In depth tours to Cuba
| country: | Cuba |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 7 Jul, 4 Aug, 25 Aug, 22 Sep, 13 Oct, 3 Nov, 24 Nov, 15 Dec, 29 Dec 2009: 12 Jan, 26 Jan, 9 Feb, 23 Feb, 9 Mar, 23 Mar, 6 Apr, 18 May, 15 Jun |
| price: | From £1243 (14 days) including domestic flights only, as per the itinerary, based on twin share. We can arrange flights from the UK |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Our Cuban adventure starts in Havana where faded, colonial buildings and superbly restored baroque mansions cram the historical centre. Flying across the country we arrive in Santiago de Cuba, the nation’s second largest city, renowned for its laid-back lifestyle, music and rich mix of inhabitants.
From the mountain town of Topes de Collantes we hike in spectacular countryside before reaching the village of Trinidad with its fascinating historical centre and nearby sandy beaches. Having enjoyed a day's catamaran sail, we continue to Santa Clara to visit the Che Guevara memorial.
Next stop is Vinales, famous for its beautiful valley, sensational greenery, tobacco farms and limestone cliffs. Finally, we come to Cayo Levisa where we have time to unwind on beautiful beaches before returning to Havana. Includes tour leader, arrival transfer, accomodation (13 nights comfortable hotel), some meals (13 breakfast, 1 lunch), transport, sightseeing and entrance fees.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
From the mountain town of Topes de Collantes we hike in spectacular countryside before reaching the village of Trinidad with its fascinating historical centre and nearby sandy beaches. Having enjoyed a day's catamaran sail, we continue to Santa Clara to visit the Che Guevara memorial.
Next stop is Vinales, famous for its beautiful valley, sensational greenery, tobacco farms and limestone cliffs. Finally, we come to Cayo Levisa where we have time to unwind on beautiful beaches before returning to Havana. Includes tour leader, arrival transfer, accomodation (13 nights comfortable hotel), some meals (13 breakfast, 1 lunch), transport, sightseeing and entrance fees.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-3: | (Mon) Arrive in Havana and transfer to hotel. Sightseeing and free time to explore city. Walking around Havana is like being on the set of a Hollywood movie. 1950s and 1960s American cars cruise the wide boulevards while paint peels from glorious Spanish colonial buildings. Old men in straw hats puff on huge Cuban cigars as Cuban 'son' music fills the air - it's hard not to be drawn into this amazing atmosphere. |
| Day 4-5: | Morning flight to Santiago de Cuba, home of Afro-Cuban culture and rhythm. The city has a noticeable Caribbean flavour, thanks to the French planters and Haitians who settled here in the 19th century. Sightseeing and time for optional activities. |
| Day 6: | Continue to the historic town of Camaguey situated in the country's lush interior in countryside dotted with cattle farms, citrus and sugar plantations. |
| Day 7: | Travel to Topes del Collantes. Enjoy an afternoon hike along the beautiful Sendero Codina trail through spectacular countryside. |
| Day 8-9: | Drive to ancient town of Trinidad and explore the sights. Lined with cobblestone streets and colourful houses, Trinidad is easy to wander around and almost every scene is a superb photographic opportunity. Boat trip to Cayo Macho with seafood lunch. Cayo is renowned for its swimming, snorkelling, pristine white beaches and thick mangroves teaming with bird-life. |
| Day 10: | Drive to Santa Clara, the site of a major victory for Cuban revolutionaries. Visit the Che Guevara Monument and the armoured train. |
| Day 11-12: | Visit Las Terrazas Biosphere reserve. The community was conceived as a miniature city with basic facilities for its urban functioing with an architectural style that is designed to harmonise with the landscape. We travel to Vinales on day 12, a town surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in Cuba. We visit a cigar factory and find out why Cuban cigars are famous worldwide. |
| Day 13: | Continue to beautiful Cayo Levisa, a Caribbean paradise with 3km of white sand, vivid blue waters and home to one of the largest coral reefs in the world. Free time at the beach. |
| Day 14: | Return to Havana where our trip ends (Sun). |
travellers' tales
Enlightening, interesting, fascinating and a once in a life time thing. Go before the Fidel era passes on and this unique place changes forever, for good or bad depending on your politics. Put my life in perspective again. (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.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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See Cuba through the eyes of a local, as your Cuban tour leader gives you a first-hand insight into the exotic and colourful tapestry that makes up his or her homeland. By wandering around historic colonial towns, discovering secluded beaches and experiencing the rich cultural vibes that can be found in the people and their music, travellers are given an awareness of the valuable historical and traditional gems of Cuba and the importance of them being preserved, so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations. The people of Cuba certainly have a rich and enduring culture, which is unveiled on this tour. Equally important, your local tour leaders help you to understand the traditions of these proud people, ensuring you don’t commit any cultural ‘faux pas’.
To support tour programs in this part of the world this operator is training their tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, they are supporting local economies. This operator prefers to give their patronage to small owner-managed hotels rather than those from international chains, as they feel these places offer quality and character and also directly benefit local people. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities. |
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 lead 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. |