Cuban Discovery

Havana • Hemingway Museum • Las Terrazas • Vinales Valley • Guama • Cienfuegos • Trinidad • Escambray Mountains • Santa Clara • Varadero

This holiday includes 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners

Welcome to Cuba, a Caribbean island set in a bygone era, rich in history and wonderful landscapes. Our tour begins by re-tracing the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway and his beloved Havana with its ambient plazas, many of which nestled amongst grand colonial palaces and cathedrals. Our journey continues through rolling countryside discovering Cuba’s traditions and some of the country’s most spectacular mountain scenery before arriving on the white sandy shores of Varadero. Not only will you have the service of a Titan HiTours tour manager throughout your holiday but a guide will also be on hand to impart their intimate knowledge of the area.DAY 1 LONDON • HAVANA
We begin with Titan HiTours VIP Home Departure Service™ to London Gatwick airport for your direct scheduled Virgin Atlantic flight to Havana. During the flight you will enjoy excellent meals, complimentary bar service and a number of films. On arrival our coach transfers you to the Hotel Sevilla where we stay for four nights. Following our arrival you will have some free time to settle into your hotel before choosing from the menu of the hotel’s own restaurant, or from one of the many others in the local area.

DAY 2 HAVANA
This morning we introduce you to Cuba’s Capital, Havana. After breakfast which is included throughout your holiday, we visit the historic Partagas Cigar Factory to witness the skilled workers drying, rolling and boxing one of the islands most famous exports. Our walking tour continues through the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, discovering graceful plazas and narrow colonial streets, retracing the steps of Ernest Hemingway. Our tour concludes at the Floridita Bar, a favourite haunt of the great writer to enjoy a typical Cuban cocktail. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

DAY 3 HEMINGWAY MUSEUM
Today we travel out of Havana to Finca Vigia, Ernest Hemingway’s estate where he lived and wrote for over 20 years. The estate, whose name translates as ‘Lookout Farm’, including his home, has been preserved as a museum. After plenty of time to explore, learn how he lived, and how Cuba influenced his life, we return to Havana for an afternoon to relax or explore as you wish.

DAY 4 HAVANA • LAS TERRAZAS
A full day to explore the old town at leisure. Alternatively, a trip across the bay leads you to El Morro, a 16th century fortress offering superb views of Havana’s skyline. In the evening, why not join our optional excursion to see the spectacular dance and music show at Club Tropicana, Havana’s most famous cabaret night spot since its doors opened in 1931.

DAY 5 VINALES VALLEY
Departing Havana we travel by coach to Las Terrazas Eco Mountain Resort, a local community project consisting of a number of attractions, one of which is a tour of a 19th century coffee plantation. As a refreshing end to our visit there is the opportunity to wade in natural swimming pools, which have formed along the San Juan River. We continue to Pinar del Rio for a visit to a rum factory before arriving at the Hotel Los Jasmines, our base for the next two nights.

DAY 6 VINALES VALLEY • GUAMA • CIENFUEGOS
After visiting a local farmer's tobacco plantation we take a panoramic tour through valleys shaded by large rounded limestone formations known as mogotes. In the afternoon we visit the Murial Prehistorica and the Cuevo del Indio (Indian Cave), following a limestone tunnel down to an underground river where we board a boat through the impressive opening.

DAY 7 CIENFUEGOS
Following breakfast we depart for the historic city of Cienfuegos. Our journey east takes us past Havana, the Zapata Peninsula and the world's largest citrus orchard - a 40,000 hectare grove of oranges and grapefruit trees. We stop in Guama for an included lunch followed by a visit to a crocodile farm before continuing to Cienfuegos where we will stay for the next three nights at the Hotel Union.

DAY 8 CIENFUEGOS • TRINIDAD
We begin today with a walking tour of Cienfuegos, a city more affectionately known as the “Pearl of the South”, with its wealth of fine colonial architecture. During the tour we will visit the historic Parque Jose Marti with its imposing cathedral. Our tour concludes with a boat trip around Cienfuegos Bay before leaving you the rest of the day at leisure to make your own explorations.

DAY 9 TRINIDAD
This morning we travel the short distance to Trinidad on the meandering road through picturesque rolling countryside and along the coastline, providing teasing glimpses of hidden beaches and quaint coves. Trinidad was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988 and is home to numerous museums, red-tiled roofs and cobble stoned streets. Our included walking tour visits the impressive history museum and the Museo Romantico, a sumptuous mansion housing many period features dating back to the 18th century. We later transfer back to Cienfuegos, where the evening is at leisure.

DAY 10 CIENFUEGOS • ESCAMBRAY MOUNTAINS • SANTA CLARA • VARADERO
Leaving Trinidad our tour continues to the popular beach resort of Varadero. Travelling north we journey through the spectacular Escambray Mountain range. Covered in dense vegetation and beautiful waterfalls The Escambray provided the ideal hideout in the 1960’s for thousands of anti-Castro guerrillas. We arrive in Santa Clara, the town where Che Guevara is buried and where we visit the museum dedicated to his life. We also take time to view the Tren Blindado (armoured train). In 1958 at the time of the battle for Santa Clara this train was en-route to Havana loaded with soldiers equipped to stop the rebel army’s advance. Che Guevara himself dismantled the rail tracks using a bulldozer causing the train to de-rail where it still rests to this day. In the afternoon we continue to Varadero and our hotel, the all-inclusive Paradisus Varadero Resort for the remaining two nights.

DAY 11 VARADERO
A full day at leisure to relax on the palm-fringed white sandy beach with time to reflect on your tour of Cuba.

DAY 12 VARADERO • HAVANA • LONDON
A leisurely morning to further enjoy the resort facilities before transferring back to Havana Airport for our direct scheduled Virgin Atlantic flight to London Gatwick. Or extend your stay - call for details

DAY 13 LONDON
Arrival at London Gatwick airport where our staff will greet you and transfer you to Titan HiTours transport for your return journey to your front door.Duration 13 days, 11 nights in hotel - 4 Havana, 2 Vinales Valley, 3 Cienfuegos, 2 Varadero & 1 in flight

Titan HiTours VIP Home Departure Service™

Check-in service by Titan HiTours staff.

Services of an experienced Titan HiTours tour manager, plus local guides

Scheduled Virgin Atlantic direct flights

Air-conditioned coaches with experienced drivers

Accommodation as specified or of a similar standard

Hotel porterage (one bag per person)

Meals: Breakfast on days 2-12, Lunch on days 6, 11, Dinner on days 10-11

Excursions, tours and entrances as detailed in the itinerary

All airport taxes, security charges, UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) and applicable fuel surcharges except the Cuba departure tax payable individually on leaving Cuba, currently 25 Convertible Pesos (CUC) per person. Correct at time of print