Highlights of Cuba

Discover the true Pearl of the Caribbean, from the iconic experiences to the stories of the local people

Explore Cuba, a land known for revolution and rum, salsa and cigars, classic cars and crumbling colonial towns. The whole truth, however, is far more eye-opening and evocative. Guided by an expert tour leader, we unpack it all. Of course, there’s the essential experiences: dancing salsa, making mojitos and relaxing on the Caribbean sands of Playa Ancón. But it’s through our countless interactions with the local people and nightly stays in Cuban guesthouses that we truly understand a culture forged under unique circumstances: welcoming, sociable and resilient, despite daily adversities.

Sustainability and Impact

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.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is 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.

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!

Journeys: 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 Day 6 (approximately five hours). 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 here, 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 buy a Cuban sim card to access roaming; however, service is slow and it may take a couple of hours to buy and register your sim card.

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.

Vaccinations and Health

Cuba

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Hepatitis A.

It is essential you protect yourself against mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue, zika, chikungunya, and oropouche. We are advised that there is no risk of malaria.

Steps to take:

• Apply tropical-strength insect repellent regularly, especially two hours after dawn and at dusk
• Wear light, long-sleeved clothing in the evenings

Our itineraries avoid areas with poor sanitation and stagnant water, so the risk is low if these precautions are followed. Mosquitoes are more common in low-lying terrain, including urban areas, so mountain regions pose much less risk, but repellent is still recommended.

The above information can change at short notice; as we are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we strongly recommend you contact your Medical Professional or a Travel Health Clinic at least eight weeks prior to departure for up‐to‐date information.

Visa

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 72 hours to 48 hours 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.

Food & Drink

All breakfasts, two lunches and four 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 that 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.

Weather

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 but are hot (average 28C/82F) and wet. Cuba has an average of six hours of sunshine per day with a more or less constant humidity of 62 precent. Water temperature is normally 24C-28C (75F-82F).