Overview

Eastern Cuba is a much less visited region of Cuba, that really packs a punch !  It has Cuba’s largest and highest mountain range , its highest peak at over 6400ft and Santiago De Cuba , the islands second largest colonial city, enjoying a Caribbean vibe and strong links to Fidel Castro and Revolution . Dotted throughout the region, delightful small colonial towns can be explored , including  Gibara , Bayamo and Baracoa , the latter surrounded by wild sub tropical National Parks.  There are miles of coastline , some rugged with a mountain backdrop and other areas offering world class , beautiful beaches. The people lead a simple life here and are incredibly friendly and welcoming and their love of music and dance is strong,  as is their pride of being from Oriente which is often scoffed at by the “Habaneros ” from Havana .

We can tailor your holiday to suit your interests and it can be extended with the chance to relax and explore a little independently. If you like walking we can incorporate this into the holiday with both the Sierra Maestra and Baracoa offering some of the best trails in Cuba. For those who enjoy history or culture , music and dance, then a day or two longer exploring Santiago De Cuba would certainly be recommended. Alternatively enjoy a few days of relaxation in the Caribbean sun with the beaches at Guardalavaca working well with the holiday itinerary.

All our holidays can be fully guided throughout, or you can travel a little more independently and book a local guide for each visit or activity that you choose to enjoy. You can then use our private transfer service to move between each destination and add in free days for your own pursuits.

Itinerary

Head to Holguin , the gateway to Eastern Cuba today with a flight via Canada. On arrival a private transfer will take you the short distance to the delightful and very typical town of Gibara, located on the north coast of Cuba. Settle in at your chosen centrally located hotel and perhaps you can have your first taste of Cuba with a short stroll from the hotel.
Known within Cuba as the ‘Villa Blanca’ (white town), Gibara fights with,Baracoa located further east for the recognition as the place in Cuba Christopher Columbus first landed . Enjoy a short tour of the town before heading to the provincial capital Holguin, famed for its many colonial squares and founded way back in 1545. Enjoy a guided walking tour here before lunch . Continue the day by visiting Bayamo, a small town known locally as ‘La Heroica’ due to its long history of revolutionary battles against the Spanish. Overnight in the centre of this small colonial city.
This morning start the journey into the Sierra Maestra Mountains, passing small farmhouses and villages with wonderful mountain scenery. Later in the morning, arrive at a small hamlet nestling deep in the mountains with views to Cuba’s highest and most sacred mountain, Pico Turquino. A jeep will take you higher into the mountains ready for a walk deep into the forests to La Plata, the secret hideout of Fidel Castro’s revolutionary heroes. Visit the various hidden buildings including Fidel’s cabin and the radio station from where they launched the Revolution. Also pass by the tiny mountain community of La Platica to experience how the mountain folk live deep in the mountains . Stay tonight in the hamlet and perhaps take an evening stroll along the river, such a relaxing and peaceful setting.
After an early breakfast and the chance to stretch your legs around the village, you can head towards Santiago de Cuba a journey of just over 3 hours. Perhaps make a detour and visit El Cobre, a small church nestling in the mountains and an important pilgrimage site in Cuba . Cuba's second largest city, with a strong Caribbean vibe and strong links to the Revolution. Enjoy a tour of the city including Fidel Castro's mausoleum and the Moncada barracks, the scene of the first attack against the Government. Morro Cabana is an imposing fortress that protected the city from pirates and offers spectacular views across the Caribbean Sea and visit here along with exploring the colonial centre and Parque Cespedes where Fidel gave his victory speech when the revolution was won.
Departing early in the morning, experience one of the most interesting and spectacular drives in Cuba along the very south-eastern tip of Cuba past the infamous Guantanamo Bay and over ‘La Farola’ the mountain road that links Baracoa which was only completed in 1965 After settling in, enjoy a guided walk of this delightful coastal town and relax this evening in one of the local music bars where you can mix with the locals, some of the friendliest in Cuba.
Travel the short distance to Rio Toa, Cuba’s wildest river which runs through a UNESCO protected reserve and you can take an exhilarating boat ride up the river through some spectacular scenery in this remote part of Cuba. Also nearby is Finca Duaba the location of Cuba’s cocoa plantations and you can learn about Baracoa’s small scale but well known chocolate production.
Heading back over La Farola today, there will be time if you wish to stop at the viewpoint at Guantanamo Bay to have a peek at the USA naval base which is certainly a very controversial piece of land. On arrival back to Santiago de Cuba head to the tiny island of Cayo Granma for views and the chance for a lunch overlooking the sea. Tonight we recommend some live music at the small but vibrant Casa De La Trova music house in the centre of Santiago De Cuba.
Heading north across the island towards Holguin, the strong links of this region to Fidel Castro continue with a stop at the tiny village of Biran, which is the birthplace of Fidel and Raul Castro and visit the house where the brothers were born. If leaving for home, head to the airport at Holguin or alternatively spend a few days relaxing at the beautiful beaches at Guardalavaca .

from £2495 per person

We can create a tailor-made holiday to suit your budget.

We can create a tailor-made holiday to suit your budget and include all the visits, activities and meals as you require . We can uniquely pre book tables at the private restaurants in Cuba, a great option to enjoy the very best dining options . INCLUDED: international flights from UK via Canada , Cuba tourist visas , accommodation in twin/double en-suite rooms on a B&B basis, return private airport transfers, private transfers between each location , guided tours of each location , lunch each day except departure day, La Plata walk in the Sierra Maestra mountains, visit to Rio Toa and Finca Duaba , Baracoa and visit to Biran near Holguin .

Activities

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