Cuba has more than 11 million people, with 75 per cent of them living in urban areas. Havana has a population of over 2 million. The exotic capital of Cuba and largest city in the Caribbean, Havana has served for centuries as the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. The city’s first building, overlooking the entrance to a protected bay, dates back to 1519. Originally christened La Villa de San Cristóbal de la Habana, the city became a repository for treasures that Spanish fleets brought to the New World. It also became the centre of trade and commerce between the old and new worlds. Havana’s strategic geographic position was a major factor in its rapid growth and in the decision to build a city wall in the 17th century. The wall was completed more than 100 years later. The capital of Cuba since 1607, in 1982 Old Havana, the city’s historic centre, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site with its wealth of Spanish Colonial architecture. American novelist Ernest Hemingway said that, in terms of beauty, only Venice and Paris surpassed Havana’s charm. During the Prohibition era of the 1920’s Havana became a popular holiday centre for Americans with nightclubs and gambling flourishing until 1959 and Castro’s revolution. This morning we take a guided walking tour of Old Havana, founded by Diego Velazquez in 1514, visiting its historical sites including the Museum of the City, the Havana Club Rum Museum, the Marti Memorial, the Museum of the Revolution, the Bacardi Building, the Plaza de Armas and Cathedral Square. Second of 3 nights in Havana. 4 Star Hotel Presidente or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

Our tour this morning explores one of Havana most famous residences- the home that Ernest Hemingway lived in for close to 20 years. It was here that he wrote ‘The Old Man & The Sea’ and ‘For whom the Bell Tolls’. Hemingway fell in love with Cuba on his first visit to this island in 1939- he was initially attracted to Cuba because of the Marlin fishing. We return to Havanaa for you to have the afternoon free to explore this remarkable old town. Third of 3 nights in Havana. 4 Star Hotel Presidente or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

Cuba is a long, narrow island (1,200 Km from Cabo de San Antonio on the westernmost tip to Punta de Maisí on the eastern tip.) At its widest point it measures 210 Km and at its narrowest 32 Km. Its fertile plains are dominated by four major mountain ranges. The country’s highest peak is Turquino at 1,974 metres high. The landscape is diverse, ranging from semi-deserts to tropical rain forests. The country has a large biodiversity and well-preserved ecosystems. This morning we leave Havana on Cuba’s northern (Gulf of Mexico) coast for the Zapata Peninsula on the south (Caribbean) coast. This is one of the least populated areas in Cuba and today is synonymous with luxuriant tropical vegetation and fine deserted beaches. On the peninsula, Montemar Natural Park is one of the most complete wildlife reserves in the Caribbean, covered mainly by a huge swamp with forested areas, mangroves, lianas [air rooted plants] and tranquil lagoons. In Montemar Natural Park we take a boat ride on the Treasure Lagoon to visit the reconstructed Indian Village of Aldea Taina to learn about the original inhabitants of the islands, the Taino people. Further along the coast of the Zapata Peninsula we visit the Bay of Pigs Museum, well known for the infamous armed invasion by American-backed Cuban exiles in April 1961 and defeated in less than 72 hours. We continue driving to Cienfuegos, a laid-back maritime city with a lazy, tropical atmosphere which perches on the shores of picturesque Jagua Bay. The city was first settled by the French, who dubbed it “The Southern Pearl”. We drive along the Punta Gorda Peninsula, Cienfuego's most exclusive neighborhood. We take a guided tour of the well-preserved colonial centre of Cienfuegos, which was recently declared a UNESCO world heritage area. The inhabitants are proud of the city’s musical traditions and Cienfuegos was once home to Benny More, one of Cuba's most famous musicians. In the early 19th century, wealthy Frenchman D'Clouet of Louisiana promoted this area to the French who began to populate the region from Bordeaux, among other places. French and indigenous architecture abounds in Cienfuegos. In the circular Martí Park, a granite compass marks the point where the first French villagers started building the city. The Terry Theatre, built in 1869, is a good example of eclectic Creole architecture. Overnight in Cienfuegos. 4 Star Hotel Jagua or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

On our short drive to Trinidad [1½ hours] our first stop is the Botanical Garden, founded in 1901 by Harvard University. It is home to thousands of fascinating specimens including many unusual trees. Later we travel along the south coast to Trinidad, one of the first townships founded by the Spaniards in the early 16th Century. It became a major centre for trading sugar and slaves for almost 200 years. The wealth generated by the landowners is reflected in the treasure trove of colonial architecture. A long period of isolation from 1850 to the 1950's protected the city from development, leaving the original layout largely unchanged. Extensive restoration work can be seen throughout the colonial centre and work continues today down to the finest details such as the street lights and the whitewashed railings surrounding the main square. Visiting the beautiful city of Trinidad is like entering a time warp with cobblestoned streets, tile roofs, window grills and patios. This stunning 500-year-old town is a museum in itself, with palatial 18th- and 19th-century houses contributing to its unique colonial ambience. The colonial town and adjacent Valle de los Ingenios, (Valley of the Sugar Mills) were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Trinidad is also blessed with magnificent Caribbean beaches and the Escambray, a rugged mountain range. Our guided walking tour of Trinidad’s Colonial Core includes the place where the city was founded (the Plaza Mayor), The Holy Trinity Church and its surroundings, including a visit to the crafts market and La Canchanchara Bar. This afternoon is free for you to explore the streets of Trinidad at your own pace.Overnight in Trinidad night. Hotel Las Cuevas or similar, Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning we visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum at Santa Clara where the bodies of Che and his troops, who died in battle in Bolivia, are buried. In 1958, guerilla troops commanded by Ernesto Che Guevara attacked the industrial centre of Santa Clara after a hard, 400-kilometre march that had begun in the Sierra Maestra Mountains of eastern Cuba. The dictatorship finally surrendered to Guevara’s troops. We drive through the province of Villa Clara, a traditional sugar producer. Excellent coffee grows on its southern mountain slopes, as does one of Cuba’s important tobacco crops. We drive on to the city of Camaguey, which lies in a vast area of open plains, pasture land and cattle ranches in the heart of Cuba. Dating back to 1514, Camaguey has been wiped out several times by battles and pirates (led by Henry Morgan). When it was rebuilt its streets became a labyrinth, as if to confuse any future invaders. Today, these winding streets lined with rainbow-coloured houses have given it a distinctly different feel from other Cuban cities. Camaguey has a proud history of heroism and patriotism from the independence wars but today is known more for its active cultural scene. The symbols of Camaguey are large ceramic jars known as 'Tinajones' which can be seen in parks and gardens all over the city. They can be up to 2 metres tall and are still used to store rainwater and food. We visit La Plaza de Santa Ana, the Cathedral and buildings surrounding the Square. Nearby is Revolution Square, named after Major General Iganacio Agramonte y Loynaz. The Teatro Principal, a splendid building dating back to 1850, is now the home of the Camagüey Classical Ballet Company. Overnight in Camaguey. 3 Star Gran Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning we pass through Granma Province, which is named after the boat that Fidel Castro used in his revolution. Situated in Cuba’s wild southwest, Granma is a great valley formed by the longest river in Cuba and framed by the magnificent Sierra Maestra Mountains on the edge of the island’s rugged Caribbean shore. These mountains provided shelter for Castro’s revolutionaries. The area’s history is intertwined with stories of slavery and struggles for independence. We visit Bayamo City, the provincial capital. Bayamo was founded by Spanish conquistadors in 1513. At the beginning of the War of Independence in the 19th century the city was seized and burned by Cuban rebels to prevent it from falling into the Spanish colonialists' hands. The city is now a national monument where we see Anthem Square and the Cathedral of Bayamo. On the way to Santiago we visit the Basilica Del Cobra, which is the object of pilgrimages by many Cubans. Here we learn about the blending of the Catholic & Santeria religions. First of 2 nights in Santiago. 3 Star Versalles Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

Santiago de Cuba is the second most important city in Cuba, with a population of over 1 million. Set in an attractive bay flanked by the impressive Sierra Maestra mountains, Santiago de Cuba is a vibrant, passionate city that rivals Havana with its rich cultural heritage, colonial architecture and its unique and sometimes overwhelming character. Our guided tour of Santiago city this morning includes visiting the Moncada and the Diego Velazquez Museum, an early 16th century mansion owned by Diego Velázquez, Spain's chief conquistador and the Cathedral of Santiago de Cuba. The centre of Santiago revolves around Céspedes Park, near the historical City Hall. Like Havana, Santiago has a rich mixture of attractive colonial squares and moody streets which contrast well with the imposing communist Plaza de la Revolucion and the luxuriant tropical surroundings. We also take a boat ride through part of Santiago de Cuba Bay and later visit the the sturdy Castillo del Morro fortress guarding the entrance to its beautiful harbour. This fortress was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997 Second of 2 nights in Santiago. 3 Star Versalles Hotel or similar. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

This morning we take a flight back to Havana. The afternoon is free for you to explore Havana at your own pace. Overnight in Havana 4 Star Hotel Presidente or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.