Arrive in Havana and clear customs and immigration, a process that will take approximately one hour. Upon exiting the airport, a Cuban representative will welcome you and transfer the group to your accommodation. En route, stop by the Plaza de la Revolucion, where the center of government is located. This area contains most of the offices of the main ministries and is often used for rallies, like the one welcoming the Pope in 2012. Check in to your accommodation in Old Havana and enjoy a welcome dinner at Paladar San Cristobal, one of Havana's most renowned and elegant restaurants. This cozy restaurant has a reputation of excellence in both atmosphere and local cuisine. The food is refined and well-balanced, and the nostalgic atmosphere unforgettable, adorned in a unique style of art nouveau.

After breakfast, set out on a walking tour of Habana Vieja, the old quarter of the city. Please make sure to wear comfortable shoes! Because of its history and ideology, Cuba - especially Havana - is a treasure trove of architectural styles spanning five centuries. In 1982, when the city became a UNESCO World Heritage site, the government embarked on an ambitious preservation and restoration program concentrated in the old quarter. However, a severe lack of funding and materials has hampered efforts, and an increasing number of buildings are falling into disrepair, made worse by destructive tropical weather each year. Take a stroll through Plaza De Armas, a scenic tree-lined plaza surrounded by many of Havana's most historic structures and monuments. Continue through the Plaza de San Francisco, a cobbled plaza dominated by the baroque Iglesia and Convento de San Francisco, dating from 1719. Finally visit Plaza Vieja, one the oldest plazas in Havana, dating from the 16th century. Learn about the massive historic preservation program which began in this plaza under the leadership of city historian Eusebio Leal. Make a stop at Fototeca, Cuba's leading venue for photographic exhibitions, then pay a visit to the Escuela de Taller, where we will learn about the Restoration Project that is underway in Havana Vieja. This urban rehabilitation project is preserving the architectural history and cultural heritage of this beautiful city. We will meet students, engineers, builders, woodworkers and other craftsman utilizing traditional handcrafting methods to preserve the authenticity of these once - and soon to be once again! - resplendent structures. Enjoy a traditional Cuban lunch at Paladar Doña Eutimia, a restored home in the old quarter. Take the remainder of afternoon available for engagement and interaction with the local street vendors, artists and local book stores.

This morning, depart Havana and head west into the lush natural beauty of Soroa. En route, stop at Sierra del Rosario, home to 25,000 hectares of evergreen forest as well as Las Terrazas, a self-sustained community named after the reforestation project initiated in 1967. While at Las Terrazas, learn about their history, enjoy delicious coffee from their plantation, and visit an artist's studio. Before departing Soroa, visit the Soroa Waterfall & Orchidarium to admire some of the 800-plus species of orchids in their collection - 130 of which are endemic to Cuba. Continue on to Viñales for dinner and overnight.

This morning visit Cueva de Indio, a limestone cave that was once an ancient indigenous dwelling and rediscovered in 1920. Here, we will board a boat and explore an underground magical world of stalagmites, stalactites, and folklore as we take a short cruise through this cavernous wonderland. This afternoon hike the mogotes, unusual limestone formations for which the area is known, as well as a visit to a tobacco farm. Then pay a visit to the home of Nils Navarro, the world-renowned nature artist and author. For dinner this evening, enjoy a special farm-to-table experience at the Agroecológica paladar, tucked away in the hills surrounding Viñales. Arrive early to meet the owners, and learn how they juggle family, the farm, a paladar operation, and life in Cuba. Then tuck in to savor the dishes made with the farm's fresh produce.

Today, travel to the Zapata Peninsula, also known as the Bay of Pigs, which is home to the largest wetlands in the Caribbean. 70% of the area is a Biosphere Reserve and Cuba's largest national park. The Zapata area consists of scrub, mangrove swamp, and coastline; over 200 bird species have been recorded here. This is one of the most remote regions of Cuba, so intrepid wildlife watchers will reap the benefits: Zapata is a haven not only for incredible diversity of birds, but also endemic reptile and plant species. Zapata's wetlands give rise to more than 1000 species of plants and 37 species of reptiles, including the endemic Cuban Crocodile. Upon arrival embark on short excursion crossing the Tesoro Lagoon to visit the Taina Village, where Cuban sculptor Rita Longa has depicted the way of life, skills, and habits of Cuba's Indigenous inhabitants with life-sized statues. After lunch at a local restaurant, receive a welcome and introduction to Zapata National Park. Continue with a visit to the town of Palpite to interact with the artist's community here, which is part of the Korimakao project, an initiative for artists to develop their performance skills. Continue to Playa Larga, arriving before sunset for dinner.

After breakfast visit the town of Playa Girón and its museum to learn about the famous events of the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. Have lunch at Caleta Buena, a beautiful inlet in the heart of the bay. After lunch, enjoy snorkeling to explore the marine biodiversity of the area. On the way back to the hotel, there's an optional stop at Cueva de los Peces for additional snorkeling. Have dinner this evening at a local paladar.

Today, travel to Cienfuegos. Established in 1819, Cienfuegos is one of Cuba's "younger" cities, and the only one in the country founded by French settlers. The city is more spacious and laidback than the average provincial capital, earning its nickname the "Pearl of the South." Strategically located for trade, Cienfuegos is one of the chief seaports of Cuba, and the center of sugar, coffee, and tobacco production. After lunch at a local paladar, set out to explore the city, beginning with Castillo de Jagua, a fortress erected in the 1740s to protect against Caribbean pirates, and continuing in the restored main square, the Catedral de la Purisima Concepción, and the Teatro Terry. Take a stroll down the main promenade of Cienfuegos, adorned with monuments and notable buildings such as the former Rotary Club building, today the city's Cultural Center. Afterward, drive along Punta Gorda peninsula where the Malecón promenade is bordered by imposing villas, vestiges of the American period under Batista. This evening, have dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Spend the day in nearby Trinidad, the quintessential and oft-romanticized example of a Cuban colonial town. The cobbled streets are lined with colorful houses from a bygone era, which remain well-preserved even today. The city's historic buildings date back to the time of the sugar trade of the 18th and 19th century, when Trinidad earned impressive wealth on the back of the sugar, cattle, and tobacco industry - all of which utilized slave labor. This history is reflected in many of the sites you'll see as you explore the city, like the impressive palaces on the Plaza Mayor, which once belonged to wealthy sugar barons eager to display their riches. Today the city is renowned for its arts culture, particularly embroidery, textiles, and music. Visit the Historic Center of the City of Trinidad, and have an opportunity to walk around the town and interact with local artists. Before lunch, enjoy live traditional music at La Canchánchara bar, where you can also taste the classic Cuban cocktail of the same name. After lunch, visit the Tres Cruces square, the former Fisher House, and El Cabildo de San Antonio, the first "cult house" in Cuba where enslaved Africans worshipped their own deities even under Spanish Catholic rule. Finally, stop at a family-run pottery workshop to discover how the tradition of making pottery has been passed on for generations, and explore the ruins of Manaca Iznaga, a former sugar plantation consisting of a bell tower, colonial mansion, and slave quarters. Return back to Cienfuegos in the evening and have dinner at a local paladar.

This morning, head to the verdant mountains of El Nicho, where you can hike through the caves, swim under waterfalls, or seek out resident flora and fauna. Throughout the reserve, you'll find picturesque waterfalls cascading down into crystalline-clear natural pools, beckoning you for a swim. Within a protected sanctuary, bird enthusiasts can glimpse Cuba's national bird, the Tocororo, or Cuban Trogon. Originally called guatini by the indigenous people, the Tocororo was chosen as Cuba's national bird because of its symbolic resistance to captivity, and because its feathers reflect the colors of the national flag.

Bid farewell to Cuba's heartland and return to Havana, stopping along the way to eat lunch at a local paladar. On the outskirts of Havana, visit Finca Vigía, the former home of American author Ernest Hemingway, now a museum. In the afternoon, take the opportunity to explore Havana beyond its old quarter, first in the Vedado District, the modern political and cultural center of Havana, then in Miramar, the elegant coastal quarter populated with splendid villas. Check in to the iconic Hotel Nacional de Cuba, which overlooks the Straits of Florida and the Malecón waterfront esplanade. Gather for a farewell dinner this evening at Café Laurent.

After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return afternoon flight.