Day 6 Vinales – Las Terrazas
Drive to Las Terrazas in the heart of a UNESCO protected area (around 2hrs driving). Here there are undulating hills in every shade of green, groves of palm trees, orchids and hibiscus, steep mountain streams and rocky pools, hundreds of birds and butterflies and carefully tended fields of lush sugar cane.

This afternoon those with older children may enjoy going on an exciting zip line excursion through the forest canopy and across the village of Las Terrazas.

Day 7 Las Terrazas
A day to enjoy the area around Las Terrazas. Perhaps visit the San Juan waterfalls where you can take a dip in the pools and take a peaceful walk through the Soroa Orchid Garden. 

Day 8 Las Terrazas – Playa Larga
After breakfast visit a traditional coffee plantation where you can learn all about how this crop was managed in the past. The crumbling colonial mansions at the heart of the plantations are very evocative and it is easy to imagine how life might have been a hundred years ago.

In the afternoon you will drive to Playa Larga. This takes around 3-4 hours and you can ask your driver to take the back roads (rather than driving via Havana) to get a view of rural Cuba.

Day 9 Playa Larga – Trinidad
The day starts with a short drive to the attractive town of Cienfuegos. This is a lovely town situated in an enviable seaside location and is home to a wealth of beautiful old French buildings that were built by the settlers that arrived here in the early 19^th Century. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and it is easy to see why, with beautiful pastel coloured palaces, whitewashed churches, swaying palm trees and a cooling sea breeze.

Later continue on to Trinidad for the night.

Day 10 Trinidad
You have a full day to explore Trinidad, again a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is possible to spend many happy hours just wandering at will and enjoying the gorgeous views on every street corner.

You could also take an excursion into the beautiful Escambray Mountains and Topes de Collante nature reserve. Here you can go hiking through paths in the reserve to the El Nicho waterfalls, a beautiful cascade deep in the jungle where you can take a swim.

In the evening, check out the vibrant atmosphere at the Casa de la Musica in the town centre; try your hand at dancing salsa or simply relaxing to the music with a mojito in your hand. 

Day 11 Trinidad
Another full day in and around Trinidad. We can arrange a full day boat trip to Cayo Iguana, an incredible island that is home to a large population of Cuban Iguana. It is also home to the most beautiful beaches and there is fabulous snorkelling off the coast here. Alternatively, we could arrange a day trip to Playa Ancon for a day on the beach or perhaps visit Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills), which is 12km from Trinidad. A fascinating place to visit, this is essentially the best preserved living museum of Cuban sugar production of the 18^th and 19^th century and includes the sites of 75 former cane sugar mills, plantation houses, barracks and other facilities.

Day 12 Trinidad – Santa Clara – Cayo Santa Maria
After breakfast you will head north to Santa Clara (about 2 hours), a vibrant city that sprang to fame when it was liberated by the Argentine guerrilla Che Guevara in 1958, marking the end of the Batista regime. You will have time to stop and explore the city and we can include a visit to the Che Guevara museum and the mausoleum where he is buried, and see the famous armoured train. You will later continue to Cayo Santa Maria, where you enjoy three wonderful nights on the beach.

Days 13-14 Cayo Santa Maria
Two full days to relax and enjoy the beach.

Day 15 Cayo Santa Maria – Havana
Around midday set off for the airport by private taxi, a drive of around 5 hours, to arrive in time for your flight home, or have a night in Havana before a morning flight.