Cuba Photo Tour, 3-19th April, 2016

Here's is the itinerary for my 2016 Photo Tour to Cuba!

Please note this is a brief overview of what this tour comprises.
Email me at betterdigitalmag@gmail.com for the full itinerary and more information.

Itinerary in BriefDay 01 [Sunday 3rd, Arrival Day]

Reception and welcome at the airport and transfer to the 4-star Art Nouveau style Hotel Raquel in old Havana

Day 02 [Mon 4th] Colonial Havana
- Try a mojito in the La Bodeguita del Medio
- Visit to the Capitanes Generales Museum
- Visit to the Rafael Trejo Boxing Gym
- A visit to the Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón cemetery
- Dinner at the restaurant El Aljibe in Miramar
Day 03 [Tues 5th] Havana- Visit the Agromercado [market]
- Fusterlandia  - impressive art of Jose Fuster
- Havana Queens - meet the dancers behind the scenes
- Cocktail at the Salon de la Fama (Hotel Nacional)
- Visit the impressive Morro-Cabana fortress
- Old Man and the Sea: Hemingway museum
- Check out the beach at Playa Del Este
- Dinner at the paladar La Guarida.

Day 04 [Wed 6th] Bay of Pigs - Cienfuegos
- Visit the Bay of Pigs invasion museum in Playa Giron
- Boat tour to Aldea Taina, a [reconstructed] native Indian village.
- Visit to Cueva de los Peces sinkhole near Playa Giron.
- In Cienfuegos, check out the Tomas Terry theatre
- Enjoy a sundowner cocktail in the Palacio de Valle.
- Dinner at the private restaurant Aché.

Day 05: [Thurs 7th] Cienfuegos - Trinidad
- Boat trip around Cienfuegos Bay
- Visit to Jagua Castle (Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles)
- Visit Cienfuegos Botanical Garden
- Dancing Lessons in Trinidad!
- Dinner reserved at the private restaurant 1514.

Day 06 [Fri 8th] Trinidad
- Visit to the Casa del Alfarero ceramics workshop.
- Check out the amazing antiques at the Romantico Museum (Palacio Brunet)
- Visit to the Casa Templo de Santería Yemayá
- Dinner at Vista Gourmet, a private restaurant
- Entrance to the Casa de la Trova.  Great live music. 
 
Day 07 [Sat 9th] Sancti Spíritus - Camaguey
- Valle de los Ingenios
- Climb up the Torre Manaca Iznaga, a slave tower
- Stop in Sancti Spiritus to see the historic Yayabo bridge
- Bici pedalo taxi roundtrip in Camagüey city
- Visit to a local fruit and veggie market
- Visit the Casa de Arte Jover art gallery
- Visit to the Camaquito kids’ project
- Dinner at the La Campana de Toledo in Camagüey. 

Day 08 [Sun 10th] Bayamo El Cobre - Santiago
- Special visit to the Camaguey Ballet
- Visit the Basílica del Cobre pilgrimage spot
- Visit to the (bullet riddled) Moncada Museum
- Tour with horse carriage from Hotel Sierra Maestra to the Casa de la Trova

Day 09 [Mon 11th] Santiago de Cuba
- Visit to the Casa Diego Velazquez museum
- Museum Casa de las Religiones Populares
- Visit to Santa Ifigenia cemetery
- Roundtrip transfer by ferry to Cayo Granma
- Dinner at the private restaurant Compay Gallo.
- More great live music at the Casa de la Trova in the city.

Day 10: [Tues 12th] Guantánamo - Baracoa
- Visit Matachin Fortress
- Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
- Overnight Hotel El Castillo, Baracoa

Day 11 [Wed 13th] Baracoa
- Visit to Finca Duaba (a working cacao plantation)
- Excursion on the Rio Toa by boat   
- Dinner at private restaurant Al´s, which is famous for its lobster dishes and fantastic views.

Day 12 [Thurs 14th] Baracoa - Guardalavaca
- Stopover at the Alexander Humboldt National Park
- Moa and the gorgeous beaches of Guardalavaca.

Day 13 [Fri 15th] Guardalavaca
- Day Off, on the beach
- Overnight Hotel Sol Río de Luna y Mares

Day 14 [Sat 16th]  Holguin - Havana
- Transfer Havana Airport – Havana Hotel
Overnight Hotel Raquel

Day 15 [Sun 17th] Havana
Today is free - but I shall be organising trips for those interested to:
- Havana’s unique Steam Rail Museum
- The Revolution Museum
- Visit to the Patacas cigar factory
- Farewell dinner (location TBA) + drinks at the famous
La Floridita bar (another Hemingway hangout, and supposedly home to the original daiquiri). Overnight Hotel Raquel

Day 16 [Mon 18th] Havana
Today is free - but I shall be organising trips for those interested to:
- Art Deco tour of HavanaOvernight Hotel Raquel

Day 17 [Tues 19th] Havana - Onwards
- Hotel check-out and transfer (depending on time of departure) to the airport to check-in for the return flight.  Transfer without guide in taxi or microbus.

Cienfuegos at night
(Composite image)

Cost:
$5,850 per person (price based on twin share).
$880 single supplement
Tour start: April 3rd, Hotel Raquel, Havana, Cuba, 2016.
Tour finish: April 19th, Hotel Raquel, Havana, Cuba, 2016.
Deposit:     $500 to secure your booking (note this is non-refundable from Jan 03, 2016).
(We advise you to take travel insurance as soon as a booking deposit has been made).
Tour size:    Minimum 8 pax, max 12 places.
Photo skill level required: Absolute beginner, up
What’s included:
•  Photo tuition and guidance for the entire trip, plus tuition pre-, and post trip, where required.
•  14-day guided tour, as per itinerary, from/to Havana with aircon bus, driver and English-speaking guide.
•  Internal flight from Holguin to Havana.
•  Accommodation 16 nights, w/breakfast.
•  Nine dinners, 16 breakfasts + one picnic lunch.
•  Entrance fees for all locations mentioned in the itinerary.
•  Farewell group dinner in Havana (15th April).
•  All tips.
•  Loads of fun, great photographs and a memorable trip!
What’s not included: •  International airfares.
•  Travel insurance.
•  Items of a personal nature.

(Please note: This itinerary is meant as a guide only.  Locations and places might change depending on local conditions once we are in Cuba.  Plus I also reserve the right to modify the locations visited if I subsequently find places that are better value or more interesting to photograph.  A final itinerary will be provided one month before departure).