Essence of the East Tour

After breakfast, the tour travels deep into the Sierra Maestra Mountains, passing small farmhouses and villages with wonderful mountain scenery. After arriving at Villa Santo Domingo, nestling deep in the mountains with views to Cuba’s highest and most sacred mountain, Pico Turquino in the background. Lunch will be served at a local hotel or casa in this beautiful and peaceful location.

After lunch, jeeps will take you higher into the mountains for a trail deep into the forests to La Plata, the former HQ of Fidel Castro’s revolutionary heroes. You can see the various hidden buildings including Fidel’s actual house and the radio station from where they launched the Revolution. Continuing the trail, there is an option to visit the tiny mountain community of La Platica.

After a late afternoon return from La Plata, you can relax at the local hotel or country Casas Particular and perhaps explore the local hamlet or relax as the darkness creeps up over the mountains. In the evening dinner will be served and you can rest after a long but rewarding day.

After breakfast, there is a full exploration of the city that has been of crucial importance throughout Cuba’s history. Visit Moncada Barracks, the location for what many describe as the start of the Revolution with Fidel Castro’s attack on the barracks on 26^th July 1953. Explore the centre and visit the square called Parque Cespedes, surrounded by historic buildings, including the Ayuntamiento, where Fidel Castro gave his victory speech when the revolution was won in January 1959.

Also visit Calle Heredia which is one of the city’s liveliest streets, Padre Pico Street, made famous by the intense games of draughts played by the locals, and the Museum ‘Lucha Clandestina’, situated in the 17^th Century Tivoli district. The Museum depicts the revolutionary underground movement headed by Fidel Castro, who lived as a youth across the street from the museum.

You will also have the chance to visit to the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery a most important site in Cuba and the final resting place of Fidel Castro, one of the world’s most recognised leaders. His simple, but powerful mausoleum is constantly guarded and there will be a chance to stay for the impressive changing of the guard ceremony. The Cemetery also contains the final resting place of Cuba’s national hero Jose Marti, as well as a number of other important revolutionary and historical figures including the Bacardi family.

Visit the Castillo del Morro, a historical fortress offering fantastic views across the Caribbean Sea and the impressive Sierra Maestra mountains and enjoy a traditional Cuban lunch at a restaurant next to the fortress offering stunning views of the coastal scenery.

Dinner will be served in the hotel and the remainder of the evening will be free to relax at the hotel, wander through the centre of Santiago De Cuba or you could go independently to a local music club such as the Casa De La Trova.