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Saturday 13th March - Arrive
Arrive in Havana You fly mid-morning from London to Havana, arriving in the afternoon. After a short coach transfer, you check into your 4-star hotel Havana Libre where you will have dinner. (D)
Sunday 14th March Tour of Havana
On your first full day in Cuba you enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Cuba’s fascinating capital. After lunch you visit the tobacco factory and later take a ride in a classic car as the sun sets. Afterwards, you return to the Hotel Havana Libre for dinner. (B D)
Monday 15th March Cuban Mainline Tour
Today you join a privately chartered selfpropelled diesel multiple unit Budd railcar for an inspiring journey along the Cuban mainline, through Santa Clara and Camaguey and on to Cacocum, where you take the branch line to Holguin. There’s a bar on the train and a tasty boxed lunch will be provided. All drinks and refreshments are free. From Holguin you transfer by coach to your 4-star hotel, the all-inclusive Hotel Playa Pesquero, for dinner and evening refreshments. (B L D)
Tuesday 16th March Private charter to Rafael Freyre narrow-gauge cane railroad
After a leisurely breakfast you depart early for Rafael Freyre, the most beautiful of all Cuba’s surviving narrow-gauge railways. This 2’6” gauge operation was undoubtedly the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Cuba’s cane railroads, with extensive operations through beautiful countryside in north-eastern Cuba. Taking one of the Baldwin 2-8-0s on a special charter, you’ll follow the route of a sugar cane train eastwards to Altuna and – if possible – beyond. On the return journey you’ll enjoy some exciting run pasts before returning to Hotel Playa Pasquero. (B L D)
Wednesday 17th March Barjay Curve Photo Opportunities at Rafael Freyre
You have a couple of options today, the first sees you return to Rafael Freyre, this time to head west with an empty cane train hauled by a Baldwin 2-8-0. You return to the Mill late morning, heading for lunch at the hotel before the afternoon’s entertainment, a classic 0-6-0 to steamed especially for you at mid-afternoon at Rafael Freyre, with the 0-6-0 and a 2-8-0 also available for photos on the famous Barjay curve. You return to Hotel Playa Pasquero for dinner and overnight accommodation. Alternately, you may choose to spend the day simply relaxing at your fabulous ‘all inclusive’ beach resort. (B L D)
Thursday 18th March Bayamo
This morning you transfer by coach to Bayamo where to join your steam passenger train hauled by 2-8-0 1757 to Yara. From here your locomotive will haul an empty cane train to Bartolome Masso Mill, providing some wonderful photo opportunities along the way. Dinner and overnight accommodation will be in Bayamo. (B L D)
Friday 19th March Santiago
Re-joining your passenger train at Bayamo station today, you’ll be steam hauled by 2-8-0 1590 to Santiago along this scenic line dotted with high viaducts and dramatically steep gradients. Arriving in Santiago, you’ll check in for a stay at the 4-star Hotel Melia Santiago de Cuba. (B L D)
Saturday 20th March Option of Santiago sightseeing or a trip to Guantanamo Bay
Again, today you have a choice of things to do. Choose from a morning city tour of Santiago with a free afternoon sightseeing, or join a steam hauled train at San Luis for the superbly scenic journey to Guantanamo. Provided you arrive at Guantanamo on time you’ll continue by railcar along the branch line to Caimanera, with fantastic views across the Bay to the famous US Naval Base of Guantanamo Bay. Afterwards you return to Hotel Melia Santiago by coach. (B L D)
Sunday 21st March Budd railcar to Moron
This morning a comfortable coach takes you to Santiago station, for a chartered railcar trip to Moron. You arrive at Moron station a little after lunch and join a steam hauled train for a ride around a 5km stretch of the former rail system serving the cane fields. From there, you transfer by coach to your excellent hotel in Moron. (B L D)
Monday 22nd March The Florencia Gorge; Port of Caibarien and back with a Baldwin
After breakfast you transfer to Moron station where a Baldwin 2-8-0 (from Ciro Redondo Mill) will be waiting to take you on a dramatic journey to Florencia, passing through a fabulous Gorge where you’ll enjoy some great run pasts. From there you continue to the former Marcelo Salado Mill, where there’s a collection of interesting ex-Minaz steam locomotives held. In the afternoon you have a special steam charter train to the Port of Caibarien and back with a Baldwin mogul. Afterwards you transfer to an all-inclusive 4-star hotel at Cayo Santa Maria. (B L D)