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Family adventure holiday to Cuba

country:Cuba
departures:2010: 14 Jul, 18 Aug
2011: 13 Apr, 13 Jul, 17 Aug
price:From £1965 - £2045 (16 days) per adult and from £1855 - £1935 per child including flights from the UK. From £1145 - £1195 per adult and from £1145 - £1195 per child excluding flights. Minimum age 11 yrs
vouchers:Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
 
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the amazing things you'll be doing
  • Experience old Havana from the backseat of a 1950s American car
  • Overnight in cabins in the rainforest & swim in jungle pools
  • Explore local markets, take salsa lessons & chill out on the beach

    Saucy Salsa
    Arriving in Havana, one of the most vibrant of Caribbean cities, we jump into 1950s American cars and cruise round old Havana - the only way to see the sights of this amazing Latin capital. Laid-back and slow-moving by day, Cuba comes alive in the evenings as it moves to the salsa rhythms. After practicing some moves this afternoon with our teacher, our night is topped off with a loud and colourful salsa show - viva Cuba!.

    Captivating Caribbean
    Leaving Havana behind us, we head west to the rural landscapes of Pinar del Rio province where we will walk amongst limestone 'mogotes' before heading into the jungle where we can swim in tropical pools, shower under waterfalls and 'get away from it all' at our cabin retreat in the hills. There's also the chance to fly on a zip wire or go horse-riding along the forest trails (optional). At Guajimico, our Caribbean base, we discover the nearby sleepy town of Trinidad and have more time for sea and beach-based optional activities.

    Life's a Beach
    Before heading to the coast, we pause in the beautiful natural reserve at Topes de Collantes, where hummingbirds are frequently sighted amongst the lush green landscape of forest clad hills and picturesque falls. Camping out for 2 nights at haciendas we get to experience the wild side of Cuba. We then drive via Che's mausoleum at Santa Clara to our beach retreat at Cayo Las Brujas - set on a strip of golden sand, we spend our final days of the trip swimming and snorkelling in the warm waters of the turquoise seas.
  • day-by-day itinerary
    Day 1:Fly London/Havana.
    Day 2:In Havana; cruise around in an American car, salsa lessons.
    Day 3:Drive Vinales and walk through 'Mogotes'.
    Day 4:Free day in Vinales for optional activities.
    Day 5:Bus to Las Terrazas; jungle walk to cabins.
    Day 6:In Las Terrazas; optional zip wires and swimming.
    Day 7:Drive via Bay of Pigs to Guajimico.
    Day 8:Visit Trinidad; afternoon of optional activities by the Caribbean.
    Day 9:Bus to Topes de Collantes; walk to caves.
    Day 10:In Topes de Collantes; walk to waterfall.
    Day 11:Drive via Santa Clara to Cayo las Brujas.
    Day 12-13:On Cayo Las Brujas.
    Day 14:Fly Havana.
    Day 15:Fly London.
    Day 16:Arrive London.
    small group family holiday - teen
    This is a 'small group family adventure' - specifically for families with teenagers. They are imaginative, fun and challenging itineraries, designed specifically with teenagers in mind. The minimum age on these Teenage tours is 11 (‘teen’ used with poetic licence!) and 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 family to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is also some flexibility and you'll have plenty of time to yourselves.
    award winner
    This tourism business won an Award in our 2008 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Daily Telegraph, World Travel Market, Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society and BBC World News.

    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
    Community
    On our family tour to Cuba we take the chance to visit the lesser-known destination of Topes de Collantes where we sleep under the stars and stay at a hacienda hosted by the local community. They cook wholesome local food for us and also provide the guides that we use on our walks in the area. By staying at the hacienda we support local people directly and use minimal resources when compared to staying at a hotel. The night in the hacienda is always listed as a highlight of the tour by our customers as they have a chance for interaction with the locals, which is often much harder in larger cities.

    We use a local tour leader which not only ensures we maximise the income and employment opportunities for local people, but also that we get first hand information on life in Cuba. Our ground handling agent in Cuba is locally owned and run and the majority of the hotels we stay in are locally run and not part of a chain of hotels or other large conglomerates that dominate tourism in Cuba. We also encourage our groups to eat in small Paladars run by the locals. Due to food rationing food is more limited in the Paladars compared to the hotel restaurants, however by eating in them it not only supports the local economy but also gives our customers a real insight into the realities of Cuban life.

    Environment
    As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost.

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    'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

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