We have been taking guests to CUBA for more than fifteen years and our tours are designed to show you as much as possible of the wide variety of Cuban life, its countryside and historical architecture. Cuba continues to be charmingly developing at its own pace and sometimes facilities and service are not quite up to western standards. In restaurants service can be slow and the food, quite frankly, boring and unimaginative, but this is a tour for those who want to meet the delightful Cuban people and see their fascinating country as it is now, and not for those expecting a sophisticated Caribbean holiday.

Our 2011 tour includes the vibrant and atmospheric city of Havana, the colonial gem of Trinidad, the forested hills of La Terrazas, the remarkable Vinales Valley and time for relaxation on the coast at Varadero.

Cuba has a wide variety of scenery ranging from tropical, forested mountain ranges with deep agricultural valleys, vast areas of sugar cane and citrus fruit, to tobacco fields producing some of the best leaves in the world. Everywhere magnificent king palms bring an exotic touch to the landscape and of course, Cuba has a spectacular coastline of beautiful sandy beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Caribbean.

The majority of the population is Espanic, and although poor, money has not been spared on their excellent health care and education. Cars in Cuba mostly date back to the fifties and these bright, colourful autos are a feature of the urban environment. Roads are fairly good and bicycles and horse-drawn carts are a common form of transport. Music is a way of life and cheerful bands play bouncing Cuban music in villages, bars and restaurants all over the island.

On arrival you will stay for 3 nights at the comfortable Parque Central Hotel ****. Situated in the heart of historic HAVANA and facing Central Park, the hotel is ideally placed for exploring the beautiful city which is gradually being restored to its former glory. Whilst in Havana there will be tours to see the magnificent Spanish colonial-style buildings in OLD HAVANA, MORRO CASTLE and the BOTANICAL GARDENS. You will also see modern Havana and have the opportunity to visit one of the famous cigar factories.

Cuba was Ernest Hemingway's 'adoptive' home for two decades and as you look around Havana's old town you are sure to come across some of the many bars the celebrated author frequented, including 'El Floridita', reputed to be his favourite.

Your base for the next 2 nights will be the Moka Hotel*** in LAS TERRAZAS village within the SIERRA DEL ROSARIO BIOSPHERE RESERVE. En route from Havana to Moka Hotel you will visit the pretty village of VINALES and VINALES VALLEY. Here remarkable limestone hills rise steeply up from the fertile valley where tobacco is widely cultivated and there will be an opportunity to visit the tobacco fields and one of the drying houses. Vinales is a World Cultural Landscape and is regarded as one of the most beautiful parts of Cuba.

Your tour will continue to TRINIDAD, stopping en route for a short tour of CIENFUEGOS, before arriving at the Inberostar Trinidad**** for a stay of 2 nights. There will be a half day tour of Trinidad which has some beautiful colonial architecture, and also visits to an interesting market and ROMANTICO MUSEUM.

Leaving Trinidad on your way to VARADERO, you will stop at SANTA CLARA, followed by a visit to Che Guevera's mausoleum and the infamous 'Tremblinado' the armoured train of Santa Clara. Your next 3 nights will be at the Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort*****, located in one of the best areas on Varadero Beach. The hotel has excellent facilities for relaxation and leisure in beautiful surroundings. Your last morning will be free before your transfer to Havana Airport for your return flight back to the UK.

All hotels have been chosen by us with care and are what we consider to be the best at each location.