Western & Central Cuba Trekking Tour

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: Las Terrazas biosphere reserve

6 km
Hotel La Moka or Casas particulares in Soroa
Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After an early breakfast we transfer to Las Terrazas, a biosphere reserve tucked away in the Sierra del Rosario Mountains about an hour’s drive from Havana. Covering an area of around 5,000 hectares, it was created after the Revolution to replant an area which had suffered badly from deforestation. It is now a haven for endemic and migrating birds from the North. We start off today with a 5 km warm-up trek along the ‘La Serafina Trail’. After lunch at one of the reserve restaurants we have time to explore the community and there is the option to try Cuba’s first zipline (optional) which soars over the biosphere. We continue to our accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Transfer and trek in Viñales

14 km
Casa particulares in Viñales
Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast, early in the morning we’ll transfer in our bus to Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some of the most spectacular scenery on the island.

Today we’ll get a feel for the surrounding rural countryside of Viñales Valley, meeting local inhabitants and learning Cuba’s most famous export – tobacco.

On arrival in Viñales, we will start walking from La Ermita Hotel and follow a wide partially shaded trail through undulating terrain containing many species of trees. We stop at the Visitors’ Center then descend to the valley floor to meet a local farmer who will show us how tobacco is grown, harvested and ultimately made into exquisite cigars. The region of Pinar del Rio is known to have the most fertile land in Cuba and as such is the tobacco growing capital.

Today’s included lunch will be a packed-lunch picnic or restaurant.

We finish the trek in a local café close to Dos Hermanas “mogotes” and have a short transfer to our homestay accommodation, our home for the next three nights.

In the evening we enjoy dinner in our homestay.

Day 4: Trek in Viñales

11 km
Casa particulares Viñales
Breakfast, lunch, dinner

A short walk from our Casa brings us to the trailhead for today’s walk amid the horse trails and lagoons that characterize Viñales farms.   The rich red earth and humid conditions are perfect for the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and tobacco.

We’ll visit local farms and learn how farmers live and work, try a coffee or cocktail, then learn more about rural life.

Today we will have lunch in a restaurant located on the edge of the town, known as Finca Paraiso, a self-sufficient organic farm which uses the produce from their fields in their kitchen. After lunch we walk down the hill towards Viñales Village and explore this lovely rural town.

This evening we’ll stroll into Viñales for dinner at a local paladar and maybe enjoy a cocktail and live music at one of the bars in town.

Day 5: Trek Moncada Village to Los Acuaticos

15 km
Casas particulares Viñales
Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast we’ll drive a short distance to Moncada village where our trek will a quick visit the local village school, learning about the rural education system in Cuba and you may wish to gift stationery to the teachers.

Passing through farmland we’ll be rewarded with some stunning vistas before entering a covered forest and following a wide track to the base of the mountain. At a certain point we turn off the track and begin walking up as the trek takes on a very different feel.

The next kilometers take us along the only trail to the top of Los Acuáticos; there are sections where the path is very narrow and terrain steep.  Los Acuáticos are a community who believe in the healing powers of water and use water to cure many illnesses.

We’ll enjoy amazing views once we reach Los Acuáticos, the perfect place to rest and have our picnic lunch.

This afternoon’s walk is easier as we descend to the Mural de la Prehistoria, where we will see the work of Diego Rivera s pupil. A huge painting on a cliff representing the evolution in the area, but the must here is the unique Pina Colada.

Return home by foot for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Spend the day on the stunning beaches of Cayo Levisa

Hotel Soroa or Casas Particulares
Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today we have a relaxed day visiting the gloriously unspoilt beaches of Cayo Levisa, which are perfect for swimming and snorkelling. We have lunch at the beach restaurant on the island where toilet and changing facilities are also available. Snorkelling gear is available to rent from the beach shop.

In the afternoon we transfer to Soroa and check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Trek El Brujito then transfer to Cienfuegos

8 km
Casa particulares in Cienfuegos
Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast we walk through the tropical Sierra del Rosario biosphere reserve, including a visit to the beautiful orchid gardens. Today’s moderate walk is along the ‘El Brujito’ trail, a trek of around 8 km around 3 hours.

After a picnic lunch we transfer to Cienfuegos. We cover around 300 km to reach Cienfuegos, a city set on Cuba’s largest natural bay on the southern coast.

The city of Cienfuegos is known amongst Cubans as \’The Pearl of the South\’ and its colonial centre was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005. Cienfuegos is the only city in the country founded by French migrants fleeing the slave revolution in Haiti in the early 19th century.  On arrival we will have an orientation tour round the colonial centre with its elegant main square, Plaza Martí and beautiful colonnaded main street.

Check into your casa before going out to a local paladar for dinner.

Day 8: Medium intensity trekking through the Escambray Mountains

12 km
Hotel Hanabanilla, Hanabanilla
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A short transfer from Cienfuegos takes us to the Escambray mountains, Cuba’s central mountain range that dominates the landscape. We leave our bags at the Hotel Hanabanilla, collect a packed lunch and 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 refreshments at the Rio Negro Café. At Rio Negro there’s an opportunity to climb to another mirador (lookout point) for those who still have the energy! We return to Hotel Hanabanilla for dinner and overnight. Dinner isn’t included this evening so you’re free to eat out locally or at the hotel.

Day 9: Easy trekking through Topes de Collante Natural Park

13 km
Hotel Los Helechos
Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today we leave the hotel by boat and cross Lake Hanabanilla to the Cortina de Jibacoa. From here 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 dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Medium intensity trekking along the Codina Trail in Topes de Collante

10 km
Hotel Los Helechos
Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today’s trek is approximately 10 km and of medium intensity. After breakfast you will have an arduous, mostly uphill trek along the trail 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 pond Vegas Grandes, after swimming and relax in this beautiful place we will continue walking to Julio’s house at the end of the way for a late lunch before returning to the hotel. Evening transfer to Mi Retiro Restaurant for dinner.

Day 11: Trail through Topes de Collante down to Trinidad

8 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 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 and lunch. We then continue by transfer to Trinidad for checking into our accommodation.

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 12: Free day to explore Trinidad

Casas particular, Trinidad
Breakfast

Today is a free day to enjoy a number of activities at your leisure, for example horse riding, salsa classes, or a trip on a catamaran out to one of the keys offshore. Trinidad’s small scale makes it easy to explore independently and the many cafes, museums and shops are perfect for browsing and whiling away an afternoon. Ancon beach, a classic Caribbean beach is well worth visiting and easy to reach by taxi. Lunch and dinner today aren’t included but there are plenty of choices to choose from in town or you can eat at your casa.

Day 13: Visit the Che Memorial mausoleum and return to Havana

Casas particular, Havana
Breakfast, lunch

After breakfast we depart on our journey back to Havana, making a stop in Santa Clara to visit the Che Guevara mausoleum and museum. The city of Santa Clara played an important role in the history of Cuba, for it was here that Che Guevara waged the final battle that toppled the Batista government and led to the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. After lunch we transfer back to Havana and check into our accommodation. Your guide will give you an orientation tour of the area so that you can then visit independently one of the many bars for cocktails and exciting paladar options for dinner.

Day 14: Walking tour of Old Havana

City tour
Casa particular, Havana
Breakfast, lunch, dinner

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 will stop for lunch at El Café after which you will have time to continue exploring the city independently. In the early evening we will meet for the quintessential Cuban experience: a 2-hour tour of the city in a 1950s classic American car. We will then have a daiquiri in El Floridita, one of Ernest Hemingway’s old haunts before walking down to Cathedral Square for our final dinner at Doña Eutimia’s paladar.

Day 15: End of Trip

Breakfast

The morning is free for last minute sight seeing or shopping. Check out of your accommodation at midday. So it’s Adios, or, as we prefer to say hasta luego, see you later! Afternoon transfer (30–40 minutes approx.) to Havana airport. Have a safe onward journey and we very much hope to see you in Cuba again soon.

Western & Central Cuba Trek

Trek

Culture

Revolution

Explore

What's included

Accommodation

Meals

Staff

Arrival in Havana

Las Terrazas biosphere reserve

Transfer and trek in Viñales

Trek in Viñales

Trek Moncada Village to Los Acuaticos

Spend the day on the stunning beaches of Cayo Levisa

Trek El Brujito then transfer to Cienfuegos

Medium intensity trekking through the Escambray Mountains

Easy trekking through Topes de Collante Natural Park

Medium intensity trekking along the Codina Trail in Topes de Collante

Trail through Topes de Collante down to Trinidad

Free day to explore Trinidad

Visit the Che Memorial mausoleum and return to Havana

Walking tour of Old Havana

End of Trip

What to bring

Waterproof walking boots

Water bottle

Sun protection

Light Clothing

Is this tour for me?

Travel style: Trekking

Difficulty Level: Medium/high intensity

Group style: Small

Go Private:

Notes:

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Western & Central Cuba Trek Group Tour Enquiry Form

Western & Central Cuba Trek Tour Enquiry Form