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A lively cultural week featuring the Island's must-see highlights and traditional homestays
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. *Casas 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. There are some great paladares in town and the 'malecon' is usually a lively place to soak up the atmosphere with locals. Today's travel time is approx. 7 hours. *Casas 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, stopping at Rancho La Vega farm en route. During our visit we will have time to enjoy some fruit drinks or coffees. 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, before visiting the Santander Family and their artisan pottery workshop. There will be the opportunity to have a go under the direction of this skilled Cuban family. 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. *Casas Particulares *
Today we visit 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 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! *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 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 hours *Standard Hotel*
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! *Standard Hotel*
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 coach
* Some long journeys
All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 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 coach
* Some 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 People to People travel.
Casas Particulares and Hotels
You 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 3 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 Days*
The group flight from London is a daytime flight departing on Day 1 of the
itinerary.
*Flights from London*
We 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 confirmed
until approximately two weeks before departure.
*Travelling land only: 8 days starting and ending in Havana*
Your 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)
Sunglasses
Sunhat
Sunscreen
Waterproof rain poncho or waterproofs
Short trousers
Trainers
Swimming gear
Torch
Insect repellent
Hand sanitiser
At 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.
*Donations*
If 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 than
spending 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 CUC 1‐5. 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 30 CUC 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 10
CUC 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 insurance
* Single 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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