Granma: Bayamo, Manzanillo & the Sierra Maestra
An eight-night journey through Granma province and the green Sierra Maestra foothills: the mellow, horse-drawn streets and organ music of Bayamo, mountain trails and long views in the sierra, the Moorish glorieta and trova of the port town of Manzanillo, and a music-filled finish in Santiago de Cuba.
For: Culture and nature travellers who enjoy the road less taken
1 · Budget first
A transparent, itemised estimate for 2 travellers · 8 nights · casa tier. Every line is a planner range in USD — an estimate to budget with, not a quote.
| International airfare | $1,100 – $2,600 |
| Entry documents (tourist card) | $60 – $150 |
| Travel insurance | $80 – $300 |
| Accommodation | $200 – $400 |
| Local transportation | $160 – $440 |
| Food | $400 – $800 |
| Guides & activities | $210 – $570 |
| Connectivity | $30 – $110 |
| Tips | $40 – $160 |
| Water, laundry & sundries | $24 – $96 |
| Emergency reserve | $120 – $454 |
| Total (2 travellers) | $2,424 – $6,080 |
- Per traveller
- $1,212 – $3,040
- Per day
- $303 – $760
- Ground only (no airfare)
- $1,204 – $3,026
- Airfare est. / traveller
- $550 – $1,300
Basis: casa particular · local mixed food · shared taxi · 6 guided days.
Adjust every number in the planner →Estimates in USD to help you budget — not observed prices, quotes or guaranteed availability. Most US cards don’t work in Cuba; carry cash and keep the reserve.
2 · Fly in
Madrid (MAD) → Santiago de Cuba (SCU) — Antonio Maceo
The east's gateway — mostly Caribbean and Latin-American regional links, least affected by the 2026 suspensions.
Example dates 2026-10-24 → 2026-11-01 (adjust on the live search). CubaAtlas books nothing — these open live results:
3 · Day by day
Where to sleep and dine each day is a real listing from the CubaAtlas provider dataset, nearest your base.
Morning
Transfer to Bayamo, one of Cuba's oldest towns, and settle into a casa near the old centre.Afternoon
Walk the Plaza del Himno and the leafy main square, discovering the town's famous street-organ tradition.Evening
Dinner on a pedestrianised street known for its horse-drawn calm and easy evening life.DinnerPaladar el PolinesiorestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
Visit the church of San Salvador and the town's small museums.Afternoon
A stroll along the riverside park and the craft workshops.Evening
A relaxed paladar dinner, with the town's signature street-organ music.DinnerPaladar el PolinesiorestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
Excursion toward the Sierra Maestra, Cuba's highest range, for foothill trails and long green views.Afternoon
Visit a mountain village and a coffee farm, with a river pool for a cool dip.Evening
A hearty country dinner back in Bayamo after a day in the hills.DinnerPaladar el PolinesiorestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
Drive west to Manzanillo, a faded port on the Gulf of Guacanayabo with a distinctive Moorish bandstand.Afternoon
Walk the ornate central glorieta and the seafront, a town that trova music calls home.Evening
A seafood dinner by the gulf, with live trova after dark.DinnerPaladar Rancho LunarestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
A drive along the quiet Guacanayabo coast toward Media Luna, past fishing hamlets and open sea.Afternoon
A shore walk and a swim at a calm local beach.Evening
Dinner of fresh fish on a breezy terrace over the water.DinnerPaladar Rancho LunarestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
Drive east into Santiago de Cuba and settle into a Tivolí-quarter casa.Afternoon
Get a feel for Santiago around Parque Céspedes, the cathedral and the steep old streets.Evening
Dinner followed by an evening at the Casa de la Trova, the heart of Cuban son.Morning
Head out to the San Pedro de la Roca castle above the harbour for its cannon galleries and Caribbean views (UNESCO).Afternoon
Back in town, the Tivolí quarter, the Padre Pico steps and a rum on a balcony over the bay.Evening
A rooftop dinner over the bay, then a last night of live music.Morning
A final morning excursion to the basilica of El Cobre in the copper hills above the city.Afternoon
Return to Santiago for the airport transfer and onward flight.Evening
A farewell dinner of Santiago's roast pork before departure.
4 · Visa, entry & customs
Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card, a passport valid for the stay, and proof of onward travel and insurance. Nationals of Spain use the ordinary tourist card — no consular visa for a standard holiday. The full entry, arrival and customs detail is in the guides below.
5 · Book direct, or compare an agency
This plan is costed to book direct — the $3,766 (expected) above is the itemised cost with no package margin. Prefer a bundle? Take an agency quote and compare it line-for-line against that breakdown.
Operating Spain agencies serving Cuba, if you prefer a package:
- Air Europa ↗
Scheduled Madrid–Havana.
Sells: flights
- Iberia ↗
Scheduled Madrid–Havana (~10h20 nonstop).
Sells: flights · 901 111 500
- Iberojet ↗
Own flights + Havana–Varadero packages (Ávoris/Barceló group).
Sells: flights, packages · 918 460 001
- Catai ↗
Premium tailor-made Cuba tours.
Sells: packages, tours · +34 914 091 125
- B the travel brand (Viajes Barceló) ↗
450 agencies; Havana–Varadero combined packages.
Sells: packages, flights, hotels · 913 277 760
- Viajes El Corte Inglés ↗
Dedicated “Viajes a Cuba” section across 6 destinations.
Sells: flights, packages, hotels · 91 33 00 732
CubaAtlas is non-commercial and takes no commission. Agency links go straight to the operator; we don’t book, broker or earn from them.
Every Cuba agency, compiled — with the free equivalent for each →Questions
- How much does the "Granma: Bayamo, Manzanillo & the Sierra Maestra" trip cost?
- An estimated $2,424–$6,080 all-in for 2 traveller(s) over 8 nights ($1,883 per traveller expected), including airfare, lodging, food, transport and a reserve. It is a planner estimate, not a quote — you book each part direct, with no agency margin.
- Do I need a visa to travel to Cuba?
- Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card plus a valid passport, onward travel and medical insurance — no consular visa for a standard holiday stay. See the CubaAtlas visa & entry guide.
- When is the best time to do the 8-night Granma: Bayamo, Manzanillo & the Sierra Maestra trip?
- The best months for this 8-night leisure plan are December to April (drier mountain trails), and it is a popular route from Spain. Cuba's dry high season runs roughly November to April; the June-to-November hurricane season is quieter and cheaper.
- What does the Granma: Bayamo, Manzanillo & the Sierra Maestra itinerary include?
- A day-by-day route over 8 nights with a real hotel and restaurant chosen for each day, a live flight search from Spain, and a full itemised budget of about $1,883 per traveller. It is free and self-booked — CubaAtlas gives you the plan and you arrange each part directly at the source, with no agency margin or commission.