Day 1- Tuesday, July 2
Depart from Miami to Havana. 

Your journey begins as you touch down at Jose Marti International Airport and are greeted by your English-speaking guide, Renier. From there, a scenic 70-mile drive along Cuba's northern coast leads you to Matanzas, a city steeped in history. Matanzas, known as "The Athens of Cuba," is famed for its role in the birth of danzón and rumba music. Explore the city's seventeen bridges, each a testament to its poetic legacy and multicultural history.
The birthplace of the danzón and rumba music and dance traditions, this beautiful area was originally home to the Taíno people, but they were killed or enslaved by Spanish soldiers and colonists from the Canary Islands in the late 1600s. Later, slaves from Africa were imported to work in the extensive sugar cane fields. Matanzas has seventeen bridges that cross the three local rivers.

(L,D)

Day 2- Wednesday, July 3

On this day we will delve into the diverse habitats surrounding Matanzas coastal, mountain, and serpentine scrub habitats. This rich variety of habitats will likely offer many interesting plants, birds, and butterflies for us to find. Also of interest, this region has caves, mineral springs, and a classic lighthouse at Punta Maya.

(B,L,D)

Day 3-Thursday July 4
After breakfast, embark on a journey 110 miles southward to Cienfuegos, a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 1819 and known as "The Pearl of the South," with many beautiful buildings dating to the early 1800s. 
En route, we will explore mountain habitats at San Miguel de los Baños. Back in the day, this town at the top of a mountain was a retreat for the wealthy to escape the lowland summer heat and was also known for the healing properties of its mineral water baths. There are a number of neoclassical-style buildings in the town, although many are in disrepair. The Balneario San Miguel, with its Islamic-style turrets, is especially beautiful. We will explore local forests and trails around the town.

(B,L,D)

Day 4- Friday, July 5

After breakfast, drive to Topes de Collantes

Discover the Cienfuegos Botanic Garden, a lush haven with tropical plants from around the globe. 
Cienfuegos will be our base from which to explore and coastal habitats and the Escambray Mountains to the east for several days.
Around 1880, a wealthy business man from Boston, Edwin F. Atkins, acquired the Soledad Sugar Estate located about 10 miles east of Cienfuegos. The Atkins family made their money from sugar grown in Cuba. The Soledad estate became his winter retreat. Mr. Atkins donated money to Harvard University to set up a research facility at Soledad to study and improve sugar cane varieties and production. After Atkins died, Harvard assumed control of the property via a 99-year lease and developed the Soledad estate into a botanic garden for the study of tropical plants. The Cuban government took over authority in 1961 and continues to maintain the garden. The garden has collections of palms and other tropical plants from
around the world.
The Escambray Mountains are an isolated geographic feature on the south-central coast of Cuba located between Cienfuegos and Trinidad. These mountains are the second highest in Cuba and have many endemic species for which we will be searching.

(B,L,D)                        Cienfuegos Botanical Garden

Day 5- Saturday, July 6
After breakfast, drive to Topes de Collantes National Park

Explore Topes de Collantes (Collantes’ Highs) situated 2,600 ft above sea level. We will explore its mountain forests for orchids, birds, and butterflies, such as the Cuban Dark Calisto.

(B,L,D)

Cuban Dark Calisto: Wingspan 35-42mm. Sexes similar. Differs from C. herophile by its darker hindwing background color, straighter post-median line and smaller post-median white spots. C. bradleyi has only two post-median white spots rather than four so that is easily discounted. C. muripetens also has only two post-median white spots and also has a muck darker wing-base and larger red patch on the forewing. C. torrei can be ruled out as that is a larger species and has only three post-median white spots, the central one of which is enlarged.
Range: Endemic to Cuba.
Status: One of the few Calisto to be found in more than one mountain range. C. aquilum is found in a few sites in semi-deciduous limestone forest (75-200m) in the Viñales valley in the western mountains of Pinar del Rio as subspecies occidentalis where it flies with C. herophile and C. bradleyi. Subspecies aquilum is found in both sections of the Escambray mountains of central Cuba at 450-1140m flying with C. herophile, C. muripetens and C. torrei..
Nectar Plants: Bidens pilosa.
Larval Foodplants: Unknown.

Day 6- Sunday, July 7
Breakfast at the hotel. Topes de Collantes National Park

We will continue to explore the Escambray Mountains along trails through the National Park.
Who knows what treasures we will find?

(B,L,D)

Day 7- Monday, July 8
Breakfast at the hotel drive to Playa Ancon Trinidad

Today we will drive east along the southern coast, about 50 miles from Cienfuegos to a beach resort near Trinidad. This city was founded in 1514 and became an important port for the export of sugar. Today, tobacco and tourism are the economic drivers. The historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Playa Ancon, where we will be staying, is on a narrow arm of land protecting Bahia de Casilda. There are beautiful beaches and coastal habitats to explore or you may want to go SCUBA diving or snorkeling in the clear blue waters. 

(B,L,D)

Day 8- Tuesday, July 9

Drive to Playa Larga with a stop at Medicinal garden 
Embark on an 80-mile drive westward from Playa Ancon to Playa Larga at Bahía de los Cochinos (Bay of Pigs). On our way, near Cienfuegos, we will tour a medicinal plant garden.
Bay of Pigs is the site of the failed invasion by CIA-backed Cuban exiles against the Castro revolution. Dive into the region's history by visiting the Playa Girón History Museum, a poignant reminder of the failed invasion.
Girón. Playa Larga is the gateway to the IUCN Ciénaga de Zapata Biosphere Reserve. There are also sandy beaches and coastal forests to explore.

(B,L,D)

Day 9 - Wednesday, July 10

Drive to Playa Larga, Zapata Swamp

Playa Larga becomes our base from which to explore the Zapata Swamp, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, for several days. Today we will visit the Las Salinas Wildlife Sanctuary part of the Zapata Biosphere Reserve. This area has mangrove forests, shallow ponds, and salt flats (salinas). Here, an expert bird guide will find with us many shore and water birds, such as flamingoes. We are also likely to see the Bee Hummingbird – the smallest bird in the world - in Playa Larga and maybe a Cuban Pygmy-Owl in a nearby coastal forest.

(B,L,D)                                 Cuban Pygmy-Owl

Day 10 - Thursday, July 11

Playa Larga, Zapata Swamp

Today our expert guide will help us search for some of the rarest birds in the world – the Zapata Wren, Zapata Rail, and Zapata Sparrow – all endemic to this region of Cuba, the Zapata Swamp Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is a miniature Everglades with sawgrass marshes and tree islands. We will also tour a farm for the endemic Zapata Crocodile.

(B,L,D)                            Bee Hummingbird 

Day 11 - Friday, July 12

Return and enter the UNESCO Heritage City of Old Havana, where history unfolds in the old city. There will be an extensive walking tour through cobblestone streets to view the magnificent architecture and many courtyard gardens, weaving through cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, and the heartbeat of Cuba's capital, El Capitolo.

(B,L,D)

Day 12 - Saturday, July 13

Havana- Hemingway House- art market-

Explore the legacy of Ernest Hemingway at his former residence, a place that inspired some of his greatest works. Later, indulge your senses at an art market, where local talents showcase their creativity.

 (B,L,D)

Day 13 - Sunday, July 14

Havana - Escaleras de Jaruco

Venture 15 miles to the southeast of Havana to Escaleras de Jarucoteeming, a limestone ridge with rare butterflies and lively tropical forests. Birdwatchers can delight in the vibrant avian life, including the elusive Lizard Cuckoo.

We visited this area in June 2023 and found many rare butterflies, including one never previously reported from Cuba. The tropical forest here is also alive with birds such as the Lizard Cuckoo. 

(B,L,D)

Day 14 - Monday July 15

Check out - Havana Botanical Garden- airport

Conclude your Cuban odyssey with a visit to the Havana Botanical Garden, a testament to the island's rich biodiversity. Bid farewell to the enchanting landscapes of Cuba as you head to the airport, cherishing memories of a journey filled with cultural discoveries and natural wonders.

(B)                               Havana Botanical Gardens