Cienfuegos to Havana Itinerary

Day 1

We meet at 11 am at the Melia Cohiba Hotel lobby  for a drink and a free transfer by bus to Cienfuegos. After a 3 hour drive through Cuba’s central regions we reach  Cienfuegos and embark the Panorama between 3 and 4 pm. Welcome briefings and cocktails, safety drill – Welcome dinner – Overnight at sea to Casilda/ Trinidad .

Day 2

 Early morning arriving into the port of Casilda.  Our full day optional excursion brings us to Trinidad, a Spanish colonial settlement once built on huge sugar fortunes. Trinidad, and a  UNESCO World Heritage site.   A meticulously well-preserved Spanish colonial city, with its rich architecture, cobblestone streets,  palaces and plazas it is sometimes referred to as the “museum city of Cuba.”  There will be stops for visits to local artists and home studios, the Museum Romantico or the Architecture Museum . After lunch , we will drive to the nearby Sugarmills Valley (Valley de los Ingenios) also a UNESCO  WORLD HERITAGE site. – Overnight at sea to CAYO LARGO 

Day 3

Early morning arrival in Cayo Largo. Cayo Largo was formed by limestone, formed over millions of years from the remains of marine organisms, much like the ones that form coral reefs. Our optional  excursion will take us to the Sea Turtle Breeding Centre and Endangered Species Protection program. We will  then join coral reef experts for an amazing 2 1/2  hour guided snorkelling experience. Protected from strong sea currents, the seabed is varied and unspoiled, with an abundance of underwater caves, valleys and steep, gorgonian-encrusted walls. We return to the ship for lunch and sail to Cabo San Antonio –overnight at sea  

Day 4

Morning arrival at Maria la Gorda – Bahia de Corrientes. Todayour optional excursion  will take us to the  “Guanahacabibes” National Park, one of the country’s largest nature reserves.  Meet with the naturalists and locals.   The peninsula was one of the last refuges of aboriginals fleeing from the Spanish conquistadors and also holds some 140 archaeological sites linked to the life of aborigines, who were known asGuanahatabeyes.  You will meet with environmentalists at the CITMA Environmental Research Station as well and discuss the Endangered Species Protection Projects and Environmental Education Programs.  Alternatively you can spend the day at nearby beach snorkelling and enjoying the sun and the sea. Overnight at sea  to Havana

Day 5

Day 6

Half day optional excursions in colourful and vibrant Old Havana, founded by the Spaniards in 1519 in the natural harbor of the Bay of Havana and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Enjoy a guided exploration on foot  through Old Havana streets and squares. We will stop to see the scale model of the Old City, to the “Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos” Workshop/School for artisans and craftspeople specializing in  monuments  restoration. You can also chose  the optional excursion  to the Artemisa Region outside Havana. We will  drive by bus to the UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserve  Las Terrazzas,  in the mountainous Sierra del Rosario area. This is perfect chance to discover this beautiful region including  an old/colonial 18th century coffee plantation and also observe life in rural Cuba  with visits to the local family doctor, nurse, clinic, an elementary school, community museum, local artists homes and studios.   Lunch on board and the ship leave Havana  sails early  the afternoon to Cabo San Antonio – Overnight Havana

Day 7

Today you can enjoy the optional full day excursion with lunch  in the Pinar del Rio province. We will go inland to visit the Valley of Vinales, one of Cuba’s most scenic regions. You will be amazed by a unique landscape and by the “magotes” ,  dramatic rock formations and  by the 18th century city of Vinales all of which contributed to make the Valley  a Unesco World Heritage site. Captains Farewell Dinner  – Overnight in Havana

Day 8

Disembarkation 9 to 9.30 am