Current as of: May 15, 2024 - 02:19
Current as of: May 15, 2024 - 02:19
1 out of 7 - Leisurely
You already know the headlines: vintage cars and premium cigars; punchy rum and revolutionary icons; salsa rhythms and minty mojitos. The whole truth, however, is far more evocative and eye-opening. This immersive trip captures the very best of Cuba, while also uniting you with the people to hear their tales and witness first-hand what life is like on this beautiful yet complex Caribbean island.
Highlights
This trip has been rated Activity Level 1 (Leisurely). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.
Pace: This is a busy itinerary with plenty of activities each day, but all participants with a reasonable level of fitness can take part.
Walks: There is a short walk on Day 8 of the trip to see the Monument to the Runaway Slave. This walk is steep and can be hot (there is no shade on the route), and appropriate footwear for walking should be used. There is a 4.3mi (7km) hike on Day 9 to see Fidel Castro and Che Guevara’s mountain hideout in the Sierra Maestra mountain range. This is a moderate hike that we do not recommend for people with mobility issues – it is possible to miss the hike and rejoin the group afterwards.
Understanding Cuba: Cuba’s famously turbulent history and economic stagnation has resulted in daily difficulties: supermarket shelves can be bare, finding a working ATM is often tricky and wifi is unreliable. However, our tour leader helps to unravel the nuances and red tape of island life, allowing you to truly absorb this fascinating destination. We strongly recommend reading the Trip Notes carefully, there’s plenty of information in there that will enhance your experience!
Transport: We travel in a private air-conditioned coach. The longest journey is seven hours on Day 3, and there is another long distance to cover on Days 4 and 6. Travel times can vary depending on traffic and weather.
Phone signal: Phone networks don’t make or receive calls particularly well in Cuba, and coverage may not be available in many locations. There is 4G but not all phone networks work in Cuba, so please check with your service provider before travel. Data roaming from your home network can be incredibly expensive – we recommend switching this off. There are several ways to connect to the internet using a mobile device, but it’s best not to expect a reliable internet connection. Most casas particulares have free wifi which, while much slower than your usual connection, is adequate for keeping in touch with friends and family via WhatsApp or email. If you have time, you could consider buying a Cuban sim card so you can access roaming; however, service is slow and it may take a couple of hours to buy and register your sim card.
The trip is led by an English-speaking Cuban guide, accompanied by a driver.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 16
We fly to Havana, the lively capital of Cuba, where we check into our first casas particulares of the trip. Today is all about settling in and unwinding after your flight. The welcome briefing typically takes place tomorrow.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Welcome to Havana, the lively capital of Cuba. Founded by the Spanish in the 16th century, it is now a soulful mix of colonial architecture, street troubadours and classic cars. We check into our first casas particulares of the trip; today is all about settling in and unwinding after your flight. The welcome briefing typically takes place tomorrow.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
This morning, we have a tour of Old Havana, stopping at El Capitolio, which bears a resemblance to the Capitol building in Washington DC, and at Revolution Square. We also visit KCHO studio, which showcases local art and the relationship between Cuban art and the government. We then set off for Santa Clara, stopping on the way for lunch at our first paladar (family-run restaurants that form the soul of Cuban dining).
Arrive into Santa Clara this afternoon, where the last battle of the Cuban Revolution took place. In December 1958, Che Guevara and his troops ambushed a train carrying arms to Santiago de Cuba – the major turning point in the revolution. We visit the mausoleum of Che Guevara and his comrades who died in Bolivia. The attached museum has many of his belongings – a fascinating insight into a 20th century icon. After, we check into our casas particulares before heading to a paladar for dinner. We also visit El Mejunje, the first openly LGBTQ+ bar in Cuba, founded in 1990.
Today’s driving time is approximately four hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Today is a long driving day as we head to Bayamo in the south of the island. We pass through agricultural towns and sugarcane plantations as we go, learning about the importance of sugar in Cuba’s history. We stop in Camaguëy, the fourth-largest city in the country, to break the journey and have lunch in a paladar. On arrival in Bayamo, we enjoy an orientation tour before checking into our guesthouses for the night and having dinner at a paladar.
Today’s driving time is approximately seven hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
After breakfast, we leave Bayamo and drive to Tortuguilla Beach, where we stop for a light lunch and a chance to swim in the Caribbean waters. We then continue to Baracoa, a quaint town surrounded by lush, tropical mountains and gold-sand beaches. Founded in 1512, Baracoa was the first Spanish settlement in Cuba and served as the capital for three years. Its location on the easternmost tip of the island left it open to attacks from pirates, smugglers and the English, so three forts were constructed in the 18th century for protection.
The city has only been accessible by road since the 1960s and this has left it largely off the tourist route. However, the area is renowned for cocoa growing and chocolate production, while the Malecon on the northeast side of town is considered the first ocean drive in the Caribbean. There is also a strong indigenous influence here and El Yunque (an anvil-shaped mountain mentioned by Christopher Columbus in his diaries) used to be home to various indigenous communities. We arrive in the late afternoon and enjoy a walking tour with a local guide before checking into our casas particulares.
This evening, we head to a paladar for a hands-on cookery class and dinner, uncovering the secrets of traditional Baracoan cuisine. Due to its isolation, Baracoa has developed a unique gastronomy that has been heavily influenced by indigenous and Haitian cooking.
Today’s driving time is approximately five hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
This morning, we visit a family who are dedicating their lives to the conservation of the endangered polymita snail, whose beautiful red, yellow, white and black shells have been used in crafts and jewellery. The family now breeds them to protect their numbers and teaches others about this unique species. Afterwards, we enjoy a fish lunch on the beach with a local family – a great chance to learn more about their lives in this part of Cuba.
This afternoon, we return to Baracoa and enjoy a short walking tour, where there’s time to visit locally owned craft shops and cafes. We also stop to listen to live Cuban music in a casa de la trova, a musical hotspot where troubadours play traditional songs.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Leave Baracoa after breakfast and travel towards Santiago de Cuba, known as the City of Heroes for the important role it played in the independence and revolutionary struggles. Santiago rivals Havana for literature, music and politics, and is rich in traditions, folklore and legends.
Along the way, we stop in the busy city of Guantanamo to visit a dance school, where we learn more about the cultural heritage of Cuba, digging into the danzón, son and salsa styles. We also stop to talk to a priest of the Vodù religion, before enjoying a Haitian-influenced paladar lunch.
On arrival in Santiago, we stroll through the city, where the local son music provides a lively soundtrack to our adventures, and enjoy dinner at another paladar.
Today’s driving time is approximately four hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Explore Santiago this morning, visiting the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, where Fidel Castro is buried, Revolution Square, El Morro Castle and Moncada Barracks, where the opening shots of the Revolution were fired on 26 July 1953. After, we enjoy lunch in a paladar.
The afternoon is dedicated to music and dance – Santiago is not only considered the cradle of the Revolution but, as the home of the Afro-Cuban genre son cubano, it is also the most important city musically. We enjoy an afternoon guided tour and performance at the Museo del Carnaval, which showcases songs and dances brought to Cuba by enslaved people from Africa. We finish the afternoon with a salsa lesson, which took its modern form in Cuba at the turn of the 20th century.
Later in the evening, we visit Casa de la Trova. While many towns have a casa de la trova, this particular spot is a musical institution and offers a chance for us to enjoy traditional Cuban music played by experienced hands and rising stars. Former performers here include members of legendary Cuban band Buena Vista Social Club.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Leaving the city, we drive towards the green mountains of the Sierra Maestra, stopping to visit El Cobre, the most sacred pilgrimage site in Cuba. Upon arrival, visit the Church of La Virgen de la Caridad, Cuba’s patron saint, and learn how African and Catholic religions have intertwined in Cuba to create Santería. We then climb a short distance to see the Monument to the Runaway Slave, an iron-and-bronze hillside sculpture dedicated to one of the earliest and most important revolts by enslaved people, which took place in 1731.
After, we continue into the Sierra Maestra and stop for a picnic lunch along the way. We reach our destination, Villa Santo Domingo, in the early afternoon. This evening, we stay in casas particulares in a humble mountain village. Accommodation is simple but the welcome is warm.
This evening, we head to Junco’s Farm in the village, where Junco and his family welcome us for a traditional Cuban country dinner. The food is served with plenty of stories about Junco’s life and the history of the region. After dinner, we join the family for rum and a game of Cuban dominoes – a classic Cuban experience and an unforgettable bonding moment.
Today’s driving time is approximately three hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Spend this morning in the Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra, a spectacular national park within the highest mountain range in Cuba. This region is well known as Fidel Castro’s base of operations during the Cuban Revolution. High in the sierra is Comandancia de la Plata, the secret hideout of Castro and Che Guevara, which was used for planning the revolution in the 1950s, and as the base of Radio Rebelde, which provided information for the revolutionaries. Accompanied by a local guide, we hike to the base and may have time to paddle in the Yara River.
We enjoy lunch in a paladar, and then continue to Camaguëy where we spend the night. After almost continuous attacks from pirates, the original city (founded on the northern coast as Santa Maria del Puerto del Principe around 1515) was moved inland in 1528. The new city was built with a confusing layout of winding alleys that made it easier to defend.
After checking into our casas particulares, we enjoy dinner together at a paladar.
Today’s driving time is approximately three hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Explore this historic city by bici-taxi this morning, each peddled by a local. On our three-wheeled vehicles, we travel through the winding streets of Camaguëy and pass by the Church of Soledad, the historic centre and the old convent of Ursuline Mothers. Depending on availability, we visit a local artist who is a sculptor, painter, illustrator, engraver and ceramicist. We visit her studio workshop, where she showcases her work and speaks about how her life in Cuba, and in Camaguëy in particular, influences her creations. Alternatively, we may visit an initiative that focuses on dance and helps young people discover performing arts in Cuba.
We then continue to Trinidad, a World Heritage site since 1988 and perhaps the best-preserved colonial town on the island, where we enjoy a walking tour. Exploring Trinidad is like stepping back in time; the cobbled streets and horse-drawn transportation whisking you back to the Colonial era. There are many interesting museums in colonial buildings to visit during the day, but Trinidad really comes alive as the sun sets, when the bars and paladares kick into action.
This evening, we take part in a cocktail-making class, visiting a paladar to learn how to make the perfect mojito from a local bartender.
Today’s driving time is approximately four hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Take a short walking tour of Trinidad this morning before heading to the nearby Valle de los Ingenios, one of the largest producers of sugarcane in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Our first visit is to the Santander family, whose pottery-making heritage stretches back generations. We see their workshop and even have the chance to throw a pot ourselves. It’s then on to Manaca Iznaga, a one-time sugarcane estate, where we learn about the local sugar-growing history, a hugely important industry for Cuba during the 18th and 19th centuries, before visiting the plaza where there is an artisan market showcasing locally made crafts, souvenirs as well as fruit and honey. Finally, we visit a local project that teaches young people about textile making, art and dance.
Returning, we take a short drive to Playa Ancón where we have a fish lunch on the beach and enjoy the beautiful Caribbean Sea.
In the afternoon, we head back to Trinidad. After freshening up, we join a local drumming group who take us on an evocative and joyful journey from Africa to modern Cuba through the pulsating Afro-Cuban rhythms of a drumming workshop. After, we enjoy dinner in a paladar.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Set off for Finca La Lima after breakfast for a Cuban cowboy day on a working farm. We join farmers for a walk to the creek for a swim, use a press to squeeze our own sugarcane juice, and milk the cows before lunch at the hacienda.
We then carry on to Cienfuegos, the Pearl of the South, where our local guide gives us a tour of this colonial city, first settled in the 19th century by French immigrants. We visit some of the most important plazas, including Plaza José Martí, and our tour guide tells us about Beny Moré, a Cuban musical legend who often sang of his adoration for Cienfuegos. We then check into our casas particulares, followed by dinner in a paladar.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
Today we visit the Bay of Pigs, site of the attempted US invasion in 1961, and drive through the Zapata Peninsula back to Havana. We visit the museum at Playa Giron, which focuses on the invasion, and stop for lunch and to swim at Punta Perdiz, a promontory jutting into the Bay of Pigs and a great snorkelling spot. We are joined by a marine expert who chats to the group about sea life and the conservation of local coral.
If time permits, we make a brief stop in the village of Palpite to visit a local who usually has many zunzuncitos (bee hummingbirds) living in his garden.
After arriving back to energetic Havana, we have a walking tour of Old Havana – a living museum, with magnificent monuments, cathedrals and palaces.
Today’s driving time is approximately four hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
This morning, we have more time to explore Old Havana with our guide. We start with a classic car tour, cruising through the streets of Old Havana and along the Malecón towards the more modern part of town. As we travel in our vintage cars, we stop along the way to hear stories and explanations of Havana’s highlights and learn how these cars became an iconic part of Havana.
We then enjoy a walking tour of Old Havana, visiting both historic points of interest and meeting its current residents. It is the finest surviving Spanish colonial complex in the Americas, preserved by a combination of minimal war damage, post-revolution restoration and the millions of dollars invested since it was declared a World Heritage site in 1982.
We spend the afternoon at a screen-printing workshop with some of the finest graphic designers in Havana, before heading down to the Malecón for rum cocktails, spontaneous music and conversation on the iconic seafront boulevard. Tonight, we enjoy our final dinner in a paladar.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
The adventure ends today. Bid a fond farewell to Cuba and catch a free transfer to Havana Airport for your return flight home. See the Joining Instructions for more information on booking your transport to the airport.
We stay in casas particulares, guesthouse-style accommodation that provides a unique insight into local life – an experience you just wouldn’t get in a traditional hotel!
Understanding casas
Casas are privately owned homes with rooms to rent. Some call them Cuba’s answer to the B&B, but the truth is they offer a far more personal experience. Typically, the owner (and often family) will live at the property, meaning you have meaningful interactions with them as soon as you wake. The hosts are warm, welcoming and gracious – expect generous breakfasts, plenty of smiles and friendly conversations in Spanglish. Who knows, you may make a friend or two!
The properties we use have been handpicked by our local team and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, reflecting the personality and lifestyle of the owners. As family homes, they tend to have a maximum of three or four bedrooms each, so we often use several different properties in close vicinity to accommodate our group. We do our best to ensure those in single-room accommodation are within a house where other group members are staying.
The rooms are often vibrant, simply furnished and with tiled floors, sometimes with wooden shutters in place of windows. All have air conditioning and a private bathroom.
Worth knowing
Single supplement from 624 €
All breakfasts, 10 lunches and 10 dinners are included.
The 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). Think soul food – rice, black beans, slow-roast pork or chicken, fresh fish, lobster and plenty of tropical fruit. The atmosphere in private paladares and the opportunity to integrate with Cubans will absolutely enhance your stay!
In general, Cuba is not renowned for its culinary excellence (although it is improving) and some ingredients are just not possible to acquire. Food tends to be simple and relatively expensive – in no small part due to the long trade embargo implemented by the US. Dishes tend to be simple, with most mealtimes consisting of meat or fish accompanied by rice and salad or vegetables. Seafood is widely available on the coast, including cheap and abundant lobster! Vegetarians will find choices are limited, but it’s still possible to eat well. Snacks are not freely available in Cuba so you may wish to bring some with you – particularly energy snacks, as food shops, cafes and restaurants are scarce in many of the rural areas we visit. It can be difficult to find quick lunches on the go as Cubans typically eat two meals a day – we provide packed lunches during the day and there are plenty of water and fruit refreshment stops. While food choice can be basic, on the plus side there is absolutely no shortage of rum! Havana Club, Black Tears, Ron Santiago, Caney… after your visit, you will be an expert.
Some drinking water is available on the bus, but we ask that you bring a filter water bottle to refill at public fountains and taps along the way. This helps to cut down on plastic and the need to buy water.
We use a private, air-conditioned coach throughout the tour.
The dry season runs from November to April (with December to March being the peak months for traditional 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 but are hot (average 28C/82F) and wet. Cuba averages six hours of sunshine per day with a more or less constant humidity of 62 percent. Water temperatures normally range from 24C to 28C (75F to 82F).
Start accommodation: Casas particulares in Havana
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. The welcome briefing often takes place in the morning of Day 2, due to the evening arrival of many flights
Airport: Havana (HAV)
The start accommodation is approximately 35 minutes from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start accommodation from the airport for all customers.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Havana Airport (HAV) from the end accommodation.
Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start accommodation and from the end accommodation and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Havana
Location end: Havana
Please note, GPS devices, including GPS watches, are subject to import restrictions. Ensure you do not bring them into Cuba. Mobile phones, tablets and laptops can be brought into the country, but any inbuilt GPS must be switched off.
Cuba has a shortage of many basic items, shopping is very limited (often with long queues), and items are expensive. Cubans endure these shortages with remarkable resilience. We recommend bringing any medication and toiletries that you need for the entire trip, as well as packing a few extra to give out along the way. Cubans struggle to get hold of even the most basic medications so these make incredibly useful gifts if you have extra space in your luggage. The following items are incredibly hard to buy in Cuba: painkillers, antihistamine, sunscreen, insect repellent, hydrocortisone cream, soap, sanitary products, razors, moisturisers, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant. If you want to make friends for life, taking chocolate, tea, coffee, sweets, nuts and other snacks will also be hugely appreciated in Cuba.
If you would like to bring items to Cuba to donate, consider 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. If you bring items with you, the group leader will assist you by offering advice on where to take your donations. 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 to your guide who can deliver them with the help of our local operational partners in Cuba.
Check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return, and to have at least two clear pages for entry stamps.
UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Japan passport holders residing in the UK/Ireland
If you hold a passport from the UK, an EU country, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Japan AND reside in the UK/Ireland, Exodus includes a green tourist card that you can use to enter Cuba. We will post the tourist card to you approximately three to four weeks before travel. We will send instructions on how to fill it in but please be careful when completing it as any mistakes may result in you having to purchase a new card at a cost of £25 per person.
Please note, tourist cards supplied by Exodus will not be valid if you are travelling via the USA as you will then be subject to comply with the same regulations as an American citizen. You cannot use a green tourist card purchased outside the USA and will have to buy a pink tourist card sold only in the USA. For this reason, we do not recommend travelling to Cuba via the USA.
Other passport holders residing in the UK/Ireland
If you reside in the UK or Ireland but do not hold one of the above passports, please contact your nearest Cuban consulate to check which visa is required – Exodus is unable to provide a tourist card for you.
Customers residing outside the UK/Ireland
If you do not reside in the UK or Ireland, you must contact your nearest Cuban consulate to check which visa is required – Exodus is unable to provide a tourist card for you.
USA passport holders and residents
Any USA passport holder wishing to travel to Cuba should be fully aware of current legislation before committing to a trip to Cuba. As an American-owned company, Exodus programs to Cuba are fully compliant with the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) general license under the Support for the Cuban People category of travel.
Travellers from the USA are required to buy a pink tourist card sold only in the US (at a US airport or from a US travel agent). We recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting through. For travellers from the USA, please check: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html where you can also find more information about the Support for Cuban People and OFAC requirements.
You must keep a copy of your itinerary and any transactions relating to the trip for five years after the trip takes place to comply with OFAC requirements.
IMPORTANT FOR ALL CUSTOMERS:
Cuba now requires all passengers to fill in a locator form prior to travel – this form is mandatory. You can access the form here: www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/inicio Make sure to keep a photo of the QR code generated so you can easily present it on arrival. You can only fill in the D’Viajeros form 48 hours prior to entry into Cuba.
The Cuban entry immigration is time consuming, and most visitors encounter delays: it may take up to two hours to clear immigration and collect your bags. All tourists visiting Cuba must have travel insurance to cover medical costs. You may be asked to provide proof of your travel insurance policy when you arrive at Havana Airport. Ensure your documents are easily accessible.
Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to organise this element of your trip. We recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Hepatitis A. We are advised that there is no risk of malaria. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
The above information can change at short notice; as we are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we recommend that you confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Cuba's time zone: America/Havana (UTC -04:00)
Cuba's electricity: Plug type A (two flat pins) – mostly 110V or 220V
The national currency of Cuba is the Cuban peso (CUP); however, euros and US dollars are the preferred currencies outside Havana. We recommend bringing cash (euros or US dollars) with you and exchanging with your tour leader.
Please note, credit/debit card acceptance is limited across the country. Additionally, businesses throughout Cuba may not have much change so it’s best to carry and pay in small notes. If change is available, it will likely be given in Cuban pesos.
Currency exchange
Bringing euros or US dollars and exchanging them with your tour leader is the easiest way to exchange money into Cuban pesos. Alternatively, you can change them elsewhere – your tour leader can advise on the best place. It’s best to bring new, unmarked notes and change only a small amount for the first few days. Please note, exchanging US dollars usually incurs a 10% exchange commission. Canadian dollars, British pounds and Australian dollars are exchangeable in the CADECA exchange offices, but euros are preferred.
Please also note that it is prohibited to enter or leave Cuba carrying Cuban pesos. Please make sure you have spent or exchanged any remaining pesos prior to passing through immigration on departure. We recommend you exchange them before reaching the airport as queues can be long. Limits may be applied on the maximum number of pesos to be exchanged into another currency. Any drinks, snacks, duty-free and souvenirs will then need to be paid for using a credit card or cash.
ATMs are increasingly available in Cuba but are not yet widespread and they are regularly either out of order or empty. When working, there can be long queues. They are presently confined to the larger cities and resorts and should not be relied on; hence, we suggest you take cash with you to cover the vast majority of your spending. Credit cards are accepted in some shops, but like ATMs we don’t recommend relying on using a card.
Prior to travel it is worth checking with your bank whether your card will work in a Cuban ATM. Using cards for banks that are fully or partially US-owned is not possible in Cuba. Australian and Canadian travellers in particular should check with their banks prior to travel.
Drinks are generally around €2-€5.
Many travellers find Cuba more expensive than they expect (particularly Havana) and we recommend you bring more spending money rather than less. We recommend €700 per person in total (not including tips for the guide and driver). Small denominations are preferred and can easily be spent in restaurants and bars.
If you are happy with the services of the guide and driver, we recommend a tip of around €70 per passenger for the trip, which you can divide in favour of the guide.
Tipping is at your own discretion but is part of the culture in Cuba and 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 trip. The guide will usually collect €50-€60 from each group member at the start of the trip to cover this.
Tipping is also expected in restaurants – add about 10 percent to the bill.
We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People: How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
Places: How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
Planet: How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
Water safety
This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.