Cuba family holiday
| country: | Cuba |
| departures: | 2009: 16 Dec 2010: 28 Mar, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 19 Dec 2011: 10 Apr, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 18 Dec |
| price: | From £1399 - £2219 (12 days) per adult and from £1199 - £1809 per child including flights from the UK. From £799 - £899 per adult and from £709 - £799 per child excluding flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 3 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Discover the friendly island of Cuba with its fantastic beaches, jungle covered mountains, vibrant culture and stimulating history
Havana & Viñales
Havana is an elegant capital of classic American cars, old forts, colonial streets and salsa rhythms. You travel west to Viñales to walk through tobacco fields and lush countryside surrounded by sheer-sided mountains and learn how cigars are made.
Bay of Pigs
Across the crocodile-infested Zapata Marshlands, you pause at the historic Bay of Pigs where the U.S. military invasion was repelled. Travelling to the lively town of Cienfuegos, you’ll take a boat trip to fishing villages and explore a haunted castle.
Trinidad & Mountains
From the preserved colonial city of Trinidad you take a boat trip for some snorkelling over the coral reef and a chance to swim off Caribbean island beaches. You also head into the mountains for forest walks, with the opportunity to swim in crystal clear pools.
Beach Stay
At Santa Clara, relive the final stages of the revolution before travelling to Varadero which has over 20km of white sandy beaches lapped by warm shallow waters for both kids and adults to enjoy at the end of the holiday.
Havana & Viñales
Havana is an elegant capital of classic American cars, old forts, colonial streets and salsa rhythms. You travel west to Viñales to walk through tobacco fields and lush countryside surrounded by sheer-sided mountains and learn how cigars are made.
Bay of Pigs
Across the crocodile-infested Zapata Marshlands, you pause at the historic Bay of Pigs where the U.S. military invasion was repelled. Travelling to the lively town of Cienfuegos, you’ll take a boat trip to fishing villages and explore a haunted castle.
Trinidad & Mountains
From the preserved colonial city of Trinidad you take a boat trip for some snorkelling over the coral reef and a chance to swim off Caribbean island beaches. You also head into the mountains for forest walks, with the opportunity to swim in crystal clear pools.
Beach Stay
At Santa Clara, relive the final stages of the revolution before travelling to Varadero which has over 20km of white sandy beaches lapped by warm shallow waters for both kids and adults to enjoy at the end of the holiday.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London After your flight, you transfer to your first night’s accommodation and check in. Standing on Cuba’s north coast, less than 100 miles from Florida, Havana is the political, industrial and cultural heart of the nation and home to 20% of its population. The city was founded in 1519 when Spanish settlers moved here from an ill-fated earlier site on the south coast. As the New World started to yield its riches, Havana grew to prominence as the assembly point for the annual treasure convoy to Spain. In 1553 the Spanish governor moved from Santiago de Cuba at the other end of the island, and Havana has been capital ever since. Hotel – 2 nights |
| Day 2: | Havana Today’s orientation tour gives you a feel for how Havana developed over the ages. The old city inside the original fortified walls - La Habana Vieja - houses the finest collection of antique colonial buildings in the Americas. The Plaza de Armas is dominated by the former residence of the Spanish governors, now the City Museum, a treasure trove which provides an excellent insight into their grand lifestyle. A few blocks away, an 18th century baroque cathedral and a clutch of imposing mansions grace the cobbled Plaza de la Catedral. Nearby, Calle del Obispo - the main shopping street - and the Paseo del Prado also contain impressive buildings from the colonial era. During your free afternoon you may wish to travel across the channel leading into Havana’s port, to visit the Cabaña Hill. Of the two great forts designed to defend the city (after British forces captured it in 1762), Castillo San Carlos de la Cabaña is the largest in the Americas with splendid views over the city. Havana’s famous esplanade, the Malecón, extends seven kilometres along the seafront, lined with once elegant mansions. This is where young Havanans come to hang out in the evening - with a bottle of rum and some music; by day it’s a place to stroll and enjoy the sea air. (B) |
| Day 3: | Viñales After breakfast, you set out on the 200km (approx. 3 hours) drive westward to Piñar del Rio province, crossing typical landscapes of cane fields, tobacco plantations and tall palm trees along the way. En route you’ll stop at Las Terrazas set in the midst of the Sierra del Rosario Mountains. Here there is a community of farmers and artisans as well as a coffee plantation where you’ll be able to learn something of the process. Nearby is the beautiful San Juan river, a stunning swimming spot noted for over a century for its sulphur springs and clear natural pools; don’t forget your swimming costumes! Straw-hatted guajiro peasants tend the finest tobacco in the world; the plant is native to the island. In Pinar del Rio you’ll stop and visit a cigar factory; cigars, along with rum are Cuba’s principal exports. Turning north on a scenic road you climb into the Sierra de los Órganos towards the sleepy village of Viñales. Hotel – 2 nights (Swimming Pool) (B) |
| Day 4: | Viñales The Viñales Valley boasts the oldest geological formations in Cuba, unique to the area. Spectacular mogotes - sheer-sided, conical towers of limestone, some over 300 metres high are all that is left of a great plateau after millions of years of erosion by wind and water. The resultant karst terrain is similar to southern China or Vietnam - especially when a layer of mist carpets the valley floor in the early morning. It’s a fascinating scene - all the more so when oxen are working the fields and the heady scent of tobacco fills the air as the plants reach maturity between January and April. You’ll take a guided walk through this rich countryside to see something of rural life and hopefully stop at a farmer’s house. In the afternoon you’ll visit the Cueva del Indio, an impressive limestone cave, once inhabited by local Indians and filled with stalactites and stalagmites. A river runs through the second half of the cave and so you’ll board a boat to take you through and out into the daylight. At dusk thousands of bats stream out of the cave to go and feed. (BL) |
| Day 5: | Cienfuegos Today is a relatively long travel day (approx. 5-6 hours). Starting early, you retrace your steps towards Havana before bearing south into Matanzas province. Your route takes you past the badlands of the Zapata Peninsula to Playa Larga standing at the head of the famous Bay of Pigs, where in 1961 a force of CIA-trained Cuban exiles landed to stir up a counter-revolution. Further along the coast at Playa Girón, a small museum commemorates this failed US effort to impose its will on socialist Cuba. After a long day’s drive, you approach Cienfuegos, a major port and industrial centre, and capital of its province. Hotel – 2 nights (Swimming Pool) (B) |
| Day 6: | Cienfuegos Cienfuegos is a pleasant city with a European feel – largely due to the influence of French settlers who arrived in the early 19th century. A sheltered deep-water harbour ensured its prosperity and as the fortunes of nearby Trinidad waned, wealthy merchants and plantation owners indulged in a building bonanza. You’ll head out into the bay on a boat trip to visit fishing villages and the Castillo de Jagua, a fort built to guard the entrance to the bay and keep out English smugglers. The fort is supposedly haunted by the ghost of La Dama Azul (The Blue Lady) and each night a blackbird flies around the castle before turning into the spectre. (BL) |
| Day 7: | Trinidad About an hour’s drive brings you to Trinidad, in the Sancti Spíritus province. This is one of the seven cities founded by Diego de Velázquez in 1514, and is now a national monument. Nestling on a plain in the lee of the mountains and within sight of the Caribbean, Cuba’s best-preserved colonial town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its narrow, cobbled streets are paved with stones that once served as ballast for ships on the empty, outward journey from Europe. The town grew rich from trade through the nearby port of Casilda, until it silted up and was eclipsed by Cienfuegos. Despite its well-to-do air, Trinidad has no grand palaces and still retains the intimate feel of a small town. This morning you will explore the old area around the Plaza Mayor on foot. Being virtually car-free, it’s a pleasant place to wander. You’ll also visit one of the museums which will give you an idea of how these opulent families lived. At night there’s often something of interest happening such as a music or dance performance. Hotel – 2 nights (Swimming Pool) (B) |
| Day 8: | Cayo Blanco Snorkelling Today you take a day trip to Cayo Blanco by boat. This outcrop of land in the middle of the sea has a beautiful white sandy beach. There is the opportunity to snorkel off the reef and watch the myriad of brightly coloured fish and corals; you may be able to spot some lobsters or a turtle. Those who prefer can simply swim off the beach in the warm Caribbean Sea. (BL) |
| Day 9: | Santa Clara A short distance from Trinidad is the El Cubano Hacienda – a former plantation owner’s house. Getting there is part of the adventure as you travel through the lush environment for about six kilometres on the back of a truck – Cuban style! On arrival at the Hacienda you’ll take a walk along one of the many tracks and be engulfed by nature with the added treat of being able to take a refreshing dip in crystalline water pools. For those that fancy it there may be the chance to go horse riding (optional). This afternoon you take the 1 ½ hour drive to Sancti Spiritus, a colonial town where you can visit the local market and ration store to see how Cubans shop for their everyday needs. Your journey for today ends with another 1 ½ hour drive to your destination of Santa Clara. Hotel - 1 night (Swimming Pool) (B) |
| Day 10: | Varadero You wake this morning in the university town of Santa Clara, the site of the last battle of the revolution. It was Che Guevara’s victorious attack on an armoured train here that convinced Batista to flee the country. You will visit the train, now a museum as well as Che’s mausoleum. The museum’s collection includes his famously iconic beret and leather jacket. From here you drive (approx. 3 ½ hrs) to the northern coast and your "all inclusive" beachside base of Varadero. The crystal clear waters and sparkling sand of this peninsula are justly famous. Hotel – 1 night (Swimming Pool) (BD) |
| Day 11: | Fly To London This morning is free to soak up the last of the Caribbean sun and bask in the turquoise waters. You head back to Havana in the afternoon where the trip ends for Land Only clients. Those on our group flights to London return to the airport for your flight home. (B) |
| Day 12: | Arrive London Arrive London |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
travellers' tales
Had the most amazing time and am finding too hard to get back to real work and the real world! Hmm probably the best holiday since having children - absolutely fantastic mix that allowed us to experience culture, etc without children being in any way bored. (more)
small group family holiday
This is a 'small group family adventure' - typically you will join several other families and travel in a group of approx. 16 people. The trips are great value and a great way for you and your children to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of time to yourselves. Most adventure kids tend to be aged between 7 and 15, but some are younger (minimum age is usually 5) and some older (perhaps travelling as part of a larger family group). Please check with the operator to confirm the minimum age for this trip how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip: Our policy of using local guides and group leaders, and operated by local people wherever possible is continued in Cuba. Our small groups (maximum of 20 people) have a minimal impact on the fragile environment. All tour guides are responsible for ensuring that the guests understand the nature of the environment that they are in and minimise the impact that they may have. Throughout this trip we are in close contact with local people and visit local markets where you get the feel of real Cuban lifestyles.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
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. |