still see horses pulling carts along the cobbled streets and a number of museums can tell you the history of the place. After dark, visit La Casa de la Musica and dance to the lively Cuban beats. The next day, board a catamaran and sail to Cayo Macho and Cayo Blanco, small beach-trimmed islands where you might spot iguanas (optional, extra cost).
comfortable hotel

Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos
Once everyone’s feeling relaxed, you’llcarry on your way to Cienfuegos. Take a look around the main plazas of this colonial town, and check out the historical buildings including a 19th century theatre. The seafront is a good spot for a stroll, particularly in the evening as the sun sets.
comfortable hotel
Includes a rainforest walk in El Cubano Nature Park and a city tour of Cienfuegos

Havana
Havana
Call in at the Bay of Pigs, site of the 1961 attempted invasion by the USA, on your way back to Havana. Stop off at Playa Giron for lunch, and a swim or snorkel in the protected cove of Caleta Buena. Back in the capital, immerse yourself in Cuba’s intoxicating salsa beats and soak up the vibrant colours and distinct flavours of the shabby-chic streets. You’ll have a free day to explore or stock up on souvenirs, or you could choose to take a day trip to the tobacco farms of the Viñales Valley (optional, extra cost).
comfortable hotel
Includes a visit to the Bay of Pigs, Playa Giron museum and a walking tour of Old Havana
