One Week Cuba Culture and History Tour

Santiago de Cuba is the island’s second-largest city and is illuminated by a selection of opulent cathedrals. Your guide will be eager to reveal the fascinating sites associated with the Spanish-American War to you today. In Siboney, you will find a charming village by the edge of the Caribbean Sea. The town acted as the landing point for American forces during the war and was the point from which Fidel Castro gathered men before attacking the Moncada Barracks. At Castillo de San Pedro del Morro, you find one of the best-preserved, 17th-century Spanish fortresses in the world with a sprawling complex perched on a cliff.

Your guide will meet you at the hotel and will be eager to introduce you to the stunning history and illuminating culture of the city, beginning with the Cementerio de Santa Ifigenia. The celebrated cemetery hosts a gorgeous white monument that soars above the paved walkways and manicured grass. Among the more than 8,000 tombs, your guide will also point out the resting place of Fidel Castro, which consists of a 10-foot tall granite boulder and a copper plate. Your discovery of the Communist Revolution will continue at Moncada Barracks, which is an art-deco building that tells the story of the failed insurrection Fidel Castro led in 1953.

In Sancti Spiritus the aroma of roasted chicken emanates from the restaurants spread across the 16th-century streets. The scent of guava will also fill the streets, and the colorful, 17th-century facade of the Museo de Arte Colonial defines the elegant atmosphere for which the city is known. Outside of Trinidad, your guide will lead you on a private tour through the Valle de los Ingenios, where the sweeping influence of sugar cane fields touch the edge of soaring palm trees and foothills. The 19th-century plantations represent the relics of the former sugar barons whose estates flourished.

You will continue your private tour of the famous colonial charm of Trinidad today, where you will be provided with an immersive tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The facades that line the cobbled boulevards shine with a rainbow hue of pastels. At the Iglesia Parroquial de la Santisima Trinidad, you can find a treasured Neoclassical facade that contains an interior of soaring vaulted ceilings and impressive altars. The tower at the Museo Historico Municipal will provide you with a spectacular panorama of the bright city, surrounding terrain, and hints of the Caribbean Sea. Before reaching Havana, your private transfer will lead you on a scenic coastal drive to reach the Bay of Pigs and its museum.

In Havana, you can find vintage cars that line the cobbled streets, making you feel as if you have been transported back to the ‘70s. After breakfast, your guide will lead you on an encompassing tour of Havana’s history and ebullient culture. You will then continue to La Finca Vigia for insight into the famous American author, Ernest Hemingway. The former home of the writer from 1940 to 1960 has been preserved, and each room captured the daily rituals of Hemingway. This immersive tour will provide you with a glimpse into his rituals, such as how he scribbled his weight on the bathroom wall each day.

The morning light will wash over the gorgeous Neoclassical architecture of Havana’s Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. As you indulge in your final meal in the country, you will certainly begin to reminisce about your trip if you have not begun to plan your return trip yet. Shortly, your private transfer will meet you at your accommodation to escort you to Jose Marti International Airport for your flight home.