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Day 1: Cuba's largest swamp
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Your motor home will depart from Havana, capital of the Republic of Cuba, bound to the Zapata Peninsula on a 143-km comfortable drive to the village of Jaguey Grande. From there, another 35 km ride through the swamp will bring you to Playa Larga, a beach in the heart of Bay of Pigs. At Hotel Horizontes Playa-Larga, a stop will be made for supplies.
Some 34 km from Playa Larga is another beach, Playa Giron. You will be driving between the ocean and a unique landscape made of a limestone ring that separates the Montemar Grand Natural Park from the Cienaga de Zapata Natural Park. Close to an area known as Punta Perdiz and in Los Cenotes, water flooded caves set in alluvium outcroppings will invite you to dive into a world of underwater mysteries. You will be touring an area that is full of stories about the struggles waged by the Cuban people.
Back to Playa Larga and all along your drive, the sand, sun and beach will be a permanent invitation for a good swim.
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Day 2: From the swamp to the mountains
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You will leave Cuba's largest swamp and head for Cienfuegos, a city also known as the "South Pearl". Surrounded by a 119-km wide sea of sugar cane plantations, and set alongside a blue water bay, Cienfuegos looks like a pearl in its shell. Founded by French settlers in the early 19th century, Cienfuegos exhibits a typical and inspirational eclectic architecture marked by the style of its original inhabitants.
At the mouth of the bay, 22 km off the city, is the Pasacaballo resort. From there, a short boat ride will take you to the stately Castillo de Nuestra Seņora de los Angeles de Jagua, a colonial fortress built in the 18th century and declared National Monument, which represents a jewel of Spanish military architecture in the Americas.
Your motor home will head on to the Escambray, an important mountain range in central Cuba. Its tallest point, the San Juan Peak, rises 1140 meters above the sea level. While in the plains, and just before climbing, you are invited to visit the Cienguegos Botanical Garden, where splendid collections of exotic plants from all over the world are growing in a dreamlike environment.
Then, a 68-km ride along a steep and winding road that requires your driver's closest focus will lead to the Topes de Collantes Natural Park. After a 15 km drive through a diversity of landscapes, you will arrive in the Maria Dolores Estate Resort located right at the mouth of River Guanico and close to the village of Trinidad. The story has it that Spanish conquistador Diego Velasquez sailed on this river into the hinterlands to found Trinidad in the 16th century. The amenities offered by this country resort include boat rides to the mouth of the river and along the coastline to a beach: Playa Ancon, horse rides, a swimming pool, country parties, instructions on manual cow milking and oxen yoking, and friendly cock fights; all in a typically country atmosphere fit for an active leisure.
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Day 3: Trinidad, one of the seven original villages
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A tour of Trinidad will be a point to remember from your traveling carousel. A four-km drive through a beautiful landscape will bring you to this village. Declared a World's Heritage Site, its downtown area features an entirely colonial architecture that is full of stately buildings which spectacular class ranks at the top in Cuba.
Just four-km off Trinidad is a National Monument: Valle de los Ingenios ("Sugar Mill Valley"). Its visitors will learn about the Cuban sugar industry and the associated aristocracy that flourished on slave labor. On the way back to the Maria Dolores Estate Resort, an 8 km detour will lead to the Bay of Casilda where pirates and corsairs used to land to storm the village. Another 8-km ride and you will be back in the estate to enjoy its amenities.
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Day 4: Ciego de Avila and its sweet pineapples
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You will drive from the mountains into the central plains. On your way, you will stop in the city of Sancti Spiritus, another village founded by conquistador Diego Velasquez in the 16th century located on the banks of River Yayabo, a place of long standing traditions and old legends. Famous for its large pineapple and other plantations, the city of Ciego de Avila is some 126-km off Trinidad.
Your motor home will then head north for 35 km to reach the town of Moron (also know as the Rooster Town). Stretching from the Cunagua Hill to the Leche Pond is Cuba's largest acreage of lakes and marsh combined. Over 40 sites for trout fishing and aquatic bird watching can be found here. Another recommended visit is the Dutch-founded village of Turiguano, accessible from a causeway that crosses the northern flank of the Leche Pond. Back in the city, your motor home will stop for supplies at Hotel Ciego de Avila.
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Day 5: Camaguey, the city of earthenware jars. Santa Lucia Beach
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Santa Maria del Puerto del Principe, currently known as Camaguey, was the third village founded by Diego Velasquez in the 16th century. This city is distinct for its large jars used in colonial times to collect rainwater, as well as its narrow and winding roads, colonial architecture and legendary patriotic resolve.
On your 108 km drive from Ciego de Avila, you may want to stop for a moment at a beach, Playa Santa Lucia, before heading for the north of the province of Camaguey. An extensive strip of white sands washed by the crystal-clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean is an invitation to a much-earned rest at the beach. Hotel Vita Club Caracol on the site will support your stay there. Playa Santa Lucia has one of the best coral reefs for the scuba diving lovers. Its relatively shallow waters, diversity of marine specimens and large coverage are a not-to-be-missed fun opportunity.
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Day 6: Bayamo, the city of the National Anthem
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Your motor home is now driving towards the widest central Cuba on its way to the city of Las Tunas, 87 km away. While on a short stop for rest, you will admire the beautiful mountains in the Cerro de Caisimu. In Las Tunas, your motor home may stop for supplies to proceed with your journey.
Located in the major central plains of Cauto-Nipe, right in the basin of Cuba's longest stream: River Cauto, Bayamo was the second village founded by Diego Velasquez in 1513. Cradle of patriots and a freedom-loving town, Bayamo was burned by its inhabitants before its surrender to the enemies on January 12th, 1869. The Cuban national anthem, the words of which were written by patriot Perucho Figueredo from his horse saddle, was first sung on the square in front of the local San Salvador de Bayamo Parochial Church. The Father of Cuban Homeland: Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, and many other famous heroes of Cuban liberation struggles were born and lived in Bayamo, a National Monument and city whose name is revered by poets of all times.
This city will provide the facility requirements for the overnight motor home.
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Day 7: Santiago de Cuba, rebellious yesterday, hospitable today, and forever heroic
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After a 117-km drive, your motor home will arrive in Santiago de Cuba, a city founded by conquistador Diego Velasquez in 1514. You will pass through typical towns in eastern Cuba, including Jiguani, Contramaestre and San Luis. An undulated terrain will gradually give way to the Sierra Maestra mountain range.
The Hero City of Cuba, Santiago is like a bayside balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea. In its unique layout of hilly and sometimes stairway-forming streets, colonial houses with French or Creole roof tiles seem to lean on one another as if in mutual support in a steep terrain. Just like its culture, Santiago de Cuba's eclectic architecture is a combination of Spanish and African traits in conjunction with a French influence that arrived there in the 18th century. Many of its people are noticeably indigenous, black and white in a blend that ultimately gave rise to the Cuban race. Playing Son (Cuban ballroom dance and music) at Casa de la Trova (traditional musician's club) and blowing a Chinese hornet in conga processions along Enramada Street at nightfall are common place there.
The fort of San Pedro de la Roca should be a must in your itinerary. This fort is located in El Morro, the most architecturally comprehensive military castle ever built by the colonial powers in the Caribbean during the Renaissance, an impregnable fortress against corsairs and pirates. You may walk through sites of towering importance in the history made by the people of Santiago. You may sing and play with old musicians at Casa de la Trova. And you may familiarize yourself with highly diverse religious practices at Casa del Caribe. Before you arrive in Santiago, though, you may want to visit Virgin Caridad del Cobre, a patron saint, as well as queen and mother of all the Cubans, at her Basilica in the village of El Cobre near the oldest copper mines in the Americas.
You might not have time to see it all in this city so full Cuban identity; however, as a matter of tradition, while in Santiago the visitor should go to the San Juan Hill for two reasons; first, a major battle was waged there as part of the Cuban-Spanish-American conflict during the war for national independence in 1898; and second, the site is particularly beautiful. Late at night, your motor home will set up camp off Hotel Versalles for its services.
Early in the morning, the invitation is Baconao Park, a biosphere reserve site, located 13-km off the city, or a climb of La Gran Piedra mountain range, in a 26 km round trip. Its highest peak, rising 1100 meters above sea level, is crowned by a 70 000 ton heavy rock. A particularly beautiful landscape can be glimpsed from there. In the neighborhood, In 2000, UNESCO declared Heritage Sites some coffee plantations established by the French in the 18th century. These plantations include La Isabelica, a restored property that shows the culture of settlers who were knowledgeable of both coffee and fine arts.
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Day 8: Driving on the Caribbean's rugged route
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The ride from Santiago de Cuba to the village of Pilon is 175 km long. You will begin this adventure by flanking the Oriente Basin that is 5 000 meters deep in the ocean. On the other side is the Turquino range with its 1972-meter tall Peak Turquino. In between, a long coastal plain of not more than one km wide supports a road surrounded by extraordinarily pristine scenery. As you exit Santiago de Cuba and approach the coast, you can see, in a narrow underwater shell, the remains of battle ships from the Spanish Armada, which under the command of Admiral Cervera, fought in disadvantage against American warships in the Hispanic- Cuban-American war at the end of the 19th century.
When you reach the Chivirico heights, right at the foot of Peak Turquino, you will have completed your climb along a narrow trail that is crossed by mountain creeks reminiscent of a swipe by some big animal claws. The existing crags, however, will run higher and higher over the navy-blue ocean.
This same trail descends softly westwards to reach a resort, Marea de Portillo, located 50 km ahead. Emerging marine terraces shape increasingly tall crags on both sides of the road. These diverse and attractive landscapes reach their awesome climax at Marea de Portillo, its beach with 40 diving spots, and its excursions to nearby keys and the neighboring mountain.
Your motor home will drive closely to the village of Pilon on its way to another village, Niquero, 40 km away. The ride has been short through the lowest part of this area. In the recent Cuban history, the Sierra Maestra range bore witness to heroism and sacrifices as the stage for the guerrilla liberation struggle.
You will drive past Niquero, a town established near the Gulf of Guacanayabo, the largest gulf in Cuba. Your motor home will drive on to Villa Las Coloradas, located 18 km away, right at the entrance of the Desembarco del Granma National Park on top of a plateau, Meseta de Cabo Cruz.
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Day 9: Gulf of Guacanayabo. Son dancing in Manzanillo
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You will drive southwest for 10 km to visit an archeological trail, El Guafe, and its ceremonial caves which entrances are protected by stone-carved figures of water deities Atabey, Moinayel and Marohu, and the Lord of the Land of No Return, Maquetaurie Guayaba.
Some 12 km further, on Cuba's easternmost part lies a small fisherman's village, Cabo Cruz, under the Vargas light house that rises proudly as the savior of the seamen who venture into the shallow waters near the Gulf of Guacanayabo or the rough and deep waters in the south.
At this point, your motor home will embark on its return in this Cuban Carousel. Barely noticed by you, its wheels will now roll past Niquero to reach Manzanillo, a seafaring town where the Cuban traditional Son is danced to the tune of the Organo Oriental, a music organ originally from there.
The ride goes on to the city of Las Tunas, located 71 kilometers from Manzanillo, through a place called Cauto Embarcadero. You will cross a plain dotted with rice plantations and vacant lands along a straight road. At Hotel Las Tunas your motor home will stop for supplies.
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Day 10: Non stop to Varadero, the Blue Beach
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You will drive through familiar areas; i.e., the major central plains that cover the provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara and Matanzas. When you reach the town of Jatibonico, you will turn to the A1 Expressway to the city of Santa Clara, and then take Cuba's central highway to the town of Jovellanos where you will turn north to the CN highway that leads to Cardenas, the Flag Town, a place of patriotic traditions where Cuba's national flag was first raised. A nearby bay will herald the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean.
You will keep driving along the CN road close to the coastline. By the evening, you will arrive in Varadero, Cuba's exceptional beach, after a 573-km drive. Riding through the Varadero peninsula, you can't help but admire the beautiful scenery where the sun gradually sets over the beach waters in an apparently endless descent. Parque Josone resort will be your immediate destination.
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Day 11: From the Marina to the Mangocito Pond
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Varadero is beautiful from one end to the other. Onboard your motor home, you can tour this peninsula throughout, and you can dip into the waters at any spot. Its white and fine sands are washed by an incomparable sea. Its existing facilities can challenge the imagination of the most discriminating tastes and choices. Your plans for Varadero on this day deserve a special attention.
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Day 12: The Carousel on its last spin
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The last 140-km of the Cuban Carousel are traveled slowly. The time for your return from Varadero is your own choice. Your easy ride on the comfortable road along the coastline is an opportunity to admire gorgeous scenery. You will identify appealing beaches and resorts for future plans of short tours on the motor home.
Havana City will welcome the Carousel travelers on board the motor home with the smile of an accomplice to those who have collected a treasure in a short but adventurous tour of Cuba.
Bon Voyage!
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