Cuba: La Isla Grande

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

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  Christine Piper

  CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

  

  Written August 2010

   A beautiful and varied country. Havana fully lived up to my expectations. A fascinating glimpse of life in Cuba, from a rural idyll to a bustling metropolis, the sound of the salsa is never far away. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Finishing the climb up to Castro's hideout. By the time i reached the top i was the colour of a tomato but the views were spectacular and the whole site was very interesting.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Very informative especially about the political history of Cuba. Occasionaly the lectures on Cuban politics went on too long and were in too much detail. Our leader had been used to leading SAGA groups and i don't think he adapted quickly enough to a different style of group. Information about daily activities was sometimes lacking or confused and it made it hard to make informed descisions on what to do. Some of this was down to a misunderstanding in the language but when the whole group misunderstands then the message hasn't been delivered correctly. 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  The food in Cuba is rubbish but go with the flow. There are some hidden food gems out there. It is difficult to cater for large groups so if you want to taste the real Cuba it may be better to break in to smaller groups which is a shame. Expect the unexpected and there is no such thing as Cuban logic.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  The group was larger than advertised and in my opinion too large. It made it difficult to bond with all the group and when we were going out for meals limited the places we could go to as smaller restaurants couldn't cater for large groups. So we ended up eating in the hotel a lot.

   
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  Karen Wellham

  CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

  

  Written March 2010

  Great trip seeing most of the country, but some long coach journeys in the second week. Great Salsa, good rum and an interesting socialist culture. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Dancing on the steps in Trinidad was definitely a highlight. Also the trek in the mountains to Fidel's "base of operations" during the revolution.

  Baracoa is completely different from the rest of the country, more laid back, and well worth the trip.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Tony, our leader, was excellent - very knowledgeable about the history and the culture of the country, but also good at dancing salsa. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him.

  Jose, our coach driver, was great - it was a full sized coach for 18, so lots of room to stretch out, and he was with us all the time so we could take the coach out in the evenings which made organising things a lot simpler.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Make the most of the night culture - dancing salsa and sharing a bottle of rum is all part of the experience! 

  Despite all the warnings, the food is fine - we even had lobster, but everything comes with rice & beans and salad! And you can get pringle crisps, bottled water and loads of fresh fruit (especially bananas).

  Be prepared for the long trip back from Baracoa but don't let it put you off the trip. The team do their best to break it up, but there's not much to see until you get back to Havana.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  If there's any chance to fly safely back from Baracoa to Havana, take it!

   
• 

  Ann Jones

  CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

  

  Written March 2010

  This is a fantastic trip.  It is very varied and you get to see a lot of the Island in a short space of time. In addition to learning all about the revolutionary history you also get lots of chances to experience the nature of this beautiful Island and see the culture of the country and its people  There are some long drives but the end results are well worth it.   

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The trek up to Fidel's base in the Sierra Maestra (despite the rain and mud!) and the beautiful city of Baracoa which was well worth the long drive to get there.  Havana old town is also a delight with something new around every corner.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Tony (and our driver Thomas) were both wonderful.  Tony was very knowledgeable and nothing was too much trouble for him.  Both of them were good fun and very approachable and when necessary Tony was very honest about what to expect from a particular hotel or excursion.  An excellent guide, a great ambassador for his country and an all round nice bloke. Oh and a mean mover on the dance floor too!

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Go with an open mind and you will not be disappointed. Do bring pens and soaps to give to the locals.    Expect some long drives which are necessary in view of the size of the country and the vast areas of the island covered.  The people are great and despite what we had been lead to believe before we went there was no shortage of food (too much if anything!) and the quality was perfectly fine.  Also there were no longer delays at the airport arrival or departure than experienced in many other countrys. Enjoy the beer- Cristal, and of course the Mojitos

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I would definately reccomend that anyone to do this trip and if possible sooner rather than later as the "hands of friendship" currently being offered by Obama and the inevitable passing of the Castros will change the country in the near future.  A gem of country not to be missed

   
• 

  Christine Shaw

  CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

  

  Written March 2010

  This trip is a good all-round (well, almost!) look at Cuba. Lots of moving on, but plenty of enjoyable time just to look as well. I would have preferred accommodation that was more low key and local, but this seems to be a rarity in Castro's domain. Having said that, who could turn their nose up at the Melia Habana? Beautiful! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Music, music, music - all the way. Having fended off so many attempts to sell me yet another CD, the trio  who played on my final full day in Havana didn't have one for sale - and they were brilliant. On a more sombre note, Che Guevara's mausoleum in Santa Clara really brought home the awe with which he is still held in Cuba.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Tony was as helpful as he could possibly be and, being Cuban, his background knowledge added a very special dimension to the journey. Our driver Tomas deserves a special mention. He was a real gentleman as well as being an excellent driver.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Read the Trip Notes!! Time after time potential travellers ask questions in the Forums that have been covered in Trip Notes. Exodus does what it says on the tin. If you don't read the label, that's your hard luck! This is a lot of travelling over a large island but, by and large, very early departures are avoided. It is well worth the miles for the overview of an island that I found extremely interesting.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Get out there and dance!

   
• 

  David Blair

  CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

  

  Written January 2010

  A fantastic introduction to Cuba - salsa, mojitoes, cigars and Buicks - what more could you ask for? 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Our tour guide organised a game of football with group of locals in Baracoa, inside the local baseball ground. So our motley group, of all shapes, sizes and abilities, ended up facing a squad of athletic, muscle bound blokes who could run like the wind and seemingly put the ball wherever they liked - and the ball mainly stuck to the end of their feet. With the help of their best players seconded onto our team, 'we' atually won in the end. Totally exhausting and a great memory from the holiday.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Our leader (Steve) was well organised, patient, enthusiastic and fun to be with. He even had to cope with a bit of a medical emergency in the middle of checking us into our hotel in Havana - a star.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  While Cuba is not a delight for the 'foodies' (there is plenty of food but by the end of the holiday you will be craving something different) it is an experience worth having. If you go and there are any activities on the holiday described as optional - just do them all - you won't regret it.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  'Guantanamera … / Guajira Guantanamera …' - you'll hear it a million times, so you will probably leave either loving it or hating it. For me it will remind me of my Cuban holiday over Christmas and New Year, the people I met and the fun I had. And I'm also now pleased to know that the song is about Guantanamo - the lyrics means something like 'peasant girl from Guantanamo' - so a good dinner party story to have up my sleeve in future.

   
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  Mary Burke

  CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

  

  Written November 2009

  This trip offers a real insight into the history, people and culture of Cuba. From the polished centre of Havana to the backstreets of Baracoa, you get a sense of what daily life is like for the Cuban people, the pros and cons of the social system and what the people hope for in the future. One of the most interesting countries ever visited. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The most inspirational thing for me was the resourcefulness of the Cuban people. Despite the restrictions on them, they find ways to improve their standards of living and maximise everything they have. We witnessed this daily, whether it was used beer cans being turned into classic car models and then sold to tourists, or the guys fixing and refilling broken and worn our cigarette lighters!. The people are also (in the main) intensely loyal to Fidel Castro and his regime and although recognise some shortcomings and hardships, never forget the situation that they were rescued from 50 yars ago.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  We had both a local guide and a British leader. This worked very well as the local leader provided detailed and thorough  explanations of Cuban history, the current political system and the culture of the country. Where the local leader may not have been aware of our cultural differences and things that we needed to be aware of, the British leader was able to effectively bridge that gap.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  I think like any trip of this nature you have to be relaxed about the trip and flexible with the unexpected and with other people. A lot of the joy is in mixing with local people and being prepared to go along with things when they occur. Don't go if you have a rigid agenda and timetable!

   
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  Abraham Flach

  CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

  

  Written July 2009

  A great trip with lots of highlights, very nice group ! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The stay in Baracoa is out of this world.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  A good professional !

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Don't hesitate, go there...

   

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