Holiday to Cuba
| country: | Cuba |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 4 Aug, 25 Aug, 15 Sep, 6 Oct, 3 Nov, 1 Dec, 22 Dec 2009: 12 Jan, 2 Feb, 23 Feb, 23 Mar, 20 Apr |
| price: | From £705 (15 days) excluding flights. Domestic flights from £76. We can arrange flights from the UK |
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
When you think of Cuba and you think of old cars chugging up cobble-stoned streets. You think music, ‘mojitos’, and cigars. You think revolution, Fidel Castro and ‘Che’ Guevara. You think stunning scenery, tropical beaches and old colonial cities. But most of all, you think of a genuine and welcoming people! Cuba is unique in the world. It has a vibrancy and passion for life found almost nowhere else we can think of. Travellers to Cuba cannot help but have all senses overwhelmed.
It is a beautiful country, with a long and turbulent history and after years of economic and political isolation, it is quickly emerging as one of the hottest travel destinations in the world. This is our most comprehensive journey in Cuba. It showcases the magnificent colonial cities of Havana, Trinidad and Santiago, and takes in the rugged rural beauty of the island’s interior. There’s plenty to do and see and while we have included many of the ‘icons’ of Cuba we have also incorporated visits to some of those special ‘out of the way’ places found all over the country.
This operator gives clients the option of offsetting carbon emissions on all of its holidays. In conjunction with Climate Friendly we have established an appropriate cash amount for each of our holidays, based on the type of transportation used and the distances travelled. This amount is donated to Climate Friendly and used to support new renewable energy projects that prevent greenhouse gases from entering our atmosphere. The amount required to offset this holiday is £5 - this does not include your international flight.
It is a beautiful country, with a long and turbulent history and after years of economic and political isolation, it is quickly emerging as one of the hottest travel destinations in the world. This is our most comprehensive journey in Cuba. It showcases the magnificent colonial cities of Havana, Trinidad and Santiago, and takes in the rugged rural beauty of the island’s interior. There’s plenty to do and see and while we have included many of the ‘icons’ of Cuba we have also incorporated visits to some of those special ‘out of the way’ places found all over the country.
This operator gives clients the option of offsetting carbon emissions on all of its holidays. In conjunction with Climate Friendly we have established an appropriate cash amount for each of our holidays, based on the type of transportation used and the distances travelled. This amount is donated to Climate Friendly and used to support new renewable energy projects that prevent greenhouse gases from entering our atmosphere. The amount required to offset this holiday is £5 - this does not include your international flight.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-3: | Havana. There is so much to see and do in this wonderful city. Your leader will help you explore 'Old Havana' on a walking tour and then you will have time to just wander. Catch a 1950s taxi and drive the length of the Malecon, enjoy the ballet or opera, pop into a dance bar and start moving and shaking those hips, and when the day is done head for Havana's Coppelia Ice Cream Pavilion and spoil yourself. |
| Day 4-6: | Santiago de Cuba We leave Havana and fly to Santiago de Cuba, synonymous with Fidel Castro and the revolution. It was from here that he led the struggle against the Batista regime. It is a city of museums, forts and - of course - music. It is the cradle of nearly all of the music genres of Cuba, a country that reveals its soul through its music. There's time here to take in all the highlights of Cuba's second largest city |
| Day 7: | Camaguey. We catch the bus to Camaguey, approximately halfway between Santiago de Cuba and Havana. Here, in this colonial city, you will see the giant tinajones - large ceramic vessels formerly used to collect rainwater from roofs. They are a symbol of old Camaguey and are used as decoration everywhere. |
| Day 8-10: | Trinidad Trinidad is a relic of the early days of the Spanish colony and was Diego Velazquez's base for expeditions into the 'New World'. The village was a centre of the slave trade and also a haven for smugglers until the late 18th century. Today, this peaceful village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and draws travellers from all over the world. Wander the cobbled-stone streets, checking out the churches and museums, and then enjoy a stop at the open air 'Casa de la Trova' and tap your feet to the excellent live Cuban music. Finally, the lovely beach of Ancon awaits you with its white sand and turquoise waters |
| Day 11: | Santa Clara. Next stop is Santa Clara in the heart of the sugar cane belt. The city is home to one of Cuba's biggest universities and is the resting place of revolutionary hero, Ernesto Che Guevara. No stop in Santa Clara is complete without a visit to the Revolution Plaza and the Che Guevara monument |
| Day 12-13: | Vinales. Travelling by bus we return to Havana and continue on to the picturesque village of Vinales, located in one of the most beautiful areas of Cuba. The valley is renowned for its mogotes (knolls with rounded tops) and steep slopes and the red earth contrasts deeply with the lush vegetation. In the village you can visit the cultural centre and the museum and later there's a visit to a local tobacco plantation to discover what makes Cuba's cigars so famous |
| Day 14: | Cayo Levisa. This morning we head to the sandy island of Cayo Levisa where we can unwind at the end of our holiday. Relaxing on stunning, unspoilt beaches and swimming and snorkelling in crystal clear waters is a great note to end your Cuban holiday on |
| Day 15: | Havana. We return to Havana where our trip ends |
travellers' tales
The overall highlight was getting to see a side of Cuba that's off the main tourist track and having a very informative local guide to fill you in on the facts of everyday Cuban life, as well as the more factual side of things. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.
Award winner
how this holiday makes a difference
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A heady mixture of music, dance and revolution combine to make Cuba a vibrant Afro-Latin culture. This culture is best accessed through a local Cuban leader who can give an intimate and first hand portrayal of his/her country. By employing local leaders, staying in locally owned accommodation and using local transport we are doing our bit to ensure that the local economy and the local people benefit from our small group holidays in Cuba.
For many years Cuba was cut off from the outside world so as the country begins to enjoy the benefits tourism can bring it is crucial that operators reject rampant development and instead conduct tours in a sustainable fashion within the existing infrastructure. This trip is focused on respecting and benefiting the local people and the environment of this country. On this trip you will be lead by an experienced local leader passionate about their country's history, heritage and natural beauty that will help you to get 'under the skin' of their country and see it through the eyes of a local. This trip stays at locally run accommodation; we eat at local restaurants and travel on local transport. This ensures the financial return to the local economy opens up training and employment opportunities - and allows for informal and meaningful interaction between our travellers and local people. We are constantly seeking new and innovative ways of neutralising our impact on the environment. We will become the first Australian adventure tour operator to offer a voluntary carbon offsetting option on the land component of all its tours, as well as the accompanying flights. Our Community Trust provides funds for local community projects and initiatives that promote responsible and sustainable tourism development in the destinations in which we operate. First and foremost, but not exclusively, the Trust supports projects and initiatives that advance education and employment within the tourism and hospitality industry. The Trust operates on a not-for-profit basis, with every cent of funds donated by us, our staff and our travellers, going to the nominated projects. The maximum group size on all of our adventures is 16 passengers – with exception of some African trips (24 max) and in the Polar Regions, where our ship carries a maximum of 110 passengers. Travelling in small groups ensures we make significantly less impact on the natural environment, as well as breaking down many of the communication barriers presented by a larger group. |
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. |