"a leader in specialized tours since 1992"
GARDEN/NATURE/
CULTURE/BEACH
TOUR –
CENTRAL/WEST CUBA
TOUR DATES:
• January 9-23, 2009 - Full
• February 27 - March 13, 2009
for
INFORMATION:
or to
book contact
Tom
Robertson - tom@cuba1tours.com
Associated Travel Consultants
1C - 2426 Rosewall Crescent
Courtenay, B.C.
Canada V9N 8R9
- toll free: 1-800-856-4777
- Fax: 1-250-334-8539
- email:tom@cuba1tours.com
GARDEN/NATURE/CULTURE/BEACH
TOUR –
CENTRAL/WEST CUBA
TOUR DATES:
- January 9 - 23, 2009 -This tour is Full
- February 27 to March 13, 2009
I have designed this tour for those interested in gardens, plants and nature, but also allowing for time to relax on Cuba’s golden beaches, absorb some of the rich history, culture and Spanish Colonial architecture. At each garden location, whether it be eco, botanical, ornamental or organiponico you will have a resident expert to explain the local plants and methods of gardening and our resident Cuban guide to do any necessary translations. You will stay at some of the best hotels in Cuba and in some of the more rural locations the best hotels available. All your transportation will be in a modern, air conditioned bus with an experienced Cuban driver. Space is limited for this tour and early booking is essential. Look forward to having you along.
Day 1- Arrive in Varadero and transfer to a 4* all inclusive resort on the beach.
Day 2- Free day. Most hotels in Varadero have integrated nature into their design and planted a wide variety of ornamental trees and plants.
Day 3- Transfer to the city of Santa Clara with lunch at Las Canayes hotel after lunch visit to the Che Guevarra monument/museum and mausoleum as well as short city tour to acquaint yourself with Cuban culture and history. We will spend the night at hotel Granjita on the outskirts of the city surrounded by nature. Dinner will be at the hotel.
Day 4- Breakfast and transfer into the Escambray mountain range to the community of Topes de Collantes. This drive will take you through some spectacular landscape and you will see small tobacco and coffee plantations, royal palms, pine trees and an a variety of flowering trees. Once we arrive at Topes we will load into a big Russian truck and drive to a location set in the forest where our local guide will explain the flora and fauna and once we arrive at Codina, a small farm house set in the Codina valley, you will be taken on a short eco hike and then have lunch. Accommodation and dinner will be at Los Helchos hotel which is surrounded by lush vegetation. If possible we will visit a community garden close to the hotel.
Day 5- Breakfast and transfer to the Unesco heritage town of Trinidad with a tour of the central part of the city. We will then drive along the Caribbean coast stopping for lunch at a small ocean side resort, Villa Guajimico. After lunch we continue to Cienfuegos with a visit to the Cienfuegos botanical garden which was a former botanical institute and research centre for Harvard University. The garden has a remarkable collection of tropical palm trees among other peculiar plants such as the “Cavanillesia platanifolia”, “Lecythis spp” and “Strychnos nux-vomica”. Accommodation and dinner at hotel Union located in the centre of the city and a short block from the main square.
Day 6- Breakfast and transfer to El Nicho park which is located in the mountains opposite to Topes. This is again a feast of nature and El Nicho hosts a small river which cascades down the side of the mountains creating pools for swimming, spectacular scenery and lush vegetation. After a nature hike with a local guide and perhaps a refreshing swim we will have lunch before returning to Cienfuegos. We will go to Club Cienfuegos, former Cienfuegos Yacht club, for a lobster dinner..
Day 7- Breakfast and transfer to Havana with accommodation and dinner at the famous hotel Nacional, overlooking the Atlantic ocean and the sea side Malacon boulevard. Lunch not included this day.
Day 8- Breakfast and tour of the most important areas of the city. Lunch at a restaurant in Old Havana and then visit Vivero Organoponico Alamar (Google this for article by Bill McKibben), with local expert. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 9- Breakfast and visit to the National Botanical Garden in Havana. We will also take in some of the areas along the Almendares river/park. Dinner tonight will be at the La Torre restaurant on the 36th floor of a building with a spectacular view of the city. There may be some free time this day to explore the city of Havana on your own. Lunch not included.
Day 10- Breakfast and transfer to Soroa in the Sierra del Rosario mountain range. Visit to the Orquiderio Soroa (famous orchid garden) built between 1943 and 1953 by a Spanish lawyer in memory of his wife and daughter. There are 700 orchid species, 6000 ornamentals, various growing houses and research facilities. Accommodation and dinner will be at hotel Soroa, a short walk from the gardens.. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Day 11- Breakfast and visit to Las Terrazas another unique mountainous area which was declared Cuba’s first Unesco sanctioned biosphere reserve. Lunch at El Romerso VEGETARIAN restaurant. The restaurant uses home-grown organic vegetables and herbs, solar energy and keeps its own bees. Dinner at hotel.
Day 12- Breakfast and transfer to the magnificent Viñales valley with its unique landscape. On the way we will visit Cortina farm in the foothills of Sierra La Guira. This former estate of Don Manuel Cortina shows lovely English and French style gardens with a small Chinese temple and statues of mythological figures. Plenty of endemic and exotic plants to be seen such as “Heliconia Caribaea”, “Oxandra lanceolada”, “Poepigia procera”, “Calophyllum pinetorum” among many others. Accommodation and dinner at hotel La Ermita over looking the Vinales valley and the town by the same name. Lunch not included.
Day 13- Breakfast and transfer to Varadero with accommodation at a 4* all inclusive beach hotel.
Day 14- Free day to relax
Day 15- Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
Tour
price - $2195 (based
on double occupancy)
Single supplement add $350 cnd
INCLUDED:
-Excellent accommodations
-All ground transportation
-Breakfast and dinner daily
-Lunches where mentioned
-4 nights at an all Inclusive resort
-All entry fees
-Guided tours
-Cuban guide and driver
-Canadian tour leader
- F U N
NOT INCLUDED:
-Air Fare
-Beverages (except at all inclusive resorts)
-Tips for bell boys and chambermaids (a collection is made at the beginning
of the tour for tips of guides and driver and you will be informed
of the amount with other detailed information mailed to you once you
sign up)
-$25 cuc's Cuban airport tax (A cuc is a Cuban convertible peso and you
buy them in Cuba at a variable rate based on the US dollar)
-Trip insurance (cancellation and medical if required).
DEPOSIT: A $500 deposit is required at time of booking and can be done by cheque (check) or credit card to Advantage Associated Travel.
If you are using credit cards for payment of Cuba portion there will be a 5% service charge added.
WHEN BOOKING PLEASE STATE SPECIFICALLY WHICH TOUR, BY NAME AND THE TIME
YOU WISH TO GO.
This is the Garden/nature tour
To Book contact Tom Robertson or Terry Law at Associated Travel
Tel: 250-334-8529
Toll free: 800-856-4777
Email: tom@cuba1tours.com
www.cuba1tours.com
VALID PASSPORT REQUIRED
Most hotels have nightly entertainment.
Early booking absolutely essential as Cuba is a HOT spot for tourists
from everywhere, including the USA.