Live a different April in Cuba 7-15 & 21-29 (9 days of travel)

-Arrival in Havana -Transfer from Havana Airport to Old Havana Accommodation. -Check In at Hostal Fresko. Breakfast Included.

8:30 AM–Meeting at Hostal Fresko with the group and guide 9:00 AM–City tour through the 4 historic squares. 12:30 PM–Lunch at local restaurant 2:00 PM–Meeting with poet and author of Biografía de un Cimarrón, Miguel Barnet and Guillermo Grenier, creator of the Camino del Cimarron 3:00–Visit to Casa Africa Museum 4:30–Return to the Hostal Fresko 7:30–Dinner at Chachacha Restaurant

7:30 AM Transfer Havana to Sagua la Grande (Box lunch). 11:30 AM–Visit to the Central Hector Rodriguez (Santa Teresa in Esteban’s era) accompanied by Yadiel Subid historian of Sagua and local guide. The Santa Teresa is where Esteban Montejo was born. The original slave quarters remain visible as is the infirmary. 1:00 PM–Tour of the city including the Museum. 2:30 PM–Visit to the Cabildo Kunalumbo (exchange with the King/Blessings for the road. Afro-Cuban musical and dance performances 4:00 PM—Check-in at Casa Particular. Breakfast included. 7:00–Dinner at Hostal Luly

7:30 AM–Transfer to Mariana Grajales. In Estaban’s era the mill was named Flor de Sagua. He escaped from here and began his life as a Cimarrón. 9:00 AM–Hike to Unión Proletaria, a sugar mill town without an active mill. (6km) Box snack included. 12:00 PM–Transfer from Unión Proletaria to Guayabo Cuartel. 12:30 PM–Climb up the hill to the Hacienda de Yanes (1.5 km). A campesino house on a hill where you will participate in the making of artisan cheese and enjoy an abundant roast pork lunch. The ancestors of Yanes owned slaves and the captured cimarrónes were chained to a still existing well. Yanes’ stories never fail to inform. 3:30 PM–Transfer from Guayabo Cuartel to Remedios. 4:30 PM—Check-in at Casa Particular in Remedios with breakfast included. 6:00 PM–Night tour of Remedios. Diner on your own.

7:30–Ride to the foothills where the cave, known as the House of the Cimarron, is found. Esteban lived in this cave for almost two years. An expert guide will lead the way. 11:30 AM–Return to the hostel to change of clothes. 1:00 PM–Lunch at local restaurant in Remedios. 2:00 PM– Visit to the Sugar Museum. Tour in a steam locomotive of the time. Hand-on workshop on how to roll cigars and enjoy rum and coffee. 7:30 Dinner at a local restaurant.

7:00 AM –Transfer to Rojas. 7:30 AM —Hike from Rojas to Viñas. 6km (Box lunch/snack included) On the way you will visit the Guajiros’ house where you will be offered fruits and juices and an opportunity to watch the traditional making of charcoal from marabú, the pervasive weed-like vegetation found across the island. 11:00 AM–Transfer from Viñas to Placetas. Lunch on your own with recommendations. 1:00 PM —Guided tour of historic center of Placetas and a visit to the historic sugar mill Zaza. 3:00 PM–Transfer to Santa Clara and check in at Hostal D’Cordero 7:00 PM Dinner at Hostal D’Cordero.

5:30 AM–Transfer to Cruce del Copey to start 15km hike to the geographic center of Cuba 6:15—Hike through beautiful Cuban countryside from Cruce del Copey to Guaracabulla. (Box lunch) 10:00–Visit to the cigar/tobacco making center if it is active (during the tobacco harvesting season). Meet with local poet of “decimas,” a spontaneous poetic tradition popular in rural Cuba. 11:00–Transfer from Guaracabulla to Km 289 for lunch (this restaurant is recommended but no included) 12:30–Transfer to Mal Tiempo, the site of a critical and famous battle in the war of independence from Spain. Esteban was among the troops. 1:30–Visit to Central Caracas, one of the most technologically advanced sugar mills in Esteban’s day. Owned by the international capitalist, Tomas Terry. The mill is still operating. The mayoral house is in ruins. 3:00–Return to Santa Clara and Hostal D’Cordero. Evening tour of the city. 7:00–Dinner at a local restaurant.

7:30–Transfer to Lajas (7.30AM). 8:00–Visit to the museum celebrating the life of the iconic Cuban singer, Benny Moré; Visit to Benny Moré’s tomb; Visit to the Cabildo established by Benny Morés ancestors and where he hung out with the musicians. 10:00–Transfer to Ciego Montero to visit a cultural community project. Exchange with children/staff. 12:00–Transfer to Palmira. Meeting with representative of the Museo de la Ciudad. Tour of the historical center, Afro-Cuban music and dance performance. 2:00—Lunch at local private restaurant. 3:30–Accommodation in Casa Particular with breakfast included. 4:00—Tour of Cienfuegos 7:30–Farewell dinner at Finca del Mar restaurant included by the agency

9:00 Transfer to Havana, leaving the clients in the places where they will stay the rest of their days in Cuba.