The east of Cuba

We arrive in Santiago or Holguín. Our English speaking guide-driver will welcome us and take you to Gibara, a small colonial town in the north of Cuba (3 hours drive from Santiago, 45 minutes from Holguin). Gibara is a little pearl by the sea. Time is lost here. Around the central square here are houses in the Caribbean colonial style with pastel colors and portals in front. The atmosphere is peaceful. We recommend a short walk on the Malecon in front of the sea. Behind the city there is a mountain which, according to some versions, was the first view of Cuba that Christopher Columbus observed.
We stay at the charming Ordoño hotel in the center of the city. Overnight stay with breakfast.

Le matin nous visitons avec un guide de la zone la grotte El Silencio. Avec lampe et casque nous pénétrons la grotte qui a différents salons avec stalagmites et stalactites. Nous terminons dans un étang souterrain où nous pouvons nager.
L’après-midi le guide nous amène á la plage de Los Caletones. Cette plage est vraiment vierge avec seulement quelques maisons de pêcheurs de la zone. Nous pouvons nager dans la mer ou dans les « caletones » ou criques naturelles.
Evening at leisure in Gibara.

We leave with our guide along the north coast. The road is not in good condition but the region is fabulous with an exuberant nature and small villages not often visited. We stop at Cayo Saetía, an island that can be reached by a bridge. This 40 square km island is populated by African wild animals such as zebras, antelopes, reebok, buffalo, ... We visit them from the safety of our jeep. Also we visit the beach which is incredibly pretty and natural.
In the afternoon we continue to Maguana, a virgin beach on the north coast which is part of the Alejandro Humboldt natural park. (Today 5 hours drive)
Overnight stay with breakfast at the Villas Maguana hotel.

Today we visit the Alejandro Humboldt natural park. With a local guide we take a walk through the forest and finish at waterfalls. Everywhere there are birds, butterflies, flowers and trees. The park is one of the best in Cuba and the Caribbean with a truly wild and little visited forest.
Late afternoon we continue to Baracoa (1 hour drive). It is the first city founded by the Spanish in Cuba and it really seems to be at the end of the world. Here we find the cross planted by Columbus during his visit to Cuba. She is kept in the city church.
We stay in the Castillo hotel which is an old Spanish castle. Overnight stay with breakfast.

El Yunque Mountain is located just behind the town of Baracoa, surrounded by a jungle. At first glance it seems impossible to climb but with the guide along an easy path we will reach the summit. The path is an experience too and after 4 hours of walking we cool off in a natural waterfall.
In the afternoon we walk with the guide in the center and in the evening surely we visit the Casa de la Trova for some music.

Today we have the road to Santiago, a large city in the east of Cuba and birthplace of the Wars of Independence and the Cuban Revolution (5 hours drive). The road goes through the Farola, a fascinating mountain road. But also we will be very close to the famous American Military Base of Guantanamo. We see it from afar, of course impossible to enter.
We arrive in the afternoon and stay at our charming Casa Granda hotel in Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Park. Here you are in the musical quarter with Casa de la Trova, birthplace of Cuban music.

With the guide we take a tour of the city and its surroundings. We start the day with a visit to the Cathedral of Santiago. Then we visit the oldest house in the Americas: the House of Velasquez, conqueror of the island. We continue with the revolutionary memory with the Revolution Square and the giant statue of Antonio Maceo, and then the Ifigeneia cemetery with the tombs of the great patriots José Martí and Fidel Castro. We continue with religion and a visit to the place of worship the Basilica of the Copper with the small statue of the Virgin, prime image of Cuba. We continue at the entrance to the Bay of Santiago with a visit to the Morro Castle and also the small Granma islet inhabited by fishermen. We end with a visit to the Vista Alegre district and the historic house of the Bacardi family. We also pass by the Hill of San Juan where the Americans defeated the Spanish in 1898 which led to the independence of Cuba.
In the evening we surely visit the music cafes in the center.

This is the last in Cuba unless you continue with a beach vacation in Guardalavaca. The guide will drop us off at the airport in time according to your flight.