Central Cuba

Introduction
Western Havana Cuba
During this tour in Cuba’s Central Region, you will enjoy one of the best rides in the country!

You will have the opportunity to visit Cuba's beautiful colonial towns and swim in the crystalline waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. You will also ride through the green province of Ciego de Ávila, where tobacco and coffee are grown in the fertile valleys.

Throughout the entire trip, you will enjoy Cuban hospitality, sleeping in guajiros (field workers) farms as well as having lunch together or drinking and dancing with the locals during the evening.

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a progressive ride, so nights will be spent in different locations.

Description
During this trip, you will sleep in small hotels, fincas and casas particulares.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel Presidente in Havana
Night 2: Casa Particular in Trinidad
Night 3: Los Álamos
Night 4 & 5: Finca Santa Rubia
Night 6: Hotel in Cayo Guillermo
Night 7 & 8: Hotel Presidente in Havana

Hotel Presidente in Havana
This hotel was built between 1925 and 1928 and used to be the tallest building in Havana. The hotel has over 400 catalogued pieces of art are exhibited, giving a very special flavor to visitors.
It has 158 rooms, all equipped with comfortable beds, private bathroom with hairdryer, air conditioning, safe deposit box, TV and telephone. 
In the evening, guests can choose to relax by the swimming pool.

Casa Particular in Trinidad
This lovely casa particular offers all the modern comforts contained in a building constructed in the mid 19th century. Each of the 8 bedrooms are air-conditioned and include a private bathroom with hot water 24 hours a day. Each room also has a living area or outdoor terrace. There is WiFi service in all areas of the house.

Los Álamos
This farmhouse is surrounded by nature, ideally located at the entrance of the Jobo Rosado Protected Area. The property used to belong to a cane sugar manufacturer. The 5 guest rooms feature a fan and shared facilities.
There is an outdoor pool where you can cool off in the evening.

Finca Santa Rubia
This finca offers basic accommodation with private bathrooms.

Room Occupancy
When clients do not request a single room, but there isn't another rider to share a room with them, they will need to pay a single supplement fee.



Meals
All meals are included from the dinner on Day 1 to the breakfast on Day 8.
One drink per person (beer, soft drink or mineral water) is included for each meal.

The food served on this trip is mainly organic and free from GM products. Cuban produce is very healthy. Most of what we eat on the days we ride is organic, as is almost everything the Cubans eat.
During our stay in the shelter of the Mil Cumbres and at Finca La Guabina, we will eat products from the farms which belong to the state enterprise 'Flora y Fauna'. The rice, vegetables, fruit, chicken, pork and beef, all have a wonderful flavour.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to dietary restrictions given prior notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Guide
You are accompanied by a bilingual profesional guide with over 20 years experience in Cuba. There is also a local equestrian guide to accompany you on all trail rides.

Horses
You ride different horses each day including a mix of Cuban Criollo horses and Pintos.
You are not expected to help with tacking up.

Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you have full holiday Insurance that covers horseback riding and emergency medical insurance. We are happy to provide this. Simple check the appropriate box in the booking form.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Check into your hotel in la Havana. Tonigt, dinner is in a local paladar (family restaurant).
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in la Havana

Day 2: Cienfuegos & Trinidad Visit (no riding)
This morning, transfer to Cienfuegos (3hr drive). Lunch in a paladar and guided walking tour through the historical center of Cienfuegos, the 'Southern Pearl'. Founded in 1819 it has the richest collection of architecture and urban design of all the southern cities.
Then, transfer to Trinidad (1h). Founded in 1514, Trinidad is a World Heritage Site due to its well-preserved jewels of colonial Caribbean architecture. In the great historic town center a lot of music and cultural activities take place in the evenings.
Dinner and accommodation are in a nice casa particular (private family establishment or boarding house).
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Casa Particular in Trinidad

Day 3: Waterfall Ride
After breakfast, go on a 3-hour ride to Hoyo del Pilon waterfall, through the Ingenios Valley (a nominated Archeological Reserve by UNESCO). Then, transfer (15m) to Playa Ancón for a swim in the Caribbean Sea and a seafood lunch. In the late afternoon, transfer to Meneses (3h drive). Welcome Cocktail and dinner with produce from the farm.
Accommodation at Los Álamos. Option of an introduction to Cuban country music « Criolla ».
Riding: 3 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Los Álamos

Day 4: Historic Ride
We start the day with a ride on Criollo de trote horses. Along the way, we will have occasion to enjoy the diversity of the Cuban flora, seeing trees such as royal palm, guásima, yamagua and big carob trees. 
We will eventually arrive at the historic Camp of the Comandante Camilo Cienfuegos and the Northern Front de Las Villas. Our guide will give you a good introduction about the historic events of this place and about the bird species of this area such as the Tocororo, the national bird of Cuba and the Zunzún one of the smallest birds in the world.
After the visit, picnic-lunch and transfer to Finca Santa Rubia (1h), a lovely 60 hectares private family farm with its plantation and tobacco-drying barn. Welcome cocktail with our hosts Marbel and Yalianis.
Riding: 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Finca Santa Rubia

Day 5: Casa Evelio Ride
After breakfast, we ride to Casa Evelio, arriving just in time for lunch. During the ride, we will enjoy magnificent panoramic views and admire the diversity of Cuban flora.
After a little rest, we will ride to Presa Florencia. There, we will have the opportunity for some gallops before our return to the Finca.
Riding: 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Finca Santa Rubia

Day 6: Cayo Guillermo Visit (no riding)
Transfer to Cayo Guillermo (2h) where we will arrive just in time for a swim at the beautiful beach of Playa Pilar. This is one of the beaches of Cayo Guillermo, renowned for the variety of birds and the high level of conservation of their maritime ecosystems.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Cayo Guillermo

Day 7: Morón & Santa Clara Visit (no riding)
After an early breakfast, transfer to Morón (2h) where we will stop for few minutes at “El Gallo de Moron”, before we continue our trip to Santa Clara where we will stop to visit the Mausoleum of Che Guevara and to have a small snack. Then, we continue our journey to Havana (3h). Dinner in a local paladar and accommodation at the hotel Presidente or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Havana

Day 8: Havana
For our last day, transfer to a Finca beside the beaches of Playas del Este (30m). During our ride, we can go for a swim before our seafood lunch at the outside terrace of a nice restaurant.
Then, transfer back to Havana. Farewell dinner with a great musical show with some of the former members of Buena Vista Social Club at the Old Havana, or another great musical show.
Riding: 3 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Havana

Day 9: Departure
After breakfast, you are free to do some sightseeing in Havana. We leave from Havana at 6:00 pm in order to transfer clients to the airport.
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for Central Cuba

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Havana
Airport: Havana - José Martí airport
Transfer:

Climate:
                                            Havana area