Small group tour to Cuba
| country: | Cuba | ||||
| departures: | This tour departs on each Sunday of the month depending on availability. Minimum of 2 people for guaranteed departure | ||||
| price: | From US $1,475 (22 days) excluding flights + local payment CUC $450 (approx £285)
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| more info: | Price includes accommodation, domestic flights, 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 Cuba
The 22 day complete Cuba tour is a combination of our 15 day tour - our most long-standing itinerary which packs into 2 weeks what we consider the most fascinating elements of this unique country, and our 8 day western Cuba tour - a relaxing week-long tour offering a taste of Cuba's famous white sand beaches and spectacular scenery through the "Garden Province" of Cuba. If you have the time, we highly recommend this trip to travel the entire length of the island to discover its fascinating diversity. As well as visiting many of Cuba's natural and historic highlights, our focus is on contact with the Cuban people and their culture.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive in 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: | Santa Clara. Upon entering Santa Clara, there is a huge statue of Ernesto Ché Guevara, to commemorate his death and that of the revolutionaries who were murdered along with him in Bolivia. There is also a museum here dedicated to his amazing life. This is where you will get your first experience staying with a Cuban family. |
| Day 3: | Trinidad. After a short bus ride we reach the Caribbean Sea and the colonial city of Trinidad, which is home to numerous churches and many beautiful colonial buildings. |
| Day 4: | Trinidad. The nightlife in Trinidad is probably the most accessible and intense in all of Cuba, with numerous live music venues and many dance performances every day of the week, all amongst the enchanting setting of old colonial buildings and the cobblestone streets. |
| Day 5: | Valle de los Ingenios. We are near the lovely Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of Sugarmills) and Playa Ancón, where you can enjoy long stretches of unspoiled, white sand beaches. Scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming in waterfalls and horse-riding are other optional activities. |
| Day 6: | Camaguey. Designed in the 17th century to disorientate potential invaders such as pirates and plunderers, so the street layout is a jumble of narrow alleys where no two streets are parallel. There are large parks, various private art galleries and a thriving market garden. |
| Day 7: | Santiago de Cuba. Santiago de Cuba is known as the “cradle of the Revolution” and is home to much of Cuba’s famed music, like the Son. There are also museums, colonial churches and buildings of more recent historical importance, such as the Moncada Barracks, which are well worth exploring. |
| Day 8: | Santiago de Cuba. Further explore this very vibrant traditional music scene, which will entice even the shyest dancer out to experiment with some salsa moves. Culturally, Santiago has a different feel to the rest of Cuba, undoubtedly coming from the mix of French speaking slaves from Haiti and its proximity to Jamaica. |
| Day 9: | Baracoa. A spectacular drive along the coast and through lush mountains of eastern Cuban, brings us to Cuba’s first colonial capital. Christopher Columbus noted that this was the most beautiful land that human eyes could set upon. You will understand what he meant when you see the beaches and verdant mountain landscape that surround Baracoa. |
| Day 10: | Baracoa. Situated on a beautiful bay with the mountains of the Sierra del Purial in the background, there are numerous options for outdoor activities in the nearby mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches. There is wide variety of delicious seafood available. |
| Day 11: | Baracoa. A free day to get involved with some of the optional activities. |
| Day 12: | Baracoa to Havana. Take a domestic flight from Baracoa to Havana and enjoy a free afternoon in the city. |
| Day 13: | Havana. Make the most of a full 3 day stay in the Caribbean's largest and most exciting urban concentration. One of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere, Havana was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Options are to take a walking tour of the Old town with a local guide or to find your own adventure. |
| Day 14: | Havana. Free day in the city. |
| Day 15: | Havana. Free day in the city. |
| Day 16: | Viñales. It's a pleasant 3 hour bus ride to Viñales. Surrounded by picturesque limestone pincushion hills (mogotes), this small and culturally rich village, offers friendly and welcoming residents and wide variety of outdoor activities. |
| Day 17: | Viñales. Exploring caves, hiking, biking, horseback riding or simply enjoying the views of the valley and sprawling tobacco fields are all options. Stay with a Cuban family and sample the seasonal fruit and vegetables. |
| Day 18: | María La Gorda. Travelling further west, we spend 2 nights and 1 day at 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 19: | María La Gorda. Snorkel right off the beach in a clear seabed where you may see many species of coral and tropical fish. 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 20: | 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 a very impressive orchid garden. |
| Day 21: | Havana. We return to Havana for the final night of the tour. |
| Day 22: | 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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