Cuba holidays, tailor made
| country: | Cuba |
| departures: | We offer a complete tailor made service allowing you to decide where you stay and what to do. |
| price: | From £1395 - £1895 (16 days) including flights from the UK, accommodation, transfers, tourist card, 11 days car hire and meals where indicated. Prices vary according to standard of accommodation and season. This trip can also be booked without flights |
read 12 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is a leisurely trip that explores the countryside and beaches of the Pinar del Rio province, where much of Cuba's cigar tobacco is cultivated. There is also time to wander the cobbled alleyways of Habana Vieja. This is a truly unique Caribbean destination, for its flora, fauna, birdlife and scenery but more famously for its people, politics and recent revolutionary history.
Cuba is the largest and possibly most diverse island in the Caribbean. Castro won his revolutionary war over forty-five years ago but while most countries are discarding communism, Cuba continues to stick to its socialist principles. Whatever your ideals, you will find Cubans to be a friendly, well-educated and cultured people.
Brimming with diverse scenery, wildlife, colonial cities, great music, white sandy beaches and fascinating people, Cuba offers a unique opportunity to explore a very alternative Caribbean.
388 bird species have been recorded in Cuba ranging from the Bee Hummingbird, the smallest in the world, to the Pink Flamingo. Marsh Waders include the Spoonbill or Blue Heron and seabirds such as the Rare Black Tern inhabit remote cayes and the coast. The far east of the island, particularly around the Baracoa region, hosts a variety of wildlife including crocodiles, alligators, 5 varieties of turtle, 14 snakes (none poisonous although the Boa can grow over 4m in length) and the world's smallest mammal, the Almiqui. Cuba's largest indigenous mammal is the Jutia, a large rodent that's particularly fond of the Zapata marshland.
(Please note we are a UK based company and are only able to help with flight arrangements from the UK.)
*Please note: We encourage you to drive as it provides great flexibility and allows you to get off of the beaten-track. However, if you would prefer to take a back seat, this trip can also be arranged with private transfers throughout at surprisingly little extra cost.
Cuba is the largest and possibly most diverse island in the Caribbean. Castro won his revolutionary war over forty-five years ago but while most countries are discarding communism, Cuba continues to stick to its socialist principles. Whatever your ideals, you will find Cubans to be a friendly, well-educated and cultured people.
Brimming with diverse scenery, wildlife, colonial cities, great music, white sandy beaches and fascinating people, Cuba offers a unique opportunity to explore a very alternative Caribbean.
388 bird species have been recorded in Cuba ranging from the Bee Hummingbird, the smallest in the world, to the Pink Flamingo. Marsh Waders include the Spoonbill or Blue Heron and seabirds such as the Rare Black Tern inhabit remote cayes and the coast. The far east of the island, particularly around the Baracoa region, hosts a variety of wildlife including crocodiles, alligators, 5 varieties of turtle, 14 snakes (none poisonous although the Boa can grow over 4m in length) and the world's smallest mammal, the Almiqui. Cuba's largest indigenous mammal is the Jutia, a large rodent that's particularly fond of the Zapata marshland.
(Please note we are a UK based company and are only able to help with flight arrangements from the UK.)
*Please note: We encourage you to drive as it provides great flexibility and allows you to get off of the beaten-track. However, if you would prefer to take a back seat, this trip can also be arranged with private transfers throughout at surprisingly little extra cost.
best time to go
The dry season is from November to the end of April and the most popular time to visit Cuba is from December to February. March to May are good months to visit as they are at the end of the season and much quieter (except for Easter of course!). The weather becomes hotter and more humid in May and the rainy season usually starts at the beginning of June through to October. Despite this, July and August are popular times to visit as during the rainy season it does not usually rain all day, often clouding-over at lunchtime with a couple of hours of rain in the afternoon. The hurricane season in the Caribbean is during September and October.day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Direct flight to Havana, 3 nights in Old Havana (B&B) |
| Day 2: | Day tour of Havana in a 1950’s car (lunch included) |
| Day 3: | Free day to soak up the atmosphere of Habana Vieja |
| Day 4: | Pick-up car and drive* to Las Terrazas, 3 nights at Moka Ecolodge (B&B) |
| Day 5: | Two free days to explore this beautiful UNESCO Biosphere Reserve |
| Day 6: | Activities offered at the lodge include horse riding, walking, fishing and mountain biking. Alternatively you can relax at the pool, taking in the wonderful surroundings. |
| Day 7: | Drive to the picturesque Viñales Valley, 3 nights at La Ermita (B&B) |
| Day 8: | Two free days to explore the Viñales valley, with its steep cliffs of the limestone "mogotes" and flat valley floors used to cultivate tobacco plants for the cigars. |
| Day 9: | Free day |
| Day 10: | Short drive to Palma Rubia, catch ferry to the sandy island, 4 nights at Cayo Levisa (Half Board) |
| Day 11: | Three free days to relax on the beach, take a boat trip, snorkel or dive. |
| Day 12: | Free day |
| Day 13: | Free day |
| Day 14: | Drive back along north coast to Havana, 1 night of luxury at Saratoga Hotel (B&B) |
| Day 15: | Afternoon flight back home. |
| Day 16: | Arrive UK |
travellers' tales
A wonderful holiday, extremely well arranged by this operator. It surpassed our expectations and everything went smoothly. The most memorable bit was - well everything! (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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This itinerary includes accommodation, which we consider to be the best examples of eco-minded resorts in Cuba
The island of Cayo Levisa is a low-key resort with simple accommodation in beachside cabanas having a very low impact on the environment. The Moka Ecolodge is situated in the foothills of the Sierra del Rosario Reserve. To enter Moka you must pass through a guarded checkpoint. The security is tight in and around the park, which is the largest UNESCO biosphere reserve in the Caribbean and the main centre for ecotourism within Cuba. The whole complex is wonderfully designed, a tree grows up through the lobby and its branches disappear through holes in the roof. A wonderful location for those interested in Cuban wildlife. It is a leading example of ecotourism in Cuba as it encourages responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people. Part of its electricity comes from solar panels, and some of the food served is grown in hydroponic, organic gardens. Through projects such as a recycling programme, Moka has also raised environmental awareness in the community. The Lodge funds conservation and scientific research, protects fragile and pristine ecosystems. It also promotes rural development and enhances ecological and cultural sensitivity in the travel industry. Villa Soroa (down the road from Moka Ecolodge) has a mixture of cabanas scattered over a fairly large area of valley floor. The lush forest surrounds it on all sides to give a very peaceful and remote setting. There is a very knowledgeable resident ornithologist who speaks excellent English for any keen bird watchers. Apart from it's own indigenous bird population this area is rich in other varieties of birds that stop over in this region when migrating south from Florida. Villa Soroa is establishing itself as an important eco-tourism centre in Cuba. The hotels that we use in Old Havana reinvest all of their profits in the restoration of Habana Vieja, both for tourists and for Cubans. This restoration project is about a third of the way through. Tourism through the correct channels is bringing a much-needed boost to the Cuban economy, which has been weakened by the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba since 1960. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |