Castro's Revolution

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Days 1-3        

Heathrow/Toronto/Holguin - Santiago de Cuba

Depart on Air Canada from Heathrow to Toronto.  On arrival at Toronto connect with the onward flight to Holguin.  0900/1310;  1605/1945 hours. On arrival you will be met and transferred to Santiago de Cuba and the Hostal San Basilio.  

In an excellent central position, the Hostal San Basilio - a 2-star bed and breakfast - is situated just a few metres from Cespedes park, an attractive area due to its historical and cultural associations.  Hostal San Basilio is a most attractive former private house dating from the 1920s with a beautiful façade and typical colonial interior.  It has 8 rooms.

 Three nights at Hostal San Basilio including breakfast.

Day 2

Santiago de Cuba

In the morning you will be collected from your hotel and taken by private car with and English speaking guide for a tour through the former upper class residential area of Vista Allegra (with the house of the Bacardi Dynasty) and thence to the Granja Siboney, a chicken farm, from where Fidel Castro and his men prepared the attack to the Moncada barracks in 1953.

Further on to the fortress El Morro, UNESCO World heritage, 7 km outside the city. Lunch with panoramic views over the Bay. In 1958 Santiago was a centre of the revolutionary guerrillas, who operated in the dark to destabilize the system under dictator Batista. One of the leading figures was Frank Pais, who was later executed by Batista's men.

In the afternoon visit of the famous Cemetery Santa Ifigenia, where you can see the grave of revolutionary hero Frank Pais and also the mausoleum of National hero Jose Marti and members of the Bacardi Family. Further on to Revolution Square and back to the hotel. In the evening visit the legendary Casa de la Trova, where famous musicians like Compay Segundo from Buena Vista Social Club started their careers.

Day 3

Santiago de Cuba

In the morning pick-up by the guide and drive to the Sierra Escambray and the Basilica El Cobre which houses the Cuban black Saint "La Virgin de el Cobre". The place is visited by pilgrims from the whole country. Afterwards visit of the Moncada Barracks, today a museum referring to Fidel's attack. The coup is considered as the beginning of the revolution (although it failed and Fidel was imprisoned before he came back to Cuba in 1956). Later visit of the Parque Cespedes with the oldest house in town, Casa Velazquez. At the end of 1958 Raul Castro proclaimed the victory of the revolution in the eastern part of Cuba from the balcony of the town hall.

This evening complete car rental formalities.  You have the rental of an Auto Medio category car until arrival in Havana.

Day 4

Bayamo - La Demajagua Niquero - Hotel Niquero

Please make your way by self drive car to Bayamo, where the Cuban national anthem was composed and the fight for freedom from the Spaniards began.  Stroll around the main square and further on via Manzanillo to the historic monument and bell of la Demajagua, where national hero and land owner Manuel Cespedes declared freedom to all his slaves at the end of the 19^th century.  Continue via Media Luna to Niquero.

One night at Hotel Niquero including breakfast. 

Day 5

Los Coloradas - Manzanillo - Hotel Guacanayabo

The province of Granma is still a region where the spirit of the revolution is with the people and can be felt everywhere.  Visit Las Coloradas, the place where Fidel and his men landed in 1956 in the swamps, coming from Mexico on their yacht, Granma.  After making their way through the mangroves, they reached firm soil and soon were attacked several times by Batista's air force.  From 82 men only 12 survived and it was those men who began a 3-year guerilla fight for the revolution until they reached Havana on the 1^st January 1959.  Among them were Fidel, Che Guevara and Raul Castro.  Visit the monument to the Landing of the Granma and have a possibility to talk with locals.  In the afternoon continue to Manzanillo and Hotel Guacanayabo. 

Hotel Guacanayabo (a 2-star hotel) is a true sea sentinel; it has a privileged location in the city of Manzanillo, marked by the beauty of its bay and its maritime customs.  The Hotel Guacanayabo is located on a hill, therefore it is a strategic lookout enjoying a magnificent view of the coastline as well as 90 per cent of the beautiful and historical city of Manzanillo.

Among the many local attractions are:  boat tours in the Guacanayabo Gulf, visits to the virgin beaches of Key Perla, tours to historical places of interest such as the ruins of the La Demajagua, or simply to walk through Manzanillo, a city of the musical organs.

One night at Hotel Guacanayabo including breakfast.

Day 6

Yara - Bartolome Maso - Villa Santo Domingo

In the morning visit the monument to Celia Sanchez, one of Fidel's most loyal aides during the revolution.

Time to walk around and to experience a typical town of the Cuban province without tourism.  In the afternoon drive via Yara and Bartolome Maso to Santo Domingo in the mountains of the Sierra Maestra.

One night at Villa Santo Domingo including breakfast.

Day 7

Sierra Maestra - Comandancia de la Plata - Bayamo

Today you have an excursion to the Comandancia de la Plata.

In the early morning commence the expedition by truck or jeep on the steepest road in Cuba to alto de Narranja.  After a 1.5 hour hiking tour through beautiful nature you will reach the Comandancia de la Plata, Fidel's secret headquarters in the mountains.  It is also the place from where the revolutionary Radio Rebelde broadcast for the first time.  After a rustic lunch return to the hotel.

In the late afternoon continue to Bayamo to Hotel Royalton.

The Royalton hotel (2.5 stars) built in the '40s, is right in the heart of the historical centre of Bayamo city. Returning guests testify to the winning combination of its pleasant rooms and excellent cooking.

The town of Bayamo, founded in 1513 by the Adelantado or Captain-General Diego Velázquez, was the cradle of Cuba's National Anthem and also of Cuban patriot, Carlos Manuel de Cespedes.

The hotel has a restaurant, bar, snack bar, night club, central security box, parking and car rental.

One night at Hotel Royalton including breakfast.

Day 8 - 9

Las Tunas - Camaguey - Valley of the Sugar Mills - Trinidad - Hotel Las Cuevas

In the early morning drive to central Cuba via Las Tunas, Camaguey and Ciego de Avila to Trinidad.  In the later afternoon stop at the Valley of the Sugar Mills (20 minutes before Trinidad) with the hacienda of the sugar barons Iznaga and the legendary slave tower.  On arrival please make your way to Hotel Iberostar Grand Trinidad.

Two nights at Hotel Iberostar Grand Trinidad including breakfast.

Day 9

Trinidad

You have one full day in Trinidad, UNESCO World Heritage with unique colonial architecture. Stroll around the main square with its beautiful mansions of the former sugar barons and visit one of several museums, e.g. the Romantic Museum in the Palacio Brunet. There is also the Museum "Lucha contra Bandidos" in the former Convento de San Francisco de Assis, which is dedicated to the fight against a counterrevolutionary guerrilla (called "bandits" by the Castro government), who were still hidden and operated from the mountains of the Sierra Maestra in the early 1960s (after the victory of the revolution). In the evening enjoy the romantic nightlife on a walking tour with live music and dance to the traditional "Son" e.g. at Casa de la Musica (the stairs near the main square) or Casa de la Trova.   

Day 10

Santa Clara - Hotel Los Caneyes

In the morning depart by self-drive car along the panoramic coast road and into the interior to Santa Clara, where Che Guevara celebrated his greatest victory and found his last resting place.  Visit the "Tren Blindado", an armoured train, with which Batista made his last attempt to stop the revolutionaries on their way to Havana.  Che Guevara and his men destroyed the rails, caused a lot of panic among Batista's soldiers and finally won the battle.

The Hotel Los Caneyes is located 2 km from Santa Clara downtown.

Built in 1966 the Hotel Los Caneyes is surrounded of eucalyptuses, coconut trees and palms. Its construction recreates a village of aboriginal Tainos.

Renovated in the year 2006 Hotel Los Caneyes is ideal for families with children, and for lovers of nature and tranquility.

For the unique atmosphere of the Hotel Los Caneyes,  the comforts it provides in an attractive environment and spirit of place, it is maybe one of Santa Clara more interesting hotels.

One night at Hotel Los Caneyes including breakfast.

Day 11

Havana - Hotel Tryp Habana Libre

In the morning visit the mausoleum and museum of Che Guevara located behind the Che Guevara monument (the small museum and mausoleum are closed on Mondays).  Then continue to Havana to the Hotel Tryp Habana Libre.

Hotel Tryp Habana Libre (4*) is the former Hilton of 1958, which was the first seat of the revolutionary government at the beginning of 1959. From the spacious rooms (and the panorama disco in the highest floor) you enjoy one of the best views over Havana.

The Hotel Habana Libre is one of the biggest hotels in Cuba and one of the more emblematic of Havana City; it's located in 23 and L streets, Vedado, a few meters from the Malecón. This 4 star hotel is a jewel of the urban design.

The Habana Libre Hotel rises majestically in the nerve center of La Rampa, one of the most famous areas in the center of the Cuban capital a few steps of popular Coppelia (Ice cream Cathedral).

The hotel lobby is very large, airy and impressive looking. Outside it is decorated by one of the giants of Cuban painting, Amelia Pélaez. It has immense rooms distributed by 25 floors and those on higher floors have a magnificent view over city. On the 25th story Sierra Maestra Panoramic room is located and the Disco Cabaret Turquino, endowed with a retractible roof from where a splendid viewing point opens up on The Caribbean. This hotel can be ideal for a business trip due to its many meeting and convention rooms.

Two nights at the Tryp Habana Libre including breakfast.

Day 12

Havana

In the morning meet your English-speaking guide.  First you have a guided visit of the hotel where you can still see photos of the revolutionaries camping in the lobby after their arrival in Havana.  The hotel was also the first seat of the revolutionary government.  Visit Fidel Castro's "presidential suite" from where he ruled the country in the first months of 1959.  There are many anecdotes about this time, for example about his German girlfriend Maritza Lorenz, the daughter of the captain of a cargo ship which Fidel and his men had visited in the harbour of Havana.  Even Ava Gardener went to the hotel to see him.

Visit Revolution Square and the street corner 12/23, where Fidel proclaimed the socialist charter of the revolution in 1961.  Short stop at the Hotel Lincoln, where famous Argentine Formula 1 driver Fangio was captured by urban guerrillas and at the monument of "La Cubre".  After a guided visit to the Museum of the Revolution (including the original Yacht Granma) you will have lunch at the hidden restaurant Castillo de Farnes, one of Fidel's favourite haunts during his time as a student.  After the victory of the revolution he once went there again with Che and his brother Raul.  You can still see the photos of the three on the wall and the table as they left it after dinner (including a 1950s bottle of Coca Cola). 

In the afternoon continue to the fortress of El Morro y Las Cabanas, where the executions of dictador Batista's aides were ordered by Che Guevara.  In the same area you can also find Che Guevara's former house (this can only be seen from the outside) near the Christ Statue and also some rockets from the Cuban Missile Crisis (Kennedy vs. Kruschev) during the cold war in 1962.

Day 13

Pinar del Rio

In the morning excursion to the province of Pinar del Rio and visit of the cave "Cueva de los Portales", Che Guevara's headquarters during the invasion in the Bay of Pigs 1961.  Lunch e.g. at UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Las Terrazas and back to Havana. In the late afternoon free or time for further research about the revolution (e.g. visit of the Che Guevara Research Center).

In the evening return the rental car to the rental firm.

Day 14

Havana - Toronto - Heathrow

Transfer to Havana airport in time to check in for your homeward flights on Air Canada to Heathrow via Toronto.  1535/1905 .  On arrival at Toronto connect to the onward Air Canada flight to Heathrow 2040/*0835 hours.

Day 15

Arrival at Heathrow

Arrival at  Heathrow 0835 hours.