Cuba Awakened

13 DAYS FROM $8,995 2023–24 DEPARTURE DATES: Apr 10–22, Nov 13–25, 2023; Feb 11–23, 2024

See www.abercrombiekent.com.au for up-to-date departure dates, availability and pricing.

From Mexico

Havana

Viñales Santa Clara

Cienfuegos Trinidad

CARIBBEAN SEA

CUBA

ARRIVE/DEPART

ROAD

EXTENSION Threadbare but dazzling, perplexing and entertaining — this charming Caribbean nation is nothing short of magic. Stuck in a time warp yet full of quirky invention, it’s these rich contradictions that make Cuba so fascinating. Beyond its palmfringed beaches, you’ll find a country steeped in radical history, grand architecture, soulful music and bohemian spirit. From Cuban cigars and vintage convertibles to tobacco farms and salsa; relive revolutionary moments with local experts and explore the favourite haunts of Ernest Hemmingway on this inspiring journey to ‘awakening’ Cuba.

JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise ‘Cuban’ style, in a vintage convertible car-tour of Havana • Enjoy lively conversation with a local economist over a delicious Cuban lunch

• Be enthralled by the natural wonders of Guanayara in Topes de Collantes

• Understand the majesty and delight of Cuban cigars on a tobacco farm tour

• Explore the legacy of Benny Moré with a guided arts school tour and choral performance • Wander the cobbled streets of UNESCO World Heritage listed Trinidad

Day 1: Arrive Havana, Cuba. Arrive in Havana to a warm A&K welcome and VIP assistance through the airport, followed by a private transfer to your hotel. A city trapped in time, Havana captures the imagination like no other. Faded glamour meets careful colonial-era reconstruction against a backdrop of irresistible colour, an eclectic history, and a magnificent artistic and cultural heritage. Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana Day 2: Havana | Classic Cars & Historical Icons. This morning meet your Resident Tour Director before you get a taste of Havana daily life on a walking tour of the colourful UNESCO World Heritage listed old city. In the afternoon, cruise around town in style admiring stunning baroque churches, Spanish colonial structures and neoclassical buildings in a vintage convertible. This evening, savour a welcome dinner with your group at La Guarida, widely acclaimed to be the best paladar in Cuba. Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana | Meals: BD Day 3: Havana | Design Your Day. Today be immersed in everything classically Cuba, with a guided tour of a Havana cigar factory. Afterwards, discover the tastes of Cuba at lunch enjoying lively conversation with an expert economist. This afternoon Design Your Day with one of the following activities: > Discover the origins of one of Cuba’s most famous exports at the

Havana Club Rum Museum. Gain an understanding of the rummaking process, wrapping up with a tasting. > Ernest Hemingway is possibly the only American to have achieved idol status among the Cuban locals. Join your expert guide as you drive around Havana and learn about the great writer’s life on the island that was his home for more than 20 years. > Spend the afternoon at an organic farm learning from its welcoming

Nicaraguan owners — Anabelle and Alfredo — about their passionate farm-to-table business. Enjoy an inventive Cuban cooking class and then sit down with the couple to share stories over food and drink. Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana | Meals: BL Day 4: Viñales | Traditional Tobacco Farming. Travel west of Havana to Viñales and the rolling hills of Pinar del Rio. Stop for lunch en route and take a tour of Finca Robaina, Cuba’s most famous private tobacco farm which has been growing tobacco since 1845. Arrive in Viñales for dinner at the foot of a stunning mogote. Hotel E Central Viñales | Meals: BLD Day 5: Viñales | Discovering the Valley of Penance. Discover Valle de la Penitencia (Valley of Penance) on a relaxed walking tour with picturesque rounded hills that dot the dramatic landscape as far as the eye can see. Afterwards, visit a tobacco stripping house (despalillo) to witness local women moisten, smooth and strip the leaves which will be used in iconic Cuban cigars. Return to the city with your evening at leisure. Hotel E Central Viñales | Meals: BL Day 6: Cienfuegos | Immersed in Military History. Today, you’ll take a dive into Cuban military history at the infamous Bay of Pigs. Stop for a traditional home-cooked meal on the open terrace at Casa Zuleyda, a stunning house overlooking the beach, followed by a leisurely dip in the crystal-clear waters. This afternoon, it’s on to the Bay of Pigs Museum to discover the fascinating story behind one of the biggest military blunders of the Kennedy administration. Finish the day at the French and Caribbean inspired coastal town of Cienfuegos — ‘The Pearl of the South’. Sip sundowners at the Palacio del Valle with the rest of the night at your leisure. Boutique La Union | Meals: BL Day 7: Cienfuegos | The Pearl of the South. Discover the ‘Pearl of the South’ on a guided city tour. Explore Jose Marti Park, the lavish Tomas Terry Theatre and the Palacio del Valle at Punta Gorda, with its exotic mix of Byzantine, Venetian, Gothic, Baroque and Mudejar architecture. Afterwards visit Cienfuegos’ Benny Moré School of Arts with an expertly guided tour and witness a choir performance by aspiring trainees. Enjoy delicious local fare for dinner with your travel companions. Boutique La Union | Meals: BD

Day 8: Trinidad | Sugar Barons & Seaside Views. Travel to Trinidad and discover the hidden secrets of this UNESCO World Heritage listed city with your expert local guide, keeping a camera at the ready as you stroll through the cobbled streets. Sugar and slavery were intertwined in the 18th and 19th centuries in Cuba, showcased on a guided tour to the vast ‘Valley of the Sugar Mills’ before dinner at Los Conspiradores in the heart of the historic district. Iberostar Grand Hotel Trinidad | Meals: BD Day 9: Trinidad | Design Your Day. This morning you can choose your own adventure, with three Design Your Day activities on offer: > Put your best foot forward in an hour-long salsa lesson led by a professional local dancer, who will teach you the basic Cuban salsa steps and have you moving to the local rhythms in no time. > Cycle to La Boca and Ancon beaches. Continue to Playa Ancon,

Trinidad´s main beach resort and enjoy the expanse of white sand beach and warm turquoise seas. > Take an expertly guided Art and Artisan Tour to discover some of Cienfuegos’s leading artists and artisans in their studios and galleries — enjoying lively chatter with the locals. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the city. Iberostar Grand Hotel Trinidad | Meals: B Day 10: Santa Clara | Natural Wonders & Revolutionary Icons. This morning is for natural wonders, exploring beautiful Guanayara in Topes de Collantes National Park on foot, admiring gorgeous scenery culminating in the chance to swim in a natural pool and stunning waterfall. Transfer to Santa Clara — a city steeped in history and culture. Your day comes to an end with a group dinner. Hotel E Central Santa Clara | Meals: BLD Day 11: Santa Clara | The History of Che Guevara. Further your cigar education at Fabrica de Tabacos Costantino Perez Carrodegua, Santa Clara’s main tobacco factory producing some of the best cigars in the country. No trip to Cuba is complete without a visit to the Che Guevara Mausoleum, located in Plaza Che Guevara alongside the bronze statue of the revolutionary icon. Continue exploring the city with a guided tour, including a visit to the Santa Clara Cathedral with its spectacular collection of stained-glass windows. Hotel E Central Santa Clara | Meals: B Day 12: Havana | Farewell to the Caribbean. Travel to Havana and visit Los Almacenes de San Jose, an iconic handicraft market and cultural hub featuring art exhibitions and musical performances. Celebrate your Cuban discovery at a farewell dinner on your hotel’s rooftop terrace. Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana | Meals: BD Day 13: Depart Havana. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Meals: B

Inspiring Accommodations

Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana A luxurious retreat located in the heart of Havana.

Hotel E Central Viñales Charming hotel set in the heart of Viñales.

Iberostar Grand Hotel Trinidad Boutique accommodation combining tradition and modern amenities. Boutique La Union, Cienfuegos Restored mansion with rooftop bar offering exceptional views.

Hotel E Central Santa Clara Comfortable accommodation boasting stunning, classically Cuban architecture.

Extend Your Journey

Mexico Pre-Tour Extension

Why not spend a few days enjoying Mexico’s white beaches and Mayan ruins prior to your arrival in Cuba? Be spellbound by the pristine Caribbean coastline, majestic monuments of Chichen Itzá, flavourful Mexican fare, and the enduring architecture. Available on select departures. See website for details.

Customise Your Journey

Talk to one of our expert Journey Designers or your travel agent about booking this tour as a private journey for your own small group with family or friends. Or, if you would prefer to travel privately, find out more about creating the perfect bespoke tailor-made journey based on this itinerary.

Australia & New Zealand Small Group Journeys

When it comes to inspiring travel, a small group makes a big difference. Our Small Group Journeys are intimate, immersive, expert-led, shared adventures with a fine balance of guided activity and breathing room, allowing time and space for more exploration and self-discovery. Small groups of 6–12 guests also mean more one-on-one interaction with your local guide, and allows A&K to reserve splendid accommodations that might not be an option for larger groups.

If scheduled departure dates don't work for you, or you would prefer to travel privately, please talk to your A&K Journey Designer or your travel agent about a journey tailor-made for you. Please visit www.abercrombiekent.com.au for detailed itineraries, departure dates, prices and inclusions.