Explore Eastern Cuba with this fascinating tour, taking in the most interesting areas of this little visited region, including Santiago. Start and finish your holiday with a time on the beach for a perfect Cuba holiday.

Guardalavaca: 4 nights
Holguin: 1 night
Baracoa: 2 nights
Santiago de Cuba: 3 nights
Varadero: 3 nights

Day 1 Wednesday Fly from Gatwick to Holguin. On arrival, transfer to Guardalavaca for a four night stay of relaxation on the beach. Stay at the Brisas Guardalavaca on an All Inclusive basis, with a range of other hotels also available.

Day 5 Sunday Transfer to Holguin and to your Holguin Hotel where the remainder of the day will be free to relax or explore Holguin on an independent basis.

Day 6 Monday After breakfast there will be a short orientation tour of Holguin the provincial capital known for its many peaceful, tree-lined squares, before we continue to Cayo Saetia.

On arrival at this picturesque former private game reserve there will be time for a relaxing swim, some leisure time on the stunning white sandy beach, a jeep safari to spot zebra, antelope and deer, and a local Cuban style lunch.

In the afternoon we will continue to Baracoa where the scenery gradually becomes more dramatic and beautiful as we enter the Humbolt National Park. Stops can be made en route where local farmers sell homemade sweets and drinks.

In the late afternoon we will arrive in Baracoa, fascinating and idyllic small town surrounded by beautiful natural scenery.  There will be an orientation tour of Baracoa including the possibility of a stroll down Baracoa’s seafront promenade the “Malecon”. Dinner and overnight will be taken at the Hotel Villa Baracoa or similar.

Day 7 Tuesday After breakfast we will travel to Finca Duaba, a traditional Cuban farm surrounded by unspoilt tropical scenery, which gives an excellent insight into rural way of life in Cuba. The tour will continue with a visit to Rio Toa Cuba’s widest river which runs through a UNESCO protected reserve where there will be a chance to have a short boat ride up the river and lunch will be taken in the reserve.

In the afternoon we will return back to Baracoa with a chance to spend some time at leisure before taking dinner in the hotel. The evening will be at leisure to enjoy the local sights and sounds of Baracoa at night!

Day 8 Wednesday We will leave early in the morning and travel over the breath taking mountain scenery, past palm fringed bays and sleepy towns towards Guantanamo a typical Cuban town living in the shadow of the naval base.

After a short orientation tour of Guantanamo with a chance to take lunch in the city we will continue through the hills to Santiago de Cuba. On arrival in the late afternoon, there will be the chance for a swim in the hotel pool or relax in the sun. Dinner this evening will be at the hotel.

Day 9 Thursday After breakfast at the hotel we will spend the day with a full exploration of this city that has been of crucial importance throughout Cuba’s history.

We will visit the Moncada Barracks, central square Parque Cespedes, Calle Heredia, one of the city’s liveliest streets, and Padre Pico Street, made famous by the intense games of draughts played by the locals.

The day continues to Castillo del Morro, a historical fortress offering fantastic views across the Caribbean Sea and the impressive Sierra Maestro mountains. We will enjoy a traditional Cuban lunch at a restaurant next to the fortress offering stunning views of the coastal scenery.   

After lunch we will return to our hotel in the city and the remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure to explore Santiago De Cuba independently or relax and catch the sun by the hotel pool! Dinner this evening will be in the hotel and there will be the chance to spend some time exploring the city on an independent basis.

Day 10 Friday After a leisurely breakfast we will leave the city and head towards the Sierra Mountains to the picturesque church of El Cobre, Cuba’s most sacred pilgrimage site and a shrine to Virgin Mary. Locals are adamant that this is the most beautiful location in Cuba and we will take a tour of the church and its many historic gifts bestowed by visitors! There will also be time to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery surrounding the church.

Lunch awaits at Cayo Granma, reached by a short boat crossing, the restaurant looks out across the bay towards Morro Fortress and after lunch there will be time to wander around the small island before heading back to the hotel.     

The remainder of the day will be free to relax or explore the city before dinner taken in the hotel. After dinner there will be an optional visit to one of Cuba’s famous “Casa de la Trova” for live music - Cuban style!

Day 11 Saturday Today we will be up early and head for the airport for the flight to Havana or another onward destination and say goodbye to the guide, as the tour will end at the airport. On arrival transfer to Varadero for three nights on the beach. Stay at the Villa Cuba on an All Inclusive basis, with a range of other hotels also available.

Day 14 Tuesday Transfer to Havana airport for your return flight to the UK.