Cuba, Havana

Western road trip and relaxation in Varadero

Arrival in Havana.

Welcome by our representative.

Group transfer and check-in at the hotel for 3 nights with breakfast included.

Hotel: 4-star NH Capri (or similar)

Breakfast.

Explore Old Havana on foot and discover all its charms. A guide will accompany you for 2 hours.

Take a stroll along the pedestrianised streets and discover:

• The Plaza de Armas, formerly known as the Plaza de Iglesia, it was the site of the town's first parish church. It brings together political and military institutions. The square is surrounded by splendid colonial buildings. Today, it is best known as the place to be for book lovers.
• The iconic Plaza de la Catedral, one of the city's most beautiful and famous squares. It is considered to be the best-preserved colonial architectural complex in Latin America. The cathedral is one of the oldest in Latin America, and was named after Christopher Columbus, whose ashes are said to be buried there.
• Plaza de San Francisco de Asís, in the heart of the city. Completely renovated, it now boasts pastel colours and remains one of the most popular places to visit, with its pretty lion fountain.
• The Plaza Vieja, surrounded by 17th-century mansions that have been converted into art galleries.

Continue with a ride in a "Viejas Americanas" from the 1950s, the iconic old American cars that are ubiquitous on the island, to experience the "soul of Cuba". Hop in for a comprehensive tour of the Modern City. You will discover the unique and playful charm of a stroll through the modern part of the city, including:

• The chic "Miramar" district, home to the main international embassies, mainly on Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue). Miramar is a beautiful residential area (one of the prettiest in the city).
• The "Plaza de la Revolución", a vast square dominated by a statue, the monument to José Marti, and the emblematic image of Che Guevara that adorns the Ministry of the Interior.
• "Vedado", one of the city's liveliest districts, with its art deco hotels, and bordered by the Malecón, a magnificent seafront promenade.
• The Malecón: an 8 km long corniche that separates the city from the sea and extends to the entrance of the cargo port. The Malecón runs along very different neighbourhoods of the city.

Lunch and dinner at leisure.

Return and overnight stay at the hotel.

We recommend enhancing your stay in Havana with the magnificent "Legendarios del Guajirito" show (optional).

It's a magnificent showcase of traditional Cuban music, with the stars of the Buenavista Social Club, the Afro Cuban All Stars, and Tropicana. This show is one of the most authentic in the capital.

Hotel: 4-star NH Capri (or similar)

Day at leisure to stroll around at your own pace and discover Havana as you walk wherever the streets take you.

Pick up your hired car at the agreed time.

Overnight stay in Havana. Meals at leisure.

Hotel: 4-star NH Capri (or similar)

Departure for the Viñales valley.

On the way, stop off at Las Terrazas, declared a Biosphere Reserve thanks to its lush vegetation. An ideal spot for ecotourism.

Discover Viñales, a picturesque village with colourful alleyways.

Check-in at the hotel for 2 nights with breakfast included.

Meals at your leisure.

Hotel: 3-star Los Jazmines by Mystique (or similar)

Free time to visit the Viñales Valley, dotted with "mogotes" (strange geological formations) and tobacco plantations.

Opportunities for hikes and horse-riding.

Meals at leisure.

Hotel: 3-star Los Jazmines by Mystique (or similar)

Departure for the splendid and elegant city of Cienfuegos, the pearl of the South, founded in 1819 by Frenchman Louis Le Clouet.

Free time to visit the city located on the shores of the immense Jagua Bay.

Cienfuegos is a magnificent seaside town rich in monuments, palaces, and colonnaded mansions.

We suggest you visit the Parque José Marti and the cathedral (depending on opening hours). One of the most beautiful squares, surrounded by important 19th and early 20th century buildings, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Also worth a visit is the Thomas Terry Theatre, built in the Italian style, where Caruso and Sarah Bernhardt performed. It is one of the most elegant and eclectic buildings in the city of Cienfuegos, which, along with the Sauto Theatre in Matanzas and the La Caridad Theatre in Santa Clara, make up the trio of theatres that existed in Cuba in the 19th century.

Check in at the hotel for 1 night with breakfast included.

Meals at your leisure.

Hotel: 4-star La Union by Melia (or similar)

Take the time to stroll through the streets of Cienfuegos before departing for Trinidad.

Trinidad is a magnificent city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded in 1514 by Diego Velasquez and built in the 18th century on the back of a boom in the sugar cane industry.

Trinidad is a genuine history book in and of itself, and a journey back in time. Its well-preserved colonial architecture, colourful houses with tiled roofs, and cobbled streets are truly enchanting. This small town, with its ochre, blue, green, and pink-coloured stone walls and its backdrop of the verdant Sierra del Escambray, is sure to charm you.

Check in at the hotel for 2 nights with breakfast included.

Meals at leisure.

Hotel: 4-star La Ronda (or similar)

Visit the city at your leisure.

You will be on foot today, wandering through the streets and squares, stopping at museums that are precious witnesses to the location's rich history: the Plaza Mayor, the Iglesia Parroquial de Santisama Trinidad, the 5-nave church, the Plaza de Jigüe, the Ermita de la Popa, the Plaza Santa Ana and the craft market.

Be sure to visit to the Palacio Cantero (Museo Municipal de Historia), a splendid colonial house built between 1827 and 1830, and converted into a museum in 1980, paved with Carrara marble and featuring a beautiful brick patio. Or the Romantic Museum, which bear witness to the splendour of Trinidad. Built in 1808, the former palace of Nicolás de la Cruz y Brunet, owner of sugar cane plantations ennobled by the King of Spain, is one of the finest examples of colonial architecture on the island. It has been beautifully restored.

During the day, we recommend a short break at the Canchánchara Tavern, one of the oldest buildings in the city!

Canchachara is a popular Cuban drink made from sugar cane brandy, bee's honey, and lemon juice. Enjoy it to the sound of Cuban music.

Meals at leisure.

Hotel: 4-star La Ronda (or similar)

Departure for the Varadero peninsula, with over 20 km of beaches with crystal-clear blue waters and white sand.

Take the opporunity of being in Santa Clara to visit Che Gevara's Mausoleum and its famous armoured train.

Drop off your hire car on arrival.

Check into your all-inclusive hotel for 4 nights.

Hotel: 5-star Melia Varadero (or similar)

Spend this day at leisure to enjoy the beautiful beach and activities offered by the hotel.

Hotel: 5-star Melia Varadero (or similar)

Depending on your flight schedule, enjoy some free time and then board the shared transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Please note that your departure flight must take off after 4pm to ensure a comfortable return journey.

End of trip.

Spend these days at leisure to relax on the beautiful beaches or enjoy the many activities offered by the hotel.

Hotel: 5-star Melia Varadero (or similar)

Depending on your flight schedule, free time and group transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Please note that your departure flight must take off after 4pm to ensure a comfortable return journey.

End of trip.

You will pick up your vehicle on day 3 in Havana at the end of the day and return it on day 9, upon your arrival in Varadero.

Driving rules:

• Drive on the right, speed limit 100 km/h on the motorway, 90 km/h on the road and 50 km/h in town.
• Stop signs in Cuba are represented by a triangle with the tip pointing downwards. It is white with a red line and the word "PARE" written across it.
• Avoid driving at night.

IMPORTANT: There is a single motorway that crosses the island from east to west. It is in fairly good condition but is often crossed by railway tracks and frequented by stray animals and bicycles. In some parts of Cuba, the roads are less passable, such as in Oriente or towards Pinar del Rio. We strongly advise against driving at night as the roads are poorly lit and road signs are still few and far between.

Rental conditions:

• Minimum age: 21.
• 2-year old driving licence.
• Passport and national and/or international driving license required.
• Security deposit in the form of a credit card imprint. Between €150 and €200 when picking up the vehicle, refunded when returning the vehicle (or destroyed if you leave it elsewhere).
• The vehicle is provided with a full tank of fuel (invoiced at the time of booking before departure), and must be returned empty (the fuel in the tank at the time of return is not refunded).

To be paid upon signing the contract on site:

• Additional driver: about €3/day. We cannot guarantee the type of transmission at the time of booking.

Please note that your departure flight must take off after 4pm to ensure a comfortable return journey.