Visit Cuba now while it is still pristine!
Exclusive and all-inclusive Cuban Holiday Discovery Tour
Moorish influenced architecture in Trinidad de Cuba.
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PROGRAM OVERVIEW
CITIES AND SITES VISITS
Ancient and modern Havana
Las Terrazas eco-community in the province of Pinar del Río
Classic French inspired Cienfuegos in the province of the same name
Legendary Trinidad de Cuba in Sancti Spíritus province, founded in 1514, has much of its original architecture still intact
TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS
Hotel Habana Libre
Hotel Habana Libre An upscale luxurious respite during an action packed itinerary at this historic five-star facility.
all-inclusive beach resort Brisas Trinidad del Mar
The all-inclusive beach resort Brisas Trinidad del Mar Resort on the white sand beaches of Caribbean Sea.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Cuba flag icon
Amazing breakfasts, lunches and dinners at the island's best restaurants, often with live entertainment
Private guided walking tour of the main historical sites of Old Havana
Attend a regal cannon firing ceremony dating from 1519
Panoramic luxury coach tour of Modern Havana
Visit Galería de Arte Maroya featuring Cuban paintings, sculptures and antiques
Travel to Topes de Collantes atop the Escambray Mountains in Soviet Army trucks
Tour a centuries-old family run pottery factory and ceramics studio
Visit artist galleries and home studios, including that of José Fuster, a famed artist and ceramicist
Walking tours of the central plazas and key sites of the cities of Trinidad de Cuba and Cienfuegos
Tour the ruins of a sugar plantation once staffed by slaves
Lounge and tan on beautiful beaches or engage in water sports
Visit the José Martí Memorial and Tower in Revolution Square
Learn about coffee production while touring an ancient coffee plantation
Enjoy Havana's best jazz at La Zorra y el Cuervo

Travel tips for your Cuba Education Tour
Check out our travel planning page for what to take, packing tips, gifts, donations, gratuities, local customs, clothing, and free Spanish primers.
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Thursday 23 December 2010 to Saturday 1 January 2011
Ten days and nine nights in the Pearl of the Caribbean for Christmas and New Years – the perfect holiday getaway for family and friends
Che Guevara sculpture in the Plaza de la Revolución.
Eight-storey Che Guevara sculpture in the Plaza de la Revolución. Click photo to enlarge.
Explore Cuban art, music, dance, culture, and celebrate New Years on the white sand beaches of Trinidad's Playa Ancón
Experience Cuban nature from mountaintops to rural jungle villages, and meet the island's kind outgoing people
Stay in the capital's five-star Hotel Havana Libre and the all-inclusive Brisas Trinidad del Mar beach resort

Panorama of Old Havana's Cathedral Square.
Catedral de San Cristóbal de la Habana. Click photo to take a most incredible virtual tour.

Five Star Cuba Discovery and Adventure Tour from Cuba Education Tours.
THIS LUXURY DISCOVERY tour takes place once a year during the holidays. It is the only program where you can see most of western Cuba in pampered comfort – far from crowded tourist haunts. We call it our Best of Cuba Tour. Every activity is geared to experiencing the best art, best aspects of culture, best food and best services available on the island.

Logo for official 50th Anniversary Cuba Education Tours.
It's an official tour is designed by Cubans for North Americans to candidly examine and enjoy island life as is only possible on Cuba Education Tours. It is also in recognition of the 51st Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.

Cuba Education Tours expert multilingual guide
The program is fully escorted from the minute you touch down in Havana until you return home. While on the island you're in the conscientious care of our expert multilingual Cuban guide together with our professional bus chauffeur. Our Canadian and Cuban staff ensures worry free Cuba travel before, during and after your trip.
TIME TO COMMIT
Time to schedule your Cuba Tour
This tour is limited in size and fills up fast (see costs). Registration is first-come, first-served – don't miss out. Consider signing up now. Shy, budget-minded or independent? Learn the benefits of group Cuba travel.
TOUR ACTIVITIES LEGEND
Five Star Cuba Tour logo. Starfish icon for special Discovery tour events Cuban dance icon Shoe icon for music and dance activities
Cuban history and architecture icon Turret icon for history and architecture Cuban culture icon Face icon for art, museum, and education visits
Cuban nature icon Owl icon for flora and fauna stuff Cuba Education Tours Meals included icon Fork icon for tour meals included
Beautiful Cuban beaches logo Ball icon for beach, sun and swimming Cuban fun and free time icon Smiling girl icon for free time and leisure activities
Hint BLUE text links across this site offer extensive details and pictures.

Legal Cuba Travel License for Americans
USA travelers This program is legal and licensable for professionals whose work is related to this tour's theme. LegalCubaTravel.com provides an easy step-by-step application kit. If you don't qualify for licensed travel there are alternatives!
Hello Cuba Girl
Travel for change Cuba Education Tours is a Vancouver Canada based organization dedicated to green, ethical travel that benefits Cubans and our guests.

Five-star treatment with Cuba Education ToursFive-star treatment round-the-clock from our Cuban and Canadian staff ensures worry free travel abroad.

Included in costs are all activities listed below unless noted otherwise.

Cuba Education Tours private fuel-efficient luxury tour coach chauffeured by a professional driver.
Island transportation You travel in a private fuel-efficient luxury air-conditioned tour coach chauffeured by a fulltime professional driver.

Meals All breakfasts are included. Some lunches and dinners are not. Your guide is glad to suggest eateries for every taste and budget.

Cuban airlines
Getting to Cuba Call 1-877-687-3817 toll free or email us. We can help.

Cuban water lilly
Memories of Cuba last forever. Discover the island on routes less traveled with Cuba Education Tours.

Beautiful Cuban beach.
Cuban beaches are noted for sugar-white sand and warm crystal clear water. Click photo to enlarge.
CLICK TO REVIEW EACH TOUR DAY :: 01 :: 02 :: 03 :: 04 :: 05 :: 06 :: 07 :: 08 :: 09 :: 10 ::
Day 1 :: THURSDAY HELLO CUBA To Top
Rooftops in Old Havana.
Rooftops in Old Havana.
Cuban girls perform folk dance.
Cuban girls perform folk dance.
One-in-ten cars in Cuba are pre-1959.
One-in-ten cars in Cuba are pre-1959. Click photo to enlarge.
Cuban jazz musician in Havana
Streets are alive with music.
The capital city of Havana as seen from the fortress El Morro, across the harbor
The capital city of Havana as seen from the fortress El Morro, across the harbor from your hotel.

Arrival at Havana's José Martí International Airport.

Collect your bags and go through customs. See What to take to Cuba.

You're welcomed at the airport by your Cuba Education Tours guide and professional bus chauffeur.

Your Cuba Education Tours guide will direct you to a bank or exchange bureau (CADECA) to purchase Cuban Convertible Pesos.

Lobby of the Hotel Habana Libre!
Group transfer to the Hotel Habana Libre located in Vedado, the heart of Havana's cultural and entertainment district.

Mojito. Yum!
Private check-in with assistance from your guide.

Dinner at the Hotel Habana Libre. As tour members will arrive a different times, your guide and hotel staff will introduce you to the restaurant.

Evening is free for you to settle in, rest up, explore Vedado's vibrant music milieu or stroll the Malecón seawall next to your hotel.

Sumptuous complementary hotel breakfast buffets are served daily from 7:00am to 10:00am throughout.

Old car in Havana
José Martí International airport in Havana
José Martí International Airport in Havana – a colorful welcome.

TIME AND CLIME IN HAVANA



LONG RANGE FORECAST HERE
Havana's Malecón seawall
Havana's Malecón seawall near your hotel – a place for relaxation and new friendships.
Most common questions 1 Is Cuban food good? It's healthy and simple but not spicy. 2 Am I free to ask any question? You'll insult your island hosts by being less than candid. 3 Is the water safe? Yes, but we suggest bottled water for peace of mind. 4 Are vaccinations needed? No. 5 Can Americans join? They are especially welcome to do so! 6 Can I stay in Cuba after the tour? Absolutely and we are glad to help. 7 Do Cubans like tips? Yes, please see our Gratuities Guidelines.
Colorful Cuban Tody.
Colorful indigenous Cuban Tody.
Logo for the definitive guide to endemic birds of Cuba.
CUBA IS THE LARGEST and least commercialized island in the Caribbean. It hosts 6000 plant species, half of which are endemic. There are 20 million palms in Cuba comprised of 30 species. Other flora includes the rare cork palm, a holdout from the cretaceous period; the jagüey, a fig with aerial roots; the palma barrigona (pot belly palm); the ceiba (sacred silk-cotton tree); and the mariposa (butterfly jasmine, Cuba's national flower). The most abundant land fauna is reptilian: crocodiles, iguanas, lizards, salamanders, turtles and 15 species of nonpoisonous snakes. The biggest land mammal is the jutía, a tree dwelling rodent the size of a cocker spaniel. The native bee hummingbird or zunzún is the world's smallest warm-blooded vertebrate weighing between 1.6 and 1.8 grams. The Cuban trogon or tocororo is the national bird – its red, blue and white plumage reflecting the colors of the Cuban flag.
Day 2 :: FRIDAY GETTING TO KNOW OLD HAVANA, CHRISTMAS IN CUBA To Top
Old building in Havana which has been restored.
Example of restoration in Old Havana.
Cuban mime.
Street pantomime in Old Havana.
Photo of the Capitolio as seen from the Malecón seawall
View of the Capitolio from the Malecón seawall.
El Capitolio dome.
Inside view of the dome of El Capitolio.
Exterior of the Cathedral of Havana Interior of the Cathedral of Havana.
Exterior and interior of the Cathedral of Havana initiated by Jesuits in 1748 and completed in 1777. Click photos for larger view.
Morro Castle and Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña.
Morro Castle and Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña guard entrance to Havana Harbor.
Cuban soldiers fire the 9PM cannon.
Soldiers fire the 9PM Cannon.
Cuban students watch the firing of the 9PM cannon.
Students watch the blast of the 9PM Cannon.
Havana's Gran Teatro
Ornate filigree and statuary adorn Havana's Gran Teatro where the National Ballet performs. Click photo for view of interior.

Morning walking tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll visit four of the five historic plazas that make Havana unique in the western hemisphere. It contains the largest collection of remaining colonial-era architecture. This is a private tour led by your Cuba Education Tours guide.

Cathedral Square, the most beautiful and private 18th century colonial plaza on the island. Named after the masterpiece of Cuban baroque architecture: the Catedral de San Cristóbal de la Habana built by the Jesuit order.
Square of Arms, an ancient military parade ground for Spanish soldiers, surrounded by impressive buildings such as:
Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, former seat of colonial government. Today the building houses the Museum of the City.
Palacio del Segundo Cabo, seat of the second authority of the island. Today it houses important publishing concerns.
Museo de Artesania at Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the second oldest fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies. Today it displays treasures of artistic ceramics by the most prestigious Cuban artists from the middle of the last century to present. The institution is host to the Ceramic Biennial.
Plaza Vieja in Old Havana.
Plaza Vieja in Old Havana.
We continue onto Plaza Vieja, the only civic square of colonial times. Absent are churches and government buildings, and is in contrast surrounded by opulent aristocratic 17th century residences. We'll visit an important center for the visual arts.

And later to San Francisco Square, one of the oldest plazas in the historical quarter. The square is named after magnificent Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco de Asís dating from the 16th century. The basilica is a striking example of Cuba baroque architecture.

Musicians at La Mina Restaurant.
La Mina Restaurant.
Group welcome lunch at La Mina Restaurant where you'll enjoy traditional Cuban dishes and live music!

Free time in the famous open-air arts and craft market of Old Havana where you can purchase all sorts of souvenirs by local artisans.

Café del Oriente in Havana.
Café del Oriente.
Program highlight Group holiday welcome dinner at Café del Oriente! This elegant eatery with its beautiful patterned marble floor, high ceilings, and dark wainscoted walls is considered tops in the city. The menu is one of the more extravagant in Havana, offering exotic entrees available nowhere else.

Evening highlight We witness a most dramatic ceremony – El Cañonazo – the Firing of the 9PM Cannon at the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña. This enchanting colonial reenactment dates back to 1519 when the city of Havana was enclosed by a tall thick rock wall to ward off attacks from pirates and the English. The cannon firing signaled the closing of the city gates for the night. If you were outside at the time, you were in "vedado" or the forbidden zone. Today Vedado is an important cultural hub and beautiful section of modern Havana.
Day 3 :: SATURDAY LAS TERRAZAS: THE SPLENDOR OF RURAL CUBA To Top
Cuban orchid
Exotic and unique plants and animals thrive in Cuba. The island has more protected areas than any other country.
Cuban farm girl
Young person staffs farmers market.
Las Terrazas village
Once deforested and mired in poverty, Las Terrazas today is a self-staining eco-community.
Cuban Jutía, a large rodent.
The jutía, native to Cuba, is a large rodent the size of a cocker spaniel. They dwell in trees and are vegetarians. Jutías are the preferred breakfast of crocodiles and the largest endemic island mammal.
Hotel Nacional as seen from La Torre Restaurant
Tour highlight View of the Hotel Nacional as seen from La Torre Restaurant, which occupies the rooftop of the 39-storey FOCSA Building – the tallest in Cuba. When completed in 1956 it was the second highest steel and concrete building in the world.

Morning departure to Las Terrazas eco-community in the Sierra del Rosario mountain range west of Havana in the province of Pinar del Río.

We'll tour its rural village called Rancho Curujey and enjoy a welcome cocktail while hearing about this self-sustaining community's goals of reforestation, historical preservation, environmental balance and a good life.

Next we'll meet with local artists and craft workers in their homes and studios.

Later we'll walk the incredible ruins of a French Coffee Plantation built in 1801 and worked by African slaves.

Then we continue on to La Moka, an ecologically designed hotel with trees growing up through its balconies and ceilings.

We'll enjoy a complementary lunch at a local eatery serving traditional Cuban country cuisine. (Drinks not included.)

You'll have free time to swim in the fresh waters of the Río San Juan and explore the surroundings of this lush tropical paradise.

La Torre Restaurant.
La Torre Restaurant.
Tonight we dine atop the tallest building in Cuba, and one of Havana's best and most expensive eateries. La Torre Restaurant specializes in international cuisine. (Drinks not included.)

Club La Zorra y El Cuervo.
Entertainment suggestion Shake your booty to the best Afrojazz, Cubajazz and Sonjazz at Club La Zorra y El Cuervo [The Fox and the Raven] featuring astonishing performances by island bands and soloists! It's a popular haunt for Cubans and foreign guests (entrance fee is 10 CUC and is not included in tour cost).
Cuban grandfather and grandson
Junior learns to ride a horse. Cubans can truly claim that no child is left behind.
Cuban farm boy
In the countryside many youth are engaged in organic agriculture combined with rigorous academics. Animal partners help out on the farm. Eco-friendly practices result in tasty produce and high productivity.
Las Terrazas pool
We'll swim in this heavenly pool at Las Terrazas. Don't forget your suit.
Cuba is recognized as the global leader in environmental sustainability. It has 300 ecologically protected areas encompassing 30 percent of its territory. Six of these areas are UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves. Over half the island's diverse flora and fauna is indigenous – existing nowhere else – and is guarded from exploitation. In 2006, the World Wildlife Fund named Cuba the only nation to achieve a sustainable planet friendly economy.
Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower
Some among hundreds of orchids and flowers found in the province of Pinar del Río.
Day 4 :: SUNDAY HISTORY AND THE ARTS IN HAVANA To Top
Fantasy garden and studio of acclaimed artist José Fuster
Fantasy garden and studio of acclaimed artist José Fuster. Click photo to enlarge. Credit Richard Harris
Giant mosaic of crab by José Fuster.
Giant mosaic of crab by José Fuster. Click photo to enlarge. Credit Richard Harris
Lunch item at the home of Cuban artist José Fuster.
José Fuster's lunch dishes are as colorful as his sculptures.

Cuba Education Tours bus.
Get ready for an air-conditioned luxury coach tour of the most important sites of Modern Havana such as the Capitol building, the Grand Theatre, Central Park, Prado promenade, Plaza de la Revolución, Coppelia Ice Cream Park, Plaza José Martí (in front of US Interests Section), Malecón seawall, Monument to the Battleship Maine, Hotel Nacional, University of Havana, Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, and the Miramar, Central Havana and Vedado neighborhoods.

Cuban health care icon
Cuban culture icon
Tour highlight This afternoon we'll feast on a delicious lunch hosted by José Fuster, one of Cuba's most important contemporary ceramists and artists at his whimsical studio in Jaimanita, just outside of Havana.

José Martí.
Followed by a guided tour of Memorial José Martí and the Martí Museum at the Plaza de la Revolución.

Dinner at the Hotel Habana Libre. Don't miss out on this great meal. It's included in your tour package.

Free evening Your guide will gladly suggest current happenings and events in the city center twenty minutes on foot and quicker by cab. Or you can stay at the hotel and enjoy its many entertainment options. How about lounging poolside? Don't forget you swimsuit!
Domed ceiling at the Museum of the Revolution.
Magnificent domed ceiling at the Museum of the Revolution. Click photo to enlarge.
José Martí.
"To know how to read is to know how to walk. To know how to write is to know how to climb." – José Martí, hero of Cuban independence. Click here to learn more about the life of José Martí.
Cuban Organic Bananas Cuban Organic Coffee beans Cuban Organic Cucumbers Cuban Organic Pineapple Cuban Organic Sweet Potatoes Cuban Organic Eggplant Cuban Organic Avocados
Many staples are grown organically in Havana: From left Bananas, coffee beans, cucumbers, pineapple, sweet potatoes, eggplant, and avocados.
Day 5 :: MONDAY THE MAGIC OF THE CITY OF CIENFUEGOS To Top
Cienfuegos Malecón seawall
Cienfuegos also has a Malecón seawall.
Architectural detail of old building in Cienfuegos
Intricate detailing on a heritage building.
Cienfuegos' main Plaza José Martí
Cienfuegos, founded by French colonists, has a replica of the Arc de Triomphe in its central plaza.
Cienfuegos' Teatro Tomas Terry was built in 1889
Teatro Tomas Terry was built in 1889 by the sons of Tomas Terry (a Venezuelan immigrant who became wealthy via the slave trade and later mayor of the city). It is clad in Carrara marble; sports carved wooden seats, ornate ironwork, and an impressive romantic fresco on its arched ceiling. It once hosted the likes of Enrico Caruso and Sarah Bernhardt.
Ciefuegos Cathedral.
Construction of the Cathedral of Cienfuegos took over three decades, from 1833 to 1869. Click photo to enlarge.
Cienfuegos' Club Náutico specializes in seafood delights
Cienfuegos' Club Náutico specializes in seafood delights.

Morning departure to Cienfuegos founded by French immigrants at the beginning of the 19th century is renowned for its wealth of stunning historical buildings.

Cuban health care icon
Cienfuegos' Club Náutico specializes in seafood delights
Club Náutico Restaurant.
Upon arrival we enjoy a scrumptious seafood lunch at the bayside Club Náutico Restaurant. Time to sample Cuba's famed harvest from the sea. (Drinks not included.)

Afterwards, your guide will recount the story of the origins of this beautiful cosmopolitan city, known as the "Pearl of the South." You'll walk its main Plaza Martí where the ceremony of its foundation took place, as do many important events still today.

Giant lion statue in Cienfuegos.
We'll visit such neoclassical buildings as the Cathedral built with donations from wealthy slave owning families – enduring names like Lebranc, Albi, and Terry. Inside the Cathedral a marvelously rendered stained glass mural of the Twelve Apostles imported from Paris will awe you. The original machinery of the Cathedral's tower clock was also crafted in France and keeps on ticking to this day.

We'll visit the elegant art gallery Galería de Arte Maroya and review its impressively displayed collection of paintings, sculptures and antiques.

Now we journey on to the historic city of Trinidad and check to your all-inclusive Brisas Trinidad del Mar Resort. You'll have time for dinner, a swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, and to enjoy the resort's entertainment amenities.

A view of the beach from your all-inclusive Brisas Trinidad del Mar Resort. Click photo to enlarge. Credit Richard Harris.

Beach at Trinidad de Cuba.
Day 6 :: TUESDAY EXPLORING HISTORIC TRINIDAD DE CUBA To Top
Trinidad's Manaca Iznaga tower was built in 1816 to keep watch over cane-field slaves. It's 45 meters high and was for a century the tallest structure on the island. We'll climb up to its bell tower. Trinidad's Iznaga tower
Ceramicist at Santander workshop Sixth generation member of the Santander family spins decorative pots at centuries-old workshop.
Cuban cane cutters dance from the 1930s.

1930s photo of a Cuban sugar cane cutters dance. Island music and movement has its origins in labor combined with the admixture of African and Spanish cultures known as syncretism. Modern machete dance (below) based on sugar heritage.

Modern Cuban machete dance.
Watch this wonderful seven minute video of your hotel and Trinidad!

Today we explore on foot one of the oldest cities founded by the Spaniards in the West Indies, Trinidad de Cuba, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was established in 1514 on orders of the conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar who traveled to Cuba with Columbus in 1493.

We visit its Plaza Mayor, Museum of Architecture, Museum of the Romantic Era, the main town parish and other amazing sites, some dating back centuries.

We stop at a mirador (lookout) over the Sugar Mill Valley, also an UNESCO World Heritage Site, where sugar barons constructed their opulent countryside mansions and huge refineries.

Trinidad is well known for its pottery makers. We'll meet a family that has been passing on the tradition for generations: the Santanders.

Cuban health care icon
Free time to wander the streets of Trinidad's historical center and examine the oldest architecture in the Americas, and inspect local art and shop for souvenirs. Afterwards we return to your hotel for lunch.

Evening is free to enjoy the beach, hotel amenities, and the lively streets of Trinidad. How about live Cuban popular music on steps of Casa de la Música – a great opportunity to dance with Cubans and your tour companions?

Cuban tropical fish Cuban tropical fish
Cuban reef fish. Consider snorkeling in the clean warm waters at your beach resort.
Fisher returns home with catch from Península de Ancón near your beach resort. Sea life thrives in the clean ocean waters near Trinidad. Most popular dinner treats are shrimp, red snapper, tuna and lobster. Fisherman on Trinidad's Playa Ancón
Playa Ancon beach in Trinidad
Sunset on Trinidad's Playa Ancón.
Horse and cart used to delivery fresh produce to city dwellers.
Horse and cart used to delivery fresh produce to city dwellers.
The Valle de los Ingenios [Sugar Mill Valley] brought untold riches to select families. You'll see their mansions and monuments.

Trinidad's Sugar Mill Valley
Day 7 :: WEDNESDAY MOUNTAINTOP JUNGLE ADVENTURE To Top
Birdwatching in Cuba
Today is for nature trekking and bird watching.
Hacienda Codina
Enjoy a traditional lunch at Hacienda Codina, once a Spanish coffee plantation.
Soviet Army truck in Cuba
A Soviet Army truck is deployed to educate about nature. You'll ride in one to the top of the Escambray Mountains today.
Cuban peasant  hut
Peasant hut in the high altitude jungles of Topes de Collantes.
Cuban hybrid Zebu cattle.
This successful Cuban cow is a cross between the African Zebu and a Holstein. It's well adapted to island climes and its progeny produces an abundance of milk, meat, hide and farm help. You'll see it on country roads.
Cuban pygmy owl Fernandina's flicker in Cuba Cuban parrot
Topes de Collantes National Park in central Cuba's Escambray Mountains is the perfect environment to spot a Cuban pygmy owl, about the size of a robin left, Fernandina's flicker center, and the Cuban parrot right.
This morning we board Soviet Army trucks to climb the peaks of Topes de Collantes in the Escambray Mountains. The Escambrays comprise the island's second highest range, reaching to 3,700 feet atop Pico San Juan. The Escambrays are home to small villages and a true delight for birders and naturalists alike. Dramatic slopes are swathed in Caribbean pines, ancient tree ferns, bamboo and eucalyptus.

Cuban health care icon
Upon arrival at Hacienda Codina, an old Spanish coffee plantation, we'll enjoy a traditional Cuban lunch, followed by a walking tour of the area to admire the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the animals and plants it hosts. (Drinks not included.)

Cuban health care icon
Late afternoon return to your Trinidad resort hotel. Dinner and drinks are included.

Your evening is free to enjoy the beach, hotel amenities, and the lively streets of Trinidad. Your guide will keep you posted on local entertainment options. (Remember that all drinks, meals and snack are included at your Brisas Trinidad del Mar Resort.

Entertainment suggestion Live Cuban popular music at the nightclub Casa de la Trova – a great opportunity to dance with Cubans and your tour companions.
Cuban cane cutter.
Sugar still plays an important but diminished role in the economy. Click photo to enlarge.
Cuban tropical pond
Fresh water pool on the way to Topes de Collantes. The Escambray Mountains are located in central Cuba and form the second largest range on the island after the Sierra Maestra in the eastern province of Guantánamo.
Live music at the ever-popular Casa de la Trova in Trinidad.
Live music at the ever-popular Casa de la Trova in Trinidad.
Day 8 :: THURSDAY CATAMARAN SAILING, SNORKELING, NEW YEARS EVE To Top
Cuban catamaran
How about joining an optional catamaran excursion?
Baby sea turtle.
Maybe you'll spot a baby sea turtle on the beach.
Playa Ancón
The Península de Ancón is fun, clean and safe.
Cuban beach fun
Join in on a volleyball game. Or stroll the beach for miles in peace.
Cuban beach

Cuban health care icon
Beach Day! Don't forget your swimwear and sunscreen; el sol shines stronger on the island! These beautiful white sand beaches rival the best sun destinations in the Caribbean but are without madding crowds. This is a great occasion to sunbathe, swim, snorkel, relax and spend time with your new Cuban friends and tour mates. Your beach resort offers many aquatic activities and services. Some are free, and others available for a very reasonable fee.

Cuban health care icon
Welcome in the New Year with staff, guests and tour mates at the Brisas Trinidad del Mar Resort. There'll be many special activities planned! You can also attend events in the town of Trinidad some twenty minutes away by taxi.

Cuban bongo player Cuban beach boy
Musicians and kids of all ages play on the Playa Ancón.
Proud father in Trinidad.
Proud father in Trinidad.
Celebrate New Years in Trinidad de Cuba with Cuba Education Tours
Afrocuban dance in Havana. Afrocuban dance in Havana. Afrocuban dance in Havana. Afrocuban dance in Havana.
Afrocuban dance in Cuba. African and Spanish heritages have combines to create a rich unique culture. Photos Barbara Fudge
Day 9 :: FRIDAY FREE DAY TO RELISH TRINIDAD DE CUBA To Top
Coca-Cola advertisement.
Late 1950s Cuban Coca-Cola advertisement.
Cuban musician.
Trinidad troubadour heads home at day's end.
Cuban beach

Cuban health care icon
Relax and Explore A day to kick back and do whatever you like on the beach, in the city, or beyond. It's a time for reflection, and a last chance to soak up the warm rays of the Caribbean sun before heading home to norther winter climes. The hotel provides many activities on site. If you want to do something special in or around Trinidad, there are dozens of inexpensive excursions offered by Brisas Trinidad del Mar Resort, all for the asking.

Free evening Your guide will gladly suggest current happenings and events in the city center just minutes away by taxi. Or you can stay at the hotel and enjoy its many entertainment options – all-inclusive!
Cuban farmer.
Trinidad de Cuba farmer grows organic vegetables.
Cuban boy.
Trinidad youth practices marbles on cobblestone street.
Crystal clear waters in Cuba
Day 10 :: SATURDAY GOODBYE CUBA, HELLO NORTH AMERICA To Top
KEEP IN TOUCH with your new Cuban friends – exchange email addresses! Bring some business cards to pass out on the island. Take pictures and keep a journal. Upon your return, we'll post them on this website for all to see and enjoy.
Green Anolis from Cuba.
Green Anolis. Lizards are ubiquitous in Cuba. The island has 73 known native species and this number is growing. They are not aggressive, don't bite, nor are they poisonous.


Early morning transfer to Havana's José Martí Int'l Airport for your return home. Don't forget to save 25.00 CUC for your Cuban airport departure fee and some money for meals on the airplane.
Want to stay longer in Cuba following your tour? Contact us and we will help make it happen.


Old Cuban saying, "a true friend remembers the song in your heart when you have forgotten the lyrics."
Cuban flower.
Goodbye Cuba girl We'll miss you and hope you return soon!
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