Hemingway's Cuba
A comprehensive tour of western Cuba, flying direct with Virgin Atlantic
Day 1 Fly from London Gatwick to Havana and transfer to the 5-star Hotel Parque Central for a three-night stay.
Day 2 A city tour exploring both old and modern Havana.
Day 3 Visit the local botanical gardens before continuing to the small fishing town of Cojimar on the outskirts of Havana and the Hemingway Museum at Santiago de Paula where he wrote ‘The Old Man and the Sea’.
Day 4 By road to Vinales in Pinar del Rio, Cuba’s most westerly province, 178 km from Havana and crossed by two spectacular mountain ranges. En route visit a tobacco factory and rum shop and Indian’s Cave, part of the spectacular Santo Tomas cave system. Overnight at the 3-star Hotel La Ermita or Los Jazmines.
Day 5 Depart for scenic Soroa, famous for its botanical gardens, home to over 700 different types of orchids and its waterfalls. Overnight at the Soroa Hotel or similar.
Day 6 Depart for Cienfuegos, a beautiful town with buildings showing the French influence of those who migrated here from Louisiana. Drive by the Bay of Pigs (with an optional visit to the Bay of Pigs Museum) and continue to Trinidad for three nights at the 2-star Hotel Las Cuevas or similar.
Day 7 An orientation tour of Trinidad, recently nominated a UNESCO World Heritage site, admires its beautiful colonial architecture and many squares.
Day 8 Visit the city’s museum, La Canchanchara bar, named after a local rum drink made with water and honey, and the nearby sugar plantations and mansion.
Day 9 Travel to Santa Clara visiting Sancti Spiritus en route. Stay two nights at the 2-star La Granjita or the Hotel Los Caneyes.
Day 10 Visit the colonial city of San Juan de los Remedios. Visit the Plaza Marti, a beautiful square surrounded by colonial mansions and the town’s main church, Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, built in 1570 and one of Cuba’s oldest churches.
Day 11 Travel to Varadero, a 12-mile long slender strip of sand backed with dense tropical foliage and overlooking the Caribbean Sea, for a four-night stay at the 4-star All- Inclusive Hotel Sol Palmeras.
Days 12-14 At leisure with a variety of optional excursions, bookable locally.
Day 15 At leisure before transferring to the airport for the overnight flight to London. Alternatively extend your stay with an extra four nights in Varadero.
Day 16 Arrive Gatwick in the early morning.
Itinerary Note
Itinerary sequence may be re-arranged in order to reduce overcrowding at some sights. The stay in Varadero will be at the end of the tour.
Extension - Varadero
Spend four nights in Cuba’s most popular resort, a 12- mile long slender strip of sand backed with dense tropical foliage and overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The tastefully constructed 4-star All-Inclusive Hotel Sol Palmeras is surrounded by extensive gardens and has six restaurants from which to choose as well as three pools and direct access to the beach. There are 376 rooms and all Voyages Jules Verne clients are accommodated in bungalows with air-conditioning, satellite TV, mini-bar, safe and private facilities.
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