Cuba: La Isla Grande

Our Clients’ Reviews

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Average Review Rating: from 113 reviews.

Hilary Walbank

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written April 2011
Both my husband and I were thrilled with the Cuba Experience. The courier, Enio and our driver Eduardo, who looked after our, sometimes unusual requests, throughout the trip were marvellous and devoted to giving us as much insight into their country as possible, while meeting our every needs.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
My husband loved the road up to Fidel's montain camp, while I was heartened by the warm hearted, generous, ordinary Cuban people.
What did you think of your group leader?
Enio was enthusiatic and amusing, while his knowledge and pride in his motherland was clear.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do it (unless you want an all enclusive beach holiday), this experience is varied, challenging and fascinating on so many levels, we are SO pleased that we did!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
No, it was first class!
Elizabeth Casey

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written April 2011
La Isla Grande was an amazing trip. It enabled us to see the whole island and to travel to many parts of the island that most tourists find difficult to reach eg the eastern side of the island like Baracoa. The variety of culture, history, music, landscapes, and people encountered on this trip was second to none. Our guide Enio and our coach driver for the two weeks Eduardo helped to bring a slice of typical Cuban hospitality to the table everyday and were excellent guides to their beautiful country.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
For such a small country, there was such a variety of experiences we encountered from one day to the next that it makes chosing one particular moment a difficult decision!! Highlights were climbing to the top of the Sierra Maestra to see Fidel Castro's mountain hideout, Trinidad's sleepy charm, the warmness of the people of Baracoa and wandering around a scrap yard of ancient trains in Havana with the Capitol building in the background just 100 metres away (yes I had to pinch myself that that really happened too!)! Riding on the back of a 1950s ex Russian army vehicle was also pretty fun. Bumpy but fun!
What did you think of your group leader?
Enio made a truly outstanding guide. He brought the history and lifestyle of Cuba to us from day 1, and helped us to make sense of the at times bewildering sights and sounds we encountered on the 2 week trip. By the end of two weeks it will seem perfectly normally for you to see a horse and cart trotting down the motorway! It seemed like Enio knew everyone in every town we visited and had excellent recommendations for places to eat and things to see on free days, and always willing to lend a helping hand to book that table with the seaview for you! Both Enio and Eduardo made the travelling as comfortable as possible with stops to experience local foods (coffee with raw sugar cane anyone?) breaking up some of the longer journeys. All in all an excellent guide who will make you feel at home, whilst teaching you so much about his unique country.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This trip is ideal if you want to visit as much of the island as possible. Many tourists don't get beyond Havana or the beaches of Varadero which is a real shame as there's a whole lot of places out there that need exploring! There is a good range of culture and multi-activities to keep you very busy for two weeks and you'll definitely want to return again to this truly beautiful and friendly island. The only difficult part of this trip is getting on that return flight from Havana back to the UK! I would recommend that you make the most of the local music halls - we discovered some real gems on our two week trip and yes you will come back laden with CDs!!! An excellent all round holiday that not only gives you the insight into the history of the country, but one where you come away feeling that you've truly engaged with the friendly and genuinely warm people of Cuba.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Quite a lot of people had warned me that the food in Cuba wasn't that great. However, thanks to Enio we didn't have a single bad meal, so don't worry about the food as it's pretty decent and there's always lots of it! If you can tag a few extra days onto your holiday it's worth it as the final days in Havana make it hard to find time to visit Vinales as an optional excursion as there's already so much to see, hear and experience in Havana! All in all an excellent holiday that I would thoroughly recommend to anyone wanting to experience the real Cuba.
David Steer

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written April 2011
This trip more than lived up to my expecations, you get to see so much in the two weeks. There is a lot of travelling but it is worth it as we visit most of the major towns and get to see the most important historical sites. I have spoken to other people who have visted Cuba and they just seem to go to Havana and then stay in a beach resort, they do not know what they are missing.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
In relation to the revolution visiting Fidels camp in the Sierra Maestra and also Che Guevara's mausoleum. The camp gave you a very good idea of how small and isolated was the base that Fidel had when he initally came back to Cuba, while the mausoleum is just a very peacefull place and you can see how much Che Guevara means to the Cuban government.

What did you think of your group leader?
Tony our leader was excellent and looked after us very well for the whole trip. He was full of informaton about Cuba and how the people lived from day to day. he even managed to explain the Cuban economy and how the two tier currency system works. He showed us 'peso shops' where you have to go if you only have local pesos to spend, the basics are there but there is very little choice. If you want better quality or any western goods then people have to have CUC$
Tony is also an excelent salsa dancer like all other Cubans
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do not sit on the back seat of the bus on the days when you travel in and out of the Sierra Maestra, although Orlando our bus driver was very good and drove slowly, even he could not avoid all the pot holes and you do bounce around a lot.
The food is a lot better than some of the guide books say, we had some very good meals and even rice and beans taste OK. There is not much choice when it comes to sandwiches though, often it is either ham and cheese or cheese and ham.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
There is music where ever you go, we visited three or four different places which had live bands all of whom were excelent and all want you to buy their CDs. Often you will be invited to get up and dance, go aheand and have a go you will not be any worse than I was. In one place there was a couple who were both in their 70's and the moves they were doing put everyone in their place, they were amazing.
Jane Read

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written April 2011
I expected Cuba to be fascinating politically but had not expected it to be such fun. And such wonderful wildlife, especially birds, also the tropical seas and forests.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Visit to desert island off Trinidad.
What did you think of your group leader?
He was very informative and helpful
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Pack your dancing shoes! Be ready to manage with little sleep. And go with an open mind.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Cuba is a great destination which makes you question many western capitalist assumptions on return. It has many faults, but it is so refreshing to visit a place which operates on such different assumptions from our own. Viva Cuba.
Keith Fairweather

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written March 2011
Hotels and food better than you led us to believe. No more harassment by "boys" or "girls" than any other country.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Not inspired by anything really. In spite of everything, the people are outwardly happy and proud of their country.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent. Could not be faulted. As also the bus driver.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't go if you do not want music every time you sit down for a meal!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The larger hotels in the major cities are rather like Butlins Holiday camps.
We had to stand for over three hours before getting to the departure lounge in Havana. There was no let up at all and queued continuously going thro' check-in, airport tax payment, "immigration" and security checks. This is quite unacceptable and must happen regularly. I could not recommend this holiday to anyone for that reason alone.
Raymond Short

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written March 2011
A terrific trip for anyone who wants to find out about the real Cuba from colonial times through to the present day. There were plenty of opportunities to listen to good local music and join in the dancing which was lively and really good fun. Our group was very sociable and 'added value' to our experience.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
We particularly enjoyed the evening at the home of the Buena Vista Social Club in Havana--a fabulous atmosphere!
What did you think of your group leader?
Tony was an excellent tour leader in all respects.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take your dancing shoes and be prepared to take the dance floor whenever possible. Well worth buying a few of the CDs offered by the local groups as reminders of the lovely music.
Sue Lofthouse

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

Written March 2011
What a fantastic trip, so many different places, so much music, so many mojitos. This trip had a bit of everything, history, beaches, cities, walks, mountains and all supported by a guide who shared so much about his country with us. I would recommend this trip to everybody - in fact, since I got back 3 weeks ago, I have!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The mountain hideout of Fidel and Che, swimming in the Caribbean sea on the first day, dancin salsa in Baracoa in spitr of not knowing what I was doing!
What did you think of your group leader?
So knowledgeable and friendly and seemingly not tiring at all of telling us all about Cuba. Unflappable too!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do the optional trips.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Cuba is very chilled out and rubs off on you from day one. The trip is jam packed but also allows you enough free time to have your own experiences and share those with the rest of the group after a day out. The food is not as bad as the trip notes say, lots of fresh seafood meant that I got fed up with lobster, not a bad thing really.

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Our Clients’ Reviews

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE