A DIFFERENT ISLAND Self Drive Tour.

Reception and greeting at Varadero airport. Handover of the information documents and assistance in filling out the contract and advice on questions about the route. Then you start your tour on your own.

Recommendation: Since the transfer from the airport to your hotel is not included, it is recommended to rent the car at the Varadero airport the day of the arrival.

Included services: car rental assistance Total km today: 50 km Total driving time today: 45 min

Matanzas is dubbed the Athens of Cuba for its profusion in literature and arts. Due to the many water channels, it is also referred to as the city of bridges. In the morning, walk through the historical centre. Visit an old French drugstore dating back to the 19th century, now a pharmaceutical museum with an impressive collection of utensils and formulations. Before leaving the city, admire the spectacular view of the Yumurí Valley and the bay of Matanzas from La Ermita de Monserrate. Visit La Finca, a charming natural spot where arts, pottery and organic farming thrive. The owners will guide you through the estate, explaining the concept of the project, and will offer a delicious lunch prepared with produce from the farm. Continue to Sagua la Grande. En route, appreciate the rural life while cruising through farming towns that have not been touched by tourism. Tour the city in the evening.

Included meals today: breakfast Total km today: 185 km Total driving time today: 3 h

Sagua la Grande in largely unknown when it comes to tourism, and very few know of its glorious past. Home to businessmen, artists and casinos, the city was one of the most prosperous in the 19th century. Nowadays, it is the archetype of a Cuban countryside town. In the morning, explore the natural park Mogotes de Jumaguá , an interesting formation highlighted by 8 mogotes, which play host to a significant number of endemic species, including the very rare Jumaguá palm tree. Visit a cave and climb to the top of one of the mogotes to admire the spectacular landscape dominated by the palm trees. Enjoy a natural fruit juice prepared by local farmers. Continue to Isabela de Sagua by a road that runs alongside the second oldest railroad in Cuba. This fishermen town is known for its seafood, and that you are welcome to enjoy for lunch (not included) at a picturesque restaurant built on stilts. Look forward to freshly caught oysters or crabs, depending on the season, while enjoying the unmistakable sea air. In the afternoon, leave for Santa Clara to visit Vidal Park, the social and cultural heart of the city.

Included meals today: breakfast Total km today: 90 km Total driving time today: 1 h 30 min

Santa Clara exudes history. The last battle that effectively determined the triumph of the revolution was fought here on 1958 Christmas. Che, as was known the famous Argentinian guerrilla fighter Ernesto Guevara, was the mastermind of that victory. Visit the monument dedicated to the key action of that clash, the derailment of the armoured train, which feature the original wagons. Continue to the cigar factory to learn about the art of the hand rolling of the famous Cuban puros. En route to Cienfuegos, stop at the monument of Che Guevara. Arrive at the “pearl of the south”, a city founded by the French, with a marked classic style. Kayak across the large bay, once a hotbed of pirates, to enjoy a unique perspective of the city skyline. In the afternoon, visit the gorgeous Palacio de Valle, an eclectic, Moorish style palace. Built by Don Asisclo del Valle to live with his wife, you will enjoy here a delicious cocktail at sunset. Rest of the day at leisure.

Included meals today: breakfast Total km today: 75 km Total driving time today: 1 h

The image of Trinidad resembles an engraving dating to the 19th century. Frozen in time, the third villa founded by Spaniards in Cuba, is a must when visiting the island. Neglected for decades, the city has been restored and brought to life by a thriving tourism industry. Your trip there takes you along the south coast, circumventing the Escambray mountain range. Stroll through the old squares, cobblestone streets and craft markets of the UNESCO World Heritage city. Taste the local cuisine at a paladar. Continue to the white sand beach of Ancón to swim and tan. Well into the afternoon, return to Cienfuegos. Dinner will be arranged at your accommodation.

Included meals today: breakfast, dinner Total km today: 170 km Total driving time today: 2 h 30 min

Leave for the nation’s capital city. En route, cruise through Bay of Pigs, the battleground where the nascent Cuban Revolution defeated the infamous invasion planned by the CIA and executed by Cuban exiles in 1961. Visit the Playa Girón Museum to revive those dark moments through the exhibition of objects, weapons and even a plane that took part in the battle. Nearing Playa Larga, stop at La Cueva de los Peces, the most famous cenote in Cuba. Enjoy some time for swimming and snorkelling (not included), as well as a typical lunch. You are welcome to feed the fish with breadcrumbs to enjoy a colourful spectacle. Continue to Havana. Night at leisure

Included meals today: breakfast Total km today: 290 km Total driving time today: 4 h

Your day begins by hopping on a cocotaxi (coconut shaped mode of transportation) for a transfer to Caribbean Tour offices to pick up the e-bikes. Look forward to a tour of Havana like no other. Pedal along the Malecón, Havana’s maritime balcony. Arrive at Old Havana to walk your e-bike through the gorgeous plazas. Admire the colonial architecture that tells the story of the 500-year-old historical city. Continue your ride in direction of Centro Habana for a lunch at the famous paladar “La Guarida”, a place that served as shooting set for the Oscar-nominated Cuban film “Fresa y Chocolate”. In the afternoon, visit a favourite of the mob in the 1940s: Hotel Nacional. Discover the myths behind the mafia in Havana, the underground trenches build during the Missile Crisis, and the halls that hosted the greatest celebrities of the 1950s. After a refreshing mojito, go back to the starting point of the tour to drop off the bicycles. From there, an American classic car will take you through the beautiful mansions of the neighbourhoods of Vedado and Miramar, all the way to your accommodation.

Included meals today: breakfast

Morning at leisure. You might want to further explore Old Havana on your own and purchase souvenirs. At noon, transfer to Varadero airport to catch your flight home or continue to your accommodation in Varadero for a beach extension.

Included meals today: breakfast Total km today: 145 km Total driving time today: 2 h