The Great Route of Cuba and Mexico (2024)

Jour 1

Welcome to Cuba!. Transfer to the hotel and, depending on the time of your flight, free time. To welcome you at the end of the afternoon we will include a trip in an old classic car to the fortress of San Carlos passing the ‘Malecón’ and we will attend the cannon shooting ceremony(admission included). Return to the hotel (by coach or vehicles) and accommodation.

Jour 2

This morning we include a visit of about 4 hours; we will include a stroll through Colonial Havana; declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a panoramic tour of Revolution Square and the University. We will include a boat trip across the bay in the little boat to Regla where we will see the church of the Virgin of Regla, a place of great devotion where there is a strong syncretism between the Catholic religion and the Afro-Cuban. Will you buy flowers and have a daughter of Ochun read your hand? After this, at lunchtime, we will take you to the area of the ‘Callejón del Chorro’, an area with multiple “paladares” (private restaurants) where you can have lunch. Afternoon free.

Jour 3

We will leave Havana for the south of the island, where we can enjoy its beautiful tropical landscapes. Arrival in GUAMA, and a visit to the crocodile farm, including a boat trip to admire this area declared a national park. In the village of Taina we will see a little more about the population that existed before the arrival of the Europeans. We continue along the Caribbean coastal road. Have your swimsuit to hand! We will have time in CALETA BUENA, where we will include lunch, and you can swim, see its cenotes or snorkel! After that in GIRON, we will visit the Girón Beach Museum which tells us about the Bay of Pigs invasion and the revolution. Continuation to CIENFUEGOS, “the pearl of the south”, a very nice colonial city, where we will walk through its French neoclassical colonial streets. Dinner included and accommodation.

Jour 4

A little under a hundred kilometers take us to TRINIDAD, arrival and visit to Cuba’s most beautiful and best-preserved colonial city, a true “open-air museum”, declared a world heritage site. After the visit we will see the “Temple of Santería Yemayá”, dedicated to the orisha (God) of the Sea, with its offerings of fruit, water and stones; a santero will tell us about this religion and its beliefs. After the visit and lunch included, we will stay at our resort hotel at Ancon beach. You will have the afternoon free to enjoy the Caribbean Sea on this magnificent beach, or, if you prefer, to stroll at leisure in Trinidad. At night we provide a transfer to the cathedral to enjoy the “place of music” and its little restaurants with Cuban music. Dinner included.

Jour 5

Our day is full of beautiful landscapes and unforgettable experiences. By coach we travel to MANACA IZNAGA, at the center of the sugar zone that brought Trinidad prosperity; here we will remember the story of the slaves next to the ancient 44-metre tower that was used to watch over them. We will then take a historic train with its old wooden carriages that slowly runs through the hacienda. The train stops at FENOTA, a sugar mill today a museum, and goes on to GUACHINANGO, in this beautiful area of hills we will have time to relax over lunch (included). In the afternoon, we return to Trinidad on our old train, where there is free time to relax at the hotel.

Jour 6

We will return to HAVANA. Arrival, transfer to the hotel and accommodation.

Jour 7

After breakfast transfer to the airport to take a regular flight to Mexico City. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Free time at leisure.

Jour 8

Today we have a fantastic day acquaint ourselves with Mexico. We include a sightseeing tour of the city. We will visit the Plaza of Three Cultures, and the historic centre in which the Zócalo (main square) and its Metropolitan Cathedral stand out, the main Aztec temple, Chapultepec Park, the “Paseo de la Reforma” Avenue and the other main avenues of this impressive city. At the end of the visit we travel to the BASILICA OF GUADALUPE, the most visited Catholic temple in the Americas where the Virgin of Guadalupe is found. There we will be able to explore the old basilica dating back to the 18th Century and also the modern temple. In the afternoon we travel to the neighbourhood of XOCHIMILCO, a wonderful place with its canals and semi-floating gardens. Here we include a ride in a “trajinera”, one of the boats festooned with flowers. In the evening we include a transfer to the Plaza de GARIBALDI, with its many bars, restaurants and bars where tacos and tequila are served and the Mariachis sing. Dinner is included in a traditional restaurant.

Jour 9

We leave México DF, and amidst green countryside we enter the state of Michoacán. We travel to MORELIA, the splendid Michoacán capital whose center, with its magnificent cathedral, was declared UNESCO World Heritage. Time for lunch and a stroll in the center. After this, we see PATZCUARO, a pretty colonial village with its outstanding Basilica of Our Lady of Health and the house of the eleven courtyards which today is a craft center. Night in this “magical village”.

Jour 10

We set out for the state of Jalisco. We stop in TZINTZUNTZAN to know this town next to Lake Patzcuaro, which was the most important city of the Purepecha empire. We will visit the Franciscan Convent of Santa Ana, with its olive trees almost five hundred years old. In front of it are the Yácatas, ancient Purepecha Pyramids. We´ll see Lake Chapala, the largest natural lake in Mexico, surrounded by mountains. CHAPALA, time for a stroll and lunch in this small touristic city by the lake. We stop in the TLAQUEPAQUE district with its picturesque streets full of shops and craftsmen. Arrival in GUADALAJARA, capital of Jalisco and birthplace of Mariachi and Tequila.

Jour 11

In the morning we include a visit to Guadalajara, the modern metropolis with its colonial historic center, its cathedral, its market, its Tapatía square. We will enter the Cabañas Hospice, declared Unesco World Heritage. After the visit, we will go on to the next town of TEQUILA, we include entrance to the MUNDO CUERVO distillery and will see how this famous Mexican drink is made (entrance and tasting included). After this, time for a stroll and lunch in the picturesque town of Tequila. After lunch, we return to Guadalajara.

Jour 12

We travel to the state of GUANAJUATO. Arrival at midday. In the afternoon we include a city tour of this very beautiful university city declared World Heritage, its steep slopes, its narrow streets, its churches, and we also include a cable car ride to admire the view from “el Pípila”.

Jour 13

Amidst the mountains, we will travel to DOLORES HIDALGO, the city that is the cradle of Mexican independence. Afterwards we head to SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, a beautiful city with vice regal architecture and cobbled streets declared World Heritage. Time for a stroll. In the afternoon, we visit the ATOTONILCO Sanctuary, known as the “Century of God and the Patria”, World Heritage site (sometimes it will not be possible to visit inside due to the retreats that take place there). We then go to QUERETARO, with its very beautiful colonial center, its main square, its busy restaurants and pedestrian streets.

Jour 14

We travel to TEOTIHUACAN, which in Nahuatl means “the place where men become gods” and is one of the most impressive cities of the ancient world. We will admire the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, entry tickets and visit.CHOLULA, with its beautiful square, its tunnels under the pyramid and the picturesque sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios from where you can admire the magnificent panorama. Time to have lunch. In the afternoon, we travel to the very close PUEBLA, a historic city known for its gastronomic tradition, colonial architecture and ceramics. Its great renaissance cathedral and its active zocalo (main square) stand out. Free time at leisure.

Jour 15

We travel to the state of Oaxaca, through mountainous regions with pleasant landscapes. Arrival in OAXACA at the end of the morning - Visit included to this UNESCO World Heritage City of Aztec origin with its impressive monumental heritage. Shortly after, we go up to the site of MONTE ALBAN, which is set deep in a 400-metre mountain above the Valley of Oaxaca – entry tickets and visit are included. This is the most magnificent of the Zapotec cities. Free time in Oaxaca, an extremely beautiful colonial city which is full of life.

Jour 16

We leave for SAN PABLO VILLA DE MITLA, a magical town. We allow time for a walk together to the Church of San Pablo dating back to the Sixteenth Century and through its beautiful rustic streets. We continue our route in the sierras of Oaxaca towards the Isthmus. Lunch is included en route. At the end of the afternoon, we arrive in TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, the capital of the state of Chiapas.

Jour 17

We see the CAÑON DEL SUMIDERO, on a boat we sail up this impressive canyon almost 1 km deep and 14 km long. Then we take a stroll in CHIAPA DEL CORZO, a colonial site of tradition and culture. After this, we go further into the Mayan culture and visit beautiful villages inhabited by the Tzotziles Indians. In ZINACANTAN we can admire the dresses of the women and the beautiful shops and weaving workshops. In SAN JUAN CHAMULA we will be surprised by its church which mixes Christianity with pre-columbine traditions in its rites. Continuation to SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, arrival at lunchtime. Afternoon free in this very beautiful colonial city founded in 1528.

Jour 18

A stage of beautiful mountain scenery inside Chiapas, visiting areas inhabited by communities that have maintained their Mayan language and traditions. A stop in OCOSINGO, the regional capital. After that we continue to AGUA AZUL, admission included to the National Park, lunch included and time to walk or bathe among the more than 50 waterfalls between three and 30 meters tall. We go on to MISOL HA, an impressive waterfall that you can walk behind. Continuation to PALENQUE -dinner included and accommodation-. Note: in some instances, roadblocks might be expected in the region of Ocosingo due to local social issues. In that event, we would take an alternative route visiting the City of Villahermosa and the ecological reserve of Yumka instead of the usual stops at Ocosingo, Agua Azul and Misol Ha.

Jour 19

We visit the impressive archaeological site of PALENQUE, a Mayan city surrounded by jungle, where we will see its temples, pyramids and ball game. Admission and tour with local guide included. Afterwards, we travel to the Gulf of Mexico through the state of Tabasco. CAMPECHE, arrival in this Mexican port city known for its colonial buildings and its 17th century fortifications created to face pirate attacks. Dinner included.

Jour 20

We leave for the state of Yucatan. In a bit over two hours, we arrive to MERIDA. Tour of the city, the vibrant capital of the Mexican Yucatan State boasts a rich colonial and Mayan heritage. We see the fortified cathedral of Merida and the limestone church of the Third Order as well as the House of Montejo, a 16th century mansion and the emblem of Plateresque colonial architecture. Free time in the afternoon, we suggest you to visit the Museum of the Mayan World on your own. In the evening, we include a transfer to attend the "Mayan Ball Game show". Accommodation.

Jour 21

Transfer to the airport, to take a flight to México City. Arrival, transfer from the airport to the hotel and accommodation.

Jour 22

Breakfast. End of our services. Transfer from the hotel to the airport not included.