Photography holiday

Cuba • Havana & Trinidad

Cowboys, Cadillacs and Caribbean beaches
Cuba is a living museum on the verge of change – 1950's Cadillacs, and cowboys riding into town on horseback, colonial squares and crumbling Spanish grandeur. These scenes can’t remain unspoilt forever...

Some of our days

Landing in Havana

After arriving at Havana airport around 5pm there's a short drive into Havana for our overnight stay. There is time before dinner for a short wander to take in the Spanish colonial architecture, contrasting textures and fabulously decaying grandeur. 30 minute transfer approximately.

World Heritage Sights

After breakfast we head south by coach to Trinidad, breaking the journey for lunch and a stop at the World Heritage city of Cienfuegos. Arriving in Trinidad, this glorious Caribbean coastal town mid-afternoon, we will have time to unpack and look around before an introductory talk, slide show and dinner. 5 hour transfer approximately.

Photo shoot in Trinidad

We start the day with a gentle walk into town to get a feel for the rhythm of Trinidad then coffee at Julio's house. Julio is a local photographer who seems to know everyone locally and is great source of ideas for photographic opportunities. The remainder of the day is spent on street photography ending with the chance to do a photo shoot with some musicians.

Caribbean sands

We visit the town of Casilda for some street photography en route to the small seaside village of La Boca. After lunch we head for the shade of the palm trees where we relax and swim until the sun sinks lower and it’s time to capture those images of the Caribbean - white sandy beaches and palm trees.

Cowboys at work

After a visit to the small farming village of El Pastor, we spend the rest of the day based around a farm. Here, oxen dragging sugar cane, farriers at work, cowboys casually riding horseback, tomato puree production the traditional way – stirred by hand in huge vats... are a few of the images of day-to-day rural life. In the afternoon we have a private Santeria dance performance.

Free day to explore

The many options include horse riding, a day at the beach, a catamaran to an offshore island with iguana lizards, or a relaxing time around the pool and perhaps some shopping and music.

Sugar valley

We visit the sugar valley of the 'ingenios' or sugar mills, and the plantation town of Manaca Iznaga, with its famous watch tower which kept a look out for invading pirates and slave mutiny. In the evening we reflect on the images of the week with a slide show over a mojito or two.

Excitement of Havana

Waving farewell to gentle Trinidad we return to the excitement of Havana. There will be time for a stroll along El Malecon boulevard for shots of waves crashing on the sea wall and the city waking up in the evening light. We’ll have dinner in a local restaurant.

Street life of Old Havana

A day of street photography, wandering through old Havana, with opportunities for photographing contrasting textures of grand colonial buildings with crumbling walls and washing hanging from the railings of balconies, while 1950's Buicks and Cadillacs cruise by. After lunch, we'll drop in on the writer Hemingway's room at the Hotel Ambos Mundos, which serves legendary mojito rum cocktails.

Havana's Waterfront

An early morning trip to El Malecon, the sea wall boulevard, for waterfront images of Havana before breakfast. Today we visit Perfecto Romero, who was the personal photographer of Che Guevara, who will regale us with experiences of working with this iconic figure, bringing Cuba's history to life. He may even show us his personal photo collection and portraits of Che Guevara. We'll finish the day with a celebratory slideshow.

Final shots of Cuba

The final morning is left free for guests to take a final glimpse of the grand colonnaded squares of Havana, then a special farewell lunch in town before catching the coach for airport at 4pm. 30 minute transfer approximately.