Arrival Day. Whether you arrive in Santiago de Cuba by plane, bus or train you will be met and taken to your homestay. Your homestay is in a government licensed private home (casa particular). Your room has an air-conditioner and/or fan, private bath and double or single beds. Most meals will be taken at your homestay. Early arrivals are welcome as Santa's helpers to help deck the tree, make decorations, and generally enjoy a child's Christmas. If you have specific skills - know how to make pipe cleaner decorations, graduated in snowflake design, can guarantee that the angel will stay on the top of the tree - let us know and we will have work for you.

History 1 - Pre-Columbia to Independence. A short lecture will introduce you to the history of the first people, and the first four hundred years of Spanish rule. Maps and timelines will help you put it all in context. Your tour will take you from the oldest house in the Americas to the final battle of the War of Independence. On the way to lunch you'll have time to explore the wonderfully preserved 17th century castle which dominates the entrance to the harbour. Lunch on an island in the bay.

Eco-Tour 1 - A day out of the city to find fern trees, fragrant cypress, wonderful views and a fabulous garden. Santiago de Cuba is surrounded by the Sierra Mountains. Between the mountains and the sea, are tiny areas of special micro-climates taking you from near desert to the cool moisture of a cloud forest in a matter of a few kilometers. Your tour will take you from the coastal plain through orange and mango groves, banana and coffee plantations to the high slopes where fern trees on which the dinosaurs once browsed and simple pines dominate the heights, and the slopes are covered in an incredible mixture of ferns. Visits to a Haitian style cafetal, where you will get a chance to understand the labour which brings you coffee, and a high altitude garden. On your return to the city you visit a fern and orchid garden to explore the collection of over 3000 tropical ferns and 300 exotic and indigenous orchids. Lunch at the beach.

Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at the cathedral.

Free Day

Christmas dinner, Victorian style games and favours. If you have a favourite family game we hope you'll let us all join in! Silly hats included at dinner.

Architect walking tour of the city. Includes a lecture and slide show with breakfast. Explore the city of Santiago with one of her leading architects. Colonial elegance and tree shaded parks, give way to art deco and rococo in this city of candy coloured streetscapes. Lunch in a colonial restoration.

Deserts, Cacti and Musical Instruments - an exploration of the coastal strip to the east of Santiago, its drylands, deserts and gardens. Visit to a cactus garden with endemic and exotic cacti, learn how to propagate and care for this strange plant - just made for those of us who forget to water their plants. Lunch in an artisan village.

Arts and Religion - the Afro Cuban religions inform much of the art, music and dance of this part of Cuba. An understanding of the Yoruba religion, which, together with 17th century Catholicism, makes up the religion of Santeria, is essential to an understanding of Cuban Culture. The tour takes you to various museums, temples and the Basilica of the Virgin of the Caridad in El Cobre. Lunch in the city.

History 2 - From Independence to the end of the Special Period - 100 years of turmoil. A short lecture accompanied by timelines and maps will help you understand the upheavals which followed rapidly on the heels of the signing of the peace accord with Spain, and the revolution which followed. The tour follows the 5 years, 5 months and 5 days of the revolutionary war in and around Santiago. From the tiny farmhouse on the coast to the summer house in the Sierras you follow the footsteps of the revolution. Picnic lunch.

Wetlands birding - a tour for the afficiando and for those who just like being out in the country. This tour leaves early in the morning to hear (and see) the owls coming home to roost on the slopes of the Sierras. Breakfast at the beach and more time to watch the song birds feasting. Wetlands tour in major biosphere preserve. Boat ride with your ornithologist along the canals and the lake where fresh water dolphins play; and where neon coloured crabs, water birds and song birds abound. Lazy, sun-soaked crocodiles doze in their enclosure. . Lunch in an artisan village.

Free Day

Traditional dinner with entertainment. Return to the city in time for the finale festivities in the central square.

Free Day or Beach Day. January 1st is a political holiday to celebrate the Triumph of the Revolution. Lots of files - marches, speeches in the Plaza de la Revolution, and other activities.

Whether you are off to see more of Cuba with many of our delightful tours, or off back to the cold and snow, we take you to your transfer point in Santiago.