Fri – Dec 6th, 2024  Santa Clara & Trinidad

Independent arrivals to Santa Clara, Cuba.

Your Impact Encounters Tour Manager and local guide will welcome you and assist you with boarding your private coach. There will be time for orientation and general questions.

Visit Santa Clara city center, we will make stop at Teatro La Caridad: one of the oldest and still functioning theaters in the island. Optional (we will possibly visit as well the Che Guevara mausoleum (time and schedule permitting).

Continue trip to Trinidad. We will enjoy panoramic views of the Mountain Range of Escambray, known for been one of the best coffees growing areas in the country.

Arrival at ancient town of Trinidad, declared world heritage site by UNESCO.

Hotel: Melia Trinidad Península ★★★★★

Check-in at Melia Trinidad Península, a 5-star hotel located in the stunning peninsula of Playa Ancon. A newly built resort that allows to indulge and learn about the island’s flora and fauna.

Welcome dinner at Paladar “San Jose”, a popular gem known for their interesting combination of traditional Italian cuisine with local seafood.

Optional nightlife tour of the city, there is daily live music at Casa de la Trova, a traditional-music venue located in the heart of town and not far from your hotel Salsa lessons are always an option for those who feel adventurous.

Sat – Dec 7th, 2024  Trinidad

Breakfast is complementary throughout the whole trip from 7 to 10 AM.

We start the day with a visit to the Valle de los Ingenios (The Sugar Mills Valley), a series of three interconnected valleys that were the center for sugar production during the 18^thand 19^th Centuries. At the peak of the industry in Cuba, there were over fifty sugar cane mills in operation; the plantations had thousands of slaves brought from Africa.

In 1988, Valle de Los Ingenios and neighboring Trinidad were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Although most of the sugar mills are in ruins, intact structures endure at some sites, including Guachinango, where the plantation house remains.

Walking tour of Trinidad, a living-museum of Spanish colonialism. The whole city — with its fine palaces, cobbled streets and red-tiled roofs — is a national monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trinidad’s prosperity rested on the sugar industry and became the cultural center of the island. Much of the architecture is Neo–classical and Baroque, with a Moorish flavor, reflecting the town’s heritage of conquistadors.

Lunch will be at “Cubita Santander”, a family-owned private restaurant. The Santander family, arguably the most famous family in town, has been working the Art of Pottery for generations and decided to translate their skills into the kitchen.   

OPTIONAL: Visit the Museo de Lucha contra Bandidos (Museum of the Fight against Bandits), housed in the Church St. Francis.

Free afternoon to enjoy the beach or explore town on your own.

Dinner on your own

Reservations will be made at local paladar, Sol y Ananda, one of the very first private restaurants opened in the country, offers a delicious variety of local sea-food and Cuban creole cuisine dishes. This restaurant also offers live music.

Nightlife: Optional: Trinidad has a nightclub inside a real cave called “La Cueva”

Sun – Dec 8th, 2024  Cienfuegos & Havana

Check-out from hotel, departure for Cienfuegos-Havana. On the way will be able to see locals hitchhiking to get to different parts of the country, as well as picturesque groups of farmers selling their fresh products in the middle of the Highway.

Arriving in Cienfuegos we will enjoy a panoramic tour of the city, this upstanding town have been awarded because of its architecture. We will stop at the famous Thomas Terry theater, Mr. Terry was a some point the richest man in the island.

Lunch at El Lagarto, this privately owned paladar is set right on the mouth of the beautiful Bay of Cienfuegos.

After lunch there we will continue our journey to Havana.

Optional: drive through and stop at the “Bay of Pigs museum”.

Hotel: Grand Aston La Habana ★★★★★

Check into 5-star Grand Aston La Habana , considered one of the finest hotels in city and perfectly located on The Malecon ( Ocean Boulevard) featuring stunning views of the city.

Dinner at “Al Carbon”, A must visit for everyone in Havana by Cuban Chef Ivan Justo, their famous suckling pig, sea food grill variety and lemon pie are out if this world.

Back to the hotel, nightlife activitie

Mon – Dec 9th, 2024  Havana

Visit the “Taller de Grafica Experimental “, This is Havana’s printmaking and lithographic workshop. It is a studio-school dedicated to preserve and develop the sophisticated art of printmaking.

You will visit Plaza de Armas, a scenic tree-lined square situated at the center of the former political and military influence area in the island, a walk by the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, this palace currently houses the Museum of the City and is the former residence of many of the Spanish Captains.

We will see the cobbled plaza surrounded by buildings dating from the 18th century, dominated by the baroque Church and Convent of San Francisco built in 1719, nowadays a concert hall.

Lunch at “Paladar Los Mercaderes”, you will be introduced to the owner who is a former cigar industry expert and remarkable entrepreneur in the business. Restaurant is located on a recently restored Colonial-Spanish house.

Visit Plaza Vieja, art galleries and very popular cafeterias attended mainly by locals adorn this charming place.

Return to hotel. Take a break, enjoy the pool, get a massage or you can explore on your own the charming surroundings.

Dinner is on your own, recommendations and reservations will be provided.

Optional night-entertainment at different venues around the city can be organized upon request.

Tue – Dec 10th, 2024  Havana

Departure for a private panoramic architectural tour of Vedado neighborhood with local expert; we’ll make a stop at The Monumental Christopher Colon Cemetery: This elaborate massive necropolis covers nearly 8% of the City, and contains and endless sea of poignant memorials, architectural jewels and human-interest stories, tour continues at the famous “Hotel Nacional”. Designed by the New York Architectural firm “McKim, Mead and White” and developed by “Purdy and Henderson” in a mix of styles including Sevillian, Roman, Moorish and Art Deco, this hotel was the headquarters of the Mafia in the 40’s and 50’s.

We’ll visit “Plaza de La Revolucion”, the center of political and cultural life of the country, and architectural landmark of the city.

Lunch at paladar Rio Mar. This stylish venue is located in “Miramar”, the residential embassies district. Enjoy views of the bay and gentle ocean breezes from the terrace; the food is upscale and contemporary with European influence.

Art tour:

1.” The Merger”, A very unique work on canvas and big scale sculptures by 2 internationally awarded artists that unified their solo careers to produce what is probably today the biggest example of sophisticated art in the island, their work is already part of the permanent collection of the Phoenix Art Museum and can be seen in several private collections throughout Europe and the U.S.

2. Studio 3 y 31. Very young, yet talented artists that, more than sharing their work and exhibition space, share their passion for art. Drawings, photographs, painting and sculptures can be seen in here.

Return to hotel to rest.

Departure for dinner at private paladar “El Cocinero”, one of the top restaurants in the country, located in the ruins of an old factory and decorated by the work of independent Cuban artists Damian Aquilez and Arles del Rio.  This dinner will be payed by travelers on the spot.

Visit the New York Times featured Art and live music venue: “Fabrica de arte Cubano”, it is todays best cultural proposal in the city, you can use the space according to your own mood. It hosts one of the biggest exhibitions of contemporary art on the island together with interior and architectural design.

Wed – Dec 11th, 2024  Havana

Attend a private rehearsal by one of the country’s internationally recognized dance companies. We will meet the dancers and learn about the challenges/opportunities as young upcoming performers. The Cuban National School of dance has been awarded multiple times and recognized as one of the top 10 schools in the world.

Optional: departure to visit the Hemingway’s museum, seven miles outside of Havana “Finca Vigia”, home of American writer Ernest Hemingway for two decades. He bought the house in 1939 and it was opened as a museum in 1964. It contains more than 22,000 original items that belonged to Hemingway.

Visit and lunch at the whimsical home of artist Jose Fuster who has made a major contribution to rebuilding the small fishing town of Jaimanitas located in the outskirts of Havana where he lives.

Afternoon to Explore on your own (optional visit to the Arts & Craft market for souvenirs shopping) You will have time explore on your own.

Vintage American convertibles joyride to dinner.

Farewell dinner at “La Guarida”

The most famous restaurant in the country, carrying the charming ambiance of the 1920s recognized not only for its delectable dining, but also for being the location of “Strawberry and Chocolate.” only Cuban feature film nominated for an academy award and the first one ever to present the existing political and social contradictions at the time in the Island, first one ever to feature a gay man on a main role. The building was finished in 1913 and it can be seen in many international publications like The New York Times, Vanity Fair, etc.

Thu – Dec 12th, 2024  Havana

Check out and transfer to HAV international. Extension available upon request.