Treasures of Cuba

Take a walking tour through the historic district. You'll see the bustling Plaza de Armas, where a statue of Manuel de Céspedes is located, the Catedral of San Cristóbal de La Habana, the Palacio de los Marqueses de Aguas Claras, which is now a restaurant, and other notable buildings. Live like a local and ride in a 1950s car, touring through the town while admiring the colonial buildings and the moody Malecón oceanfront. Over five miles of this broad seawall-bounded esplanade connect Old Havana to the Vedado neighborhood. It's a wonderful location for exploring, admiring the monuments, or just relaxing on the sea wall as the sun sets and the entire seafront comes to life.

Casa Villa Azul (or similar)

Visit Sancti Spiritus today and take advantage of an orientation tour of this lovely but frequently disregarded colonial city. One of the earliest European settlements in Cuba, it protects a priceless piece of the nation's fantastical historical legacy. Nature is worth exploring in the Sancti Spiritus Province, perhaps visit Playa Ancón beach overlooking the mountains.

Hotel del Rijo (or similar)

Cross Eastern Cuba by land to Bayamo. Enjoy a free afternoon of exploration. You can choose to tour the area on a horse-drawn carriage, as the locals do, or you can people watch in the pedestrian-only Plaza de la Revolución.

Hotel Royalton (or similar)

Continue to Baracoa and take an orientation walk to familiarize yourself with the area. Everything is available in the area, including beaches, waterfalls, trails for hiking, and museums. The best way to explore this colonial town, which is on a bay with mountains rising in the distance, is on foot, and you'll have more than enough time with 2 1/2 days to see it all.

Discover the rural areas and small businesses of Cuba in Baracoa, a project backed by G Adventures. If you have some free time, consider going on a hike close to El Yunque or checking out the stunning beaches that are unique to this part of Cuba. Visit the city for a while, then travel farther afield to the mountains or the eye-catching black sand beaches. Both the larger Playa Maguana and the smaller Playa Nava are close by and easily reached by bicycle or taxi. The 40 km-long Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt is well worth the trip out of town.

Homestay Rolando y Elvira (or similar)

When you arrive in Santiago de Cuba, take an orientation walk after driving along the rocky coast. Explore this Afro-Cuban city during your free time by stopping by significant revolutionary sites like the Moncada Barracks. The birthplace of the Revolution and the origin of the son rhythms is Santiago de Cuba. Visit museums, churches with colonial architecture, and structures like the Moncada Barracks. Even the most reserved dancer will feel drawn to Santiago's vibrant traditional music scene and try out some salsa moves.

Las 3 Ana Homestay (or similar)

Travel deep into Sierra Maestra National Park and stay in charming cabins by the Yara River. Spend your free time outdoors relaxing or going on hikes.

Hotel Villa Santo Domingo (or similar)

Learn more about Cuba's past by taking a hike through the Sierra Maestra mountains in Che Guevara and Fidel Castro's footsteps. Arrive in Camagüey in the afternoon. Spend your free time exploring. Get in the back of a "bicitaxi" (bicycle-taxi) and tour the neighborhood markets and plazas, attend a ballet performance, visit an art gallery, or experience the city's nightlife. The third-largest city on the island, Camagüey, is where your journey will continue to the west across the Carretera Central. In its structures, public spaces, and tinajones—large clay pots traditionally used in Spain and its New World colonies for collecting rainwater—it has preserved much of its colonial past. Explore the striking sights and winding, narrow streets.

Hotel Colon (or similar)

Experience Trinidad with an orientation walk and complimentary salsa lesson. As you continue to the colonial city of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, take in the breathtaking scenery. Trinidad, a center of cultural activity, is home to beautiful Spanish-style churches and fantastic museums. You're never far from a band playing the local salsa or son. Take advantage of the complimentary salsa lesson while visiting Trinidad.

Homestay Jesus Pineda (or similar)

Travel to Cienfuegos, a colonial city, along the coast. Visit the Che Mausoleum by taking a detour through Santa Clara on the way. Continue on to Cienfuegos where you can take a tour to learn more about the city.

Lily's homestay (or similar)

Drive along the picture-perfect Bay of Pigs, and learn more about the Cuban victory in 1961 at the Giron Museum. Enjoy free time for swimming and snorkelling before returning to Havana. Enjoy a final evening with the group in Cuba's vibrant capital.

Casa Villa Azul (or similar)