Cuba Behind Your Camera

HAVANA - TRINIDAD / 8DAYS and 7NIGHTS
Cuba is startling, a living museum on the verge of change, with eclectic architecture ranging from Colonial to 1950s, narrow streets pulsate with fifties Chevvies alongside Russian Ladas while sidecars fill the gaps. There is also a place like nowhere in the world, Trinidad town, near Cuba's south coast is also, like Havana, a World heritage site. Its opulence resulted from the sugar boom of the eighteenth century and an exquisite colonial town, perhaps one of the most photogenic in Latin America. Indeed, the famous National Geographic photographer, David Allan Harvey, took some of his most memorable photos here. Our Bespoke Photography program will lead your through the best and hidden places of these cities, that are modernising and a lot of its character may disappear, perhaps faster than you can press your shutter.
Havana-Trinidad

HAVANA - 4nights

Day 1: Welcome to Havana! After clearing immigrations and customs, our airport representative lead you to your driver who will transfer you until your hotel in the heart of Havana, with spectacular views from the rooftop pool. *Light lunch and meet and greet with your concierge. *Get your feet wet with an afternoon orientation walk. Later that evening, celebrate your arrival with a welcome dinner at a private restaurant overlooking the Malecon. (*For morning arrivals)

Day 2:Meet with with our local expert guide and walk in the footsteps of Havana's colonial past visiting the four key squares of Old Havana. Take the chance to photograph the Old Havana street scenes, people and daily activities. Lunch at a private paladar in the heart of the historic center. Then your guide will collect you by an open top classic vintage car and will take you in the highlights of Havana in 3hrs of panoramic tour. You will have the opportunity to see masterpieces of the Cuban architecture before and after 1959. In route you will be able to take pictures in the panoramic views. Photograph Havana cityscape in sunset before dinner at one of the coolest spots to dine in Old Havana with walls covered in graffiti and photos. This looks like a hole in the wall place in a run-down (but under restoration) part of Old Havana. Night cuban live music inspired by the Son music of the famous Buena Vista Social Club or enjoy the famous show of Tropicana.

Day 3: Early morning photography session accompanied by our experienced photographer, who will take you on this specialized tour to the best spots and off the beaten track locations in Havana. He has a great eye for detail and will give you technical advise on how to get the best shots of this facinating city in the early light plus witnessing the people's daily routine in town. Then meet with our art curator guide who will lead you to visit 2 Cuban photography artists studios and to get a direct and personal interaction wih some of the most prominent and promising artists in Cuba. After lunch visit a community project/gallery/restaurant has used the talent of young photographers Alex Castro and Ramses Hernandez to promote visual arts. They have beautiful art projects with local school children and orphans. Then opportunity to visit Alberto Korda´s private collection at his house, the most famous photographer of the Revolution, who besides being the gorvernment´s official photographer, became a worldwide celebrety after taking Che Guevara´s photos. You will also get first hand stories and insights from his daughter. Ending the day at the prestigious Fototeca of Cuba, housed in the lovely Plaza Vieja and exhibits the work of both Cuban and international photographers. It is a low-key, informal gallery but definitely one to visit. Dinner at El Dandy Bar-Cafe-Restaurant that is part bar, part photographic gallery, and part social hub, where an artists and bohemian hang out.

Day 4: Today our journey will be looking for contryside shots to the unique geology and nature of the Viñales valley with a trip on an underground river and an exploration of caves and the famous Mogotes. Lunch will be in a traditional wooden house on a hill overlooking the picturesque valley. Cooked on an open fire enjoy a traditional Cuban meal before setting off on the walking tour. Your guide, a native of the valley, will take you into the heart of the lush countryside, explaining the history of tobacco growing as you walk. You'll visit the tobacco plantations where they still plough with Oxen, see the famous drying houses and have a tobacco farmer show you how to roll a cigar. If you fancy you can also smoke one! Afternoon return to Havana and superb in a top service restaurant with stunning waterside views, and sleek modern interiors reminiscent of Miami style.

TRINIDAD - 3nights

Day 5: We depart to Havana to Trinidad. On the way you are going to have the opportunity for snorkeling and underwater photography at Playa Giron with our dive master before continue to Cienfuegos city. Lunch at a local restaurant in Punta Gorda with spectacular views of Cienfuegos harbour before continue to Trinidad. Check in at Finca Kenia and sunset photography oportunity overlooking the gorgeous landscape of Escambray mountains. Home-cooked superb with locally sourced at your host's home and live music at Casa de La Trova.

Day 6:Early morning photography tour in Trinidad. Few places lend themselves to the camera's lens like the Spanish colonial city of Trinidad. Its mansions and lavish interiors were fuelled by the cash the sugar boom brought to the island, but they're no secret. Tour for photographers of any level. Then our expert guide will explain you the history of the town while visiting its architecture highlights, you will have also insight into its fascinating history in the colonial era, and during the years after the Revolution. Lunch and afternoon tour of the local sugar plantations to understand the slave history in relation to the sugar industry. Special Dinner at a local restaurant and live music at Casa de La Musica.

Day 7:Today you'll leave from Trinidad onto the Escambray mountains. If you prefer trekking our nature specialist will lead you along some different trails, you will be able to decide the distance and level of difficulty of the hike/walk. However if you are more of horseriding it will be a challenging ride but the horses are bred for mountain trekking. Bird watching and opportunity for swimming at the waterfall make this a must for nature lovers. We make a halt at a local 'casa del campesino' to have cuban typical lunch before returning. Relaxing afternoon at Playa Ancon.

Day 8: After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba and transfer back to Havana airport as you board your flight home.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the places we visit are not tourist destinations and are thus not always available. Therefore, this program should be considered as a sample only – please keep in mind that your bespoke travel plan is designed with our staff according to the specific interests that you would want to highlight in your trip. Final itineraries and quotes are sent 24hrs after we receive your request to our contact email: enquiries@bespoketriptocuba.com

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