CUBAN PHOTOGRAPHY ADVENTURE

Cuba Panorama 2017

Day 1. Havana 

-Arrival at Havana International Airport 

-Collect your bags and go through customs.

-You're welcomed at the airport lobby by your bilingual guide and professional  driver.

-Private transfer to your Casa Particular 

-Check-in with assistance from your guide 

-General information briefing.

- Return to your Casa particular

- Dinner tonight will be at a local paladar, a privately owned restaurant and a great example of Cuba’s incremental shift to a more free-market economy. We might have the opportunity to meet the owners of the Paladar means “palate” and is named after a chain of restaurants in a Brazilian soap opera popular in Cuba.

* Accommodation Habana 

Day 2. Havana 

-Breakfast at Casa particular 

-After a good sleep we have the opportunity to explore the beautiful historical city of Havana.  La Habana was founded in 1515 by conquistador Diego Velazquez as a trading port and became the capital of the Spanish Colony of Cuba in 1607.

-It includes visits to sites of major interest starting with a walking tour through the main streets and squares of the Historical Centre, declared UNESCO World Heritage Site:

-Plaza de la Catedral (Cathedral Square), named after the masterpiece of Cuban baroque architecture: the Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana built by the Jesuit order. The Cathedral's baroque facade is simultaneously intimate and imposing, and one of the two towers is visibly larger, creating a pleasing asymmetry. As with many churches in the city, the building material of Havana Cathedral includes coral, cut and hauled from the edge of the sea by slaves. Look carefully and you'll see fossils of marine flora and fauna in the stone of the cathedral.

-Plaza de Armas (Square of Arms), ancient military parade ground for Spanish soldiers and surrounded by impressive buildings such as:

Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the former official residence of the governors (Captains General) of Havana, Cuba.          

It is home to the Museum of the City of Havana. It houses exhibitions of art and historical artifacts and many of the

rooms are preserved with their original Colonial decoration.

Palacio del Segundo Cabo (Palace of the Second Lieutenant) dates from 1770, the seat of the second authority of the island. Today it houses important publishing concerns.

Castillo de la Real Fuerza. The second oldest fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies. The castle was recently renovated and reopened in June 2008 to hold the impressive maritime museum. Well laid out exhibits a chart of Spain and Cuba's naval history.

-Plaza de San Francisco de Asís (San Francisco Square), named after the Convent of San Francisco, this square was conceived in 1628, with the objective of supplying water to the ships trading with the metropolis. For many years it also served to stockpile the goods arriving from the harbor. Chronicles of the time say that the square had a busy commercial life. The people, in humble carts or afoot, sold and bought a variety of goods. It’s important to know that through this place the Spanish immigrants arrived to Cuba.

-Plaza Vieja (Old Square), the only civic square of colonial times. Notice it doesn't have a church or government building and is in contrast surrounded by opulent aristocratic 17th century residences. Here we will visit important institutions for visual arts.

-Lunch at a typical paladar, complete menu with one drink included.

-Dinner at local restaurant 

-Free time to explore Havana 

* Accommodation Habana

Day 3. Viñales 

-Breakfast at Casa particular   

-Departure to Viñales Valley and for a full day excursion.(UNESCO World Heritage Site). The valley is particularly famous for its great freestanding rock formations called Mogotes.

-Drive through the valley with stops at Los Jazmines Hotel View-Point to absorb the beauty of the area.

-See a Tobacco Plantation next to the Tobacco Planter's House in Viñales.

Talk with the local farmers and learn about their organic farming.

-Swim at the lake of the valley of silence 

-Lunch at Valle del silencio Restaurant. Complete typical Cuban menu with one drink 

-learn about how locals harvest wild honey and grow organic coffee.

-Dinner at a paladar in Havana. 

Evening at leisure

* Accommodation Habana 

Day 4. Cienfuegos. 

-Breakfast at Casa particular 

-Departure to Cienfuegos the Pearl of the South 

- Lunch at local Paladar.

-Visit to Castillo de Jagua fortress built in the 1700’s,, take a water taxi across the bay of Cienfuegos and walk in the little fishing town of Perche., great opportunity to interact with the locals.

-Walking tour in Cienfuegos 

-Diner at Casa particular

*Accommodation Cienfuegos 

Day 5 Trinidad 

-Breakfast at Casa Particular 

-After breakfast we will board our private transportation to drive us to La Villa de la Santísima Trinidad founded by Don Diego Velázquez in 1514 and declared Cultural World Heritage by UNESCO in 1988.

- Hike to El Cubano. 

A beautiful trail along the river where at the end of the trail there is a cave with a waterfall. Amazing bird watching along the hike.

-Time to swim at the refreshing waterfall 

-Lunch at local restaurant

-walking tour in Trinidad                                

 -Dinner at local Paladar.                                   

-Salsa dancing lessons (optional).                                   

 - Dinner at local  restaurant 

* Accommodation at Trinidad  

Day 6 Trinidad 

-Breakfast at casa particular 

-Beach time / snorkeling 

-beach picnic lunch 

-Trinidad walking tour 

-Salsa dancing lessons (optional)

Day 7  Playa Larga / Bay of pigs 

 -Breakfast at Casa particular 

-Departure to Península de Zapata National Park (Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar Site) where the biggest insular Caribbean humid marsh lies. It's located in Cuba's south coast.

- snorkeling at Punta Perdiz which is an exclusive attraction of Playa Girón and unknown diving and snorkeling destination in Cuba. The area holds 10 diving sites, where corsairs and pirates arrived centuries ago and where visitors can enjoy crystal clear waters and large variety of tropical fish offering fantastic snorkeling and diving conditions, incredibly there are colorful fishes right up to the water edge in surrounding bays and natural pools.

-Snorkeling is included so you will enjoy swimming among schools of Sardines. Optional: SCUBA Diving.

-Lunch at Punta Perdiz. Complete menu with drinks included.

-We continue our trip to the southwestern side of Bay of Pigs in Zapata Peninsula. This route is a harmonious combination of hiking and swimming at ancient cenotes . You set out hiking from  a trail that parallels the western shore of the Bay of Pigs. On the way, you will go through several wooded areas and types of vegetation and will have the chance to swim at one cenote.

-Rest of the evening to relax

-Dinner at local restaurant in Playa Larga

*Accommodation Playa Larga 

Day 8  Habana 

-Breakfast at Casa particular 

-After breakfast, we will drive back to Habana  

Lunch at Habana Paladar

Afternoon / evening at leisure  ( souvenir shopping )

-Farewell dinner at local restaurant 

*Accommodation Habana  

Day 9 Habana 

-Breakfast at Casa Particular 

-Private transfer to the airport 

Have a nice trip back home!

Thank you 

The Program includes:

* Meet and greet at Havana International Airport

* All Meals Starting at dinner day 1 and until breakfast day 9

* Transfers Airport/Hotel/Airport.

* 9 Accommodation nights.

* Attractions and sightseeing fees as per itinerary.

* All transportation in air conditioned Van.

* English speaking guide.

* Local Representative.

Not Included:                                                                            

* Airfare Cuba. Round Trip.                                                      

* Cuban Visa Tourist Card (85 USD Miami airport or 25 USD at Mexico city airport)                                                      

* Personal Incidentals and Tipping

* Activities and excursions outside the above Program.

* Activities marked as “optional”