A Taste of Cuba

Immerse yourself in Cuba's unique history and culture

Beginning and ending in the vibrant city of Havana, this trip visits four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in one week. The Vinales Valley, Old Havana and the colourful colonial towns of Cienfuegos and Trinidad. Along the way discover Cuba's fascinating history, learn how to dance Cuban salsa like a local and have a go at making the perfect mojito!

Sustainable Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Sustainable Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Visa

Cuba

Customers from the UK or Europe:
Travellers from the UK and EU do not need a visa to enter Cuba but do require a tourist card. A Cuban tourist card (valid for 30 days) is included and will be posted to you by Exodus approximately three to four weeks before travel. We will send instructions on how to fill it in but please be careful doing this as any mistakes may result in you having to purchase a new card at a cost of GBP25 per person. We will send one tourist card free of charge as long as you live at a UK or Ireland address and are national of an EU country, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Japan. If you are not national of one of these countries or are not resident in the UK or Eire you must contact your nearest Cuban Consulate to check what visa is required - Exodus cannot provide a tourist card for you. Please note that the tourist cards supplied by Exodus will not be valid if you are travelling via the US. If you are travelling via the US you will be subject to compliance under the same regulations as an American citizen. You cannot use a tourist card purchased outside the US but will have to buy a ‘pink’ tourist card sold only in the US (at a US airport or from a US travel agent). For UK or European customers, we do not recommend travelling to Cuba via the USA.

Customers from the USA:
Any US Citizen wishing to travel to Cuba should be fully aware of current legislation before committing to any trip to Cuba. The main requirement is that for legal travel to Cuba, all US citizens must comply with the requirements set out by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC). 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 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 or transferring 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.

Customers from Canada or Australia:
Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate how to obtain a tourist card prior to travel to Cuba (links below).

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: https://www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/inicio Make sure to keep a photo of the QR code generated so that you can easily present it on arrival. Please note 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 2 hours to clear immigration and collect your bags, so please be prepared for a long wait on arrival. The Cuban Government passed a law stating that all tourists visiting Cuba must have travel insurance to cover medical costs. It is possible that you may be asked to provide proof of your travel insurance policy when you arrive at Havana airport, so please ensure your documents are easily accessible. Remember to 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 2 clear pages for entry stamps.

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. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below. 

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations  
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations  
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice  
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html

Vaccination

Cuba

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. 

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners included.

Cuba is not renowned for its culinary excellence (although it is improving) and some ingredients are just not possible to get hold of. Food tends to be simple and relatively expensive - in no small part due to the long trade embargo implemented by the US. Flavours tend to be relatively 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 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. It can also be difficult to find quick lunches on the go as Cubans typically eat two meals a day, so expect choice of sandwiches to be limited. Whilst food choice can be basic, on the plus side there is absolutely no shortage of rum! Havana Club, Black Tears, Ron Santiago, Caney..  after a visit to Cuba you'll be an expert.

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. 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 local Cubans will absolutely enhance your stay!

Some drinking water will be available while you're on the bus, we ask that you bring a refillable water bottle. To cut down on plastic and the need to buy water when not on the bus please bring your own filter water bottle.

Weather

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.

Weather Charts

Havana

Trinidad

Is this trip for you?

In this itinerary we travel in the comfort of a private air-conditioned coach. 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. 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.

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 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 2019 for the first time 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 in Cuba - we recommend switching this off. There are several ways to connect to the internet using a mobile device, but on the whole it's best not to expect a reliable internet connection whilst travelling. Many casa particulares have free wifi that can be used, but download speeds are likely to be slow. You can purchase wifi scratch cards at official shops, but often you'll encounter long queues. Alternatively you can buy a Cuban sim card and roaming package valid for 30 days, to use in an unlocked phone.

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.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.