Trekking to the Top of Cuba (16 days)

Do you need sunshine, tropical vegetation, cultural encounters, wonderful treks, or privileged contacts with a very friendly opened population with an interesting history? You found the trip you are looking for. A unique approach to the island from west to east, full of trekking in regions as varied as Viñales, The Sierra Escambray, the Sierra Maestra or still the tropical Baracoa, without forgetting the important cities like Santiago, Trinidad and Havana.

We start the trip by Viñales valley where we will conquer one of the mogotes (karstic hillocks) that make us think of the land scapes in southern China, dominating the tobacco plantations. After a stop by the bay of pigs in the Caribbean sea, we will discover Trinidad one of the most beautiful cities in Latin America. Then we trek in the heart of Escambray Mountains before getting into the tallest mountains in Cuba, the Sierra Maestra, and of course we conquer the highest peak: the Turquino. After a visit to Santiago de Cuba we keep on heading east to Guantanamo to conquer the peak of El Yunque, dominating Baracoa. Finally not before enjoying one of the charming beaches in the region, we achieve the trip by visiting the capital of Cuba: Havana.

Highlights:

• Trekking in different regions of Cuba
• The colonial cities like Trinidad, Havana, and Santiago
• The charming beaches in the Caribbean and Bahamas sea
• Accommodation in private houses for a privileged contact with the population
• The climbing to the top of a Mogote ,the highest peak of Cuba in Sierra Maestra and the Yunque in a tropical paradise

Guiding service: Tour guide speaking english.

Assistance and supervising service:

• The guide from La Coronación welcomes the clients at the airport carrying a poster with the logo of the agency
• Briefing the first day, the guide will give details about the tour, useful advices to take into account while in Cuba, and all the necessary information
• Assistance at the airport the last day of the tour

Transportation: Bus with air conditioner, plenty of room for the baggage, comfortable sits, music.

Services included in the price:

• Visits and meals according to the program
• Transportation
• Guiding service
• Entrance to national parks

Services not included in the price:

• Optional tours
• Drinks in restaurants and hotels
• Tips
• Tax at the airport when leaving the country: 25 CUC per pax

Day 1: Paris - Havana - Charco Azul
Flight to Havana. Welcome at the airport by your guide and transfer to Sierra del Rosario, 50 km from Havana. Accommodation in a small hotel.
Meals on your count or in the plane.

 Warning: Depending on the schedule the accommodation could be in Soroa, a little bit more to the west.

Transportation: Minibus.
Accommodation: Hotel.

Day 2: Charco Azul - Viñales
Transfer to the region of Pinar del Rio and Viñales, located in the sierra de los Organos. The contrast of colors between the soil and the plants is impressive. The famous mogotes surround us everywhere. We trek in the valley, visiting a local farm, to discover the whole process of making a cigar….and the preceding stages.
Trek: 4 hrs
Transportation: Minibus.
Accommodation: Private house.

Day 3: Climbing a mogote – Viñales valley
Today we go conquering one of those karstics blocks that dominate the valley. From the top we can enjoy an incredibly beautiful view. We get back to the valley to have lunch in a small charming typical house in the middle of a wonderful landscape. The mogotes around us make us think of a bunch of elephants and the tranquility in the valley give us a peaceful feeling. Then we get back to our family house.
Climbing: to 200 meters
Trek: 4 hrs
Accommodation: Private house.

Day 4: Viñales – Bay of Pigs- Playa Larga (Caribbean Sea)
After breakfast we head east to the Zapata swamp where the invasion in in 1961 took place. A great variety of endemic animals find shelter in this protected region. We visit a crocodile farm, where we can see the Rhombifer, endemic species in Cuba. Accommodation at hotel Playa Larga, by a splendid beach at the bottom of the Bay of Pigs. Possibility of swimming in the quite waters of the Caribbean sea.
Transportation: Minibus.
Accommodation: Hotel.

Day 5: Trinidad
Transfer to Trinidad, architectural jewel of Cuba. Real living museum, this unique colonial city seem to have stopped in time. We can wander around mixing with the local friendly population. We will visit the handicraft market, the pottery house. All meals are taken in Cuban private house where the family will prepare an exquisite lobster on the grill. As soon as the sun sets, and even before, the music surround us everywhere.
Transportation: Minibus.
Accommodation: Private house.

Day 6: Trinidad - Banaos (sierra Escambray)
Free morning to enjoy the old town, the transfer to Banaos (45min) lunch in a local restaurant and trekking in the afternoon to achieve our camp “La Sabina", located 600 mts above sea level from where we have an splendid view to valley of Sancti Spiritus. The family in the house will prepare us a nice dinner.
Climbing: 600 meters
Trek: 3 to 4 hrs
Transportation: Minibus.
Accommodation: Refuge.

Day 7: Banaos - Sancti Spíritus - Camagüey
Trekking in the sierra, swimming in a natural pool with a small water fall. We meet our driver that will take us to Sancti Spiritus where we have lunch and visit the center, then we continue to Camagüey.
Trek: 3 hrs
Transportation: Minibus
Accommodation: Hotel.

Day 8: Camagüey - Bayamo - Santo Domingo
Visit of the historical center of Camagüey, transfer to Bayamo, the cradle of Cuban revolution, lunch in town and then we head to the heart of Sierra Maestra Mountains to dinner and sleep in a small local hotel
Transportation: Minibus.
Accommodation: Hotel.

Day 9: Trekking to the top of Turquino peak
In the morning we take a special transportation to go up to "Alto del Naranjo" where we start trekking through magnificent landscapes in Sierra Maestra towards the Turquino peak, the highest in Cuba. We take the same trails where the rebels lead by Fidel Castro made the revolution in the 50´s. This will be the hardest trek of the trip. We camp by the peak.

 Warning: Depending on the weather or any other condition, we climb the peak this day or the next.

Climbing: up to 980 meters
Trek: 7 hrs
Accommodation: Camp or tent.

Day 10: Pico Turquino (1980 m, the top of Cuba) - Santiago
We conquer the peak early in the morning. Then we get back to our hotel where we meet our driver that takes us to Stgo de Cuba.
Diner on your count.
Trek: 6 à 7 hrs
Transportation: Minibus.
Accommodation: Hotel.

Day 11: Santiago de Cuba - Guantánamo - Baracoa
In the morning we visit the historical center of Stgo de Cuba: Cespedes square, Revolution Square, after lunch in Stgo we head east to Baracoa, on the road we make a stop in Guantamo. All along the road we see cactus on the left and a wonderful blue sea on the right, then we get into the mountain range and we experience a drastic change in the vegetation that gets more and more exuberant: coconut trees, banana trees...
Once we arrive to Baracoa we visit the center wandering among the locals and we stay at a local farm by the river Toa, the biggest in Cuba.
Transportation: Minibus.
Accommodation: Farm.

Day 12: Trekking in tropical forest, conquest of El Yunque - Baracoa
Wonderful trek through the most exuberant forest in Cuba climbing up to the top of El Yunque, the highest mountain in Guantamo. This sacred mountain dominates the jungle and offers a magnificent view. Back to the farm.

In case of rainy weather the access to El Yunque can be compromised in case of which we will do another trail.

Climbing: 500mts
Trek: 4 to 5 hrs
Max alt: 560 meters
Transportation: Minibus.
Accommodation: Farm (finca).

Day 13: Baracoa: Delta of Toa river - Playa Maguana - Holguin
We take a boat to the Delta; once we land we can walk along this virgin beach, time for swimming. When we get back to the farm we pick our luggage to head west into the province of Holguin. We take a box lunch to stop at a beautiful charming beach in Maguana. Then we continue to Holguin.
Transportation: Boat and minibus.
Accommodation: Hotel.

Day 14: Flight to Havana and visit of the city
Domestic flight to Havana. Transfer to the center, walking on the colonial squares of the old town. Lunch in a local restaurant.
Dinner on your count.
Walk: 3 hrs
Accommodation: A convent in the old town.

Day 15-16: Havana – Flight back home
Free day to enjoy one more time the nice atmosphere in Havana. Transfer to the airport.
Meals not included.

 Depending on the weather, the guide can modify the itinerary.

All prices in USD.

5pax	6pax	7pax	8pax	9pax	10pax	11pax	12pax	13pax	14pax	15pax
1340	1260	1185	1125	1095	1035	1005	990	960	935	930

Included in the price:

• All the services described in the program
• Transportation from day 1 to day 8:
• 2-3 pax micro
• 4-6 pax bus 10 seats
• 7-12 pax bus 16 seats
• 13-16 pax bus 20 seats
• Professional guide service.

Not included in the price:

• Insurance
• Tips
• Airport tax
• Drinks