Day 1 – Arrival Day
On arrival a short journey takes you out of Habana to the cool, lush mountains of the Sierra Rosario. Meal in Habana or on arrival at your homestay. All our homestays are government licensed and carefully selected with your comfort in mind.
Day 2 – Orchids and much more
The small foothills town of Soroa boasts the premier collection of orchids in Cuba. Our tour takes you through the collection and behind the scenes into propagation and dissemination of endemic orchids back into the wild.
Lunch in a garden replete with orchids, special fruit trees, and old roses.
An afternoon visit to Las Terrazas – constructed in the early years of the Revolution to provide housing, education, medical care and social life for many families living in isolation in the mountains. The building is wonderfully located above a small lake and in the shade of enormous trees. Many of the local artists open their studios and homes to interested visitors.
Dinner in your homestay.
Day 3 – Vinales Valley
An early start takes us to Pinar del Rio and the Vinales Valley.
Famous for it migotes – high limestone outcroppings full of caverns, disappearing rivers, and isolated flora and fauna, these hills define the Vinales Valley. The rich, red soil produces some of the most famous tobacco in the world.
Visit to a small, but prolific private garden in the heart of Vinales. The work of two sisters, this garden is full of flowering trees, medicinal plants, orchids and begonias.
Around the world, one of the major problems is the loss of variety in fruits and vegetables. Mono-culture leaves us all vulnerable to plagues. For the last 30 years this ex-engineer has been collecting the fruit trees of Cuba. Now part of a government sponsored group which promotes variety and preservation of older and rarer tropical fruits, his nursery benefits a growing number of farmers throughout Cuba.
Perched high above the coast, his nursery is a unique experience for those interested in the preservation of heritage varieties, and for everyone else there is the experience of wonderful fruit juices packed with Vitamin C and anti-oxidents, and a truly wonderful lunch of home grown vegetables, meat from his small patio farm and fish from the bay.
Return to Soroa
Dinner in your homestay
Day 4 – From Soroa to Cienfuegos
An early start with a packed breakfast takes us on the road to Cienfuegos – one of Cuba’s World Heritage Cities.
Our route takes us through the Cienga de Zapatta with its more the 900 species of flora! It is a paradise for bird watchers and fishermen.
Lunch at a small, silver sand beach where the rock formations make a small pool for swimming and the coral and brilliant fish are a snorkeler’s delight.
Dinner in your homestay
Day 5 – Bamboo, Bottle Trees, and Cannon Flowers
The Jardin Botanico was once the estate of an American sugar baron. He created a marvelous collection of species trees and bamboo from around the world. The estate was left to Harvard University, and since the Triumph of the Revolution has been maintained by the Cuban government. Wander these beautiful grounds and enjoy seeing the trees of adventure stories – the bottle tree (remember Swiss Family Robinson), and the cannon vines whose fruit are exactly like cannons and its flower beautiful to see – but hold your nose!
Our second visit is to a private orchid garden, home of the second largest and best orchid collection in Cuba. Meet its creator and enjoy exploring his many exotic and indigenous orchids. If you are a collector this tour is a must.
Lunch in the orchid garden.
We finish the day in Cienfuegos with a visit to a small private orchid collection.
Dinner in your homestay.
Day 6 – Where sugar once was king, now vegetables, fruits, and rice grow
Between the towns of Cienfuegos and Santa Clara we visit two more gardens of special interest. In the dry lands west of the city we encounter Cuba’s largest and best collection of cacti. In Santa Clara we visit a social gardening project dedicated to Che, which uses gardening as therapy for recovering alcoholics and drug abusers.
Lunch in Santa Clara
Return to Habana.
Late afternoon visits to private orchid aficionados and collectors, and social gardens.
Day 7 – Jardin Botanico de Cuba
This 600 acre site was developed between 1969 and 1984 and parts are constantly under renewal. Despite the ravages of the Special Period, the long time director was able to maintain the collections which are now expanding and filling newly defined spaces. There are fine collections of palms, archaic forest plants, and collections of orchids, epiphytes and bromeliads. The centre of the garden is The Japanese Garden – a gift to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Revolution.
Lunch in the garden – the Jardin Botanico promotes vegetarian food and healthy eating.
Dinner in your homestay.
Day 8 – Free Day
Free time to visit the city’s craftspeople and art galleries. This will be a fine time to finish buying those little gifts for home. Want to buy something big and have no room in your suitcase – we will arrange shipment for you. It is possible to organize an extra tour for this day. A meal in your homestay before your flight – lunch or dinner – depending on the time of your flight You will be picked up at your homestay and transferred to the airport for your flight home or to other destinations.
Tour Details
Tour availability: small groups, individuals – continuously available – CONTACT US FOR PRICES
Garden Groups: CONTACT US FOR PRICES
February 3rd week
March 2nd week
May 1st week
See below for further information for Garden Groups
Tour Includes:
Accommodation
Homestays in Santiago generally with private bathroom, air conditioning and/or fan
Mountain resort – 3 Star Accommodation
Meals
Breakfasts and Lunches as specified
Dinners as specified
Other
All transfers within Santiago
Air-conditioned transportation
Expert lecturers
Translator where required
All entrance fees
Deposit $500.00 Canadian non-refundable
Not Included
Flights
Personal expenditures
Tips
Additional beverages
Garden Groups (minimum 6 people traveling together)
Deposit $250.00 Cdn – on booking – NON REFUNDABLE
90 days prior 50% of total
60 days prior balance
Welcome dinner in Soroa
Gala dinner in Habana
Bilingual tour co-coordinator
<a href=”http://www.realcubaonline.com/contact-us/”>Contact Us for More Information</a>