CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

16 days from GBP1,599 to GBP2,099 including flights
Tripcode: AUB

Countries Visited: Cuba

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 56 reviews.

Nicola Dunleavy

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written January 2012
A wonderful trip which really showcased the best that Cuba has to offer. Plenty of time to explore gorgeous, colonial towns and learn more about the country's fascinating history, a few beach stops for much-needed r&r, some time spent in the beautiful mountains and definitely more opportunities to drink mojitos and dance with the locals than I was expecting! Undoubtedly full on but really great fun.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The Sierra Maestra mountains were stunning but the best bit was seeing where Fidel, Che and the rest of the revolutionaries had camped out and fought during the Revolution. Che Guevara's mausoleum in Santa Clara was also incredibly moving.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was brilliant from start to finish. Extremely knowledgeable and eloquent when he spoke about Cuba's history, politics, economy and society in general, endlessly patient and accomodating, full of energy and always great fun.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
For a variety of reasons, the food in Cuba isn't great. Expect to eat lots of bread, rice, beans and pork or chicken and not much in the way of fresh fruit and veg! I took plenty of healthy snacks with me and that definitely helped. The rum is brilliant anyway so that kind of made up for the food! There are also a couple of long days of driving which is a bit frustrating but the price you pay for covering so much ground in just two weeks.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
So much depends on the group that you're travelling with. We had a great bunch of all different ages and backgrounds so it worked out really well. If you can remain patient and tolerant of others, as well as throwing yourself into things and making the most of every opportunity that comes your way, you'll stand a good chance of having an awesome time.
Lesley Savage

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written January 2012
A great way to experince a fascinating country which allows you to get a great feel of the place and people.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Probably in the mounatins, looking at where Castro et al planned the revolution, which also made for a good walk after so long on a coach. Santiago was also amazing. Imagine going to school in a place with bullet holes to remind you of the history. The music was everywhere and great, the people friendly and chatty, not hassling you. The catamaran trip was the best way to spend new years eve.
What did you think of your group leader?
Great - really helpful, fun and informative. Would have been nice if he and the driver socialised at dinner with a bit more.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The food is better and more plentiful than the trip notes suggest, even if not varied. There was chicken, pork or some form of fish/seafood pretty much every night, sometimes extra seafood, occasionally beef. I also found it less expensive than I thought it might be - but ATMs were as scare as they said, so take plenty of cash. It's a really safe place and I never worried at all about carrying all it around with me.
The optional trip to Vinales was not widely taken up because people had enough of coaches by then but it was great - but be warned, we got back at neraer 8pm, not 5pm as suggested, so Tropicana was a bit of a rush if you wanted to eat. The Catamaran trip was fabulous, and good value.
Tropicana was expensive, but a real spectacle and the rum was the good stuff!
If you have one take your snorkel as there are some fantasic sites for it.
It you get travel sick do not book a two week coach tour.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Cuba is fascinating, and I suspect anyone who has been in the last 50 years will feel they saw it an an interesting time, but you really did get a sense it was unique, so go before reforms make it too much like the rest of the world.
Denise Hall

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written January 2012
What was amazing was the lack of traffic on the motorways - one car every 5 minutes! Lots of bikes, rickshaws, pony traps, horses, bullock carts and trucks full of people. Amazing 1950's American cars - couldn't take enough photos of them. People waiting for lifts at every corner. Music everywhere - cafes, restaurants, in the squares and parks at any time of the day. Food much better than we expected.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking to Fidel Castro and Che Guevara's hideaway in the Sierra Maestra mountains. The stay at Santo Domingo was magical in spite of the rain - everyone relaxed and danced that evening. Could have stayed another night.
What did you think of your group leader?
Freddie was well organised, imaginative and well informed. He led us to extremely good restaurants banishing our orginal idea of bad food in Cuba. It was not all rice and beans! He was thoughtful and took on board our wishes. We learnt a lot about Cuba through him. His knowledge of English was outstanding.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take some children's and adult clothes to donate through your guide to some very poor families. Also take some stationary supplies for a school. Leave behind extra toiletries and clothes. Wear good trainers when walking. Go with the flow and don't expect everything to be perfect in the hotels. They are good but sometime things don't work!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Be prepared for long drives to each destination. Cuba is a large island and it takes a long time going from Havana to eastern Cuba. The extra trip to Vinales was worth doing - it was a hectic itenerary but the scenary is beautiful and you visit a cigar factory and a tobacco farm, underground caves - the meal was included and was quite good.
Patrick Hall

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written January 2012
It was much, much better than expected - the Cubans, the country, the scenary, the weather and the food were great. Our group leader was excellent - his contribution really made the trip .... absolutely nothing fazed him!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The guided tours around the various cities and towns - the architecture, street/square layout, the markets, the everpresent live music and the old American cars.
The El Cubano Nature park - the walk punctuated by a swim under a waterfall (almost).
The sighting of the world's smallest humming bird.
The trip to Vignales - especially to the tobacco farmer who provided freshly rolled cigars for smoking.
The traffic free roads.
What did you think of your group leader?
See above.
Freddie, our group leader was always cheerful, interested, enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable, helpful and, and........ He was by far the best that I have encountered on this type of trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Keep your stay in Havana brief - it has the features of all large cities - noise, traffic and high prices. You'll see the real Cuba outside of Havana.
The everpresent live music groups in the restaurants can become a little tedious as they tend to play the same sort of music in the same style (a la 1940s-50s) - possibly as a sop to the tourists. I am sure that there is more up-to-date Cuban music with more variation!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you want to see the whole island then be prepared for long bus journeys.
Could have done with some compulsory salsa( and cha cha-cha) lessons !
Angela Farr

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written January 2012
A brilliant overview of Cuba ! A fantastic Cuban guide full of fun and information; a good driver. I would recommend staying on a few days after the very busy 2 weeks ... maybe in Havana, or at a beach. I am saving to go again to look at a few places in more detail...
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Hiking up into the mountains to visit Fidel s hideout.Swimming in a waterfall.Dancing on a veranda at a Casa de Trouva at Santiago de Cuba. Going into the forest near Baracoa. Many more !
What did you think of your group leader?
Really brilliant ! Felix is a Cuban guide who is such fun, so knowledgable, so efficient... he gave us many extra insights on our journey. Speaks many languages, seems to know everyone everywhere, dances and parties . A great guy !
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Stay on a while. The trip is very busy. Lots of time in a bus. We covered 3,000kms in 2 weeks !
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I am already saving to go again. Cuba is rapidly changing, and you need to get there before the U S embargo is lifted. It is a unique and vibrant country. Not a Costa Coffee in sight. Go soon !
Cathy Cant

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written December 2011
Cuba - interesting, even fascinating - but food lovers beware!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Loved the snorkelling on the optional catamaran trip. Never before eaten lunch on a desert island eyed up by iguanas and tree rats!
La Habana Vieja is wonderful: stunning architecture. But note: the past 50 years or so have seen a wholesale (presumably unintended) programme of converting grand palaces to miserable hovels. The UNESCO-sponsored refurbishment is restoring many of these magnificent buildings to their former glory, but there remains much to do.
What did you think of your group leader?
George was great - tireless in his efforts to organise the local services, and largely successful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Definitely take snacks - food for tourists is plentiful (I suspect the locals would be aghast to see how much is provided), but very, very bland, and a very narrow range of choices as a rule. But lobster (where available) can be surprisingly inexpensive and properly cooked. Steer clear of the beef - by and large the locals seem to have no idea what to do with it. But I'm a bit of a foodie ... however we ate at a couple of good places in Habana Vieja (Cafe Del Oriente and El Patio - both v good).
Is there anything else you would like to add?
All loos are manned by women (usually) demanding money with thinly veiled menaces. And they are quite clear about how much they expect to receive for handing you a very short strip of flimsy toilet paper. No idea whether they work only for tips, or get paid by the establishment, but it gets really irritating. And the loo cublicles are barely high enough for decency, and hardly any have locks - and some open outwards so you can quite easily appear revealed in all your glory to any bystanders.
Jane Codling

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written December 2011
A very good informative holiday with quite a lot of variety - beach/walks/culture - amazing to see the diffrerence in culture of a comunist state but the only down side was on the back half of the holiday there were 3 days of long traveling in a coach back to havanna - to me this could be broken up a bit better in planning of the trip -personnaly I would also like to have a bit more beach time but I did go for the culture as I know this will change soon
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Trinidad town & the snorkeling boat trip to the remote beach
What did you think of your group leader?
Very good and informative
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be aware there are 3 very long days on a coach transferring back to Havanna
Is there anything else you would like to add?
None