City & Coast Tour – Santiago de Cuba
Come visit this most Caribbean of Cuban cities. Once the capital of Cuba, it is a perfect introduction to the culture and history of Cuba. Our eco- walking tours are accompanied by naturalists who will help you explore the plants, birds and butterflies on this beautiful island.
When should you come – Cuba is the land of perpetual summer. Flowering trees and plants abound. Winter birders enjoy both local and transient birds, summer birders enjoy the courting displays and nestlings of local birds. Butterfly lovers feast their eyes on huge moths, and colourful butterflies whatever the season.
So pack some good shoes and a camera and enjoy our walking tours.
Day 1 – Arrival
However you arrive in Santiago de Cuba, you will be met by our friendly staff and transferred to your homestay.
Orientation – in 10 mins we orientate you to the city – and with our NEVER GET LOST MAP you are ready to explore this dynamic, musical city, enjoy a people watching retreat for a coffee or mojito, find the music centre of the city, or just enjoy family time in the central square.
Dinner in your homestay
Day 2 – Colonial Cuba – a City more than 500 years old
A brief show and tell to cover more than 5000 years of history. From the early migrations of aboriginal people from the great rivers of South America, to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and immigrants, and the Necessary War of Independence we follow history in castles and hills and trees, museums and private homes.
Traditional lunch in the city.
Dinner in your homestay.
Optional evening entertainment – visit to local Trova.
Day 3 – Religion in Cuba
The coming of the Spanish brought European 16th century Catholicism to Cuba and an attempt to impose it on the aboriginal population. Within a few years the aboriginal populations were decimated by European diseases, starvation and the brutal work in the mines and fields. Many disappearing into the mountain palenques hidden in plain sight, their culture destroyed, their religion denied, and their religious object seized.
Very quickly the Spanish starting importing African slave labourers. The Africans brought with them music, dance, art and religion. After the successful Haitian rebellion against France, suppression of outward displays of their religion led to a blending of cultures.
This is an opportunity to explore the culture which emerged when the two great cultural streams mixed and merged.
The Afro- Cuban religion of Santeria informs much of the art, music and culture of Santiago and the island of Cuba. After an introduction to some of the fascinating aspects of Santeria and how they appear in Cuban art, we will pay a visit to a cultural centre with various temples from some of the major Afro-Cuban religions. Lunch in the city. Afternoon visit to the Basilica of the Virgin, Cuba’s patron saint.
Dinner in your homestay.
Day 4 – Food on the Table
Cuba’s goal is to become as self sufficient in food as possible. To that end the government has funded recovery of agricultural lands from infestations of a shrub/tree called marabu, the expansion of irrigation through major and minor hydro works, and the development of small and medium sized plots within the city and towns for vegetables.
We visit several of these developments – some just starting, some the product of the pandemic, and others of long standing national reference.
And it isn’t just vegetables wonder where the roses and other flowers sold on the streets come from? We visit a couple of other gardens.
And of course we visit our own roof garden – producing herbs, greens and salads.
Lunch in a garden
Dinner in your homestay
Day 5 – Eco Tour 1 “Cloud Forest Exploration”
An early start for a visit to a fascinating garden. A collection of more than 3000 tropical ferns and a growing collection of indigenous and exotic orchids, this garden provides a magical start to this day. After the garden we leave for an exploration in the Gran Piedra. This spectacular drive will take you through gentle valleys at the foot of the Sierra Maestra and then up through Tropical Forests and Bamboo Stands to a Cloud Forest. A climb of 500 stairs takes you to the top of the rock for a panoramic view of three provinces and the warm Caribbean Sea. An old Haitian style Cafetal brings to life the coffee technology brought by Haitian refugees. A tour of the Multiflora Garden with its Bird of Paradise Flowers, camellias and beds of tropical flowers will complete our time on the mountain. Your guide will be an internationally respected botanist. For lunch we’ll visit a small sea-side town and lunch at a cottage used by the garrison General during the revolutionary wars.
Dinner in your homestay.
Day 6 – A Wet and Dry Day
One of the joys of this part of Cuba is the many microclimates. Yesterday you visited a cloud forest and high altitude garden, and today we go to a large Cactus Garden. Developed by an internationally renowned cactus expert this garden displays cacti from around the world (2) and many which are indigenous to Cuba. We’ll end our eco-tours of Eastern Cuba with a trip to a fascinating lagoon. Here endemic and rare crocodiles bask in the sun and fresh water dolphins swim in the lagoon. We’ll take a leisurely boat ride among the mangroves to spot many of the wetland birds for which this area is famous, and try to photograph the brilliantly coloured crabs.
For a lunch and a relaxing afternoon we’ll stroll around an Artisan Village. You’ll visit with the artists in their homes and studios. Birders beware – bee hummingbirds have been spotted around here!
Dinner in your homestay
Day 7 – Independence to Revolution – 100 years of struggle
After a brief lecture we will begin at the starting point of the attack which launched the revolution and follow the path of the revolutionaries into Santiago. The Moncada Barracks are now a major city school, but the bullet holes are still there! From the city we climb into the foothills of the Sierra to the summerhouse where Castro and his triumphant revolutionaries accepted the surrender of the garrison of Santiago. Picnic Lunch and return to the city.
Dinner in your homestay.
Evening Entertainment for groups of four or more.
Day 8
Breakfast.
Departure
This tour can be combined with our City and Mountain Tour.
Content adjusted for various age groups.