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...
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
We had some really beautiful beach stops en route to new locations which was a beautiful and refreshing way to break up otherwise long drives. The highlight for me was the walk at El Cubano and swimming in the crystal clear water by the waterfall. This was the icing on my Cuban cake.
What did you think of your group leader?
Jorge was great - he was friendly and really helpful 100% of the time. In a group with lots of women, he and our driver, would regularly keep their eye on us girls to make sure we were not being harrassed by any of the very friendly locals which made us feel very safe and protected. He dealt with changes very calmly e.g. road closures, changes to hotels, room changes etc.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The food is generally very salty so drink plenty of water all the way through to avoid getting stomach cramps etc. Also, the quality of wine in restaurants was surprisingly good whilst also quite cheap so don't be afraid to try it out. There are some long driving days at the beginning of the trip - take every opportunity to stretch your legs, get up and move around to avoid feeling sluggish. The Catamaran trip is a must, the reef is beautiful.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The trip format is exactly right with long driving days towards the beginning of the trip. Very happy with all of the locations that were visited and would not have wanted to miss any out.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Really enjoyed the day in the Sierra Maestra area, and I loved Havana. Dancing on the street in Baracoa was fab.
What did you think of your group leader?
He was amazing very knowledgeable and passionate about Cuba.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do travel light as you live mostly out of a suitcase.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Highly recommend this holiday and loved all the rum cocktails and Salsa dancing. Really enjoyed the optional catamaran trip to the remote Caribbean island.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Sunrise and sunset over Baracoa.
Visting ration shops and eating in family run restuarants, then salsa in the streets of Trinidad - getting a real taste for the culture
What did you think of your group leader?
Very welcoming and helpful, kean to show us the country - and very positive about overcoming over booked hotels, hurricane damage and other challenges of local life
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for everything to not work as well as it should, - the odd hotel shower not working, overbooked hotels etc. The Cubans are still being rationed and not everything is as functional or as organised as it should be. Take a good first aid kit as medicines can be hard to get.
But go and enjoy, the dancing, the Mojitos and the lifestyle before Mc Donalds start building on every street corner .
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We really enjoyed the trip, was great to see a different culture and way of life, including rice being dried on a main road, be prepared for an innundation of Mausoleums and 'shrines' to the revolution and Che. And to dance the night away at Salsa bars.
The people were friendly, the coach driver great and helpful, the scenary was beautiful, though it was sad to see so much hurricane damage.
We didnt particularly like the couple of nights at the all inclusive resort in Trinidad as it felt too much like the holidays we try to avoid (mass market)
Gunnar Nilsson
CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE
Written
A great trip, with a great guide and driver, ensuring that we every day got the most out of the trip. I enjoyed the group alot. Most of the people were from the UK, but there was no problem for me, comming from a non English speaking country, to get to know the other group members.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Every day had its moments that I will remember for many years, but the things that stick out are Havanna, Baracoa, nice time at the beach, and the Bat-cave nightclub in Trinidad.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our guide Yazel, and Orlando, our driver were great. They were both very very service minded, and I felt that they made an extra effort every day to ensure that we had a great time, and experienced as much as possible.
I did the optional Vinales trip, and that guide did not put in any extra effort, so I really apprieciate Yazels contribution to make the main trip such a success for me.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The days on the road are quite intense, and with some stops on the way the travelling takes most of the day. This setup suited me fine since I enjoyed watching the landscape and the stops we did during the day.
But if you want the organized trip just to transport you as quickly as possible between the hotells, and have plenty of free time in the place where you will spend the night, then there are probably better Cuba trips for you.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I know the trip is time boxed by the flights, but I would not have minded a night at a beach town on the north coast for some more beach time and deep sea fishing. I would have liked to get a couple of days on the west side of the island as well, so I guess a three week trip would have been perfect for me.
This was my first Exodus trip, and I choose Exodus since you are not flying domestic on Cuba.
I would not mind travelling with Exodus again.
Sally O'Neill
CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE
Written
Cuba was high on my list of places to visit before it changes too much, and I’m glad I went when I did. Those who say they have been to Cuba and sat on a white sandy beach in a 5-star resort have not seen the real country. There is so much more to it – amazing architecture, beautiful scenery, interesting history, as well as the lovely beaches. It’s refreshing to visit somewhere without a Starbucks or McDonald’s on any corner, although the local cuisine is limited in its variety. Learning about the local politics, education system, healthcare and economic situation was fascinating, thanks to our very knowledgeable Exodus guide. The Isla Grande trip really does take you around the whole country. This does mean lots of coach travel, but it was comfortable, air conditioned and allowed for a quick snooze after the dancing and mojitos of the night before. The hotels varied but on the whole were of good quality. There is a real variety of activities included – boating down rivers, exploring in the jungle, whizzing around cities on bike taxis and dancing in the music halls. It was an action-packed trip, with a great group of people, and yet another memorable holiday with Exodus.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The recent history was fascinating, and trekking through the jungle to Che Guevara's hideout where he planned the Revolution was very interesting. Also great to be in such a remote part of the country.
The architecture and exploring Trinidad and Havana were also memorable. Just hope funding is found to preserve some of their amazing buildings.
Brief stops at some gorgeous beaches were also a welcome break from the busy days travelling.
What did you think of your group leader?
Yazel was a great group leader. He took a few days to get to know the group, but once we saw his real personality, he was fun, organised and informative. His knowledge of the economy, politics, education and healthcare systems was great and certainly shows it is better to have a local group leader than one shipped in from another country. His advice on the country's hurricane alert system also proved to be quite handy when Sandy struck a day before our departure!
We had a very difficult older couple in our group, who had a tendency to spoil the trip for others, and he also handled this situation well.
Our coach driver was also a real asset to the trip (Orlando). As well as driving us safely around the country, he always looked out for our safety and security, even when he was 'off duty' at bars in the evening.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
To do the Isla Grande trip, you have to have stamina and be willing to be on the go every day. There is not much time to relax or chill out given the amount of travelling required to get around the whole country. Also, it is not a trip for foodies. The meals are tasty but very monotonous so people expecting more variety should avoid Cuba. There are many great photo opportunities, so take a good camera and a large flash card!
This holiday is absolutely the best way to make the most out of Cuba, a beautiful, exhilarating and enticing bubble of history in the middle of the Caribbean that is the full spectrum of music and culture!
Exodus arrange practically everything and all you need to worry about is whether there's space for another photo or souvenir!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The friendliness and openness of the locals despite the challenges they may face.
What did you think of your group leader?
Felix was absolutely the best group leader we could ask for: knowledgeable, caring, passionate, experienced, very multilingual and patriotic!
Our driver Orlando also deserves a big mention for his incredible terrain-traversal skills and great attitude!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Bringing a little extra cash as you'll find yourself tipping more than you're maybe used to - Cubans live on unspoken favours and kind reciprocal gestures, while surviving on otherwise low pay.
I have wanted to visit Cuba for some time and have now finally done it! Cuba is an amazing country full of contradictions, friendly people, beautiful lush country with music and dance in every town. A truly wonderful experience.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The whole holiday was wonderful and inspirational but some places that stick out in my mind are:-
The mausoleoum where Che Guevara's remains lay, the atmosphere it breathtaking and moving.... Havanna, is a truly wonderful city with amazing architecture and many old battered 50s cars that are also all over the island. Baracoa by the sea is a wonderful place and comes alive at night with the music and dancing. Trinidad was a very pretty town with cobbled streets full of colour and hidden galleries for artists to sell their paintings. We visited some wonderful restaurants and if you like seafood there is an abundance of Lobster and prawns...
What did you think of your group leader?
Felix was a fabulous guide. He was friendly, funny, kind, and above all a master at rearranging the schedule as we were there at the time of Hurricane Isaac which took over a few days of our time but Felix managed to still make sure that we did other enjoyable things as our itinerary changed dramatically. He took us to some amazing restaurants and showed us varying things that grow in Cuba and what the locals make which was wonderful, we ate fresh avocados picked from the trees, biscuit mangos that were growing in a ladies garden in the mountains and Felix made sure we stopped on our travelsand brought us all types of sweets etc that were made by the locals. It all added up to a true experience of the island that we would otherwise not have seen.
I mustnt forget Orlando who was our driver and was a very gracious and kind man who makes you feel totally safe during the whole trip. Thank you both so much!!!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I have read previously that people mentioned that the food was very limiting. We did not find this at all and we were taken to some really lovely restaurante and had some execellent meals. All over the island people need washing soaps of any description, washing detergents, shampoos and anything you can give them to use to clean their clothes and themselves. The children love any sweets and pens and paper. They also ask for clothes so if you have any tshirts that you dont want please take them with you and hand them out, they will be so so grateful.
There are some wonderful purchases to make along the way. Cuban people are very creative hence some wonderful paintings etc to buy...
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is a wonderful holiday and a real experience. While i was there i had difficulty getting my head round the fact that it is a Caribbean island that is Communist. Amazing and a place that has to been seen to be believed.
The amazing thing about CUBA is there is no rubbish aywhere, the streets and roads are so so clean. The Toilets wherever you go are extremely clean and fresh smelling but always make sure you have tissues just in case.
Do not hesitate just book it, you wont regret it... Try the 7 year old rum, we did!!!!! A beautiful place!
A full-on journey through an extremely interesting country, visiting historic towns, beautiful coastlines and stunning mountain scenery, liberally sprinkled with…
from 112 reviews.
Login above to retrieve a previously saved list or 
Click on 'Add to wishlist' to pin trips here.
