BIRDWATCHING AND NATURE IN CUBA

Day 1 – Arrival in Havana

Arrival in Havana including assistance at Airport and Transfer In to 4- star Capri hotel Accommodation. The Capri Hotel opened in November 1957. With its 250 rooms, the nineteen-story structure was one of the largest hotel/casinos in Havana during its heyday. It boasted a swimming pool on the roof.

At 7:00 p.m. the guide will pick you up for Welcome Dinner at Cacina de Liliam, La Cocina de Lilliam is one of the original paladares established in Havana in the 1990’s when privately owned restaurants were first permitted. It is owned and operated by the great Sra Lilliam who is known as one of the greatest cooks of Cuban food.  Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter ate here upon his visit to Havana

 

Day 2 – Get to know Havana city

• City tour of Old Havana. Founded in 1519 under the name of Villa de San Cristobal de La Habana, Old Havana is the historical center of the Cuban capital of Havana. Much of Havana Vieja was constructed during the Spanish colonial time period which is apparent in the city’s baroque and neoclassical architecture.
• Lunch at local Paladar. (Paladar is a term that in Spanish translates literally to «palate» and used with that meaning in the Spanish speaking world, however in Cuba is used exclusively to refer to restaurants run by self-employers. Mostly family-run businesses, paladares are fundamentally directed to serve as a counterpart to state-run restaurants for tourists seeking a more vivid interaction with Cuban reality, and looking for homemade Cuban food).
• Afternoon visit to Museum of Rum, a visit to the Havana Club Museum of Rum isn’t merely a journey back to the origins of Cuba’s most famous beverage. From freshly cut stalks of sugar cane to a reconstitution of a distillery and ageing cellars, the museum offers a real-time experience of the rum-making process, as well as a taste of true Cuban culture
• Visit Local Art galleries and transfer back to hotel, rest of evening at leisure
• Recommendations for the evenings include world-famous Tropicana cabaret (the Moulin Rouge of Cuba), Casa de la Musica (there are a few salsa venues in town), Cabaret Parisien, La Zorra y el Cuervo (Jazz), among many others, reservations can be made through your tour-guide or at the hotel sales bureau in the lobby.

Day 3 – Visit to Jardin Botanico Nacional

• The Jardin Botanico Nacional de Cuba is located about 30-45 minutes outside of Havana City Center. There are 2 glass houses that feature many of the plants you can see in Cuba. There are areas in the glass houses that show plants that are indigenous to Cuba and the other areas have plants that grow in Cuba but are not indigenous and has them divided by region of origin, mainly South America, Asia and Africa.
• The rest of the tour is taken by open air bus. The overall grounds of Jardin Botanico National is massive. The grounds are almost 1,500 acres big. And while the grounds are open to pedestrian traffic, it is far more efficient to take the tour buses. Most of the rest of the tour focuses on trees that you might see in Cuba, again divided by region of origin. I think that it would be fair to say that the Jardin Botanico National is actually more of an arboretum than a traditional botanical garden, as 90% of the gardens do focus on trees.
• The collection of trees is quite impressive. They even have an area of the gardens dedicated to a rather large collection of palm tree varieties.
• Lunch at a local Paladar, and afternoon visit to Ernest Hemningway’s Museum. Hemingway became a fixture of Havana, and stayed in the country longer than many Americans chose to after relations between Cuba and the United States began to deteriorate. He fished extensively aboard his boat, Pilar, and enjoyed the island lifestyle, hanging out in Havana, and entertaining guests at the Finca.
• Continue drive to Cojimar, a fishing town where Hemingway kept his Boat. Cojímar is a small fishing town located seven kilometers to the east of Havana. This town is famous for being the setting of Hemingway’s most famous novel: “The Old Man and the Sea,” which allowed him to be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1954.
• Transfer back to Hotel, rest of evening at leisure
• Recommendations for the evenings include world-famous Tropicana cabaret (the Moulin Rouge of Cuba), Casa de la Musica (there are a few salsa venues in town), Cabaret Parisien, La Zorra y el Cuervo (Jazz), among many others, reservations can be made through your tour-guide or at the hotel sales bureau in the lobby.

Day 4 – Havana city, insight about life in the city

• At 9:45 guide will pick you up for a walk to Museo de la Revolucion ( Visit to Revolution Museum The Museum of the Revolution’s exhibits are largely devoted to the period of the revolutionary war of the 1950s and to the country’s post-1959 history but it spans from Cuba’s discovery by Christopher Clumbus in 1942 to present times), afterwards visit to Fine Arts museum (The National Museum of Fine Arts of Havana -Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana- in Havana, Cuba is a museum of Fine Arts that exhibits Cuban art collections from the colonial times up to contemporary generations)
• Lunch at local Paladar, Afternoon visits to Havana’s La Cabaña Fortress, biggest one built by the Spanish Crown during the colonial times in Latin America. Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, colloquially known as La Cabaña, is an 18th-century fortress complex located on the elevated eastern side of the harbor entrance in Havana, Cuba. The fort rises above the 200-foot (60 m) hilltop, along with Morro Castle
• On the way back to hotel, stop at a flea market where souvenirs and other Memorabilia can be bought. Drive back to hotel and rest of evening at leisure
• Recommendations for the evenings include world-famous Tropicana cabaret (the Moulin Rouge of Cuba), Casa de la Musica (there are a few salsa venues in town), Cabaret Parisien, La Zorra y el Cuervo (Jazz), among many others, reservations can be made through your tour-guide or at the hotel sales bureau in the lobby.

Included: Accommodation with breakfast, visits to Museum of Revolution and Museum of Fine Arts, transportation, English-speaking tour guide, Lunch and Visit to La Cabana Fortress

Day 5 – Leaving for best Birdwatching Spot on the island: Zapata Swamp

• At 9:00 a.m, the guide will take you to Zapata Swamp, Stop en route at Fiesta Campesina Pitstop, Check-in at Playa Larga Hotel and Lunch at hotel.
• Afternoon birdwatching tour with local specialized tour guide
• Drive back to hotel, Dinner at hotel, rest of evening at leisure

Included: Accommodation with breakfast, Transportation, English speaking tour guide and specialized guide service for Cienaga de Zapata

Day 6 – More of Zapata Swamp and surrounding areas

• Early Birdwatching morning in Cienaga de Zapata. Drive back to hotel for lunch and at the afternoon optional: Snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea (transportation and guide available for you)
• Drive back to hotel, Dinner at hotel, rest of evening at leisure

Included: Accommodation with breakfast, Transportation, English speaking tour guide and specialized guide service for Cienaga de Zapata

Day 7 – Drive to Cienfuegos city

• At 9:00 a.m. The guide will drive you to Cienfuegos city, visit museum of Bay of Pigs Invasion and drive on to Cienfuegos city. Cienfuegos was the only city founded by French Settlers in Cuba during Spanish colonial times
• Lunch upon arrival and afternoon City tour of the city. Visit art Galleries and Thomas Terry Theater, a 19-century gem. Visit to Valle Palace, a Cuban architectural gem in eclectic style with strong influence of moorish styles.
• Accommodation at Jagua hotel
• At 7:30 the guide will pick you up for Dinner at Paladar la Punta or similar choice, and the rest of evening at leisure

Included: Accommodation with breakfast, Transportation, English speaking tour guide, museum of Bay of Pigs, Lunch, Thomas Terry Theater, Valle Palace and Dinner

Day 8 – Drive to Trinidad (best preserved colonial city in Cuba).

• At 9:00 a.m the guide will drive you to Trinidad city, City tour of the city core. Visit Museo Romantico. Lunch at local Paladar, afternoon visits to art galleries and souvenir shops.
• Check-in all-inclusive Brisas Trinidad del Mar or similar choice, Rest of day at leisure.
• Ancon Peninsula boasts excellent beach stretch. Do not miss Casa de la Musica in the evening where locals merge with tourists for best Cuban music experience

Included: Accommodation with breakfast, Transportation, English speaking tour guide, visit to Museo Romantico, Lunch, Dinner and all drinks at hotel

Day 9 – Excursion to Topes de Collantes

• At 9:00 a.m. the guide will pick you up and take you to Topes de Collantes, trekking Guanayara Trail, lunch at Casa del Campesino, bring your binocular, you’ll be in Sierra del Escambray mountain range. Specialized birdwatching guide available.
• Drive back to hotel and rest of the day free

Included: Accommodation with breakfast, Transportation, English speaking tour guide, excursion to Topes de Collantes, Specialized birdwatching guide, Lunch, Dinner and all drinks at hotel

Day 10 – Drive back to western Cuba: Soroa

• At 9:00 a.m.the guide will pick you up and drive you through center Cuba to reach western Cuba going through Santa Clara (Che Guevara’s Mausoleum)
• Lunch in Santa Clara and Accommodation in Soroa Hotel, Dinner at Hotel and rest of evening at leisure

Included: Accommodation with breakfast, Transportation, English speaking tour guide, visit to Che Guevara’s Mausoleum, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 11 – Birdwatching in Soroa and its surrounding areas

• Early morning start for birdwatching activities in the area, great to spot Cuba’s Zunzuncito (smallest in the world) and el Tocororo (Cuba’s National Bird).
• Visit to Orchid Garden visit (largest in Cuba) and Dinner at Hotel and rest of evening at leisure

Included: Accommodation with breakfast, Transportation, English speaking tour guide, visit to Orchid Garden, specialized birdwatching guide, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 12 – Excursion to La Moka

• At 9:00 a.m. the guide will pick you up for excursion to La Moka,Las Terrazas Community and its surroundings are a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve from the 1980’s. Bring your swimming suit, you’ll swim in San Juan River, visit Cafetal Buena Vista, a 19th French coffee plantation, you’ll visit the community, a self-sustainable community, café Maria, Rancho Curujey, lunch at Casa del Campesino.
• Drive back to hotel, Dinner at Hotel and rest of evening at leisure

Included: accommodation with breakfast, Transportation, English speaking tour guide, excursion to La Moka, Lunch, and Dinner