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Central Cuba Trek

Duration8 days
Activity levelModerate
Carbon emissions16.2kg CO2e per day
Included
Accommodation
Meals
Staff

An easy to medium intensity trekking holiday through the stunning natural parks of the Zapata Peninsula, Topes de Collante and the Escambray mountains.

GO PRIVATE
From £1329/pp
Enquire or book
512x388 Escambray Mountains

Trek

Follow Che’s footsteps in the Escambray Mountains

512x388 Bird wildlife in cuba

Discover

The world’s smallest bird in the Bay of Pigs

512x388 Havana

Havana

Visit Cuba’s vibrant and beautiful capital with a local guide

512x388 Trinidad

Culture

Visit 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Havana, Cienfuegos & Trinidad)

What's included

Cubania Icon Accomodation

Accommodation

2 night in hotel, 1 night camping, 4 nights in casas particulares

Cubania Icon Meals

Meals

All Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 3 Dinner

Cubania Icon Staff

Staff

English-Speaking Cuban tour guide, bus driver, Cubania office 24 hour contact

What’s not included: Flights, travel insurance, vaccinations, visas, gratuities

  • Cuban Car Driving Along the Malecón, HavanaCuban Car Driving Along the Malecón, Havana
    Day 1

    Arrival in Havana

    You’re soon to discover that Cuba is all that and much, much more, but first relax and enjoy your first night in enchanting Havana.

    • Casa Particular, Havana
    View details
  • Cuban Countryside
    Day 2

    Ciénaga de Zapata natural park

    Spend the day at Ciénaga de Zapata natural park and visit Playa Girón

    • 4 km
    • Hotel Hanabanilla
    • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
    View details
  • Group of hikers about to start a trek
    Day 3

    Trek through the Escambray Mountains

    Trek the La Atalaya trail along Lake Hanabanilla and through the Escambray Mountains

    • 12 km
    • Camping Rio Negro
    • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
    View details
  • El Rocio waterfall, Cuba
    Day 4

    To Topes de Collante

    Trek from Lake Hanabanilla to the El Rocio Waterfall at Topes de Collante

    • 16 km
    • Hotel Los Helechos
    • Breakfast, lunch
    View details
  • Central Cuba Trek with Cubania
    Day 5

    Trek the the Caburni-Vegas Grandes Trail in Topes de Collante

    This morning we set off from our hotel on foot deep into the mountain to explore the lush forests and beautiful waterfalls of the area.

    • 10 km
    • Casa particular, Trinidad
    • Breakfast, lunch
    View details
  • Sunset in Trinidad Cuba
    Day 6

    Visit the colonial town of Trinidad

    Set off from Mangos Pelones to trek the El Cubano Trail and visit the colonial town of Trinidad

    • 13 km
    • Casas particular, Trinidad
    • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
    View details
  • Day 7

    Return to Havana

    Return to Havana, visiting Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara on the way

    • Casa particular, Havana
    • Breakfast
    View details
  • Guided tour of old Havana
    Day 8

    Guided tour of old Havana and departure day

    After breakfast your guide will take you on a walking tour of Old Havana which is the finest surviving Spanish colonial city in the Americas. 

    • City tour
    • Breakfast, lunch
    View details

What to bring

  1. Waterproof walking boots

    and Leki sticks if required

  2. Water bottle

    or Camelbak

  3. Sun protection

    high strength sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat/cap

  4. Light clothing

    trousers/shorts for trekking

You should bring light cotton and linen clothing suitable for tropical climates. For the evenings bring lightweight clothes, some mosquito repellent and a jacket or fleece. Cubans dress casually but are always impeccably turned out. Avoid bringing expensive or flashy jewellery.

Is this tour for me?

Travel style: Trekking

Discover Cuba’s spectacular nature while immersing yourself in local culture.

Difficulty Level: Medium intensity

At least 3 hours walking on most days. You should be used to exercising and being active.

Group style: Small

4 - 18 people, mixed nationalities. Minimum age 16 years (accompanied by an adult).

GO Private:

Create your own travel bubble by booking a private trip with friends or family. Private departures confirmed with two participants.

Notes:

The trekking is on dirt roads or single-track paths, some are rocky and slippery when wet. The use of two walking poles will distribute shock to the upper body and reduce damage to the knees when on the stepped paths. Some of the paths are exposed but others are shaded by jungle vegetation and trees. Hot and humid conditions during summer months.

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Please fill in the form below and we will get back to you to discuss and personalise your Cubania Travel experience!

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Central Cuba Trek

SMALL GROUP

Select date to join small group departure. Confirmed with a minimum of 2 paying participants. Choose to pay in full now or secure your trip by paying a deposit for each participant.

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Make your own Private Group from  £1329/pp

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Day 1: Arrival in Havana

  • Casa Particular, Havana

Welcome to Cuba! A Cubania representative will meet you upon arrival at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation in the heart of Havana.  The largest island in the Caribbean, Hemingway’s much-loved abode and one of the last planned economies in the world. You’re soon to discover that Cuba is all that and much, much more, but first relax and enjoy your first night in enchanting Havana.

Day 2: Ciénaga de Zapata natural park

  • 4 km
  • Hotel Hanabanilla
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today we transfer to the Ciénaga de Zapata natural park. This area is a protected nature reserve and one of the most important birdwatching sites in Cuba.   It’s the natural habitat of the smallest bird in the world, the bee hummingbird (Zunzuncito), and there’s a good chance you’ll see one of these as well as Cuba’s national bird, the Cuban Trogon (Tocororo) which has red, white and blue plumage.  We visit the home of a local birdwatching guide who tells us about the unique local flora and fauna before having a picnic lunch and a swim in the Bay of Pigs.    We also make a short stop at the museum in Playa Girón which explains events surrounding the CIA-backed ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion of Castro’s Cuba in April 1961. We have lunch in Caleta Buena where we can also swim in the beautiful natural sea pools. Afterwards we transfer to Hanabanilla in the Escambray Mountains and check into the hotel for dinner and overnight. 

Day 3: Trek through the Escambray Mountains

  • 12 km
  • Camping Rio Negro
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner

We start walking this morning directly from our hotel.  We leave our  main bags with our driver and set off with a small overnight back, as we  head for the ‘La Atalaya’ trail.  This trail takes us along the banks of the Lake Hanabanilla through the Escambray Mountains with a steep climb to the top of La Atalaya hill where you’ll have amazing views of the surrounding countryside. The trail ends on the banks of Lake Hanabanilla, where a boat will pick us up and take us for lunch at the Rio Negro Café.  After lunch a boat will take us to a beautiful waterfall for a swim before returning to Rio Negro , our camp for the night.  At Rio Negro there’s an opportunity to climb to another mirador (lookout point) for those who still have the energy! Dinner and camping in Rio Negro, sleeping under the stars with mattress and sheets/blankets provided.

Day 4: To Topes de Collante

  • 16 km
  • Hotel Los Helechos
  • Breakfast, lunch

Today we leave our camp by boat and cross Lake Hanabanilla to the Cortina de Jibacoa. There’s the chance to experience an exhilirating zipline before setting off on our trek! From Jibacoa we trek for an easy 13 km on jeep tracks along a finger of the lake and upstream above the Rio Guanayara, stopping halfway at Tito’s Farm for a water break. The route today is low-medium intensity on a good surface. It’s also very pretty, skirting between forested hillside and the lake. We arrive at Casa de la Gallega for lunch and some time to relax. We then continue upstream on a 3 km trek to the beautiful El Rocio waterfall where there is a natural swimming pool close-by for you to enjoy a refreshing dip and enjoy the views.  From here we continue across a coffee plantation to reach the local transport which takes us to our accommodation for the night.

Day 5: Trek the the Caburni-Vegas Grandes Trail in Topes de Collante

  • 10 km
  • Casa particular, Trinidad
  • Breakfast, lunch

Today’s trek is approximately 10 km and of medium intensity.

After breakfast you will have an arduous, mostly uphill start to the trek known as Caburní – Vegas Grandes. This trail takes you through dense vegetation deep into the heart of the Escambray Mountains until an astonishing waterfall and natural pool called Vegas Grandes.  After a refreshing swim and some time to relax relax in this beautiful place, we will continue walking to Mi Retiro restaurant for a late lunch.   We conclude the day with a transfer to Trinidad where we check into “casas particulares” for night. You can dinner out locally in town or eat at your casa (dinner not included).

Day 6: Visit the colonial town of Trinidad

  • 13 km
  • Casas particular, Trinidad
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner

A transfer this morning takes us to the beginning of our trail at the look-out point where we stop for pictures of the spectacular views across the mountains and down to the Caribbean Sea. From here we cross the road and take the jungle trails back towards Trinidad cutting through the gorgeous tropical forest. After a 6 km descent we have an opportunity for a refreshing swim in a natural pool before trekking the last 2-3 km to the El Cubano restaurant for a drink.  We then return to Trinidad for lunch and an afternoon sightseeing tour of the town.

Trinidad is probably Cuba’s most famous provincial town and rightly so.  It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 and is perhaps the best-preserved colonial town on the island. Exploring Trinidad is like stepping back in time; the pastel coloured houses, cobbled streets and horse drawn transportation whisk you back to colonial times. There are a number of interesting museums housed in old colonial buildings to visit during the day, but it is as the sun sets that Trinidad really comes alive with music and dance.  It’s a great opportunity to meet the locals and have a go at practising your salsa moves to those catchy Cuban salsa rhythms. Dinner will be at one of the local paladars in town.

Day 7: Return to Havana

  • Casa particular, Havana
  • Breakfast

We leave Trinidad early this morning and head east to the city of Santa Clara, the site of the last battle of the Cuban Revolution. In December 1958, Che Guevara and his troops ambushed an armoured train carrying arms to Santiago de Cuba and this was a major turning point in the Revolution. We visit the Mausoleum of Che Guevara and his comrades who died in Bolivia. The museum attached to the Mausoleum has many of his former belongings and is a fascinating insight into one of the 20th Century’s most revered icons.  We then continue our journey, stopping for lunch (not included) before reaching the capital. This evening you are free to explore on your own and dine out locally (dinner not included).

Day 8: Guided tour of old Havana and departure day

  • City tour
  • Breakfast, lunch

After breakfast your guide will take you on a walking tour of Old Havana which is the finest surviving Spanish colonial city in the Americas. Since it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site millions of dollars have been invested in its restoration. The many marvellous monuments, cathedrals and palaces of the city’s historical centre are brought to life by a constant hustle and bustle and the unmistakable sound of Cuban son. We’ll also take time to have a mojito and lunch (included) at one of Hemingway’s favourite haunts, La Bodeguita del Medio. It will then be time to part ways and say Adios, or, as we prefer to say hasta luego, see you later! Afternoon transfer (30–40 minutes approx.) to Havana airport.