COLOURFUL MEXICO & CUBA

On arrival, visit the neighbourhood of Vieja Habana with historic sites such as Palace of the Revolution, Plaza de la Revolution and Plaza de la Cathedral with its asymmetrical Cathedral de San Cristobal de la Habana. Admire the colonial architecture of the Gran Teatro del al Habana and National Capitol of Cuba. See the famous Floridita Bar and the La Bodeguita del Medio, both often frequented by famous personalities. See Havana’s oldest square, Plaza de Armas and travel along a stretch of Malecon Promenade.     

Drive along the scenic “Ruta del Tobaco’ to lush Pinar Del Rio Province.  Enjoy stunning views of the Mogote Valley, famous for its pin-cushion shaped hills, tobacco fields and vegetation. Visit a tobacco plantation and watch a cigar rolling demonstration.  Continue to Vinales Valley National Park, a World Cultural Landscape. Visit The Mural of Prehistory to see a 120m rock painting on the wall of a hillock.  Enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Cueva del Indio River.    

Travel south to one of Cuba’s most quaint cities, Cienfuegoes, where we can see the restored plaza ‘Parque Jose Marti’ and the impressive Moorish palace of the ‘De Valle’ family. The beautiful route from Cienfuegoes to Trinidad lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Escambray Mountains. Trinidad, Cuba’s oldest and most enchanting ‘outdoor museum,’ offers a vivid glimpse into the country’s history, highlighted by the Spanish colonial architecture of the Plaza Mayor.

Exploring Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is like stepping back in time, with its beautifully restored buildings and cobblestone streets reflecting the town’s colonial charm and prosperity from the 17th to 19th centuries during the sugar and slave trades. From there, travel to Santa Clara, a vibrant university town and the site of Che Guevara’s final guerrilla battle in 1958, where you can visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum and Monument—featuring his final letter to Fidel Castro—alongside the Museo Histórico de la Revolución and the site of the decisive battle against Batista’s forces, before returning to Havana.

Enjoy a ride in a classic car around Havana before we proceed to the airport for our flight to Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.  

This morning, visit Chapultepec Forest, one of Mexico City’s most iconic green spaces, home to the world-renowned National Museum of Anthropology, featuring pre-Columbian artifacts like the Stone of the Sun, Olmec colossal heads, and Aztec and Mayan temple reconstructions. In the afternoon, explore Coyoacán, a charming colonial-era neighborhood whose lively main square is filled with street vendors, musicians, and artisans.

Embark on an excursion to the mysterious Teotihuacan, the ‘City of the Gods,’ built in 300 BC and one of North America’s most impressive archaeological sites. The energetic can climb the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon for spectacular views of the ancient city, renowned for their size, precise construction, and astronomical alignment. Cool off with a fun guacamole-making class, gathering fresh ingredients, learning preparation techniques, and tasting your creations. Return to Mexico City to explore historic Plaza Santo Domingo, the nearby Zócalo with the Metropolitan Cathedral—the largest in Mexico—and stroll along Madero Street, admiring its beautifully restored houses, cafes, and restaurants.

Drive to Tula in Hidalgo to explore Tula Grande, the ancient Toltec capital, featuring impressive ruins, temples, palaces, ball courts, and the iconic Atlantean warrior figures with elaborate headdresses and weapons. Continue to the 16th-century Arcos del Sitio aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of massive stone arches vital for sustaining colonial settlements and agriculture. End the day in Tepotzotlán, a charming Pueblo Mágico nestled in the Sierra de Tepotzlan foothills, where the National Museum of the Viceroyalty showcases Mexico’s rich historical heritage.

Embark on a short flight to Merida, the vibrant capital of the Yucatan Peninsula.   Bask in the city’s rich Mayan and colonial heritage. Admire the colonial architecture from the 17th & 18th century around Plaza Grande.  See imposing mansions which gave the city the nickname of the ‘White City’ from the use of white limestone and paint along Paleo Montejo. 

This morning, visit Chichen-Itza, the second most visited archaeological site of Mexico.  The historical site includes buildings such as the Observatory, the jaguars Temple, the Sacred Well, the Ball Court and most importantly, the Pyramid of Kukulkan.  This pyramid measures 24m high and is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. One of the best ways to cool down is a visit to a cenote.  The Yucatan Peninsula has an estimated ten thousand of these water-filled sinkholes naturally formed by the collapse of limestones.  Cenotes are important to the Mayans as they are their main water source.