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8
A lively cultural week featuring the Island's must-see highlights and traditional homestays
Land only clients will meet the group at the start hotel.Accommodation: Hotel Capri or Hotel Victoria (or similar)
Today we travel to Vinales Valley, in the west of Cuba. Famous for its rolling tobacco plantations and collection of limestone karsts dotted along the valley, it's not hard to see why Vinales was awarded UNESCO World Heritage site status. Joined by a local resident we walk through the 'Valley of Silence' to soak up rural Cuban life as farmers tend to their crops using traditional farming methods. We'll also visit a tobacco farm to learn about one of the island's most famous exports and meet with a local tobacco farmer to help understand the growing process. After checking into our overnight accommodation in Casa Particulares, we visit an organic farm in the hills of Viñales for a sunset dinner overlooking the valley.Accommodation: Casa Particulares
This morning we set off on a long drive eastward to Cienfuegos. We stop for lunch at the Bay of Pigs at a small beachfront restaurant with a large Cuban welcome. The speciality here is fresh fish caught by local fisherman just off the coast. Time permitting, you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea. This region of the Zapata Peninsula is a National Park and swamp providing a habitat for some of the most important bird species in Cuba. We are joined by a local nature expert who will introduce us to the natural landscape and characteristics of the area. We will also have some time to explore the Giron Museum, which exhibits items from the failed invasion by CIA-backed Cuban Americans. Afterwards we will carry on our transfer to Cienfuegos. The city of Cienfuegos is full of architectural delights and Cuban spirit, with a beautiful main square and restored buildings. On arrival we check into our casas for the night. Tonight, we enjoy a Cuban themed evening which will include Cuban music, delicious roast pork, rum and dominoes prepared by our fabulous host Lily.Today's travel time is approx. 7 hours.Accommodation: Casa Particulares
This morning we will start by having a city tour on Bici Taxis. One of the best ways to get around is by Bici Taxi, a fun tour using Cuba’s eco-friendly and typical city transport. Each Bici Taxi can accommodate two people and will be pedalled by a local resident (most of whom like to introduce their guests to reggaeton music!) The Bici Taxi tour is a great time to talk to local Cienfuegos residents and have a go at practising your Spanish.Afterwards we depart Cienfuegos and drive down the coast to Trinidad. Trinidad has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988 and is perhaps the best-preserved colonial town on the island. Exploring Trinidad can feel like entering a time warp, its colourful, cobbled streets and horse drawn transportation whisking us back. There are many interesting museums housed in old colonial buildings and music drifts through the streets and plazas, bringing the town to life. We have a walking tour with a local resident who will give us an insider perspective of what it’s like to live in Trinidad. The tour of the city will also include a visit to the ‘Casa Templo de Santaria de Yemaya’ where we will find out about the Santeria Afro-Cuban religion.We'll stay overnight in charming Casa Particulares, private Bed and Breakfast accommodation in local Cuban houses. Our dinner this evening will be at a private paladar where a local collective of musicians will perform interpretations of classic Cuban trova songs. This is sure to be a lively evening and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy Cuban music with its distinct rhythms.Accommodation: Casa Particulares
This morning we transfer to Playa Ancon making a short stop to visit the picturesque fishing village of La Boca. This is a popular spot with local fishermen, who we will meet and get a chance to speak to about the fishing industry in Cuba. Then we will carry on to Playa Ancon and enjoy some time on the beach. It is a great place to swim or you can simply just dip your toes and relax. Afterwards we have an authentic Cuban lunch prepared for us. Back in Trinidad we join the Santander family and enjoy a pottery-making class. Here we will learn the skills that have been passed down by several generations of this Cuban family before making our very own pottery with the guidance of a family member. Also this afternoon we meet a Cuban barman who is an expert at making the perfect mojito! They will give a mojito making lesson and everyone in the group will have a go at mixing their own in the authentic Cuban way. Afterwards we’ll take part in a salsa class with Cuban dance partners. There will be one dance partner for each member of the group, to assist with teaching the correct salsa moves. Trinidad is known for its nightlife, so after we’ve learnt the basics of salsa we’ll go to the town’s ‘Casa de la Trova’ live music venue to listen to local musicians playing authentic Cuban music. This venue is always lively and sociable, with plenty of local Cuban’s keen to let us practice our dancing with them! Accommodation: Casa Particulares
After breakfast we will visit a traditional embroidery project in Trinidad which showcases traditional embroidery project in Trinidad.As we have a long transfer today, we will bring packed lunches with us from the hotel. Leaving Trinidad we head to Manaca Iznaga, where we learn about the sugar growing history surrounding the Valle de los Ingenios, a hugely important industry for Cuba during the 18th and 19th centuries.We will also visit an idyllic country farmhouse run by a charming couple, a botanist and farmer. On the property they grow medicinal plants, fruit, and have a small coffee plantation. As well as being welcomed into their house for a ‘cafecito’ we’ll have a short walk around the property with the owners, learning about small-scale agriculture techniques and industry in rural Cuba.Our next stop is Santa Clara, the site of the last battle of the Cuban Revolution in December 1958, just before Fidel Castro took Havana. Che Guevara and his troops ambushed an armoured train carrying arms to Santiago de Cuba and this was a major turning point in the Revolution. We visit the Mausoleum of Che Guevara and his comrades who died in Bolivia before driving back to Havana for dinner at a private paladar.Today's travel time is approx. 5 hoursAccommodation: Hotel Capri or Hotel Victoria (or similar)
This morning we set off for a walking tour of old and new Havana, Cuba's capital and the largest city in the Caribbean. Havana is a busy, bustling, energetic capital. The area of Old Havana is often described as a living museum, with its marvellous monuments, cathedrals and palaces. This is the finest surviving Spanish colonial complex in the Americas. Preserved by a combination of minimal war damage, post-revolution restoration work and the millions of dollars invested since it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. During our tour we visit a ration store, food market and artisan market.There is no better way to see Havana than by classic car, and so in the early evening we continue our tour of the capital in style, travelling in immaculately looked after classic cars in vibrant colours. Visiting both the old and new areas of the city, we discover the distinct neighbourhoods of the capital, stopping at points of interest for explanations and stories. Feel free to ask questions about why the streets of Cuba are filled with classic American cars manufactured in the 1950’s and how on earth the owners manage to maintain them!Accommodation: Hotel Capri or Hotel Victoria (or similar)
This morning is free to relax or do some last minute sightseeing in Havana's old town before those on group flights transfer to the airport in the afternoon.
4 nights Casas Particulares and 3 nights hotels Travel by comfortable
air-conditioned private coachSome long journeys
All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners included.Cuba is not renowned for its
culinary excellence and some ingredients are just not possible to get hold of
(due in no small part to the long trade embargo implemented by the US). As
such, flavours tend to be relatively simple, with most mealtimes consisting
of meat or fish accompanied by rice and salad/vegetables. Seafood is widely
available on the coast, including cheap and abundant lobster! Vegetarians
will probably find they have the most limited choice. Snack food is not
freely available in Cuba so you may wish to consider taking some with
you.Paladares are likely to be a highlight of any visit to Cuba - they are
one of the few types of private enterprise allowed (although still heavily
regulated), where families or entrepreneurs are allowed to set up a
restaurant. The atmosphere this creates and opportunity to integrate with
local Cubans will no doubt enhance your stay! We recommend that you allow CUC
30 pp per day for the lunches and evening meals on the days where food is not
included.Drinking water will be provided on the coach. Please bring your own
refillable water bottles.
4 nights Casas Particulares and 3 nights hotels Travel by comfortable
air-conditioned private coachSome long journeys
In this itinerary we travel in the comfort of a private air-conditioned
coach. Journey times are kept to a minimum where possible. The longest
journey on this trip is 7 hours on day 3, and there is another long distance
to cover on day 6. Travel times can vary depending on traffic and
weather.During our time in Cuba we stay in some of the most characteristic
destinations on the island, including Havana, Trinidad, Cienfuegos and
Vinales. Along the way we have a salsa class, learn about Cuba's fascinating
revolutionary history and current communist system and walk in the
countryside of Vinales Valley.Please be aware that mobile networks don’t
make or receive calls particularly well in Cuba, and coverage may not be
available in many locations. 4G was introduced in Cuba in October 2019 for
the first time but not all phone networks work in Cuba, so please check with
your service provider. Also please note that few hotels have Wi-Fi. Some will
have internet in their lobby, and you will also find some Wi-Fi spots in the
main plazas in towns. Using the internet in Cuba is relatively expensive,
around 1-3 CUC per hour and you have to purchase WiFi scratch cards at either
official shops or at some hotels, often you'll encounter long queues. Wi-Fi
can be very slow, so it’s best to assume that you won’t be able to find a
reliable internet connection whilst travelling.Over the years we have built
strong working relationships with suppliers and we have managed to prevent
any major problems from affecting our groups. Nevertheless, all travellers
should be aware that last minute hotel cancellations are a possibility and
could affect your trip, especially during the high season in Havana (Oct to
March). In the event of any necessary changes we will endeavour to ensure a
property of the same standard and similar location is used. On some occasions
an overnight hotel stay may be replaced with a night in a casa, or vice
versa.In addition to being prepared for potential last minute hotel changes,
it is possible that you will be confronted by other minor frustrations whilst
travelling in Cuba. We encourage all travellers to go with an open mind, and
with realistic expectations at what a visit to Cuba entails. If your guide
announces a change of plans then please be assured that everything possible
has been done behind the scenes in order to make satisfactory alternative
arrangements. Please note: As an American owned company, Exodus programmes
to Cuba are fully compliant with the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset
Control (OFAC) general license for Support for the Cuban People travel.
Casas Particulares and HotelsYou will spend 4 nights casas particulares and 3 nights hotels.For the
majority of the trip we will stay in casa particulares, with en suite
bathrooms. We use standard hotels that range from 3 star equivalents to
simple guesthouses. Rooms are on a twin-share basis, with air-conditioning
and en suite bathrooms. Some of the hotels will have swimming pools. You
should be aware that occasional power cuts occur and hot water supplies are
not always guaranteed.Casas Particulares - All of our Cuban itineraries
include staying in privately-run 'Casas Particulares' in at least one
destination as an alternative to staying in standard hotels. These are
traditional Cuban properties that have been renovated into guesthouses. All
rooms have en suite bathrooms, hot and cold water, air-conditioning, and
breakfast is included. Water pressure can be temperamental, and decor is
variable! The houses that we use will be in close vicinity whenever possible,
and we do our best to ensure that those in single room accommodation are
always within a house where other Exodus clients are staying. However this
cannot be guaranteed in all cases.All properties that we use have been
inspected and assessed by our local operator in Cuba. Some are large
multi-room houses that are home to entire families, others are run by
individuals, and in some cases the owners live elsewhere.
The trip is led by an English-speaking Cuban guide, accompanied by a driver.
All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners included.Cuba is not renowned for its
culinary excellence and some ingredients are just not possible to get hold of
(due in no small part to the long trade embargo implemented by the US). As
such, flavours tend to be relatively simple, with most mealtimes consisting
of meat or fish accompanied by rice and salad/vegetables. Seafood is widely
available on the coast, including cheap and abundant lobster! Vegetarians
will probably find they have the most limited choice. Snack food is not
freely available in Cuba so you may wish to consider taking some with
you.Paladares are likely to be a highlight of any visit to Cuba - they are
one of the few types of private enterprise allowed (although still heavily
regulated), where families or entrepreneurs are allowed to set up a
restaurant. The atmosphere this creates and opportunity to integrate with
local Cubans will no doubt enhance your stay! We recommend that you allow CUC
30 pp per day for the lunches and evening meals on the days where food is not
included.Drinking water will be provided on the coach. Please bring your own
refillable water bottles.
We use a private, air-conditioned coach throughout the tour.
Travelling flight inclusive from London: 9 DaysThe group flight from London
is a daytime flight departing on Day 1 of the itinerary.Flights from
LondonWe normally use the scheduled services of Virgin Atlantic (depending
on availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we
recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to
confirm up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later
date and cannot be confirmeduntil approximately two weeks before
departure.Travelling land only: 8 days starting and ending in HavanaYour trip
normally starts at our accommodation in Havana in the afternoon of Day 1 of
the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided in the
Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two weeks before
departure.Accommodation check‐in times are normally from around 4pm.
The dry season runs from November through to April (with December to March
being the peak holiday months for traditional style tourism). It is very
humid between May and October, with heavy rains at times and the possibility
of hurricanes. July and August are some of the most popular months to visit
Cuba by sun-seekers from Europe and Canada but are extremely hot (average
28ºC) and wet. Cuba has an average of 6 hours sunshine per day with a more
or less constant humidity of 62%. Water temperature normally ranges from
24ºto 28ºC.
Refillable water bottle (1-2 litre
capacity)SunglassesSunhatSunscreenWaterproof rain poncho or waterproofsShort
trousersTrainersSwimming gearTorchInsect repellentHand sanitiserAt time of
writing the standard weight limit for hold baggage on the recommended
international carrier for this trip is 23kg. We recommend packing only one
piece of checked baggage.As advice about luggage allowances for both hand and
hold luggage is subject to change, we suggest you check the
airline's website for the latest information prior to your departure.
It is a good idea to bring some light clothes which cover the legs and arms
to wear in the evenings: this will help to prevent the mosquitoes
biting.DonationsIf you would like to bring items to Cuba in order to donate,
then items that are welcomed include: good condition second-hand clothes
and children's shoes, second-hand mobile phones with chargers, school
stationery such as pens/pencils/notebooks, toiletries, and small gifts such
as toys or balls. Rather thanspending lots of money, it is a good opportunity
to find new homes for unused goods. We cannot guarantee that
every departure will feature a scheduled stop at a school or
community project, but if you bring items with you then the group leader
will assist you by offering advice on where to take your donation. Sanitary
items, known locally as 'intimas', are on the ration list for Cubans and are
often very hard to come by. If you would like to pack some sanitary towels
in your luggage these will be hugely appreciated and can be passed on to
your guide who will distribute to good homes with the help of our local
operational partners in Cuba.
Drinks are generally around CUP 75-150. Supplies and shopping is very
limited.Please note that most travellers find Cuba more expensive than they
expect and we recommend that you bring more spending money rather than
less!
If you are happy with the services of the guide and driver, we recommend a
tip of around 750 CUP per person, which you can divide in favour of the
guide.Tipping is at your own discretion but is very much part of the culture
in Cuba and is usually expected. Your tour leader will offer to arrange and
look after a group tipping kitty which will be used to tip local guides at
individual museums and attractions, musicians and waiting staff for included
meals etc. throughout the holiday. The guide will usually collect around 250
CUP from each group member at the start of the trip to cover this.Tipping is
also expected in restaurants - add about 10% to the bill.
Travel insuranceSingle accommodation (available on request)Visas or
vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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