TRIP DAILY ITINERARY

     Two weeks before your departure, we will start to contact you to find out your flight information and the necessary dive gear that you will need.  We will also go over your itinerary and answer any questions or special needs that you may have.  Of course, you may also contact us at any time.

DAY 1 / SATURDAY

Upon arrival, you will see one of  the Melia Hotel representatives waiting outside the baggage pick up area to direct you to the Melia Hotel Shuttle. It's a 30 minute ride to the Melia Hotel from the Varadero Airport.  From Havana's Airport is 3 hrs.

Check in at the hotel and relax at the beach or pool.  One of our associates will meet you at the hotel pool bar at 6:30 PM for a welcome reception. 

At this casual reception our associate will go over the trip itinerary, and will also answer any questions that you may have.  Please keep in mind that you can opt to do anything else on your own at any time during this entire week-long trip.  We respect your privacy, choices and space.

DAY 2 / SUNDAY

Rise and shine! The buffet breakfast opens at 7:00 AM, and we will meet you at the front lobby at 8:30 AM to take you to the Barracuda International Dive Center for your first two tank dive trip.  Here we will make sure that you have the necessary gear before going to Marina Chapelin to board the dive boat. Usually the boat departs at about 9:30 AM and returns back to the dock at around 2:30 P.M. 

HEADS UP!!!

For $25 you can bring a non-diving person with you on any dive trip, and they will provide snorkeling gear to watch the divers and the reef from the surface (bubble watchers).  However, we recommend that they bring their own snorkeling gear, including a ski belt for a flotation device.

Upon return to Marina Chapelin, they will shuttle you back to the hotel .  At this time you may want to have a late lunch and a nice siesta in your room, or spend some time relaxing around the hotel beach or pool.
 
We will meet at the lobby at 6:30 PM to take our group to the Dupont's Xanadu Mansion, also known as Casa Las Americas to enjoy the breath taking view of Varadero Beach from the top floor bar.  Drinks and appetizers are on us!!!

This mansion was built in the early 1930's for the American chemical industrialist Alfred I. DuPont.  He named it Xanadu in honor of the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, inspired by the legendary warrior Kubla Khan. This exquisite mansion is now a combination of museum, hotel, scenic bar and restaurant.  It hosts the best happy hour in Varadero Beach to worship the sunset.  This setting combined with the live background Cuban music will be an unforgettable experience that you will treasure forever!

At around 8:30 PM we'll take you back to the hotel for dinner.  Some of you may want to stay and extend your happy hour at this lovely place. 

DAY 3 / MONDAY

It's Monday morning, and you'll be happy that you won't have to go to work today!
By now, you know the routine.  Have a great buffet breakfast and meet us at the hotel lobby at 8:30 AM to experience another fantastic day of diving with the Barracuda International Dive Center.

You'll be back at the hotel at around 3:30 PM.  Have dinner at the hotel, and we'll meet at the hotel lobby at 8:30 PM.  For a change of pace, we will take our group to watch one of the nightclub shows at one of the big beach hotels.  The Hotel Internacional de Varadero usually puts on the best, but it could be another hotel depending on who has the best show for that night. These shows rival any Las Vegas extravaganzas but with the flavor of the Afro-Cuban beat and the sexy mulata dancers.

DAY 4 / TUESDAY

We'll again meet at the hotel lobby at 8:30 AM.  Another great day in Paradise, and this will be your last day of superb diving from Varadero.  This afternoon after you come back to the hotel from your dive trip, we recommend that you try an early dinner at the hotel, and pack it in early.  You’re on your own tonight while we prepare tomorrow's trip.  Perhaps this would be a good time to confirm your departure flight reservations and your hotel transportation to the airport on Friday.

Tomorrow we'll be doing a world class shore wall dive off Playa Giron (Bay of Pigs).  This will involve an 8:30 AM departure, a 2.5 hour road trip, and a superb and safe wall dive between 50' to 130'.  Have a good rest!


DAY 5 / WEDNESDAY (Occasionally, this trip may be changed to Monday or Tuesday)

We'll meet you at the hotel lobby at 8:30 AM to depart to Playa Giron / Bay of Pigs.  Yes, this is the same place where the ill fated Bay of Pigs Invasion took place back in 1961.  It's also the site of a world class wall diving.  The 2.5 hour drive through the Cuban countryside and neighborhoods will give you a feel for how people live in these small towns away from the tourist resorts and the big cities.  Make sure to bring your cameras!

We will dive “Punta Perdiz Wall”, with a safe depth range between 50' to 130'.  This is a world class shore wall dive.  Yes! No boat ride.

After the dive, we can visit the “Bay of Pigs Museum” for the history buffs.  It displays the artifacts and memoirs of the ill fated invasion that took place in April 1961.  Of course, you will hear their side of the story.  If this is not your cup of tea, we'll find a place to have a good country lunch and relax.  We can also do both if you wish.

We'll head back to the hotel and should arrive at around 7:00 PM.  You're on your own tonight while we make sure that everything is in order for tomorrow's trip.  You'll see Havana like Hemingway did in the 50's.  (Get your cameras ready!)

DAY 6 / THURSDAY

Hemingway's Tour of  Havana

Our van will depart the hotel lobby at 8:30 AM for the 3 hr. drive to Havana.
Our first stop will be the historic and majestic Hotel Nacional.  Here you will find the best selection of quality cigars in the island, all kept fresh inside a huge walk-in-humidor.  The most qualified personnel will help you with your selection. Also, please take some time to walk around and enjoy this elegant hotel built in 1930.

From here we'll move on to Old Havana to admire and enjoy the old world Spanish colonial architecture.  We will first take you to the Plaza de la Catedral (Cathedral Square).  This is an open air flea market for local arts and crafts, which is located in the square right across from the Catedral de La Habana (Havana's Cathedral).  Built in 1788, It's a UNESCO World Heritage site for its historical and architectural value.  It's worth the visit!

Next, we'll follow Old Papa Hemingway's advise: ..."my Mojitos en la Bodeguita, and my Daiquiris en El Floridita".  These two places are considered historical landmarks, and we'll enjoy the Cuban drinks and appetizers that they're famous for.  The drinks and appetizers are on us!
 

When we 're done and feeling happy, we'll start heading back to Varadero.  On the way back, if time allows we'll make one last stop at another historical landmark, La Terraza de Cojimar.  This excellent seafood bar/restaurant is located the fishing village of Cojimar where Hemingway docked his famous fishing yacht, El Pilar.  Cojimar was also the home of Hemingway's fishing partner,
Gregorio Fuentes who was the inspiration of the character "Santiago" from his famous novel "The Old Man and the Sea" (written in 1952).  I had the pleasure of spending some quality time with Gregorio during one of my visits in 1998.  He passed away two years later at the ripe old age of 104.

It's now time to safely take you back to the hotel for your last minute preparations for your departure tomorrow.  On the way back, we would like to get your feedback in order to improve our future trips.

We value your opinion!

DAY 7 / FRIDAY (Shuttle departures to airport)

Hasta la proxima! (Until we meet again!)
The Hotel shuttle will take you to the airport on time, and we wish you a very safe trip back home.  Come back to see us soon, and tell your friends about us.

Ph: 305.663.0555