Part 1: Cuba

Monday 1st November – Havana

• Guests arrive/transfer to their homestay accommodation
• Free afternoon in Havana
• Meet up with group
• Dinner and drinks in top local paladar (private restaurant)
• Overnight in Havana

Tuesday 2nd November – Cienfuegos

• Early morning the group departs for the historic city of Cienfuegos, a UNESCO world heritage (5 hour drive via Bay of Pigs)
• On the way to Cienfuegos we firstly travel along the flat central plain of Cuba where there are lots of citrus plantations. We turn off the main highway and shortly after this the scenery changes to a densely vegetated swamp where the natural fauna includes boa snakes and crocodiles. We have the opportunity to visit a crocodile farm here at Boca de Guamá.
• Once reaching the Caribbean coast we travel along the picturesque Bay of Pigs past the site where the landing of counter-revolutionary exile militia occurred in 1961.
• Today we visit the museum here that recounts the events of this conflict which resulted in the first defeat of a US-backed takeover in Latin America. There are some beautiful places to stop for a swim along the way including a sink hole which resembles a huge natural tropical fish tank, so make sure to pack your swim wear. SCUBA diving and snorkelling are optional activities here. Cubans are known to be very proud people, and the citizens of Cienfuegos call their town La Perla del Sur (the pearl of the south). Founded by the French, Cienfuegos’ appeal lies partly in the European flavour of its colonial hub, with a wide Parisian-style boulevard and elegant colonnades, and there is an ambiance to inspire Cuba’s most celebrated Son singer to write the words “Cienfuegos is the city I like best”.
• After checking-in with your host family, you will have a short time to walk around the city and take in the atmosphere.
• Go with the guide or explore on your own.
• Dinner in a local paladar private restaurant
• Night out drinking in the bars of Cienfuegos
• Overnight in Cienfuegos

Wednesday 3rd November – Cienfuegos/Trinidad

• Morning – walking tour around Cienfuegos. Visit the historic Teatro Tomás Terry.
• Depart Cienfuegos for Trinidad  – stop en route at Palacio de Valle, the outlandish house of an eccentric millionaire. (1.5 hours)
• Lunch on arrival in Trinidad
• We head off on our walking tour of Trinidad.
• La Villa de la Santisima Trinidad was founded by Velazsquez in 1514 and the defender of indigenous rights in the Americas, Fray Bartolome de Las Casas, attended over the settlement’s first mass. The future conqueror of Mexico, Hernan Cortes, recruited sailors here for his future expedition into that land. It is a charming, small town with the green mountains in the background, and the turquoise waters and pure white sand beaches of the Caribbean Sea just a short distance away. The town was fairly inactive until the 1800s, when French refugees fleeing a slave revolt in Haiti landed here en masse and brought with them sugar cane cultivation. The new residents settled and farmed in the Valle de Los Ingenios, just northeast of the town. Vast wealth flowed into the local economy from sugar cane cultivation and the area produced one third of the country’s sugar at one point. The sugar boom was terminated by the two wars of independence, but the wealth generated by the industry remains visible in the town’s once grand mansions, colourful public buildings, wrought iron grillwork and cobble-stoned streets. The town and area also saw a lot of action during and following the triumph of the Revolution, as gangs of counter revolutionaries hid out and struck from the safety of the mountains.
• Visit to The Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra los Bandidos and the  which chronicles the struggles of this period in the town’s history. The best part is the view from the tower!
• Dinner in a local top private restaurant.
• The nightlife in Trinidad is probably the most accessible and intense in all of Cuba, with numerous live music venues and many dance performances every day of the week, all amongst the enchanting setting of old colonial buildings and cobblestone streets.
• It’s optional but we very strongly recommend a visit to the unique and (in)famous Disco Ayala, a nightclub in an underground cavern!
• Overnight in homestay

Thursday 4th November – Trinidad

• Free day in Trinidad.
• Suggested activities: trip to the beautiful Valle de los Ingenios in the morning (by classic train ($10), if it’s working), followed by afternoon horse riding or salsa dancing.
• Other possibilities include a visit to the beach (Playa Ancón), salsa dancing lesson ($25) or just exploring the city.
• Overnight in homestay

Friday 5th November – Santa Clara

• Today we travel to the city of Santa Clara, which was a key city in the triumph of the Revolution.
• Depending on road conditions we can take a number of different routes around or through the Sierra del Escambray perhaps making a few stops along the way.
• Upon entering Santa Clara there is a huge statue of Ernesto Ché Guevara, beneath which is the mausoleum where he is buried.
• We visit the museum here that is dedicated to his life.
• We take a walking tour of Santa Clara where we come across significant sites such as the armoured train derailed by Che and his troops, in the final battle of the Cuban revolution.
• Dinner and optional evening of local music.
• Overnight in Santa Clara

Saturday 6th November – Havana

• We head back to Havana in the morning, stopping at open air October Crisis museum overlooking Havana bay, featuring Soviet nuclear missiles (thankfully now inert!) of the period in 1962 when the world came closer than ever to the brink of nuclear war.
• Lunch in city
• Visiting San Carlos de la Cabaña fortress where Che had his office.
• Visit to the Havana Club Museum of Rum! Free samples optional
• Meet up for dinner and evening out at the iconic Hemingway Bar amongst other places
• Overnight in homestay

Sunday 7th November – Havana

• Breakfast
• City tour of Old Havana, encompassing the Plaza de las Armas, complete with a statue of Manuel de Cespedes, one of the leaders of the independence movement. We pass the spot where the city of Havana was founded almost 500 years ago. We pass the open air exhibit of the Museo de la Revolución to see the yacht Granma and learn about its importance in Cuban history.
• Afternoon free time for some rest and relaxation or to wander some more.
• Dinner at our favourite secret private restaurant
• Optional but very strongly recommended visit to Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC – Cuban Art Factory, $2). This is one of the coolest art and night venues in the world right now.
• Goodbye drinks, Havana style, on the Malecón
• Overnight in homestay

Monday 8th November – Havana/Viñales

• We aim to leave at 11.00 am, depending on Cuban bureaucracy!
• Our first stop is Lenin Hill, which is where the first ever statue of Lenin was erected following his death, this is very derelict and not at all touristy!
• Lunch at a Cuban style street restaurant
• TRIP HIGHLIGHT We now visit the incredibly secret bunker where the Soviet Union stored the nuclear weapons that precipitated the Cuban Missile Crisis. This site is of extreme historical significance and was only recently discovered. This is not on the tourist trail!
• We now visit the former Soviet embassy, a huge example of socialist architecture, as well as some other Soviet-era tower blocks for some great fusion photos of Havana’s rich history
• We now take the 2-3 hour scenic drive to Viñales. On arrival, we check into our casa before heading out for dinner and drinks in this formerly sleepy town that whilst still relaxing now has a bustling nightlife.
• Overnight in Viñales

Tuesday 9th November – Viñales

• In the morning we head to the prehistoric wall for some amusing photos before heading over to a tobacco farm for a chance to see the process of cigar making, as well as have a try of the produce
• Another great reason to come to this farm is for the stunning views of the surrounding rolling hills that you get from here
• Lunch at farm accompanied by great views
• Viñales is famous for its stunning caves, with a number being big tourist attractions, we avoid them like the plague grab our local guide and head to a cave that is (currently) relatively unknown. It takes an hours hike, and then heading through the cave network with lights before we hit the swimming part of the adventure. Truly stunning, so don’t forget the go-pro!
• We head back to the casa for a shower before heading out to a great vantage point to enjoy our last sunset with a cocktail as a group
• We finish our last night in Viñales with an authentic home cooked Cuban meal at our casa.
• Drinks and conversation in the rocking chairs on the patio to end our last evening in Cuba
• Overnight in Viñales

Part 2: Colombia

Wednesday 10th November – Viñales/Havana/Bogota

• Head back to Havana after breakfast – about 3 hours’ drive
• We catch flights to our next destination, Colombia, where we’ll land in the capital, Bogota. (Flights not included in the price of the tour)
• We check into our hotel situated in the La Candelaria historical district of Bogotá.
• The evening is dedicated to getting acquainted with Bogota’s nightlife!
• Overnight in Bogota

Thursday November 11th – Bogota

• Today, you can explore the city according to your interests and see what is not on our program. Alternatively, we offer an optional (extra charge) trip to a shooting range, where you can fire an AK47 amongst other weapons.
• Meet the newcomers of the group, joining for Colombia, at 6pm in the lobby of our hotel to go through the itinerary for the week, and head out for dinner in the old town.
• Ceviche, or raw fish cooked in lime juice is a very South American, and Colombian thing, so we head to a restaurant to try this delicacy. For non-fish lovers there will be other options.
• Beer and explosives go together like peas and carrots, so we finish our first night in Bogotá by playing the local traditional sport of tejo, which is literally throwing iron balls at explosives while drinking beer. Great stuff!
• Overnight in Bogotá. 

Friday November 12th – Bogotá

• Breakfast in the hotel.
• Walking tour of La Candelaria. This is where Símon Bolívar – El Libertador, the original Latin American revolutionary – was almost caught, and where various figures of Colombian history met their fate.
• Head to the Military Museum where we even learn about the not commonly known role of Colombia in the Korean War!
• Bogotá is famous in Colombia and beyond for its fabulous street food, so we take a staggered street food lunch trying almost everything they have on offer, including Mick Jagger’s favourite “oblea”.
• Stop by the Congress and Supreme Court, which was seized by the M19 Marxist guerrillas, allegedly on the orders of Pablo Escobar.
• We visit the Colón Theatre, which played an important part in the peace process between the government and FARC and get a detailed explanation from our local guide about what achievements and failures have followed the peace process.
• Colombia’s capital has now shaken off its image of danger, and is a vibrant place for a night out, so we head to one of the many bars for dinner and drinks.
• Overnight in Bogotá. 

Saturday November 13th – Sierra Nevada National Park

• We get up early for the 90-minute 9am flight to Santa Marta
• On arrival, we transfer directly to the Tayrona national park, part of the Sierra Nevada range, which is home to many of the indigenous peoples of Colombia as well as its most diverse biosphere.
• Lunch in Sierra Nevada.
• Hiking time! We head out for a hike around the national park, where we can spend some time on a deserted beach, as well as see how the indigenous Wiwa people live.
• Following a full day of hiking and relaxing on the beach, we head to our eco-resort, surrounded by fresh fruit trees, and a swimming pool for us to relax in.
• For dinner our hosts will cook us a traditional Colombian meal to your liking, with the rest of the night spent enjoying our serene surroundings
• Overnight at eco-resort. 

Sunday November 14th – Sierra Nevada National Park

• We take a relaxed start to the day with breakfast at the resort and time to enjoy the pool before we leave for the next part of the trip.
• We take the scenic drive from Tayrona to Santa Marta city, which takes about an hour, with us stopping for some great views of the bay.
• We visit the gold museum, to learn about how gold has been mined from indigenous times to present.
• For lunch, we head to one of our favourite restaurants in Colombia, Radio Burger, for a full lunch!
• Our last stop before leaving Santa Marta is the Quinta de San Pedro, which was where Simón Bolívar, the liberator of the Americas, died and was originally buried. We also visit the surrounding gardens for a quick look at the huge (but friendly) cat-sized lizards that live there!
• We board our air-conditioned luxury bus for the 4-hour drive from Santa Marta to Cartagena. The journey itself is a fascinating look into contemporary Colombian life, with us passing through the numerous barrios, before hitting the rich parts of the city.
• On arrival in Cartagena we transfer to our hotel situated near the old city
• Cartagena is street food heaven, particularly if you like meat, so we head for street food dinner and drinks in the city.
• Overnight in Cartagena. 

Monday November 15th – Cartagena

• Cartagena is an old colonial city, so we spend the day touring around this historical city.
• We check out the old colonial walled city, as well as its 500-year-old coral stone forts from the Spanish era.
• We head to the female prison, where it may be possible to go inside, meet the prisoners, and speak to them about their lives in this semi-open facility.
• Lunch at Interno, a restaurant located inside the women’s prison, which is staffed by inmates as a way of integrating them back into society.
• Climb La Popa Hill for a great view of the area and visit the 17th century Santa Cruz monastery.
• Check out the Spanish Inquisition Palace, where people were tortured and executed for crimes against Catholicism.
• Following a hot day of touring the old city we head to one of the bars on the wall to witness the beautiful sunset of Cartagena.
• Dinner in the old city before we head for drinks at the legendary KGB bar, which is full of the kind of old Soviet stuff YPT just love!
• Overnight in Cartagena. 

Tuesday November 16th – El Peñol

• Take a 10am flight to Medellín, Colombia’s second city and home to the infamous drug-lord Pablo Escobar.
• We head for a traditional and hearty Medellín lunch consisting of rice, soup, plantains, salad and the meat of your choice.
• #TRIP HIGHLIGHT# We take the 90-minute drive through the ranches of Medellín to the La Manuela estate, and former home of notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar for some serious Narco-tourism. To get to the estate we need to take a boat, which offers some great photo opportunities, before we spend a few hours exploring the lavish estate that was largely destroyed during the Medellín-Cali drug cartel wars.
• La Manuela is now owned by Escobar’s former butler, who has embraced tourism in a big way, and part of the estate is now set up for paintball! So, we offer this! (Optional, extra cost). For those not inclined there is a bar.
• After Ayers Rock in Australia, El Peñol offers the second biggest rock in the world (there used to be a nightclub at the top), which we shall climb!
• At night, we head to our ranch hotel in the countryside to enjoy dinner, and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere.
• Overnight in El Peñol. 

Wednesday November 17th – Medellín

• Breakfast at the ranch before we head off for the next Pablo Escobar part of the tour.
• We drive for three hours to get to the notorious Hacienda Napoles ranch, where Pablo Escobar created his own zoo, complete with the infamous hippos that have been a menace to the local farmers. The site is now government-owned and boasts, aside from the wildlife, the Pablo Escobar museum, as well as his former private aircraft runway.
• Lunch at the park.
• Aside from the animal park, and museums there is also a huge water park, so we take a rest from museums and city tours with a few hours at the water park.
• We now embark on the 3.5-hour drive back to the cloud city of Medellín, where if we are lucky we will get to stop and witness one of their famous sunsets.
• Dinner at a roadside restaurant serving traditional Medellín fare.
• On arrival in Medellín we check into our hotel in the hipster district of El Poblado, which is full of great bars and restaurants.
• Overnight in Medellín.

Thursday November 18th – Medellín

• #TRIP HIGHLIGHT# We get up early to take part in the legendary Pablo Escobar tour, which was set up by his trusted lieutenant “Popeye”, who fans of Narcos might remember. The tour is led by one of his former drug mules, who is very open to answering questions about his time working for the notorious drug lord.
• Our first stop is the “Monaco” building where Pablo Escobar formerly lived, and which was blown up by the Cali cartel.
• We now head to the notorious La Catedral prison, that Pablo Escobar built and paid for himself in 1991, to serve his agreed 5-year sentence in luxury. The site is now an old peoples’ home run by monks, but there are still signs of what it used to be such as the watchtower, and his personal helipad, which offer some of the most amazing views of Medellín.
• We finish the Pablo Escobar tour by visiting his grave and final resting place, where our local guide, and former henchman of Pablo will regale us with stories about his time working for the cartel.
• Lunch in Medellín.
• After lunch, we head for a city tour of Medellín, with our first stop being riding the legendary cable-metro, which again offer great views of the city, particularly the poorer parts of it.
• Our next stop is Cerro Nutibara, which offers great ice-cream as well as views across the bustling city.
• We finish our tour in the old town, where we will get a chance to try some coca tea, before heading back to our hotel.
• We head for farewell dinner and drinks in the trendy area around our hotel for our last night in Medellín, and Colombia.
• Overnight in Medellín. 

Part 3: Ecuador

Friday November 19th – Bogota/Quito

• We get up early for our morning flight to Bogotá.
• We connect to Ecuador (flight not included in the price of the tour)
• Meet at 6pm in the hotel lobby for a pre-tour meeting with the members of our group joining for the Ecuador part of the trip.
• Overnight in Quito

Saturday 20^th November – Quito to El Coca

• After breakfast we drive to Quito Airport and board a flight to El Coca that’ll put us right on the doorstep of Ecuadorian’s remote Amazonian rainforest (1 hour flight)
• Upon our arrival we board a boat that’ll take us into the heart of Yasuni National Park – famous for being one of the world’s most biologically rich regions
• Stop for a local lunch
• We’ll then be greeted by our local guide who’ll lead us along a gentle hiking path to have unique opportunities to see the local wildlife in their natural habitats – optional kayaking is available to take you further off track for a more in-depth experience
• Check into our Amazonian lodge to freshen up
• Receive a warm welcome by the locals and greeted with a true Amazonian feast for dinner
• Drinks & overnight at our lodge

Sunday 21^st November – Amazon

• We’ll start the morning off by seeing the colourful side of the Amazon by checking out the Clay Licks, Parrots and Parakeets – fantastic opportunity for photos
• Stop by the local cultural centre with facts about the importance of the Amazon. Expect sizes to be all in number of Wales’s.
• Climb to the top of a 40m canopy tower that’ll give us an incredible view across the tree tops
• Jump aboard an indigenous catamaran ride – experience the traditional way of how the locals have been using the river for transport for centuries
• Dinner and overnight back at the lodge

Monday 22^nd November – Amazon

• We’ll embark on a canoe tour that’ll give you a closer encounter with the river and wildlife that surrounds it – expect to see some of the 20 different species of monkeys, over sixteen hundred different species of birds, sloths and countless marine life.
• Lunch back on land
• We’ll jump on one of the most extensive hiking trails available and visit a local indigenous family – here we’ll learn how they’ve turned this wilderness into their home and the benefits of it
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Tuesday 23^rd November – El Coca to Quito, GROUP A ENDS, GROUP B BEGINS

• In the morning we’ll take part in a “Dream interpretation” session by drinking Wayusa – drank like tea this native plant is infused with naturally occurring caffeine and it can give of stimulative effects. YPT might be more about commies and unrecognised countries, but when in Rome…
• We’ll say goodbye to our local guide and jump back on another boat to make our way back to El Cola
• Board a flight back to Quito city where Group A of the tour concludes
• Group B & C will continue and meet up for dinner and drinks in Zona Rosa AKA Gringolandia – Quito’s notorious famous nightlife district

Wednesday 24^th December – Quito

• Start the day off by walking off our breakfast and heading up to the very top of Panecillo Hill – the epicentre of Quito – for a perfect view of the bustling city below
• For those seeking more of a breathtaking view you’ll have the chance to head further up the Virgin of El Panecillo Statue – this monumental sculpture is one of the biggest in South America, even bigger than Rio’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue.
• Lunch downtown at a local eatery – Quito’s cuisine benefits from a unique mix involving a variety of dishes inspired by both Coastal and Andean style
• Begin our walking tour to learn more of the historical side of the city – Quito was the first city in the world to be listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
• Return to hostel to freshen up
• For those who really want to soak up the party atmosphere we’ll jump on one of Quito’s famous Chivas – a brightly-lit decked out party truck with our very own DJ complete with drinks on tap that’ll take us around the city in style
• Overnight in hotel

Thursday 25th November – Quito, TelefériQo, Mitad del Mundo

• We’ll make our way to the top of Pichincha Volcano by catching the TelefériQo cable car reaching 4000m (13000 ft)
• Providing the weather holds up, which is usually fine in the morning, we’ll have a view of another 6 volcanoes surrounding Quito, with the city laid out below us. Incredible opportunity for photos
• Time to indulge ourselves with a local specialty, being that of the empanadas! – deep-fried parcels of sweet bread, filled with a little cheese and sprinkled with sugar. What better way to wash it down with a cup of Canelazo – a local specialty beverage made with raw sugar, cinnamon and a dash (or three) of aguardiente – fire water!
• You have the option of riding on horseback even higher up the volcano, or alternatively have a ride on the rollercoaster in the amusement park back at the bottom of the volcano (extra charge)
• We’ll drive 45 minutes to the famous Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) monument just outside Quito – Mitad del Mundo was built straddling the equator. You can try out various science experiments here, one of them being if the myth is true about water going down the plughole in opposite directions on opposite sides of the equator
• Lunch at Mitad del Mundo
• Return to our hotel to freshen up
• We’ll hit up a local joint that does an incredible Churrasco dish – a local version of a Brazilian dish which involves noodles mixed with chicken or beef.
• Drinks in town followed by a good sleep at the hotel

Friday 26^th November – Quito/Cuenca

• Make our way to the airport and jump aboard a 45 minute flight to Ecuador’s third largest city of Cuenca – situated in a valley at about 2500m with a population of 450,000 people.
• Visit to a hat factory to see the part-artisanal, part-industrial process of making Panama hats – it’s a common misconception that Panama hats are made in Panama, but in fact they are made right here in Cuenca! Hats are available to buy hats at factory prices – around $25, though the very finest hats cost $800 or more!
• After lunch, for a truly local experience we’ll catch the newly-inaugurated streetcar to the local hot mineral springs baths to restore your wellbeing after being on a few boats and flights from earlier in the trip
• Dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight in Cuenca

Saturday 27^th November – Cuenca

• Morning walking tour of the historic centre of this UNESCO World Heritage city
• Climb up to the roof of the ‘New’ Cathedral with its very distinctive domes for a view down to the main city square
• After lunch we’ll visit the Pumapungo park, where you can see real live (well, dead actually) human shrunken heads – a ritual that involved using a severed human head that was used for trophy, ritual, or trade purposes.
• Dinner, drinks and overnight at Cuenca

Saturday 28^th November – Cuenca to Guayaquil

• Jump on a bus and head to Guayaquil – the largest and most populous city of Ecuador. This four-hour trip through the Cajas National Park will take us high up into the mountains with spectacular views of the cloud forests before dropping down to the Pacific coast.
• Check into our guest house located in the heart of the historical quarter of Guayaquil
• Head down to Malecón (sea wall) park to board a boat as we believe one of the best ways to see Guayaquil is along its waterfront
• Guayaquil is nowadays the economic and industrial capital of the country, and for centuries everyone wanted a piece of it, so the conquistadores built a look-out on top of a handy hill to watch for invading pirates and Brits. There’s 650 steps to the top, but to make things easier there is a bar roughly every 10 steps, so our challenge is to make the journey to the very top!
• Dinner and overnight in our guest house with the tour concluding for those not continuing to Galapagos

Part 4: Galapagos

Sunday 29^th November – Guayaquil to Galapagos Island

• Head to the airport to board our two hour flight to Baltra – the gateway to the Galapagos Islands. On our way we’ll pick up our Galapagos National Park permits
• Once arriving we’ll then transport across Santa Cruz Island to our hotel
• Begin our boat tour of Academy Bay – visit “La Lobería”, named because of the colony of sea lions that are located here. You can snorkel and play with these friendly animals, observe goldfish and countless sea turtles.
• We’ll then make our way to the Canal of Love, where you can see whitefin sharks and marine iguanas in the “Playa de los Perros”.
• Overnight in Galapagos guess house

Monday 30^th November – Santa Fe

• We’ll start the day off by a Santa Fe boat tour – Santa Fe is a small island of 24 square km located in the central part of the archipelago, southeast of Santa Cruz.
• Walk along the beach of Santa Fe – here we’ll have an up close glimpse of the sea life and playful sea lions
• Explore the picturesque turquoise lagoon – perfect for snorkeling with its calm waters and numerous sea lions!
• Lunch onboard our boat
• Head back to our guest house on Galapagos
• Dinner, drinks and overnight

Tuesday 1^st December – Isabela Island / Poza de Flamingos

• We’ll head to a Giant Turtle Breeding Centre located on a bay with beautiful shallow, calm and transparent water allowing you to observe the fascinating marine fauna of Galapagos. Swimming with the sea lions and penguins is highly encouraged!
• Lunch on the beach
• We’ll move to Tintoreras for more frolicking and absorbing all of what the nature of Galapagos has to offer
• Dinner and drinks on our last night in this island paradise
• Overnight in the Galapagos Islands

Wednesday 2^nd December – Galapagos to Guayaquil

•  We’ll have an early morning start for a one hour walk (roughly 5km) to Turtle Bay. The route is perfect for bird watching; it’s easy to spot several species of finches when you walk the path.
• One hour transfer back to Baltra and board our two hour flight back to Guayaquil
• Tour concludes with YPT able to assist with airport transfers and onward travel

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