Discover the real Cuba

To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Cuban Revolution on the 1st January 2009, South American travel specialist Journey Latin America has created a number of ‘revolutionary’ itineraries to help travellers to Cuba explore the historical and social impacts of the movement.

The new itineraries also tie in with the widely anticipated release of ‘Che;’ a biopic based on the Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara, which is being released in two parts to UK cinemas on the 2nd January 2009 and 20th February 2009.

Journey Latin America has a number of itineraries on offer, from eight night group tours taking in all of the country’s highlights, to tailor-made self-drive packages and more luxurious escapes.

Below we have listed the top picks for those wanting to discover the real Cuba this January:

Revolutionary Cuba
6 nights from £582pp based on two sharing and excluding flights Starting in Holguín, this tour takes you to the beautiful eastern region of the island, which inspired and reinforced Fidel and Che’s patriotism. Visit Cayo Saetia for a wildlife safari and swimming on the pearl white beach, continue to Baracoa and visit a UNESCO protected reserve by boat, drive through stunning mountain scenery to Guantánamo Bay for a tour of the town and then spend some time in Santiago de Cuba and visit the Castillo del Morro and the Sierra Maestra.

New for 2009 – Caracara – Self Drive Cuba
10 nights from £804pp based on two sharing and excluding flights
This brand new tailor-made itinerary allows travellers to choose their own time and rhythm by driving their own hire car on a round trip from Havana to Trinidad, taking in the fertile country of Pinar del Rio, the coastal Cienfuegos ‘pearl of the south’ and the wooded Escambray mountains where you’ll find waterfalls and rivers only accessible by car.

New for 2009 – ZunZun
8 nights from £1358pp, including flights
This small group tour will give you an insight into the traditional, colonial and rural Cuba in just a week. Experience real Cuban life staying and eating in family homes, drive through the evocative streets of old Havana in a classic car, explore the enchanting Viñales Valley on foot or horseback and visit the UNESCO protected Trinidad.

New for 2009 - Cuba - Affordable Luxury in Cuba
11 days: £995, excluding flights.
Fancy a top-quality, grown-up Caribbean holiday, with a bit of culture and history thrown in, without breaking the bank? It can be done: Cuba, one of the most fascinating of all the islands, where tropical joie de vivre is spiced up with a Latin beat.

For more information on Journey Latin America’s trips in Cuba, see Journeylatinamerica.co.uk.