CUBA THE MOST VIBRANT PLACE IN THE CARIBBEAN

CUBA Cubaa rum place? close but no cigar? not this time! Cuba is the Caribbean’s most vibrant country and is renowned for salsa, cigars and rum. It’s a tropical island, so wildlife is abundant. Aside from its many white sand beaches and coral reefs, it’s worth visiting just to see its beautiful colonial towns. Havana, the capital, is the oldest Spanish city in the Americas and is famed for its cheroots, museums and nightlife. Fidel Castro’s Cuba is a truly fascinating place, with one of the world’s most modern health systems but some of the oldest cars on its streets. Dates & Prices MORE TOUR INFO LET'S GO! TOUR MAP LATEST NEWS FAQ Meeting up in Havana, Cuba's capital, we’ll encounter the charming Cubans who inhabit this dilapidated but romantic city. We’ll eat delicious meals in family-owned restaurants and enjoy the all-pervading Caribbean music that’s performed in and around the countless bars and discos. Cuba's nightlife has no equal in Central America. But the old baroque cathedrals are worth a visit too and the Capitolio, the former parliament building, is a replica of its equivalent in Washington (curious given the two countries’ dislike of one another!). The big 50s cars, which are everywhere because of the still-effective blockade of Cuba, are remarkably well-kept and look almost new.   On day 4 we’ll head for the countryside. Just west of Havana we’ll visit the breathtaking Viñales valley, famed for its weather-beaten ‘karst’ landscape and the contrasts between the white limestone and the lush green tropical foliage. It’s great for walking or horse riding and you’ll have the opportunity to take various excursions to beautiful venues like the Indian Caves and the Mural de la Prehistoria. On day 6, we’ll proceed to the romantic little town of Trinidad, recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. We travel through splendid hilly scenery and cross large plains with cattle ranches, sugar-cane and banana plantations. There is hardly any traffic to be seen so horses and ox-carts will outnumber cars. Trinidad is great for strolling around; the windows of nearly all the pastel-coloured houses are open, so curious travelers can easily take a peek inside. There are many interesting museums too. Our hotel is situated by the sea, just outside the town, so you can easily pop off to dive or snorkel. The water is very clear and simply swarming with colourful fish. Then, on day 8, we’ll drive down to Camaguey. En route we’ll pass through seemingly endless fields of sugar cane, the raw material for the famous rum. Obviously you can taste as much as you like and we suspect that if you don’t use up your duty free allowance of alcohol for souvenirs there’ll be some disappointed faces when you get home! But, rum aside, this is a wonderful place to relax. The city is packed with chalk-white colonial buildings sporting marvellous patios and verandas stocked with exotic plants of every description, and the old town is simply unmissable. Stopping in at Santa Clara for one night, you can also visit the monument to the man who single-handedly saved the T-shirt and poster industries, Ché Guevara. On day 11 we’ll hit the incomparable Varadero Beach, east of Havana. Here the 36 kilometres of sand that looks and feels like icing-sugar are lapped by the most turquoise sea you can imagine. Many would agree that it’s ‘the most beautiful beach in the world’. And, as well as this unique sun, sea and beach experience, you’ll be able to explore the beautiful beaches of the Cayos Blancos islands. Here you'll find a magnificent, unspoiled Caribbean haven where you can enjoy both coral reef snorkelling and deep-sea fishing - until day 14, when we return to Havana for one more night before saying our fond farewells on day 15. Dates & Prices MORE TOUR INFO LET'S GO!