Day 1: Depart UK
Depart the UK from your chosen airport. On arrival in Toronto, you’ll make your own way into the city and check into your hotel for two nights. Once you’ve settled in, why not head up the CN Tower for spectacular views of the city at night, or enjoy dinner in Chinatown?
Included: International flight, 4* hotel
Day 2: Toronto
Today, you’ll set off on a tour of the city, visiting the Eaton Centre and Chinatown as well as the Old and New City Halls. Afterwards, you can spend the rest of the day getting to know eclectic Toronto, from its modern skyscrapers to its pedestrian-only Distillery District. Along the way, you can taste some local specialities in St. Lawrence Market and head to the Hockey Hall of Fame. This evening, why not try dinner at the harbour under the twinkling city lights?
Included: 4* hotel, Toronto city tour
Day 3: Niagara Falls
Today, you’ll be transferred to Niagara Falls, where you’ll spend the rest of the day exploring at your leisure. We’ve included the Niagara Falls Adventure Pass, which gives you entry to the Journey Behind the Falls, a network of tunnels through the bedrock that emerges behind the cascades. Standing behind the falls, you’ll have one fifth of all the world’s fresh water crashing down in front of you! You can also hike along the Niagara Gorge on the White Water Walk or hop aboard the Hornblower cruise (both included with the Adventure Pass). Whatever you choose, be sure to don your poncho and prepare to get wet!
Included: Transfers to Niagara Falls, Niagara Adventure Pass (including Hornblower Cruise, Journey Behind the Falls & White Water Walk)
Day 4: Fly to Cuba
This morning, you’ll be taken back to Toronto Airport in time for your flight to Havana. On arrival into Havana, you’ll make your own way to the hotel where your group tour begins. There are no planned activities today, so you can check in and relax or go and explore the city.
One of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere, Havana was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Wander amongst the splendorous crumbling architecture of the streets of Old Havana, sit on the famous sea wall (El Malecon), and meet the friendly 'Habaneros'.
Included: International flight, meals, touring & accommodation as per group tour
Days 5 and 6: Viñales
Before departing from Havana, you’ll take a guided walking tour of the historic centre of Havana (approx 2 hours). The drive from Havana to Viñales takes around 3 hours, and you’ll usually stop for lunch on the way. There are quite a few attractions around this heavily forested lunch stop, you can take a short trek to a waterfall, try a steep hike to a lookout, or explore a very impressive orchid garden.
After lunch, you’ll continue to the town of Viñales. Surrounded by picturesque limestone pincushion hills (“mogotes”), Viñales is a small and culturally rich village, with welcoming residents and a wide variety of outdoor activities available. You can spend your time here exploring caves, hiking, biking, horseback riding or simply enjoying the views of the valley and sprawling tobacco fields.
Viñales is one of the more agriculturally productive areas, so an abundance of local seasonal fruit and vegetables is always on offer, such as enormous avocados and mangoes, pineapples, papaya, guava, and sweet potatoes. It’s one of the cooler areas of Cuba, so it’s also a nice escape from the hotter parts of the country.
In Viñales, you’ll also get your first experience staying in a Cuban family home. The nightlife is very active in the village too, and the local residents are always ready to get up and dance to the live music.
Included: Meals, touring & accommodation as per group tour
Day 7: Bay of Pigs/Cienfuegos
This morning, you’ll head back past Havana to the French-founded city of Cienfuegos, travelling through the densely vegetated Peninsula de Zapata swamplands and along the beautiful Bay of Pigs. The Bay of Pigs is where the counter-revolutionary exile militia landed in 1961. There’s a museum here that recounts the events, which resulted in the first defeat of a U.S backed take-over in Latin America.
During the day, you’ll also make stops at a beautiful swimming hole (cenote) which resembles a huge natural tropical fish tank. If weather conditions are favourable, you can also try snorkelling off the local beach.
Cienfuegos appeal lies partly in its European flavour, with wide Parisian-style boulevards and elegant colonnades. The colonial atmosphere of the city inspired Cuba’s most celebrated Son singer to write the words “Cienfuegos is the city I like best”.
Included: Meals, touring & accommodation as per group tour
Days 8 & 9: Trinidad
For most visitors to Cuba, Trinidad is a stand-out highlight of the trip. No other colonial city in Cuba is so well preserved, and the locals are extremely friendly and festive. The thing that visitors most love about Trinidad is the nightlife. There are no less than 10 live music venues all within a short walking distance. Many of these venues have lovely outdoor settings in courtyards or within the walls of old colonial ruins.
Trinidad is also near the lovely Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of Sugarmills) and Playa Ancón, where you can enjoy long stretches of unspoiled, white sand beaches. All kinds of activities are possible here, from scuba diving and snorkelling to swimming in waterfalls and horse-riding.
Included: Meals, touring & accommodation as per group tour
Day 10: Havana
On the way back to Havana, you’ll stop at the town of Santa Clara, a key city in the Cuban Revolution. At the entrance to Santa Clara, there’s a huge statue of Ernesto Ché Guevara, commemorating his death and honouring the revolutionaries who died alongside him in Bolivia. There’s also a museum here dedicated to his amazing life.
You’ll spend the final night of the tour back in Havana, and your tour guide will have some suggestions for a farewell dinner and fun night out.
Included: Meals, touring & accommodation as per group tour
Day 11: Fly to Costa Rica
Today, you’ll make your own way to the airport for your flight to San Jose. On arrival in Costa Rica, you'll be met and taken by private transfer to your hotel in Manuel Antonio.
Included: Arenas del Mar Hotel, transfers
Days 12 - 15: Manuel Antonio National Park
Nestled in lush foliage next to a white sand beach, Arenas del Mar Hotel is somewhere to finish your trip in style. This luxurious hotel offers the best of both worlds. It’s a beachfront property with ocean views just a stone’s throw from the wild beauty of Manuel Antonio National Park.
You’ll spend 5 nights here and your time can be as active or relaxed as you wish. Search for sloths on a rainforest tour, relax on the sun loungers, paddle through mangroves, take surf lessons and sip cocktails next to the ocean.
Included: Arenas del Mar Hotel, breakfast
Day 16: Depart San Jose
After breakfast, you’ll be driven back to San Jose in time for your flight home.
Included: Breakfast, transfer, international flight
Day 17: Arrive UK
