Beaches and Beyond in Cuba - Cuba

Departing from the beach resort of Varadero, this 8-day private tour combines the key cultural and historical sites of central Cuba with visits to some of the best beaches on the island. Extend your stay before or after the tour if you would like more beach time in Varadero or Cayo Santa María. Day 1 On arrival into Havana, you’ll be met by your guide and transferred to the Paradisus Varadero Resort & Spa where you’ll spend your first night. Day 2 Your tour starts by heading south through central Cuba to Playa Larga and the legendary Bay of Pigs. Explore the beautiful beach at Playa Larga and snorkel in a 200 ft deep sink hole full of tropical fish. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the Museo de la Intervención at Playa Girón which gives a fascinating overview of the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion. Continue to the picturesque colonial town of Cienfuegos where you will visit the historic Tomás Terry Theatre where the likes of Caruso and Sarah Bernhardt used to perform. Overnight at Hotel Jagua in Cienfuegos. Day 3 This morning you’ll visit the Cienfuegos Botanical Gardens which contains over 2,000 species of tropical plants. Continue your nature-themed day with a guided hike through El Nicho National Park, with the chance to swim in refreshing natural pools beneath the cascading waterfalls. Continue to the city of Trinidad where you’ll spend two nights. Day 4 Today you’ll have a full day to explore Trinidad, Cuba’s best preserved colonial city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A walking tour will take you through the old town with it’s cobbled streets and Plaza Mayor, surrounded by old colonial mansions. Stop at a local bar to sample a Canchánchara - a 19th-century cocktail made of water, lime, honey and rum - and, once refreshed, continue on to the Museo Histórico Municipal, one of Trinidad’s showpiece museums which houses furniture and artefacts from Cuba’s colonial past. In the evening, let your hair down and learn to dance salsa with the locals at the Casa de la Trova. Day 5 This morning you’ll set off for the beautiful Sugar Mill Valley in the Sierra del Escambray. Enjoy a scenic train journey through the valley and climb the infamous Slave Tower for some wonderful views. Continue through the colonial town of Sancti Spiritus to historic Santa Clara where Che Guevara celebrated his greatest victory. Visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum and the Tren Blindado, a national monument commemorating the Cuban Revolution. In the late afternoon you’ll arrive in the charming colonial town of Remedios where you’ll overnight. Day 6 Today you’ll make the short drive to the coast and the island paradise of Cayo Santa María, with some of the best beaches in Cuba. Enjoy a leisurely lunch followed by an afternoon on the beach and overnight at the excellent Hotel Meliá Buenavista. Day 7 Enjoy a day at leisure. Relax on the beach and take full advantage of the all-inclusive facilities of the Hotel Meliá Buenavista. Day 8 Extend your stay in Cayo Santa María or head back to Varadero for a few more days on the beach there. Or, if you must return home, your driver will transfer you back to Havana for your return flight to the UK.