Havana and Trinidad: The buildings tell the story

• Arrive in Havana.
• Transfer to your boutique casa particular La Reserva Vedado
• Special Reception
• Dinner at paladar Otramanera

• Chug along the Malecón all the way to Old Havana. The drive will feel like going back 500 years in less than 15 minutes.
• Stroll the historical centre of the city, starting at its foundational building, El Templete. Take in iconic sites including the Arms Square, La Real Fuerza Fort and the Captains Generals Palace.
• Meet architect Miguel Coyula at the Scale Model of Old Havana to learn about the contrasts of Havana, its huge architectural heritage still intact -as opposed to most of Latin America and the world- and the enormous urban challenges facing the Wonder City.
• Down Mercaderes Street, you will come across the Old Square. Continue onto Teniente Rey in direction to Saint Francis of Assisi Square. Proceed along the Port Avenue. Past notable buildings, such as Our Lady of Kazan Ortodox Cathedral, climb to the lovely terrace of the private boutique house Loft Habana.
• Lunch at restaurant Bahía while enjoying a spectacular view of the bay.
• Back to your casa, enjoy a fascinating discussion with Thomas Verwacht, a developer from Belgium with extensive experience in Cuba.

• Today, spend your morning amidst true architectural icons, such as the Capitol Building, the Great Theater of Havana Alicia Alonso and the Manzana de Gómez. In addition to your eyes, other senses will be delightfully engaged with your introduction to one Cuban product that is considered best in the world.
• Join Jose Lugo for an authentic cigar experience. With 30 years in the rum and tobacco industry, Mr. Lugo was president of the north-American representation of Cuban cigar firm Habanos S.A. He is now retired, but hardly inactive. Numerous friends around the world turn to him on a daily basis for advice, and for him to get them the very best puros.
• Visit Partagás Cigar Factory. You will be walked through the entire process of production of the habanos. Discover an occupation from the preindustrial times that does not give signs of going away even in this era of internet and television: the cigar factory reader. In fact, Cuba is the only country in the world where that job still exists.
• Continue to a Casa del Habano for an exclusive cigar rolling demonstration.
• Climb to the rooftop of the modern section of Parque Central Hotel to admire the spectacular view of the old city and enjoy a delicious lunch at Mirabana Art deco masterpiece Bacardi Building looks so close, that you will feel like it reserved the table next to you. If you want to smoke a puro while there, go ahead; smoking is allowed on the outdoor deck.
• In the afternoon, visit Humidores Habana to appreciate the production of limited editions of replicas of old humidors by cuentapropistas (private business). Initially intended for the preservation of the cigars, these cedar boxes have become an art recognized by collectors throughout the world.

• Cruise along the 5th Avenue, in the gorgeous residential neighborhood of Miramar. Visit the University of Arts, commonly referred to as ISA – Instituto Superior de Arte. Placed in 1999 on the World Monuments Fund Watch List, this is one of the most remarkable architecture work since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution.
• Visit Kcho Studio Romerillo. Laboratorio para el Arte. For Cuban artist Kcho arts should be a "tool for life", a principle that looms large in his studio in the neighbourhood of Romerillo. The massive compound in the heart of the community features galleries, workshops, a theater, a library and plenty of open spaces for creation. Still, the most important part of the concept lies will beyond the physical confines of the facility complex. Dozens of precious works of arts, from Spencer Tunick and Andy Warhol to Amelia Peláez and Mariano Rodríguez can be found scattered across parks, bus stops, grocery stores and living rooms of common people houses. Not even one has been stolen or even damaged. That is the ultimate proof of the transformational effect of this initiative in a community that continues to evolve from a past marked by dejection and neglect. As Kcho himself likes to put it: "people respond to respect".
• Lunch at paladar Rita&Champagne, situated where the Metropolitan Park of Havana meets the elitist residential neighborhood of Kholy.
• Afternoon at leisure.

• In the morning, head for Trinidad. En route, visit the World Heritage city of Cienfuegos. While originally named in honor to the Spanish king Ferdinand VII, the villa was founded by French settlers. Stroll through the boulevard up to José Martí Park to admire magnificent eclectic buildings, including the Tomás Terry Theater. Drive along the malecón contouring the gorgeous bay in direction to Punta Gorda.
• Past the Yatch Club and Palacio de Valle, arrive at paladar El Lagarto to enjoy a delicious lunch overlooking the sea.
• Continue to Trinidad.
• Check in at casa particular Casa Zenia.
• Dinner at paladar Esquina 373.

• From the impeccably preserved structures to the splash of color to the rich traditions, everything in Trinidad produces admiration. Tread the cobblestone streets of the historical centre through iconic buildings around the Plaza Mayor, Museo Romántico among them. Climb up the tower of Museo Lucha contra Bandidos for a spectacular view of the city and the surrounding nature.
• Explore Trinidad’s rich pottery The Santader family pioneered this trademark Trinitarian industry back in the 19^th century, and its various generations have passed along the knowledge, making it an essential feature of the city’s identity. Visit this renowned family of pottery makers and admire their notable contribution to this art.
• Seafood lunch at La Marinera
• Rest of the afternoon at leisure.
• In the evening, enjoy the traditional Cuban music at Casa de la Trova.

• Head for the Sugar Mills Valley, a place of stunning natural beauty and historical significance. Epitome of Cuban colonial past, marked by the slave force exploitation and the booming sugar industry, this place is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in conjunction with the city of Trinidad.
• Continue to Santa Clara, where the influence of “Che” Guevara runs deepest. Visit the final resting place of the epoch-making revolutionary, the Che Guevara Memorial. Continue to the place where his troops derailed an armored train in an action that effectively determined the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. Short break at Café Revolución, where you will find an interesting collection of objects from that battle. This is a great stop for a "Café Revolución" or a small snack just before continuing to Havana.
• Arrive at your casa particular La Reserva Vedado. Time to rest and relax.
• Farewell dinner at restaurant Las Doce Sillas accompanied by one of the top music ensembles in Havana. Challenge: Try not to light a cigar...

Transfer to the José Martí International Airport.