Kuba Rundreisen
Reise Bestseller
Best of Cuba
Cuba on a shoestring
Cycle Cuba: West
Discover Mexico & Cuba
Die Beste Reisezeit für Kuba
Das Land zeichnet sich durch ein subtropisches Klima aus. In den meisten Gegenden sind die kühlen Passatwinde von der Küste zu spüren, welche dafür sorgen, dass in Kuba das ganze Jahr über angenehme Temperaturen herrschen. Juni, Juli und August sind in der Regel die heißesten Monate. Die Trockenzeit erstreckt sich über die Monate November bis April und die Regenzeit ist von Mai bis Oktober.
Lasse Dich von der Regenzeit bloß nicht vom Reisen nach Kuba abhalten, denn die Niederschläge sind zwar recht stark, aber auch kurzweilig und sollten somit keinen großen Einfluss auf Deine Reise haben. Tropische Stürme sind im September und Oktober häufiger anzutreffen. Sie verursachen aber selten Probleme für Reisende.
Kultur und Bräuche Kubas
Mit spanischen, afrikanischen und kreolischen Einflüssen ist das moderne Kuba ein Potpourri vieler, verschiedener kultureller Einflüsse. Das spiegelt sich in der Musik, den Tänzen und dem Essen der Kubaner wider.
Von afro-kubanischen Rhythmen bis hin zu klassischen Melodien – die Einheimischen lieben einfach Musik und Tanzen. Es sind die Lieder, die die einmalige Atmosphäre in den kubanischen Clubs, Bars und Restaurants schaffen. Auch Ballett, moderner Tanz und Film erfreuen sich wachsender Beliebtheit, weswegen Havanna heute der Veranstaltungsort vieler international anerkannter Film-, Literatur- und Musikfestivals ist.
Das Leben in einem kommunistischen Land bedeutet, dass bestimmte Lebensmittel und andere Produkte, die für viele von uns selbstverständlich sind, den Kubanern nicht zur Verfügung stehen. Trotzdem werden besondere Anlässe wie Geburtstage und Hochzeiten mit Begeisterung gefeiert – mit viel Essen und fröhlicher Musik zum Tanzen.
Diese unglaubliche Lebensfreude spürt man auch während der Straßenfeste, die das ganze Jahr über gefeiert werden. Die Kubaner konsumieren Kaffee, Zigarren und Rum und tanzen selbstbewusst auf den Straßen zu Klängen von Trompeten und Gitarren. Dieses einzigartige Lebensgefühl, das es nirgendwo sonst auf der Welt gibt, begeistert sicher auch Dich bei einem Besuch in Kuba.
Die 10 besten Erlebnisse in Kuba
1. Tanzen
Kubaner lieben es zu tanzen. Wie wäre es also mit Salsa, Rumba oder afro-kubanischen Moves? Von Straßenfesten unter freiem Himmel bis hin zu Jazz-Clubs: lasse Dich von den ansteckenden Beats und der lebensfrohen Atmosphäre des legendären Nachtlebens Kubas verzaubern.
2. Treffe Meister im Zigarren rollen
Verlasse Kuba nicht, ohne die akribische Kunst des Zigarrenrollens live gesehen zu haben. Schaue dabei zu, wie Zigarren feinfühlig per Hand gerollt werden und dabei verschiedene Formen, Größen und Geschmacksrichtungen entstehen.
3. Entspanne am Strand
Tauche in das azurblaue Wasser des Strandes Maria la Gorda ein und lasse Dir die Sonne ins Gesicht scheinen. Der Strand ist ideal zum Schwimmen, Tauchen und Schnorcheln. Du kannst auch die schwarzen Korallenriffe und versteckten Grotten erkunden. Verpassen solltest Du auch nicht den Varadero Beach, welcher 2018 von Tripadvisor zum drittschönsten Strand der Welt gekürt wurde.
4. Wandere entlang des Malecón
Mache einen Spaziergang entlang des Malecón von Havanna. Genieße die frische Meeresbrise und beobachte, wie die Wellen gegen die berühmte Mauer von Havanna schlagen. Bei Sonnenuntergang werden die umliegenden Gebäude in ein atmosphärisches, goldenes Licht getaucht.
5. Für einen Kaffee verweilen
Kuba ist die Heimat vieler Kaffeeplantagen und weiß einfach, wie man guten Kaffee braut. Dieser wird heiß und süß, aber ohne Milch serviert. Beim Genießen einer Tasse Kaffee bietet sich die Möglichkeit, mit den Einheimischen ins Gespräch zu kommen.
6. Unvergessliche Bilder einfangen
Kuba bietet unglaublich viele, bunte Motive für schöne Fotos. Fange die Straßenkunst aus der Zeit der Revolution sowie aus der Moderne ein und bestaune die bunten Graffities in den Gassen Kubas.
7. Treffe auf leidenschaftliche Musiker
Lausche den mit Gitarren begleiteten, bewegenden Balladen und poetischen Liebesliedern der Trovadores auf den Straßen von Havanna. Die Wurzeln der modernen kubanischen Musik liegen in der Trova, also solltest Du es nicht verpassen, eine Aufführung der Musiker zu sehen.
8. Fordere die Einheimischen zu einem Spiel heraus
Schach und Domino spielen sind beliebte Freizeitbeschäftigungen in Kuba. Beobachte die Einheimischen beim Schachspielen im Park oder versuche Dich an einem Dominospiel in einem Café oder einer Bar. Sportfanatiker sollten an einem Ballspiel teilnehmen, um zu erleben, wie leidenschaftlich kubanische Fans hinter ihrer Lieblingsmannschaft stehen. Die Baseball-Saison läuft von Oktober bis April. Diese Spiele sind eine preiswerte und gute Möglichkeit, die kubanische Kultur zu erleben und Einheimische zu treffen.
9. Speise in einer Paladar
Kubas kleine, familiengeführte Restaurants, die Paladares genannt werden, sind eine großartige Möglichkeit, die kubanische Gastfreundschaft und Hausmannskost kennenzulernen. Manche der Paladares haben einen 50er Jahre Retro-Vibe, andere eine eher rustikale Atmosphäre.
10. Laufe Che Guavara über den Weg
Vom berühmten Bild Che Guavaras, welches auf einer Fassade auf dem Revolution Square abgebildet ist, bis hin zum Denkmal und Museum in Santa Clara – es gibt viele Möglichkeiten, während Deines Aufenthaltes in Kuba auf „El Che“ zu treffen.
Essen und Trinken
Die einheimische Küche ist eine der besten Möglichkeiten, ein Land wirklich kennenzulernen. Ob leckeres Street Food, günstige, kleine Leckerbissen oder ein sättigendes Festmahl – es gibt unendlich viele Möglichkeiten, die Landesküche zu entdecken.
Kuba hat in der Regel keinen Zugang zu einer riesigen Auswahl an Zutaten, so dass die Essgewohnheiten der Einheimischen nicht so vielfältig sind, wie sie es vielleicht gerne hätten. Es gibt trotzdem viele Leckerbissen, die Du unbedingt probieren solltest.
1. Eis in der Eisdiele Coppelia
Geselle Dich zu den Einheimischen, um eine leckere Kugel Eis aus der Eisdiele Coppelia zu genießen. Diese bietet bewährte Favoriten wie Schokolade und Vanille an, verkauft aber auch exotischere Sorten wie Mango und Kokosnuss.
2. Pastelitos
Diese kleinen Gebäckstücke können je nach Füllung süß oder salzig sein. Frischkäse, Guave und Rindfleisch sind die beliebtesten Füllungen. Pastelitos sind ein günstiger und leckerer Sattmacher für unterwegs.
3. Fritura de Maiz
Diese frittierten Käse- und Maismehl-Bällchen sind in Kuba ein beliebter Snack für zwischendurch und eine gute Wahl für Vegetarier.
4. Rum
Rum ist in Kuba das absolute Lieblingsgetränk. Genieße Havana Club Rum pur, lasse ihn Dir in einen minzigen Mojito mischen oder genieße einen Cuba Libre.
5. Kaffee
Kubanischer Kaffee ist bekannt für seine Qualität. Du wirst Dich bereits nach einer kleinen, aber starken Tasse des Kaffees belebt fühlen.
Transport in Kuba
Wir bei Intrepid denken, dass die Art, in einer neuen Destination von A nach B zu kommen, ein wichtiger Teil des Reiseerlebnisses ist. Intrepid nutzt so oft wie möglich lokale und traditionelle Verkehrsmittel auf den Touren, die meist umweltschonender sind, mehr Spaß machen und gleichzeitig lokale Betreiber unterstützen.
Abhängig davon, welche Kuba Reise Du mit Intrepid machst, wirst Du möglicherweise mit folgendem Verkehrsmittel unterwegs sein:
Fahrrad
Entdecke die abwechslungsreichen Landschaften Kubas auf zwei Rädern. Das Fahrrad ist das ideale Transportmittel, um ganz entspannt an Plantagen, Bergen, Nationalparks und Stränden vorbeizuradeln und Kuba in Deinem eigenen Tempo kennenzulernen.
Unterkunft in Kuba
Mit Intrepid gehst Du auf eine Reise der besonderen Art. Unser Ziel ist es, allen Kunden ein authentisches Reiseerlebnis zu bieten, an das sie sich gerne zurückerinnern. Wir wählen daher möglichst traditionelle und einzigartige Unterkünfte für unsere Reisenden.
Wenn Du mit uns nach Kuba reist, wirst Du möglicherweise in folgender Unterkunft übernachten:
Gastfamilie
Lasse Dich von einer einheimischen Familie in Kuba willkommen heißen. Diese Aufenthalte bescheren Dir ein besonders authentisches Erlebnis, bei dem Du die Kultur und Bräuche des Landes hautnah miterlebst. Du kannst Deiner Gastfamilie auch beim Zubereiten lokaler, leckerer Speisen über die Schulter schauen und die Landesküche somit ideal kennenlernen.
Ist es üblich in Kuba Trinkgeld zu geben?
Die meisten Kubaner führen einen bescheidenen Lebensstil und freuen sich daher über ein wenig Trinkgeld für ihren Service. Es gibt fast immer kostenlose Unterhaltung in Bars und Restaurants. Die Musiker und Sänger werden allerdings normalerweise nicht vom Veranstaltungsort bezahlt, weshalb wir empfehlen, etwas Trinkgeld zu hinterlassen, wenn Du deren Vorstellung genossen hast. Restaurantmitarbeiter, Hotelportiere, Zimmermädchen und Taxifahrer werden eine kleine Summe Trinkgeld ebenso zu schätzen wissen. Achte aber darauf, in kubanischen Pesos Trinkgeld zu geben, da Fremdwährungen in Kuba nicht sehr einfach umzutauschen sind.
Wie gut ist der Internetzugang in Kuba?
Das Internet ist in Kuba nicht überall zugänglich. Du kannst in manchen Fällen das Internet von größeren Hotels nutzen. Seit Kurzem ist auch der Hauptplatz der meisten Städte mit einem Wi-Fi-Zugang ausgestattet. Um an einem beliebigen Ort das Internet nutzen zu können, wirst Du von bestimmten Hotels oder Läden eine Internetkarte kaufen müssen. Bitte beachte aber, dass die Kosten in der Regel hoch sind, die Verbindng langsam sein kann und einige Internetseiten eventuell zensiert sein werden.
Kann ich mein Handy während meines Aufenthaltes in Kuba benutzen?
Vergewissere Dich, dass das globale Roaming von Deinem Provider aktiviert ist. Beachte allerdings, dass Dein Handy möglicherweise keinen Empfang haben wird, da Kuba die niedrigste Netzabdeckung Lateinamerikas aufweist.
Wie sind die öffentlichen Sanitäranlagen in Kuba?
Öffentliche Sanitäranlagen sind in Kuba eher selten, aber in Hotels, Bars und Restaurants wirst Du Spültoiletten, wie wir sie kennen, vorfinden. Am Besten trägst Du Dein eigenes Toilettenpapier und etwas Seife mit Dir, da diese selten zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Aufgrund der Importbeschränkungen können Toilettensitze sehr gefragt sein, so dass Gasthäuser diesen Luxus möglicherweise nicht haben.
Was kostet...?
Erfrischungsgetränk = 1 CUC
Tasse Kaffee = 1 CUC
Cocktail = 3-4 CUC
Mahlzeit in einem Restaurant = 15- 25 CUC
Kann ich das Leitungswasser in Kuba trinken?
Es ist ratsam, in Kuba kein Leitungswasser zu trinken. Aus Umweltgründen solltest Du versuchen, den Kauf von abgefüllten Wasserflaschen aus Plastik zu vermeiden. Am Besten benutzt Du einfach eine wiederverwendbare Flasche. Frage einfach Deinen Reiseleiter, wo Du gefiltertes Wasser finden kannst. Ebenso ist es ratsam, Eiswürfel in Getränken zu vermeiden und Obst und Gemüse vor dem Essen zu schälen.
Werden Kreditkarten in Kuba überall akzeptiert?
Einige Kreditkarten werden in Kuba akzeptiert (am häufigten Visa und Mastercard). Allerdings werden Karten, die von amerikanischen Banken ausgestellt sind, gar nicht akzeptiert. Debitkarten funktionieren in der Regel auch nicht. Wir empfehlen es, mehrere Karten von verschiedenen Banken mitzubringen, um sicherzustellen, dass Du in Kuba mit Karte zahlen kannst. Stelle am Besten sicher, dass Du auch genügend Bargeld bei Dir trägst, da Kreditkarten generell nicht immer angenommen werden.
Kann ich in Kuba überall Geld abheben?
Geldautomaten sind in großen Städten wie Havanna und Santiago zu finden, aber in anderen Teilen Kubas sind diese eher selten oder gar nicht vorhanden. Bitte beachte, dass Karten, die von amerikanischen Banken ausgestellt sind, nicht verwendet werden können.
Muss ich eine Reiseversicherung abschließen, bevor ich nach Kuba reise?
Auf jeden Fall. Alle Kunden, die mit Intrepid reisen, müssen vor Reiseantritt eine Reiseversicherung abschließen. Die Reiseversicherungsdetails werden von Deinem Reiseleiter am ersten Tag des Trips dokumentiert. Aufgrund der unterschiedlichen Art, Verfügbarkeit und Kosten der Gesundheitsversorgung weltweit ist die Reiseversicherung ein wesentlicher und notwendiger Bestandteil einer jeden Reise.
Verantwortungsbewusstes Reisen
Als Reiseveranstalter fühlen wir uns verpflichtet, nachhaltige Reisen anzubieten, die den Menschen im Gastgeberland, der Umwelt sowie Kunden gleichermaßen zuträglich sind. Wir glauben, Reisen kann umweltverträglich sowie kulturell und ökonomisch nachhaltig sein. Es ist wichtig zu verstehen, dass das, was in Deinem eigenen Land als akzeptables Verhalten und angemessene Kleidung sowie Sprache angesehen wird, in einem anderen Land vielleicht nicht toleriert wird. Bitte behalte dies auf Deiner Reise im Hinterkopf.
Die besten Reisetipps für verantwortungsbewusstes Reisen in Kuba:
- Zeige Dich rücksichtsvoll in Bezug auf Kubas Bräuche, Traditionen, Religion und Kultur.
- Aus Umweltgründen solltest Du versuchen, den Kauf von abgefüllten Wasserflaschen aus Plastik zu vermeiden. Am Besten benutzt Du einfach eine wiederverwendbare Flasche.
- Entsorge immer Deinen Abfall. Dazu gehören auch Zigarettenstummel.
- Lerne die Landessprache ein wenig kennen und scheue Dich nicht davor, sie zu benutzen – einfache Sätze können ein guter Eisbrecher sein!
- Kaufe lokal hergestellte Produkte ein. Die Unterstützung lokaler Handwerker hilft dabei, die traditionelle Herstellungsweise zu bewahren.
- Entscheide Dich dafür, keine Unternehmen zu unterstützen, die Grausamkeiten gegenüber gefährdeten Tierarten begehen oder deren Ausbeutung fördern.
- Bitte frage Personen, die Du fotografieren möchtest, vorher um Erlaubnis. Das gilt auch für Kinder.
- Versuche es zu vermeiden, den Einheimischen Geschenke oder Geld zu geben, wenn Du eine Gemeinde oder Gastfamilie besuchst.
Reviews
Professional, caring, proud guide; wonderful accommodation in locals homes; great itinerary.
Highly recommend Cuba on a shoestring!
One big tip I would give would be to bring a little Spanish phrasebook with you. It would have been nice to be able to communicate a bit more with the Casa owners as some had very little English. Basic phrases would have been handy so I would definitely recommend a phrasebook as you aren’t able to use internet in many parts of Cuba.
Cuba was a great experience … go before it’s too late!
Well worth going on this trip if you want to see first hand the variety of beauty Cuba has to offer. National parks and beaches. Mountains and lovely towns and cities. Fascinating to see all the places of the Revolution and memorials
Excellent itinerary, smoothly run and good value for money! I would highly recommend Intrepid to anyone wanting to travel with a group tour. The organisation and efficiency of the tour was superb. The tour I experienced around Cuba was authentic and I learnt a lot of the Cuban culture and way of life. Thanks to a brilliant tour leader and company… the tour was highly enjoyable and would definitely go with Intrepid again. Thank you!
We always carry our own water container to refill and always take the extra time to check the room before we leave, better to be a bit late than leaving something important behind.
This trip provides an exceptional way of experiencing the real Cuba, it’s many different facets and it’s wonderful warm, friendly people. Captivating, colonial Havana, hiking and chocolate in Baracoa, history and revolution in Santiago, dancing, sugar and rum in Trinidad then snorkelling in the Bay of Pigs. If you have time; add and extra day to see Vinales then you’ve done Cuba!
Excellent trip to experience Cuba in a short space of time! Read through the information provided as it contains many useful tips and tricks which will prepare you for the adventure. Embrace the experience and differences which you may be accustomed to. Take all the activity opportunities possible such as salsa dancing, caving, snorkelling and visiting the tobacco farm. It really is a wonderful experience!
Travel to Mexico/Cuba with your eyes wide open with no expectations and in return Mexico/Cuba will provide you with an experience of a life time that you will never forget!
during our trip we never once thought that the organisers were anything but totally conversant with customs and conditions in Cuba . This enabled us to enjoy our time without hassle.
My first trip I took with you was to Morocco and I plan to do that on my own but the travel agent told me that I needed to go with a group and she introduced intrepid to me and I was a bit afraid because I am a black person and I do not know how the group would react to me but that trip was so fantastic everybody was nice and I had the best holiday on this plane. So went my friend from the Morocco trip answer me to go on holiday again I said yes and now Im a diehard intrepid traveller. we decide to go to Cuba
Cuba is a country that needs to be seen to be believed. Such a rich history to learn about. This short tour was a perfect way to get a taste of Cuban life.
We enjoy travelling with Intrepid, we like the small groups which are often made up of like minded travellers. We exchange experiences and ideas between each other and we experience more of the culture of the countries we visit.
Learn more Spanish to really get a better local experience 🙂
Excellent trip. Changed my opinion of Fidel Castro and learned a lot about the Cuban people and their struggles. Would highly recommend this trip and being a seasoned traveller I can honestly say Cuba is one of the safest countries I have ever been to. Don’t think about it, GO!
I really enjoyed getting into the countryside and seeing Las Terrazas ,Sorea and Vinales. All that green does wonders for the soul. My tip would be have a small change purse for the 25c you will need for the toilets and also there is no harm having a soap and toilet roll of your own. In the countryside animals namely roosters and dogs don’t wait for daylight to wake up so some ear plugs might be beneficial. Also make sure you have enough smaller notes for the tips to local guides.
Intrepid offer good value, interesting & culturally aware travel that ensures you gain a good understanding of the countries you visit. The tour leaders in my experience have been excellent. I always consider Intrepid when planning my holidays.
Excellent diverse exploration of the country. Ensure you have a tipping fun, good size towel and snacks.
Our Intrepid tour was a lot of fun and excellent value.
Whilst we were on tour, Tropical Storm Alberto struck. There was massive amounts of rain and flooding in Cuba. However, this barely affected our trip as Intrepid kept us informed of the situation and were able to sort out a fix so we didn’t miss out on seeing more of Cuba. They have the flexibility and connections in Cuba so that we still had a great experience (safely!)
An excellent country to visit. Intrepid and its tour leader Iraida provided a unique insight into the history, education, art, culture, food and the lives of everyday Cuban people.
Great trip great company great tour well organised and run
It was so lovely to not worry about transport for this part of our trip. Getting about on our own in Cuba before and after intrepid was quite expensive and hard work. Learning about the history and culture was deeply enhanced by going with intrepid.
A really great trip! You get to see a lot in the 10 days. The Cuban people were warm and welcoming. Our intrepid leader Dany made our Cuba experience a memorable one, as he was full of enthusiasm and knowledge and really great fun! Also a special mention to our bus driver Lachay, who was great and was really a part of our little tour group! Havana and Trinidad (could have spent an extra day there!) and of course our Salsa dancing were the highlights.
An excellent itinerary that will take you to some amazing places in Cuba. Good flexibility with the activities. The accommodation was very nice and I would not call it basic! Overall an interesting an insightful trip around a beautiful country.
Cuba full of colour, music and mojitos! Such an interesting country with an very interesting history that I am proud to know a little more about now. Don’t let the two currencies put you off embrace the different.
The Best of Cuba was really a fantastic trip. I’d recommend it to anyone interesting in learning about Cuba and enjoying the Cuban way of life.
Highly recommend Western Cuba trip. A fabulous experience.
Cuba provides a very interesting history and a quite diverse way of life for travellers to experience.
On no other trip have I felt that I have been able to get to know the culture and feel the heart of a country more, than when I travelled with Intrepid. Having a leader from the country that I was touring gave a wonderful insight into its culture that I would have been unable to get on my own. Travelling with Intrepid is a great way to get the most out of a 10 day to 2 week holiday, or to begin a long stint of travelling with the safety of getting to know a wonderful group of people and easing you in to travelling life.
The ‘Small group’ experience on Intrepid tours is a great way to share visits to different countries with an opportunity to ‘get to know’ the other people and sometimes making lifelong friends. Local Tour leaders can provide specialist knowledge about countries being visited and interact well with small groups.
Highly recommend the ‘Cuba on a Shoestring’ trip. It was fantastic in every way – I loved the whole trip with its’variety of scenery and activities, beautiful Cuban people, great music and dancing, interesting culture and history. Our guide ‘Andy’ and driver ‘Jorge’ were simply the best!!!
Cuba is beautiful and I can highly recommend travelling there and be prepared to have fun! The tour was well organised and our guide, Alejandro was excellent. Pack light, there is plenty of opportunities to do laundry. Locals appreciate basic toiletries, medical supplies and items like pens, so take some extra to donate.
the trip was fantastic. i loved it and will definately book my next trip with intrepid
the trip was fantastic. i loved it and will definately book my next trip with intrepid
Cuba on a Shoestring is an excellent trip for anyone considering a trip to discover Cuba. Small group, incredible guides and drivers and plenty of time to explore on your own. The people, the music, the dancing… i can’t wait to come back. Cuba has kept a little bit of my heart!
Great introduction to the culture and history of Cuba. Visiting everywhere from Havana to Santiago de Cuba so it does involve a lot of travel time. Bus time taken up watching videos on politics, culture and music and an informal Spanish lesson. Havana and Trinidad were highlights and the Cuban people were amongst the most friendly people I have ever met on my travels. As always, our Intrepid local guide Dany provided some great insights and recommendations.
Versatile trip, fantastic group, good leading! Loved it 🙂
A great way to travel, this tour and itinerary have you the freedom to be your own traveler but still have a sense security knowing you can call your leader
Cuba was everything I had hoped it would be. Our wonderful guide, Andy, has a vast knowledge of all things relating to Cuba and it’s history and is a great narrator. Staying in the private family Casa’s was a highlight as was Havana and all the other historic sites we visited. I highly recommend this tour.
This is an excellent overview of Cuba and insights into the culture, way of life and political history. Staying in Casas was great but not for the faint hearted! However, it really gave a flavour of these lovely people. Intrepid pre trip info very useful and accurate. Long coach journeys but super modern coach.
Intrepid takes the hassle out of travelling, caters for the individual travelling on their own and is prepared to travel to unique and less frequently travelled to destinatuons around the world.
Intrepid takes the hassle out of travelling, caters for the individual travelling on their own and is prepared to travel to unique and less frequently travelled to destinatuons around the world.
The west is the layed back side of cuba where you can put your feet up a little and relax. Special note to bring your own toilet paper in case the place your staying runs out
A good add on to the Grand Cuba tour which travels to the south and east as far as Baracoa. It is quite a contrast in landscape as well as economic situation having been opened to tourism since the Special Period in the 1990s – Vinales feels much more like Mediterranean tourist places with all the restaurants and bars available and far less visible political activity.
As above re currency
Cuba is amazing. Its hard to explain, its a place you really need to see for yourself. You really need to take snacks and anything else you may need. You cant buy many things we take for granted in our countries.
Mexico Unplugged allowed me to experience the colour, vibrancy, history and adventure Mexico has to offer. I was given the opportunity to hike in jungles, swim in gorgeous sinkholes and waterfalls, explore ancient archaelogical ruins and eat some of the tastiest food ever. Thank you Mexico!
Be patient and understanding with your fellow travellers, helpful and kind to your guide, and you will enjoy the trip even more.
Cuba is both what you think it will be – the old cars, the cigars, music and salsa dancing etc…..but also so much more and the best of Cuba westbound provides a solid and varied introduction to the real Cuba.
Our first Intrepid trip was fantastic! Full of exciting activities and sightseeing with excellent, knowledgeable guides.
A great way of seeing Cuba and learning some of the country’s history. I would definitely recommended this trip, it offers a good balance between activities and free time in each location. Bring along small bars of soap, pens and sweets to give out to local people, they really appreciate it.
Cuba was an eyeopening cultural and historical experience which is not to be missed! Our tour leader was Cuban and this meant we were warmly greeted and invited into the communities across the island. We danced, sang, explored, and discussed the political and historical nature and our photographs have captured the unexpected beauty of the countryside, coast-line, towns, cities people and wildlife. We are already thinking about our next adventure.
To get that real feeling for a country, not a glossed over 5 star experience – Intrepid.
It was a very nice trip, good organised, safe drivings in a very modern bus, modern rooms with very friendly hosts and such a good tour guide Yanna. She has made the trip perfect with all her experiences and knowledges.
Cuba is an amazing country. Even though our trip there was short for what this place offers, however we really appreciated it. The group was amazing and Maurice, our leader, was excellent. The accommodation was very good and we were taken good care of. We saw many places for such a short time and if I could keep one or two highlights those would be the colors of Trinidad and the street life of Havana.
Best of Cuba is a great trip, visiting many of the most interesting cities in the country. It was great going right over to the east coast where not so many tourists venture. As we have a particular interest in history we really liked doing the reverse version of the trip, as this meant starting in Baracoa, the first colonial town, and then following the route of the settlers as they headed west. We also enjoyed visiting many significant sites of the revolution. The Casas were pretty basic, but are clean and adequate, and it’s great staying with local families. The activities on the tour are varied and interesting. We had a lot of fun on this tour. Thanks Intrepid.
I would highly recommend using Intrepid when booking a trip to Cuba. Their itineraries are well planned, the guides are very professional and although travelling with a group, you still get a lot of free time to do your own thing. I give Intrepid 10 out of 10 on all accounts.
Basic accommodation but clean and central. George out driver was a very good/CAUTIOUS DRIVER
Our visit in Cuba was a dream come true. We knew the rebellious past and the turbulent history and we were not disappointed. Cuba is beautiful and the people amazing. We always felt safe and well taken care of and our leader Maurice made everything run smoothly. I can’t tell apart which I liked best, but if I had to choose I would go with the colors of Trinidad and simply walking in the streets of Havana. My only piece of advice would be to learn a bit of Spanish, the locals really appreciate it. Thanks for the amazing time there Intrepid.
Always check and double check any cards you take with you to insure they are active and work in the country you are travelling in. I had a new credit card and found I could not access any monies as it had not been activated before I left… really dumb. I had no way to contact my bank as my phone was not working either! Luckily Cuba is cheap to travel in so the limited phones I could access were sufficient until I arrived in USA!
A fantastic short tour of Cuba. The accommodation was great, with welcoming hosts and we visited some amazing places. Maurice, our guide, was friendly and helpful and we loved our driver (Santiago). 5 stars!
We had an unforgettable time exploring Western Cuba. The people and their hospitality; the casas we stayed in; the music, dance and Cuban rhythms; the views in Soroa; the city of Havana that tells such a rich history. However, none of this would have been the same without our fantastic tour guide, Lex (Alexandros Capote Ferro), and the people he selected to help us get to know this wonderful part of the world. Lex had a way of transmitting an air of relaxation making everyone feel entirely at ease and yet always having a firm handle on the itinerary and catering to every members needs – what a guy! So, a big thanks to Round the World Experts and Intrepid for putting this together and a very big and special thanks to Lex; and of course all those who helped us along on this trip, including, Adelis and the rest of the crew in Havana for taking care of us at casa Vista al Mar; Maricela for her hospitality at her casa in Viniales, and our knowledgeable guide Floyd; Papito and crew for their warm hospitality at his casa in Soroa; our amazing driver Andres…
Guides are knowledgeable and helpful. A full travel experience, where we learned about the culture past and present, economics and future hopes of the Cuban People.
My trip was well organised and having a local guide made this trip one of the best I’ve been on. Take the opportunity to mix with the locals as this made the whole experience memorable. For me what made Cuba the best was the people; the locals, the guide and my group.
Environmentally aware, culturally sensitive and insider knowledge – if these things matter to you Intrepid almost has a trip for you! Pick your destination and the level of comfort you require and Intrepid will be a great choice for a holiday never to forget where you will likely meet friends for life.
I recommend this trip to everyone, it is perfect for someone who wants to visit this beautiful and fascinating country and come away with a real life experience of what it is actually like there.
Value for money
Excellent trip, if you can do the full 15 day I couldn’t recommend it more. Be careful when going on the other trips after, out flight got cancelled on the way out, lots of people missed joining tours. We had to pay for new flights to make sure we could join on to our next tour.
The local guide that we had in Cuba was amazing, but Intrepid as a company is just plain money hungry and does not care about their travellers at all. They care more about making a profit than peoples safety. I highly recommend NOT travelling with them.
Intrepid offer fantastic off the road tours which give you a better understanding of local cultures.
We had no trouble accessing money from automatic machines during our trip. Prior to departure, we would have found up to date advice about how to purchase and locate internet access useful. We arrived in Cuba three days before the start of our tour. Our leader was able to advise us on when we joined the tour.
The trip was amazing and our group leader was the best. I really got to understand the Cuban culture and to get a good feel of the country. I would highly recommend this trip!
Highly recommend the Western Cuba trip if you’re limited on time as we were. Really enjoyed Venales and the valley around it, and our time in Havana.
An excellent way to experience Cuba. The tour provided great opportunities to see the natural beauty of the country, drive in vintage cars, meet wonderful people and learn about the fascinating history and politics. We also had great fun listening to fantastic musicians in local bars, dancing Salsa and drinking a variety of excellent rums. The tour has something for everyone. Intrepid supports local artisans, and ensures you can find the best food Cuba can offer including wonderful lobster and fish.
Very well organised, our tour guide was very helpful during the hurricane and helped us book extra nights in Havana. Read all the trip notes and enjoy western Cuba.
Cuba is beautiful, intriguing, amazing, fascinating, thought-provoking. The Best of Cuba (reverse) tour was a great way to get an overview and more or less chronologically took us through Cuba’s history. We had a great mix of seeing the natural environment, the amazing architecture, understanding the sometimes grim history, and meeting beautiful people. Take pens and soap. You’ll understand why the first time you get off the tour bus.
Intrepid has Cuba sown up! There is a huge range of tours which cover various time spans and destinations. For me, the Cuba Explorer was the perfect length, and Intrepid was also able to help with additional accommodation in Havana. Overall, my trip showed me everything about Cuba that I had hoped to see – colour and music and life.
Bring as little luggage as possible. Usd and euros can be exchanged throughout Cuba. Smile at everyone- they love it! Bring chewing gum! And dance! Dance, dance,dance. Cuba will bring it out of you
If you like art, music and sunshine Cuba is a wonderful place to visit.
Trip to Cuba changes perception what we really need in life and how little people need to be happy.
We think reading up on the country you are travelling to will help you understand the culture and situation the country is in.. We found by reading about Cuba it helped us understand what to expect.and the trip was truly an amazing experince
Travel to Cuba with an open mind, the standard of living there is very different and the poverty was a lot more confronting than I first thought. Make sure you take insect repellent, sunscreen, your own soap and body wash, pocket tissues, hand sanitiser, electrolytes and anti-diarrhoea medication. Download Maps.Me map of Cuba and pin recommended sites and restaurants before you go. Be prepared the food can be very hit and miss so take your own snacks!
If you only have limited time in Cuba and like to have some freedom to explore then the Western Cuba trip is for you. It is a mix of History, sociology, food, nature and of course good clean Cuban fun!.
Cuba shouldn’t be missed.
Great way to get around Cuba to the main cities, with a local to talk you through the amazing history! Plenty of free time to do your own thing once you get to each city too.
Intrepid are amazing. Small group tours that delve into local culture and get you off the beaten track! My favourite for adventure holidays!
This is a great way to travel as intrepid takes you to all the experiences and sights and allows time for you to explore on your own. All the hard work of arranging transport and accommodation are organised by intrepid allowing you to just focus on enjoying the country you are exploring.
see QUSH 170716
As two 70s+, we enjoyed the younger members of the group and found most activities easy to manage
This is a great trip if you want to have a quick look at the country and take in some of the natural areas.
Intrepid takes the stressful part out of traveling; taking care of all transport and accommodation plans leaving more time for enjoying the trip. The itinerary covers all the must see and do activities and sights.
Cuba was a fascinating mix of old & new & our tour guide was exceptional. I made some lovely & like minded new friends on my trip. Would definitely recommend Intrepid.
I was interested in travelling with Intrepid due to their responsible travel policy and I am pleased to say I was not disappointed. Well organised trip with fantastic tour guide and driver. During my trip to Western Cuba, I felt safe and had an enjoyable experience that I would highly recommend to others.
Cuba is unlike any other country I’ve been to before. Very poor, but very proud and patriotic. It was good to get the other side of the Revolution story. Prepare for average food, but the places you visit will leave an impression on you.
Intrepid Travel ist stolzes Mitglied der Intrepid Group, dem weltweit führenden Anbieter für nachhaltige Reiseerlebnisse.
