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...
Hallo Exodus Team,Since I got back I've not stopped telling all my friends how wonderful Cuba is. I explained that this wasn't your 'Thompson's' style holiday where you don't get to see much of what Cuba is really like. Instead it was a 14 day real life Geography lesson, where instead of being boring it was learning all about this country in a uniquely exciting way. And all mixed in with great sea swimming where you just melt into water that is the ideal temperature, sometimes with tropical fish (no sharks!) swimming around you. The there is the food. Who said that Cuban food was basic. The Cubans know how to cook! I guess that a lot of the great experience that I, plus the rest of the group I travelled with had, is down to hard work of the local team, who find the good restaurants and places where the down to earth Cuban music is played. Well done.PS Cornwall isn't bad either!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Hard to say! I suppose that swimming with the tropical fish was fairly amazing. I enjoyed a bit a of bird watching in the Sierra Maestra. We all saw the Tocororo, but I also saw Humming birds and a Green Heron. That was a high point of the holiday. I loved the Cuban bands - pity about lack of dancing males in the group as I would have enjoyed a lot more Salsa dancing. Havana has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The architecture of the buildings around Central Park is amazing.
What did you think of your group leader?
Juan Carlos is excellent. He worked hard to ensure that we went to the best private restaurants for our evening meal. On one occasion the family provided us with complete entertainment - music, dancing and card tricks.
Juan Carlos has very good English and a huge knowledge of Cuban history and current affairs. He was very informative and explained everything to us very clearly.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go for it!
Do remember that it is not easy to exchange currency in Cuba. Read all the advice given on the printed sheet. Change cash at the airport that will last you for a good few days.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you've not been to the Caribbean before choose Cuba.
Be prepared for a tough couple of days travelling on arrival, after that it's great. It's a wonderful country and those changes really are starting to happen, my advice is go!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The best moment was swimming in the river at El cubano national park, the river is cool, immaculately clean, the cave behind the waterfall totally spectacular!
What did you think of your group leader?
Enio was great, his english whilst not always perfectly pronounced had a phenomenal vocabulary. He genuinely tried to enthuse and educate us about his country. Nothing was too much trouble. He and our driver concocted one of the freshest and most fabulous picnics ever. Did i mention that he was a great guide?
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do not go on the optional catarmaran tour to the cay. The staff didn't smile once all day, everything seemed to be a chore, the seafood lunch was rice and a seafood hunt, the comment on snorkling was "this is not school". I was sorely disappointed that i hadn't spent the day in trinidad. There is a much better snorkling opportunity in a sheltered cove a couple of days later - included in the trip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Cuba is the special country that i had looked forward to exploring. The only drawback was not going to Vinales. The optional trip sounded very long in terms of both distance and time. I was disappointed as this was intended to really round off my trip and in the end it just didn't work.
Kathryn McEvoy
CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE
Written
If you want an overview of the whole island, including insights into the fascinating history and culture, as well as sampling the laid back Cuban lifestyle of music, salsa dancing and mohitos, then this is the trip for you.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Too many to mention, but one of the highlights came after a gentle trek through the forest, when a welcome swim along a mountain stream led us to a hidden cave behind a waterfall, home to hundreds of bats!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was superb. He entertained us throughout our trip, with anecdotes from his own past as well as amusing tales he had gathered during his travels around Cuba. His knowledge of the island was second to none and his passion for his homeland evident in every story he recounted. His sharp wit and warm sense of humour encouraged much laughing and helped the group to bond, thus enhancing the experiences and enjoyment for everyone.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take snacks, as advised in the notes; there really is nothing to buy on the way. Add a couple of days to the end of your trip if you can, Havana is a wonderful city with more to see and experience than time allows.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I highly recommend this trip and will be heading back to Cuba one day soon.
The only thing I would add to this trip is an optional morning or afternoon of salsa tuition for those who are interested.
A full-on journey through an extremely interesting country, visiting historic towns, beautiful coastlines and stunning mountain scenery, liberally sprinkled with tremendous local hospitality always accompanied by rum, music and dancing!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Hiking into the Sierra Maestra mountains to see the camp that Fidel, Che and the other revolutionaries called home during the revolutionary conflicts. Watching the unbridled joy of an elderly Cuban man dancing salsa at the local Casa De La Trova. Visiting the local markets and ration shops and appreciating the difficulties of surviving in a country where access to food and everyday consumables is so tough for locals, but where the people are so friendly and welcoming.
What did you think of your group leader?
Juan Carlos was a truly excellent guide. Extensive knowledge of his homeland and its history and a wonderful way of presenting it. He was extremely helpful at all times and certainly went the extra mile to make sure we enjoyed our trip to the maximum and any issues were ironed out ASAP with the minimum of fuss. A good guide can make such a difference to the success and enjoyment of a trip and Juan Carlos certainly made a difference. You should count yourself fortunate if you happen to have Juan Carlos as your guide in Cuba
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This trip covers a lot of ground - this is inevitable in order to see as much of the country as this trip does (it is La Isla Grande!). The condition of the roads as you get further away from Havana deteriorate but we had a very comfortable bus and an excellent driver (Andres) which made long journeys pass quickly. Personally I found the Casa De La Trova in Sancti Spiritus one of the best, although the music in all of them throughout the trip was wonderful. The catamaran trip from Trinidad was very worthwhile, providing an opportunity to relax and unwind and take a break from the heat of the towns. However the snorkelling at Caleta Buena on day 13 is probably better with more fish. The optional day trip to Vinales at the end of the trip is a bit disappointing as its all a bit of a rush and the places we went to (rum factory, tobacco farm, cigar factory and caves) were really busy with day tripping tourists (which is quite a shock after 2 weeks of travelling in relatively tourist-light areas of the country). The one plus about this trip is that the cigar and rum prices were by far the cheapest we came across on the trip. If you have a sweet tooth make sure you try the cucuruchu in Baracoa. If you can learn some basic salsa before you go, you'll find it useful, especially if you're female as you will get plenty of offers to dance at the local Casa De La Trovas! The quality of the accommodation and of the food throughout the trip exceeded my expectations - you won't go hungry and there's no problem getting access to power sockets for charging cameras etc. Internet access was extremely limited (I didn't use it myself) as I only remember one hotel having wi-fi and one other I think had an Internet enabled pc that you could pay to use. But I see this as a positive - it's refreshing to have a break from the Internet and email! For those who can't live without them, I found decent mobile coverage in all but the most remote locations. The option of going to La Tropicana show on the last night in Havana is a bit pricey but the 2 hour show is spectacular and you get supplied with plenty of rum!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you want to chill out, relax and enjoy lazing in the sun, book yourself into one of the all inclusive resorts in Varadero. If you want to experience everything that Cuba has to offer and get a feel for how Cubans live, how the majority of people survive on salaries of approximately $1 a day, how a socialist regime operates in practice, how local music and dance provides such fun and enjoyment, how the country's towns were influenced by Spanish colonialism, how the relationship with the USA has affected the nation and its population and experience the beauty of Cuba's varied landscapes, then leave your preconceptions at home, arrive open minded and take this trip!
What we liked: The people, forest walking especially in the Sierra Maestra to Fidel Castro's hideout, the old colonial architecture, and the multi-coloured houses and palaces. Transport - old cars, lorry buses, bullock carts, bicycle taxis, horse and cart taxis.No so good: Standard of plumbing: having to put all toilet paper in a bin rather than the toilet. No water at times to flush toilet or have a shower. Water dripping from room ceiling - though compensated for by hotel management with a bottle of rum!!Lot of driving but the coach was comfortable and air conditioned and Ernesto our driver was an excellent driver and we did get to see a lot of the countryside.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Visiting Fidel Castro's hideout in the Sierra Maestra. The meal we had at a farmhouse in Santo Domingo. The canon firing at El Morro Castle in Santiago de Cuba.
What did you think of your group leader?
Enio was always cheerful and full of local and historical information. He answered all our questions no matter how silly!!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Cuban tourist cards are available in Gatwick Airport (Virgin Atlantic desk) if you make a mess of filling them in and have no time to get another one from Exodus. However, they will cost you £30. Our advice is to fill it in immeediately you receive it from Exodus rather than leave filling it in the day before you travel.
Rebecca Smith
CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE
Written
A great trip that covers so much of the island, be prepared for hours on the coach though!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Dancing in Casa de la Trova in Baracoa, great fun!
The walk in Sierra Maestra to Fidel's hideout, walk was tough in places but worth it.
The beach en route to Havana - beautiful & lots of fishes for snorkelling!
Buena Vista Social Club was fabulous well worth a visit!
The Cuban music which was everywhere we went!
What did you think of your group leader?
Enio was a great leader - knowledgeable, friendly and considerate. He always made sure our group were ok.
Ernesto the driver had a tough job with some of the poor road conditions but did a superb job.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
We went to the Parisien nightclub show which wasn't that great which was a shame as it was our last night in Cuba.
The food isn't as bad as is made out, we all ate well even if it was a lot of rice and beans-portions were big!!
There were numerous places to change UK currency so don't feel you need to change it all at the airport.
Internet is very slow, I wouldn't bother with trying to use it!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Recommend this trip to anyone who wants to experience a totally different place and culture!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The classic cars driving along the roads was beautiful to see and actually going for a drive in a 1950s Chevrolett convertible around Santiago de Cuba was the icing on the cake. there were loads of different cars to see and choose for a taxi home , if all else failed there was a good old Lada .
Casa de la Trova. no trip to Cuba would be complete without a few nights with the locals dancing Salsa or trying to dance Salsa. Lookout for Daniel in Baracoa he was a great teacher.
The nature walk and boat trip in Baracoa was very interesting and enjoyable. We got to try the tropical fruits and even got coconuts fresh from the tree which the pigs enjoyed the left overs, when we had eaten and drunk our fill. Lunch was served in a bamboo bowl and was delicious.
What did you think of your group leader?
Enio was amazing, he really added so much to our trip, he was full of information about all aspects of life in Cuba. With the help of Ernesto the best bus driver in Cuba, we got to taste lots of local produce along the way. they made the most amazing beach picnic which we enjoyed very much. we stopped to take pictures along the road and gave us advice on the local cocktails and where to buy the best gifts. when i asked about taking the classic car for a drive , he talked to the driver and worked out the price. he was very kind and thoughtful and full of fun. He made a difference and if your guide is Enio you will have a great trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
To get more out of your trip you need to interact with the locals, they speak good english so the language was never a problem. The people are very interested in visitors and are very interesting to chat with. Take your money in cash it is very easy to change but if you take just a cash card its a hassle. There is a great market in Havana near the Santander hotel where you can buy all your gifts. Clothes washing available in a few stops. All the locals ask for soap, pens so take some supplies with you. Forget about wifi, again a few of the modern hotels have it. postcards again i havent seen them yet and its 3 weeks already since i sent them.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Cuba has some amazing sights. take some salsa lessons before if you can. and enjoy the experience. You only get back what you put in. Take some time to wander round the streets and see the way of life in old Havana, get away from the tourist areas and see the real Cuba. Even if you get lost there is always a cyclo taxi to take you back to your hotel. Cuba is pretty cheap and the Cuba Libres ,mojitos, and a fresh pina coladas in Havana are the best.
A full-on journey through an extremely interesting country, visiting historic towns, beautiful coastlines and stunning mountain scenery, liberally sprinkled with…
from 113 reviews.
Login above to retrieve a previously saved list or 
Click on 'Add to wishlist' to pin trips here.
