Cuba small group tour
| country: | Cuba |
| departures: | 2010: 23 Jan, 13 Feb, 6 Mar, 3 Apr, 29 May, 19 Jun, 30 Oct, 25 Dec |
| price: | From £1998 - £2398 (10 days) including flights from the UK. Price depends on departure. Minimum age 12. |
| more info: | 2010 price: From £1778 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Cuba small group tour Travel around the highlights of the western side of island and experience the Real Cuba and its people. We use popular home stays to support the locals and to gain an insight into Cuban life. The tour explores the unique capital of Havana, the verdant fertile valley of Vinales, and the UNESCO colonial gem of Trinidad. We also visit the unspoilt ecotourism area of Las Terrazas, and the resting place of Che Guevara. On the journey, we will pass through tropical unspoilt and pristine scenery and will get to experience Cuba’s infamous and infectious music and dance.
Highlights of our Cuba small group tour:
An insight into traditional, colonial and rural Cuba in just one week! Staying and eating in family homes to familiarise yourself with Cuban life and benefit local people. Explore the evocative UNESCO colonial heart of Old Havana. Stroll around the unspoilt verdant fertile valley of Vinales. Relax in the colonial tranquillity of the UNESCO gem, Trinidad, with its Caribbean beaches and nearby mountains.
Style of travel
We stay in a mixture of simple hotels with private bathrooms, and private homes where it is sometimes necessary to share facilities. Transport is a mixture of private and public vehicles.
A few days to spare?
If you have a few days to spare, we can arrange extensions to the beginning or end of this tour, on a private basis. You may like to end your trip with a beach wind down on one of Cuba’s pristine coastlines. Our experts can advise and help you chose the extension most suitable for you.
Highlights of our Cuba small group tour:
Style of travel
We stay in a mixture of simple hotels with private bathrooms, and private homes where it is sometimes necessary to share facilities. Transport is a mixture of private and public vehicles.
A few days to spare?
If you have a few days to spare, we can arrange extensions to the beginning or end of this tour, on a private basis. You may like to end your trip with a beach wind down on one of Cuba’s pristine coastlines. Our experts can advise and help you chose the extension most suitable for you.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Day flight to Havana |
| Day 2: | Walking tour of the colonial heart of Old Havana and time to explore the capital. |
| Day 3-4: | Explore the lush valleys of Vinales: Included walks and options for visiting some of the region’s many caves, walking or go horseback riding. |
| Day 5: | Discover the beautiful ecotourism area of Las Terrazas, and overnight in Santa Clara. |
| Day 6: | Visit Che Guevara’s memorial site, then travel through the peaceful Valley of the Sugar mills to Trinidad. Walking tour of Trinidad. |
| Day 7: | Optional hikes, snorkelling and beaches around the UNESCO world heritage site of Trinidad. |
| Day 8: | Return to Havana, via the charming town of Cienfuegos. |
| Day 9: | More time to explore Havana before evening flight home. |
| Day 10: | Arrive UK. |
small group adventure holiday
This trip is run by a company which specialises in only Central and South America holidays. Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip and how many others are booked on it) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone, with your partner 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, whilst being led by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic leader. how this holiday makes a difference
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Community
Much of the accommodation on this Cuba small group tour is in private Cuban houses, known as casas particulares. Many Cubans open their homes to visitors to supplement their income with dollars meaning they can buy many goods not available in local currency, such as clothes, toothpaste, shampoo etc. Similarly, we also endeavour to eat in ‘paladars’, private homes that serve tourists a hearty, local meal and provide an opportunity for Cubans to earn a living. We visit and support the community project of Las Terrazas in the Sierra del Rosario UNESCO biosphere reserve. This is Cuba’s premier centre for ecotourism, which offers the chance to get a little bit closer to the local community, which coexists harmoniously with their surroundings. The model community was set up as part of a reforestation project and also as a scheme to promote self sufficiency and education in rural areas. Environment We have the option to visit and support the conservation area of Topes de Collantes National Park in the Sierra Escambray. By paying entrance fees and hiring local guides, we are encouraging the continued preservation and studies of the areas. Our style of travel ensures that as many local people as possible benefit by our being there. This tour runs with a maximum of 16 people which helps to minimise the impact on delicate environments. Clients joining this Cuba small group tour are encouraged (at their own discretion) to take gifts of everyday items which can be hard to come by in Cuba and are often very costly. |
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. |