Western Cuba small group tour
“A comprehensive tour of Western Cuba’s cultural, natural and historical highlights, from colonial cities and Che Guevara, to an artist-filled eco village and, of course, a stunning Caribbean beach.”
Highlights
Tour of Havana in vintage car | Che’s Mausoleum in Santa Clara | Trinidad | Cienfuegos | Bay of Pigs | Girón Museum | Las Terrazas eco village | Viñales | Tobacco farm visit | Optional: Playa AncónDescription of Western Cuba small group tour
Many of Cuba’s most enticing highlights are crammed into its western side, with colonial cities, Che Guevara’s mausoleum, lush tobacco farms and gorgeous Caribbean beaches all within a few hours’ drive of each other. This Western Cuba small group tour spends 12 days exploring this region at a time when the country is in a time of great change and the “Latin socialist” experiment may be coming to an end. Staying in private family homes – known as casas particulares – along the way, reveals the realities of daily life on this intriguing island, and your tour leader will be able to help translate and share more insights into Cuba’s nature and culture.You’ll start in the evocative capital of Havana, whose peeling, pastel painted buildings are straight out of a film set, and the ubiquitous salsa and rumba rhythms provide the city’s own soundtrack. Head east to Santa Clara, resting place of Che Guevara, before arriving in the gorgeous colonial city of Trinidad. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a wonderfully atmospheric place to explore as part of your group or independently for a couple of days, with its cobbled streets and lively plaza. Free time allows you to take excursions into the nearby mountains or the palm-draped Playa Ancón beach. See the style change to French colonial in the city of Cienfuegos, known as the “Pearl of the South”.
Head west again to the eco village of Las Terrazas, surrounded by lush forests ideal for nature walks. Finally, arrive in the Valley of Viñales, surrounded by fertile farmland and towering limestone mogotes. Here, life slows down as fields are ploughed with oxen and horses and carts are used to carry the fresh produce down into the sleepy town. Return to Havana for final night on the town as you sip a mojito and soak up the atmosphere.
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Date
Price per adult
Basis
Status
02 Aug 2018
£ 2366
excluding flights
Available
27 Sep 2018
£ 2366
excluding flights
Available
08 Nov 2018
£ 2521
excluding flights
Available
27 Dec 2018
£ 2521
excluding flights
Available
Vouchers
Accepted
Vacation type
Small group adventure vacation
This trip is run by a company which specialises in only Central and South America vacations. Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travelers (depending on the trip and how many others are booked on it) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are traveling 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 travelers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places, whilst being led by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic leader.Responsible tourism
Responsible tourism: Western Cuba small group tour
Environment
We have the option to visit and support the conservation of the Topes de Collantes National Park in the Sierra Escambray, near Trinidad. By paying entrance fees and hiring local guides, we are encouraging the continued preservation and studies of this forested area and its wildlife.Our style of travel ensures that as many local people as possible benefit by our being there through our choice of transport, accommodation, excursions and meals. This tour runs with a maximum of 20 people which helps to minimise the impact on delicate environments.
Community
We endeavour to eat in ‘paladars’, private homes that serve tourists a hearty, local meal and provide an opportunity for Cubans to earn a living, or to supplement their income with dollars meaning they can buy many goods not available in local currency – clothes, toothpaste, shampoo etc. Clients joining this tour are encouraged (at their own discretion) to take gifts of such, everyday items which can be hard to come by in Cuba and are often very costly.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, who coexist 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.
3 Reviews of Western Cuba small group tour
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 02 May 2016 by Peter Davies
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
No one event or activity, just a general sense of relaxing by day, feasting and dancing by night, and general friendliness, both from the natives and within a lovely group of people. Plus we had an award-winning tour guide in Rayselis.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Go with the flow
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Great company, great food & drink, great music and dancing, great countryside
Reviewed on 18 Jan 2016 by Mark Pitt
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The Casa Particulares stays in Trinidad & Viñales
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be Prepared for the lack of internet !!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent and very memorable!
Reviewed on 10 Mar 2011 by Anthony Haugh
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Cuban Music, variety of venues.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The daily outlay during the first eight days was under budget, on reaching the final destination in Havana it went over budget. Be prepared.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Would agree that the use of Paladars fed money back into the community. No perceived heavy impact on the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Very highly. It was extremely varied always interesting. The tour guide, Bill Hill was exemplary, he provided excellent local knowledge and demonstrated a high commitment to each individuals needs, going the extra mile if any one had a need. The selected itinerary gave a varied look at central and west Cuba. I found it well paced and fascinating. Well done to the tour operator.
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