Cuba: La Isla Grande

Spend the morning exploring the cobbled streets and bustling squares of Old Havana and swing by the Capitolio building and Revolution Square. Visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara, site of the last battle of the Cuban Revolution, and take a look around the train museum. Later on, arrive into Sancti Spiritus, an especially photogenic colonial city founded in 1514, and where you’ll spend the night.

Today is a long driving day: pass through lush sugar plantations and agricultural towns and learn how sugar cane cultivation has shaped the Cuba we know today. Break up the journey with a lunch stop in Camagüey, whose historic centre is on the World Heritage list, before continuing to Bayamo. You’ll return to Camagüey later on in your holiday.

Leaving Bayamo behind, you’ll pass through Guantanamo and stop for a refreshing dip on Cuba’s south coast before heading on to Baracoa. This former capital was settled in 1512 and was frequently attacked by pirates, leading to the construction of three protective forts in the 18th century. The town is nestled among lush mountains, and you’ll have the option to trek up El Yunque, a full-day hike. You’ll also explore the River Toa and surrounding cocoa plantations by boat.

Discover the history of Santiago de Cuba and the role it played in the struggle for independence. Take a look around town, taking in the Santa Ifgenia cemetery, Revolution Square, El Morro Castle and Moncada Barracks, where the first shots of the revolution were fired in 1953. You’ll have the afternoon free to explore, and perhaps catch a live musical performance at La Casa de Trova.

Head for the lush green mountains of Sierra Maestra, stopping off in El Cobre, the most sacred pilgrimage site in Cuba. Ascend into the peaks of the stunning Sierra Maestra National Park, Cuba’s highest and largest mountain range and where Fidel Castro had his operations base during the Cuban Revolutionary War. There is a range of walking trails through the cloud forest, allowing you to explore the park at your own pace.

Explore the winding historic streets of Camagüey. The city was originally built on the coast in 1515, but was moved in 1528 due to persistent pirate attacks, and rebuilt with a confusing layout as a defence mechanism. You’ll have time to soak up the sights and find the ‘tinajones’ – large terracotta jugs used to store water – that you’ll see all over town.

Trinidad, a colonial town and one of the best preserved in all Cuba, is your next stop. You’ll still see horses pulling carts along the cobbled streets and a number of museums can tell you the history of the place. After dark, visit La Casa de la Musica and dance to the lively Cuban beats. The next day, board a catamaran and sail to Cayo Macho and Cayo Blanco, small beach-trimmed islands where you might spot iguanas (optional, extra cost).

Visit El Cubano Nature Park, just outside Trinidad, and take a walk through the tropical forests to a refreshing waterfall where you can swim. Once everyone’s feeling relaxed, you’llcarry on your way to Cienfuegos. Take a look around the main plazas of this colonial town, and check out the historical buildings including a 19th century theatre. The seafront is a good spot for a stroll, particularly in the evening as the sun sets.

Call in at the Bay of Pigs, site of the 1961 attempted invasion by the USA, on your way back to Havana. Stop off at Playa Giron for lunch, and a swim or snorkel in the protected cove of Caleta Buena. Back in the capital, immerse yourself in Cuba’s intoxicating salsa beats and soak up the vibrant colours and distinct flavours of the shabby-chic streets. You’ll have a free day to explore or stock up on souvenirs, or you could choose to take a day trip to the tobacco farms of the Viñales Valley (optional, extra cost).