CUBA: essence of the East
DAYS / NIGHTS
9 days / 7 nights
REGION
East
ACCOMMODATION
Private accommodations / Hotels
TRANSPORTATION
Private Transfer / consult Car Rental / Combination Private and Collective Transfers
ITINERARY OVERVIEW
Santiago de Cuba
2 nights
Holguín
0 nights
Camagüey
1 night
Gibara
1 night
Bayamo
0 nights
Segundo Frente
1 night
Cayo Cruz
2 nights
ITINERARY
Spain - Santiago de Cuba
Day 1
Depart by regular flight from Madrid.
Upon arrival in Santiago de Cuba, a member of the airport's VIP Service staff will greet you with a sign bearing your names as you exit the plane's boarding bridge. They will assist you through immigration and escort you to the VIP Lounge. There, they will request your luggage tags to retrieve your bags while you enjoy a complimentary coffee or drink and access the internet for 30 minutes. Once your luggage is collected, they will guide you to the airport exit where our staff will meet you.
Private transfer to your accommodation is arranged. Check-in. Dinner at leisure.
Pick up the rental car at the confirmed rental point, if required.
Santiago de Cuba
Day 2
Breakfast
Private Tour: Santiago de Cuba, the Living Essence of the Caribbean
With the guidance of a specialist from the Office of the Curator of the City of Santiago de Cuba, explore the city that stood as Cuba's first colonial capital and now ranks as the country's second most significant city. Facing the Caribbean Sea in the island's southeastern region, Santiago de Cuba was established in 1515 by the Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez.
Our itinerary includes:
- The Castle of San Pedro de la Roca, also known as El Morro, acclaimed as the most complete and best-preserved example of Spanish military architecture in the Americas, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
- The Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, the final resting place for many of Cuba's notable figures, including National Hero José Martí, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Emilio Bacardi, and Fidel Castro.
- Historical landmarks such as the Diego Velázquez House (considered the oldest dwelling in Cuba), the Dranguet House, the City Model, the Rum Museum, and the Bacardi Museum.
- The Basilica National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, home to the venerated original image of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, Cuba's Patron Saint. This sacred site, perched atop Cerro de Maboa and located 27 kilometres from Santiago de Cuba, welcomes an estimated 500 visitors daily. The present Sanctuary of El Cobre was inaugurated on September 8, 1927.
Dinner at leisure. We recommend St. Pauli (private restaurant).
Santiago de Cuba - Bayamo - Camagüey
Day 3
Breakfast. Departure to Camagüey.
Stop in Bayamo, the second of the first seven villages on the island, established by Diego Velázquez in 1513. It is the capital of Granma province and the birthplace of Cuba's independence movement in 1868.
If you have a rental car, consider to make a stop in Bayamo on your trip from Santiago de Cuba to Camagüey.
We recommend having lunch in Las Tunas in a private agroecological project.
Arrival in Camagüey. Check-in.
Dinner at leisure
Camagüey - Cayo Cruz
Day 4
Breakfast. Departure to Cayo Cruz.
On the route we suggest to visit the Central and Batey Joronú, currently named Central Brasil.
Arrival. Check-in. Accommodation in an all-inclusive hotel.
Cayo Cruz
Day 5
Day off to enjoy the crystal-clear beaches and fine white sands of the Jardines del Rey keys in northern Cuba.
Cayo Cruz - Holguín - Gibara
Day 6
Breakfast
Departure to the city of Holguín to visit emblematic sites such as Calixto García Park (formerly Plaza de Armas) and La Periquera, a neoclassical building dating from 1862, that houses the Provincial Museum of History.
We recommend visiting the Carlos de la Torre y Huerta Natural History Museum, which treasures one of the country's most significant mollusk collections; the Cathedral of San Isidro; the Loma de la Cruz (the town's historic viewpoint); and other historical and cultural landmarks that define the city
If you have a rental car, we recommend the stop in Holguín on the way from Cayo Cruz to Gibara.
Continuation of the trip.
On the way between the city of Holguín and Gibara you will be able to appreciate a curious elevation known as the Silla de Gibara for its similarity to a horse saddle.
Arrival in Gibara, a marine city that has the most remarkable architectural ensemble in Holguín today. In the nineteenth century, its harbor served as the primary maritime gateway to the entire northern coast of the former Oriente province. Since 2003, Gibara has gained increased recognition as the host city of the Poor Film Festival, established by the renowned Cuban filmmaker Humberto Solás.
Check-in. Dinner at leisure.
Gibara - Mayarí - Segundo Frente
Day 7
Breakfast
Private Tour: Jeep Safari Salto del Guayabo
Our destination is the Guayabo Falls, situated in the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa mountain range, on the slopes of Mensura National Park. This area is a microclimate home to approximately 300 endemic species of Cuban flora.
On the way to Pinares, stop for photos of the landscape, observe the diverse mountain vegetation and enjoy the Bay of Nipe, one of the world's largest pocket bays, stretching 25.9 km in length and 16.8 km in width.
Upon arrival at Guayabo Falls, you will be welcomed with a complimentary coffee. Enjoy it as you gaze from a viewpoint at the natural waterfalls cascading from heights of 85 and 170 meters, all situated at an elevation of 560 meters above sea level.
Additionally, you can embark on a 1200-meter ecological trail leading to the waterfall, culminating in a welcoming natural pool where you can enjoy a refreshing swim surrounded by a lush landscape.
For lunch, enjoy charcoal-grilled Creole cuisine in the main restaurant.
Continue your journey to Segundo Frente. Arrival, check-in and dinner at leisure.
Segundo Frente - Airport - Departure
Day 8
Depart for Santiago de Cuba International Airport in a private transfer at the scheduled time to catch your flight back home.
Delivery of the rental car, if required.
Arrival in Spain
Day 9
THE PRICE INCLUDES
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VIP service upon airport arrival
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Private transfers in and out
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Program listed in DBL room
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7 nights of accommodation, allocated as per the table below
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Private tours with local guides in Santiago de Cuba, and Jeep Safari Salto del Guayabo (with meal included).
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Tourist Card (visa)
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Basic travel assistance insurance
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A phone with a local line for 24/7 support contact
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All private interprovincial transfers by air-conditioned tourist vehicle or rental car –Economy Mechanical category (2 pax) and Medium Automatic category (4 pax), subject to availability. Includes: Mandatory CDW Insurance + 1st Tank of Fuel (full-empty policy)
- General car rental conditions in Cuba: https://booktocuba.com/es/conditions-cars/
- Car rental cancellation policy: https://booktocuba.com/es/terms-and-conditions
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
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International flights
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Optional insurance with cancellation policy: 70€ per person
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Optional excursions
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Local payments with Visa or MasterCard cards (non-American) in Cuba, directly at the rental point when picking up the vehicle.
- Security deposit: 150€ for a manual car; 200€ for an automatic car, refundable upon the car's return.
- Supplement for airport delivery if the pick-up is from another city office: 25€.
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Any service not mentioned in the "Price Includes" section will be considered additional.
TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
To enter Cuba, you need:
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A valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity.
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A Tourist Card provided by FFV.
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The completed Entry Form in Cuba – D'Viajeros, available at the official website: https://www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/datosPersonales
D'VIAJEROS is a system designed to streamline and enhance the travel experience through the Republic of Cuba by providing advanced information to speed up entry procedures. It is mandatory for every traveller to accurately fill out the information requested by the Directorate of Identification, Immigration and Aliens, the General Customs of the Republic, and the Ministry of Public Health.
For more information:
- https://youtu.be/FxocT5xK1Ic
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcGwSCltiJE
IMPORTANT: To enter the U.S it is currently necessary to obtain a U.S. visa. if you have travelled to Cuba after January 11, 2021, since the presentation of the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is not sufficient. This visa can be applied for at any U.S. Consulate General or Consular Section. Thus, if you plan to travel to the U.S. after visiting Cuba, it is advisable to review the U.S. authorities' guidelines at the official ESTA website (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en), by searching for "Cuba" in the "Search Help Topics" section.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Planned accommodations - Option 1
Planned accommodations - Option 2
NOTES
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This budget does not constitute any flight holds or ground services reservation
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Prices are subject to change and depend on availability at the time of booking.
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The departure times for each excursion will be determined based on the itinerary and client requirements.
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The maps and travel durations provided in the program are for reference only.
BOOKING AND PAYMENT CONDITIONS
Booking:
For a reservation to be confirmed, we require an email that confirms the acceptance of the quote, details the services being contracted, and includes proof of payment.
Payment terms for ground services:
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30% of the total amount upon confirmation
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70% of the total amount 20 days prior to the trip's start date
Cancellation fees for ground services:
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10% of the total cost if cancellation is made 30 to 20 days prior to departure.
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25% of the total cost if cancellation is made 19 to 8 days prior to departure.
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100% of the total cost if cancellation is made less than 7 days prior to departure.
BANK DETAILS
BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA S.A
Owner: VIAJES Y REPRESENTACIONES S.L.
IBAN: ES0501824464220201626025
SWIFT: BBVAESMMXXX
