Cuban Explorer

Havana

Havana, the first grand city built by Europeans in the New World, retains the grandeur and charm of a history that spans nearly 500 years. When New York was still a collection of huts Havana was a cosmopolitan city with palaces and squares, with a high society already famous for its dances.

Admire the famous Cathedral in Old Havana built in 1748. Visit the Palacio de los Capitaines Generales, the residence of the Spanish Captain General who ruled Cuba from 1791-1898 and the Castillo Real de la Fuerza, built between 1558-77, one of the oldest surviving colonial fortresses in the Americas and home to Giralda, the symbol of Cuba, as seen on the label of Havana Club rum.

See the Capitolio Nacional, a huge marble building modelled on the Capitol building in Washington and visit the Museo de la Revolucion, formerly the presidential palace. Wander along El Malecon, the famous waterfront of Havana. Pay a literary pilgrimage to the Hotel Ambos Mundos where Ernest Hemingway wrote the novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls".

When you're cultured out stroll along the Malecon and sample an ice cream from the famous Coppelia ice cream parlour, watch the strutting peacocks in the Hotel Nacional's garden, drink a mojito in La bodeguita and a daiquiri in La Floridita and take a cab ride in a 1950s Cadillac. And, of course, dance salsa. Visit Havana's nightclubs to learn to dance like a Cuban, with uninhibited passion.

As Graham Greene said of Havana "Anything is possible".

Trinidad

Trinidad is a town in central Cuba and probably its best preserved colonial town, with the old part of Trinidad being a UNESCO heritage site since 1988.Llike most colonial towns, is beautiful with brightly colored buildings and cobblestone streets and its main square, Plaza Mayor, is surrounded by stunning colonial buildings.Whilst here we will enjoy a city tour to uncover the very best of the towns history.

Varadero

Varadero is the largest resort complex in the Caribbean. It offers you over 20 km of fine sand-shore and crystal-clear waters, pure air, clean and safe beaches, four and five star-hotels close to the sea and night time entertainment, clubs, bars, restaurants and more!.

This former elitist resort, 34 km east of Matanzas and 140 km east of Havana, is fronted by a stunning white sandy beach which, is bathed by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Flocks of egrets and occasional pelicans fly by, skimming over a sea of stunning blue.

The resort occupies a narrow peninsula centered on a Cuban town which has a small population. Varadero is Cuba's premier beach resort, set on a sheltered peninsula with what many claim to be one of the finest beaches in the Caribbean. Warm, clear and shallow waters lap the soft, white sandy beaches. Sun seekers paradise with growing numbers of Americans, Canadians and European tourists. Varadero is a one hour's coach journey from Havana.

Hotel Nacional - Havana

The five star Hotel Nacional de Cuba is renowned, due to its refined elegance and classic splendour, as Havana's best hotel. Since 1930 it has attracted a large number of personalities from the arts, sciences and politics including Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Naomi Campbell, Errol Flynn, and Alexander Fleming. Built in the 1930s and combining Art Deco features with modernist influences, the Nacional's image still appears on much of Cuba's tourist promotion literature and evokes the glamour of a bygone era. A full refurbishment in 1992 remained sympathetic to the original architecture, preserving the hotel's 1930s splendour.

With its privileged location in Vedado, the centre of Havana, the Nacional stands on a promontory just a few metres from the sea and offers fabulous views of Havana Bay, the Malecón promenade and the city. There are two swimming pools, a choice of restaurants and beautiful gardens complete with strutting peacocks.

Hotel Brisas - Trinidad del Mar

Once outside of Havana and Varadero and good standard hotels become much more of a challenge to find and those in central Trinidad even more so. With that in mind we have opted to stay outside of Trinidad town at the resort of Trinidad del Mar.

Situated on the blinding white shores of Ancon Beach, surrounded by the Escambray mountains, the Hotel Brisas Trinidad del Mar is a miniature version of the beautiful old town of Trinidad. It's a great base from which to swim with the dolphins, explore the areas cultural attractions or simply relax in the comfort of the hotel and its facilities. The Brisas Trinidad hotel is all inclusive, which means you can enjoy the swimming pool, fitness room, jacuzzi, daily activities, games room and various non-motorised watersports at no extra cost. It is located 12km outside of Trinidad town and we have included a city tour when you stay here which starts and ends at the hote but if you want to stay in Trinidad after the tour then taxis back to the hotel later in the day are easy to find.

Hotel Iberostar Tainos - Varadero

The Iberostar Tainos is an attractive 4-star beach hotel built in traditional Caribbean style, close to the fabulous Varadero Beach on Cuba's north coast and set against a magnificent backround of a lush green landscape.

The hotel offers guests a choice of the finest restaurants, its two specialty options serving delicious Cuban and Japanese fare. For a more casual experience, the main restaurant, La Isabelica, provides a sumptuous buffet and when it's time to cool off, a variety of bars and lounges will quench the thirst from morning through to the small hours.

Guest rooms are bright and spacious, all with a large balcony with views over the resort or ocean. During the day, activities are a-plenty, including watersports, volleyball and minigolf. Of an evening, sit back and enjoy live shows in the Theatre Bar, the perfect way to end your day under the Cuban sunshine.

All guests at Iberostar Tainos will receive the following: - Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks throughout the day. Unlimited local and some international drinks. Comprehensive daily activities programme including watersports, aerobics and dance classes as well as nightly entertainment including live shows.

Provisional Flight Information

30/10/24 London Gatwick to Madrid Dep: 1000 Arr: 1330

30/10/24 Madrid to Havana Dep: 1605 Arr: 1950

10/11/24 Havana to Madrid Dep: 2200 Arr: 1240(+1)

11/11/24 Madrid to London Gatwick Dep: 1500 Arr: 1625

Luggage allowance

Small bag - 40x30x15cm

Carry-on Bag - 55x35x25cm - max 10kg

Checked baggage - 23 KG - 158cm (LENGTH+WIDTH+HEIGHT)

Passport validity

For UK passport holders your passport must be:

• Issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 6 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

Travel Insurance           

Please ensure that you have adequate personal travel insurance to suit your requirements in place before you travel. Spice Escapes have arranged a scheme with Staysure who are fully authorised and regulated by the FCA (firm reference number 663617) full details of which can be found on the FCA website www.fca.org.uk. For an instant online quotation please click here.

The latest FCO travel guidance for Cuba

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cuba