Cuba: La Isla Grande

Name: Cuba: La Isla Grande
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

2 reviews

Activity

Culture

Overview

Forget what you’ve heard, it’s time to uncover the true soul of the largest and most evocative Caribbean island

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.

This adventure is only available as a private departure. Contact us to find out more.

Key Information

Trip Code: AUB
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Cuba
Carbon Footprint: 24kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 14 Classic nights (Cuban guesthouses known as casas particulares)
All breakfasts, 10 lunches, five dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Arrival and departure transfers
Cuban tourist card for most UK/Ireland residents

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Highlights

Cruise Havana in a classic car
Join Cuban cowboys for an immersive afternoon at a working farm
Explore isolated Baracoa on Cuba's eastern tip
Get moving on a drumming workshop led by local musicians
Shake things up with a cocktail-making class
Hike to Castro and Guevara's hideout in the Sierra Maestra

Itinerary

First Destination: Havana
Next Destination: Havana

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:None

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Havana
Next Destination: Havana

Welcome to Havana, the lively capital of Cuba. Founded by the Spanish in the 16^th 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 see some of Havana’s most iconic spots, including El Capitolio, which bears a resemblance to the Capitol building in Washington DC, and the Plaza de la Revolución, where numerous speeches have been made by Cuba’s leaders over the years. We also visit the studio of artist José Fuster, who has transformed his neighbourhood with a riot of colourful street art.

We then set off for Santa Clara, where the last battle of the Cuban Revolution took place, and stop on the way for lunch at our first paladar (family-run restaurants that form the soul of Cuban dining). 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 20^thcentury icon. After, we check into our casas particulares.

The tour leader can give recommendations on a great spot for dinner and the group can come together afterwards to visit El Mejunje, the first openly LGBTQ+ bar in Cuba, founded in 1990 and offering a rotating line-up of concerts and events.

Today’s driving time is approximately four hours.

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Today is a long driving day as we head to Bayamo in the south of the island. Bayamo has an important place in Cuba’s history: the country’s national anthem is named La Bayamesa as it was in this city that slavery was abolished.

We pass through agricultural towns and sugarcane plantations as we go, learning about the importance of sugar in Cuba’s history. We stop in Camagüey, 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 on foot before checking into our guesthouses. The tour leader will be on hand to suggest a great paladar for dinner.

Today’s driving time is approximately seven hours.

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

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 black-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 18^th 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 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
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

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.

We also visit a producer of the popular local snack, cucuruchos, a delicious combination of dried fruits, coconut and honey, all wrapped in banana leaves. Afterwards, we enjoy a fish lunch cooked for us on the beach by a local family – a great chance to learn more about their lives in this part of Cuba.

This afternoon, we return to Baracoa, where there’s time to visit locally owned craft shops and cafes. We recommend an evening visit to listen to live Cuban music in a casa de la trova, a musical hotspot where troubadours play traditional songs.

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

We 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 Guantánamo and meet a local resident for a guided tour. We learn about the history of the city and its associations with the infamous US naval base and detention camp nearby. We also stop to talk to a priest of the Santería 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
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 learn about son music and its development into the world-renowned Cuban salsa, before lacing up our dancing shoes to take a class ourselves!

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
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

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. We also 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 dominoes – a classic Cuban experience and an unforgettable bonding moment.

Today’s driving time is approximately three hours.

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 Camagüey 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.

Today’s driving time is approximately three hours.

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

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 Camagüey 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 Camagüey 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. 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
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we head to the nearby Valle de los Ingenios, one of the largest producers of sugarcane in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

Our first visit is to Manaca Iznaga, a one-time sugarcane estate, where we learn about the local sugar-growing history, before visiting the plaza where there is an artisan market showcasing locally made crafts, souvenirs as well as fruit and honey. We also stop by a female-led local project that teaches young people about textiles and lace-making, art and dance.

Returning from Valle de los Ingenios, 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.

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

We 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 we take a tour of this colonial city, first settled in the 19^th century by French immigrants. We visit some of the most important plazas, including Plaza José Martí, and learn of Beny Moré, a Cuban musical legend who often sang of his adoration for Cienfuegos. We then check into our casas particulares.

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

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 stop for lunch and a swim at Punta Perdiz, a promontory jutting into the Bay of Pigs and a great snorkelling spot. We also stop by the village of Palpite to visit a farmer who usually has many zunzuncitos (bee hummingbirds) living in his garden. A nature expert joins us to chat to the group about marine life and the conservation of local coral.

After arriving back to energetic Havana, we have an orientation tour of Old Havana – a living museum, with magnificent monuments, cathedrals and palaces.

Today’s driving time is approximately four hours.

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, we explore 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 the renowned paladar, La Guarida, an icon of Havana’s dining scene.

Accommodation:Casas particulares
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

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.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Accommodation

Casas particulares: a uniquely Cuban experience

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

Cuba: La Isla Grande

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

Power cuts are part of daily life in Cuba, so please prepare for blackouts that may last several hours. Please bring a torch (flashlight) with you in case of evening/night-time occurrences. Also pack mosquito repellent for these periods – you’ll want to open your window, too.
Internet connections can be unreliable.
Hot water supplies are not always guaranteed and water pressure can be temperamental.
Casas do not have lifts (elevators) so you should be able and prepared to carry your luggage up stairs.
Many casa owners can help with laundry for a small fee.
Most casas do not have hairdryers.
There are often pets (a cat or dog) at the casas – please advise at the time of booking if this is problematic.

Essential Information

Trip Expert

Enio Armando González

Expert Leader: Cuba

Introducing Enio Havana-born Enio has been a tour leader in Cuba since 1993 and joined Exodus in 2009, bringing his extensive expertise and enthusiasm for his home country.

This trip has been rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

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, wifi is unreliable and there are frequent power outages. 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.

Key information

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)

Getting to the start accommodation

The start accommodation is approximately 35 minutes from the airport. We provide 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.

Catching your return flight

We provide 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.

Cuba

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 will arrange your visa for you. We will provide paper visas until June, then e-visas after.

Please note, Exodus cannot supply a visa if you are travelling from or via the USA. In these instances, we recommend using cubavisaservices.com.

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 visa 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 visa 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 obtain an e-visa for travel to Cuba. Please first check with your airline if the e-visa is included as some airlines include it in the airfare. If it is not included, you can apply for an e-visa at www.cubavisaservices.com. The cost as of November 2024 is $50 for the e-visa plus a $35 processing fee.

You must keep a copy of your itinerary and any correspondence/transactions relating to the trip for a minimum of five years after the trip takes place to comply with OFAC requirements. For more information about the Support for Cuban People and OFAC requirements, visit: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html.

Canada passport holders

Please visit https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/cuba for more information on securing your visa.

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 within seven days prior to entry into Cuba. For advice on how to complete it, consult our Help Sheet.

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. You should also check with your airline to see if the e-visa is included, as some include it with the airfare.

All breakfasts, 10 lunches and five dinners are included, allowing the option to try local restaurants on the other evenings.

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.

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).

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

Add new review

Ann Livesley

Added May 2024

Truly Grande Experience

A very well planned, well managed, varied, exciting, tour of a fascinating island

Most Inspirational Moment

endangered tiny jewel like snails cared for by a local man, supported by a tourism initiative

Thoughts on Group Leader

fantastic, a kind, patient, man with a enthusiastic, encyclopaedic knowledge

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you like rice, rice and beans, mixed salads, fresh fruit, lean meats and fish, cassava and bananas, and an egg for breakfast every day you will eat well. If you are looking for sugar free or caffeine free drinks bring your own. Cuba runs on proper coffee and sugar. If you are bringing medical supplies to give away, children's medicines seemed particularly appreciated.

Suggestions

The Cuban people that we met were very polite, very welcoming and very resilient considering the economic difficulties which Cuba is experiencing. I would have like this tour to be longer, there were so many places along the way that I would have like to spend a week or at least a few days in to really explore. If I could suggest one real improvement it would be to arrange the flights on a better airline and charge a little more. I was not impressed with the food (awful), the state of the toilets or the cramped conditions on the long haul flights.

Janet Weaver

Added May 2024