Small group tour to Western Cuba
| country: | Cuba | ||||
| location: | Western Cuba | ||||
| departures: | This tour departs every Sunday depending on availability. Minimum of 2 people for guaranteed departure | ||||
| price: | From US $495 (8 days) excluding flights + local payment CUC $200 (approx £126)
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| more info: | Price includes accommodation, transport, breakfasts and local guide throughout. Children under 9 half price, under 4 go free | ||||
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
introduction to Small group tour to Western Cuba
A relaxing week-long tour offering a taste of Cuba's famous white sand beaches and spectacular scenery through the "Garden Province" of Cuba. The remote and beautiful beach destination of María La Gorda sits within the Guanahacabibes Park, which UNESCO has declared a Biosphere Reserve. It is rated by many as Cuba's best diving destination. Viñales offers a charming village atmosphere, and some stunning mountainous scenery, sprawling tobacco fields and friendly locals. A local Cuban tour guide accompanies the group throughout.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Havana. Arrive in Havana at any time. Today is the arrival day of the tour so there are no planned activities and you can check into the hotel and relax or go and explore the city. |
| Day 2: | Viñales. This small and culturally rich village offers a wide variety of outdoor activities. This is where you will get your first experience staying with a Cuban family. |
| Day 3: | Viñales. Exploring caves, hiking, biking, horseback riding or simply enjoying the views of the valley and sprawling tobacco fields. |
| Day 4: | María La Gorda. Travel further west to the isolated and serene María La Gorda. It is located on the western tip of Cuba, within the UNESCO declared Biosphere Reserve of the Guanahacabibes Peninsula. The area is filled with legends of pirates, old cannons and buried treasures. |
| Day 5: | María La Gorda. Maria La Gorda is famed for its clear seabed where you may see many species of coral and tropical fish. Some of the best snorkelling in Cuba! Enjoy the water, the beach and the amazing sunsets in this Cuban paradise. Some guided treks are also options through the surrounding forest to spot deer and birds such as the world's smallest - the zunzuncito (bee-hummingbird). |
| Day 6: | Soroa. Heading back to Havana we stop for the night at the mountain resort town of Soroa. There are quite a few attractions around this heavily forested area including a short trek to a waterfall, a steep walk to a lookout and a very impressive orchid garden. |
| Day 7: | Havana. One of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere, Havana was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Adventure among the splendorous crumbling architecture of the streets of old Havana and sit on the famous sea wall (El Malecon) to take in the view and some fresh air, and to socialise with the colourful and friendly 'Habaneros'. |
| Day 8: | Havana. Departure day. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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Community
This tour is lead by a local Cuban guide who will give you an insight into the complex Cuban history and society. The guide will demonstrate how this unique country has managed to resist many of the negative impacts of North American culture, influence, and capitalism, and how it has achieved significant social goals, and at the same time, show you the short-comings of the present system. We encourage travellers to eat at local restaurants, roadside eateries, street vendors and market stalls to enjoy the 'real' Cuban experience. We actively promote small family-run legally registered homestays - where you will get to see how typical Cubans live, observe their way of life, and participate in their culture. Nearly all of the accommodation is in the homes of Cuban families. You will get the chance to visit government run local community projects such as the 'organoponicos' (urban based community organic produce gardens), local schools and ration stores. Gifts such as ballpoints, soap and shampoo etc are encouraged to leave as small gifts in farms and rural areas. We gladly make stops at local schools to donate pencils, pens and any other useful materials. You can collect clothes, shoes and toiletries to donate to a Cuban organization, which supports people from the countryside with no resources. You can also leave clothes, mountain shoes, medical kits, fishing equipment, cycling gear, running shoes, toiletries or other articles with your local guides after your tours. Environment The maximum group size of this tour is limited to 12 travellers which enables us to more easily interact with the Cubans and to visit their homes and places of work and play, and which minimizes our impact on the environment. |
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. |
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