Signature Cuba: The complete Cuba
18 days from £3,010
Explore the tour day by day, from the highlights to the quieter moments in between. Here’s how each day unfolds and what to expect along the way.
Your accommodation is in the very heart of historic Havana just a quick stroll from the city’s principal squares.
Madero Bed and Breakfast is one of a new generation of small Cuban properties which are considerably more upmarket, contemporary and stylish than the traditional homestay.
This popular and well-regarded choice is in the heart of historic Havana, just a quick stroll from the city’s principal squares. The six guest rooms and one larger suite with a balcony are distributed over three floors, all tastefully furnished in modern muted colours and pale wood with up-to-date private bathrooms.
You are welcome to make use of a spacious living room and kitchen on the ground floor and there is a rooftop terrace with comfy armchairs. The property is also known as Hostal Madero, but it is certainly much better appointed than what we would normally expect from a hostel, with excellent service from helpful, mainly English-speaking staff.
Your introduction to the city is a guided walking tour of Old Havana. The streets of La Habana Vieja were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, and the subsequent restoration of this part of town has transformed it into arguably Latin America’s finest colonial quarter, in marked contrast to the rambling, potholed streets and crumbling façades around it.
Stroll along the cobbles, between grand, pastel-hued mansions and bustling street life. Music seeps out of every doorway and the narrow streets are clogged with gargantuan, crumbling 1950s American cars, which you will have the option of hopping into and cruising down the Malecón. You’ll have trouble keeping your camera by your side as iconic images flash before you round each and every corner.
Madero Bed and Breakfast is one of a new generation of small Cuban properties which are considerably more upmarket, contemporary and stylish than the traditional homestay.
This popular and well-regarded choice is in the heart of historic Havana, just a quick stroll from the city’s principal squares. The six guest rooms and one larger suite with a balcony are distributed over three floors, all tastefully furnished in modern muted colours and pale wood with up-to-date private bathrooms.
You are welcome to make use of a spacious living room and kitchen on the ground floor and there is a rooftop terrace with comfy armchairs. The property is also known as Hostal Madero, but it is certainly much better appointed than what we would normally expect from a hostel, with excellent service from helpful, mainly English-speaking staff.
Travel on by land to visit the community project of Las Terrazas in the Sierra del Rosario UNESCO biosphere reserve. This is Cuba’s premier centre for ecotourism, which offers the opportunity to get close to the local community, whose members coexist harmoniously with their surroundings.
The unusual Hotel Moka Las Terrazas overlooks a lake in acres of restored forest. It has a coloured tiled roof and a multi-tiered lobby built around a large lime tree, which climbs through two floors and up through the roof via a skylight.
Tropical light filters throughout the hotel, and the place is brimming with larger than life flowers. The ensuite rooms are decorated in colonial style and arranged over two blocks built along the ridge of the hillside. Rooms are accessed by a walkway, and have a secluded balcony that looks over the forest and valley below.
The large swimming pool, tennis courts, café and restaurant are reached by a path which winds through the verdant landscaped gardens. Activities include hiking, bird-watching, bathing in natural pools 2km away, and a canopy tour whizzing through the jungle foliage by zipline.
On a full day guided tour, travel west by road to Pinar del Rio through the Sierra del Rosario. The province of Pinar is a fertile region where the combination of sun and soil is conducive to the successful cultivation of tobacco; as well as cattle rearing. Both these economic activities were launched by settlers from the Canary Islands, who started to arrive in the 16th century. Visit a cigar factory in the town of the same name and learn about the production process.
Continue by road to Viñales, a small, rural town tucked away in the Sierra de los Órganos. The shady high street is lined with trees, wooden colonnades and one-storey, red-roofed houses. Horse and carts clatter along the main road and local children play baseball with sticks and stones outside the dilapidated whitewashed church in the main square. There is a splendid old chemist’s shop and a few other bare-shelved stores, as well as a couple of salsa bars.
Here you’ll explore the town, view a prehistoric mural and take a boat ride along an underground river. The valley has a distinctive landscape, with dramatic limestone mountains, known as mogotes, which jut into the sky from a lush, fertile plain. Using oxen and carts, local farmers cultivate the red soil of the valley floor for fruit, vegetables and tobacco, and the countryside is peppered with thatched curing barns for drying the tobacco leaves.
The unusual Hotel Moka Las Terrazas overlooks a lake in acres of restored forest. It has a coloured tiled roof and a multi-tiered lobby built around a large lime tree, which climbs through two floors and up through the roof via a skylight.
Tropical light filters throughout the hotel, and the place is brimming with larger than life flowers. The ensuite rooms are decorated in colonial style and arranged over two blocks built along the ridge of the hillside. Rooms are accessed by a walkway, and have a secluded balcony that looks over the forest and valley below.
The large swimming pool, tennis courts, café and restaurant are reached by a path which winds through the verdant landscaped gardens. Activities include hiking, bird-watching, bathing in natural pools 2km away, and a canopy tour whizzing through the jungle foliage by zipline.
Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve sits on an impressive mountain range of tropical and semi-deciduous forest within the coffee-producing region. The reserve is rich in flora and fauna and offers some the island’s best bird-watching. Other notable wildlife includes bats, frogs and lizards. You have an optional morning walk or community visit.
In the afternoon drive to Cienfuegos. Drive through the central heartland of Cuba, a transition zone between the prosperous pre-Revolutionary plantations of the west and the cattle pasture of the poorer east. The elegant city of Cienfuegos is an important port town founded by French settlers from Louisiana in 1819. Its French founders left their mark in broad neoclassical boulevards, art deco façades and blond inhabitants but there’s also a strong Afro-Caribbean presence. This is a seafaring city with salt in the air; it’s the world’s primary sugar port. The ambience and architectural style is distinct from that of the rest of the island.
Just a few minutes’ stroll from the central square, the Melia San Carlos, which was originally established in 1925, features contemporary furnishings and, unusually for this Caribbean island full of colour, the décor is mostly white, silver, chocolate and black. Some features from the original building remain, such as the ornate façade and layout of the lobby to which a bar and inner courtyard have been added. The restaurant, located on the top floor, serves a buffet breakfast and a la carte lunch and dinner options. The bright-white guest rooms are adorned with up-to-date bathrooms, air-conditioning, TV and Wi-Fi. Some of the rooms have views over the city. The San Carlos is the sister property of La Union, which is located a short walk away and whose facilities, including an outdoor pool, sauna and spa can be used by San Carlos guests. Treatments are available at extra cost.
Today you’ll have a walking tour of this easy-going place, identified by the sobriquet the ‘Pearl of the South’, so very different from the other cities in Cuba. Later drive on to the city of Trinidad.
Trinidad was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Its popularity has not affected its colonial charm and unhurried atmosphere. Trinidad’s elegantly crumbling town houses lead to vibrant plazas frequently filled with music and salsa dancing. Low-rise, brightly painted houses with vast shutters open out onto cobbled streets, palm trees dot the main plaza and evening entertainment continues into the early hours.
This attractive, extensively restored colonial hotel is set a short walk from the heart of Trinidad, near the lively Parque Cespedes. There is a central patio which all 40 rooms surround. Rooms are spacious and equipped with air-conditioning, TV, minibar and en suite bathroom. Many also have a balcony or terrace, with some having pleasant vistas of the park and others with no view to speak of, but which tend to be quieter. Facilities include a public restaurant, lobby bar and small shop. There is free parking available on the street in front of the property.
You’ll have a guided tour of the city and venture into the surrounding countryside, the Valle de los Ingenios (Sugar Mill Valley). In the 18th and 19th centuries, this region was one of the wealthiest as a result of its participation in the sugar boom. Visit the Manaca-Iznaga tower, climb to the top and enjoy some of the best views in Cuba. From here, the plantation owner kept a watchful eye on the slaves working in the fields below. The views across the valleys of sugar cane fields are breath-taking in the late afternoon light.
This attractive, extensively restored colonial hotel is set a short walk from the heart of Trinidad, near the lively Parque Cespedes. There is a central patio which all 40 rooms surround. Rooms are spacious and equipped with air-conditioning, TV, minibar and en suite bathroom. Many also have a balcony or terrace, with some having pleasant vistas of the park and others with no view to speak of, but which tend to be quieter. Facilities include a public restaurant, lobby bar and small shop. There is free parking available on the street in front of the property.
Sancti Spíritus sits right slap bang in the centre of Cuba. It was one of the original seven Cuban cities founded by the Spanish in 1514. Its colonial origins are evident in its buildings and layout, although it is not as exquisite and well preserved as the Trinidad to the south, which as a result attracts more visitors. Its neglect by governments through the ages adds to its charm for some.
Highlights include the green-towered Parroquial Mayor, the country’s oldest (founded in the early 16th century). Another top attraction is the Colonial Art Museum, occupying one of Sancti Spíritus’s loveliest colonial homes. The luxurious mansion belonged to one of one of Cuba’s old aristocratic families. Following their flight from Cuba after the Castro Revolution, it became the property of the state in 1961. The town also hosts one of Cuba’s older river bridges. Graced with five arches, this short bridge was constructed in 1815 from clay bricks, designed for pedestrians and carriages during colonial times, and it remains closed to modern traffic.
Continue to Camagüey.
This two-storey, sugar-pink property occupying a colonial-era residence is probably the closest that Cuba gets to a boutique style hotel. Opened in late 2011, it is simply furnished, with just ten large rooms featuring good bathrooms overlooking a central patio. Befitting its name, which means ‘railroad’, the hotel is dotted with art featuring trains and railways. It has a pleasing location in the historical centre of Camaguey, just one block from the main square. A decent breakfast is served and the staff have frequently been praised by guests for their friendliness, helpful attitude and sunny disposition.
Founded by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, the city, with its winding streets, is in marked contrast to the grid system which characterises the majority of Cuban towns. Stately colonial houses facing onto streets; huge windows protected by wrought-iron grilles; lush green gardens tucked behind the walls. It’s a vibrant place bursting with culture – national poet Nicolás Guillén was born here and the Camagüey Ballet is internationally renowned. On Saturday nights there is a lively street party along its main thoroughfare.
On your guided walking tour you will discover the city’s irregular, intricate street network while admiring public and private buildings of great colonial architectural beauty, including Plaza San Juan de Dios.
In the afternoon, continue by road to Bayamo, a gem featuring pastel painted houses and marking the spot where the mountains of the Sierra Maestra begin.
With its cheery yellow façade, the Hotel Royalton has stood proudly in the heart of Bayamo’s historic city centre since the 1940s. It was originally a private residence but now offers comfortable, if not spacious guest rooms with modern amenities.
The hotel has a restaurant offering a simple selection of local dishes, but the central location means you can take your pick from abundance of bars and restaurants all within easy walking distance along the attractive pedestrianised boulevards that surround the hotel.
The hotel overlooks Parque Céspedes and the Plaza de la Revolución, and the al fresco tables spilling out onto the pavement from the charming, wood-panelled bar area are the perfect place to sit and soak up the atmosphere. There’s also a private sun terrace.
If you fancy a bit of a hike you can visit the Comandancia de la Plata. This was Fidel’s mountain hideout, where his revolutionary strategy was organised. You need to be reasonably fit, but it’s a delightful and rewarding walk, infused with historic significance.
If not hiking, explore low-key Bayamo, renowned as containing almost half of the most significant historical sites in the country. A stroll round of this city will help you discover some of the most significant spots, view the cathedral, spectacular colonial architecture, and enjoy the elegant houses and plazas.
With its cheery yellow façade, the Hotel Royalton has stood proudly in the heart of Bayamo’s historic city centre since the 1940s. It was originally a private residence but now offers comfortable, if not spacious guest rooms with modern amenities.
The hotel has a restaurant offering a simple selection of local dishes, but the central location means you can take your pick from abundance of bars and restaurants all within easy walking distance along the attractive pedestrianised boulevards that surround the hotel.
The hotel overlooks Parque Céspedes and the Plaza de la Revolución, and the al fresco tables spilling out onto the pavement from the charming, wood-panelled bar area are the perfect place to sit and soak up the atmosphere. There’s also a private sun terrace.
Take to the road again and proceed to Santiago de Cuba, the island’s most Caribbean city and a melting pot of Haitian, African and Spanish influences, reflected in both its architecture and people. Cuba’s second largest metropolis sits in a valley surrounded by mountains huddled around a natural harbour.
Despite being a bustling hive of activity, Santiago retains an intimate and friendly air, more associated with a smaller provincial city. What’s more, the city is jam-packed with culture and tradition, from the deep-rooted African religion of Santería to its conveyor belt of great contemporary musicians.
This classic hotel makes much of its history, and justly so – constructed in 1914, the property has attracted some illustrious guests in its heyday including movie stars, jazz singers, author Graham Greene (who wrote the classic novel Our Man in Havana) and baseball great Babe Ruth. It’s an imposing building, inspired by the colonial edifices of the Spanish era with graceful arches and shady terraces.
The guest rooms are located on five floors, some with views of the main square on which it has pride of place. A great location as a base for explorations, it sits in the very heart of an exuberant and musical city.
Other facilities include a large airy restaurant and a wonderful rooftop garden with cocktail bar and good views over the city and the sea.
Also known as the Heroic City, Santiago played an important role at the beginning of the wars for independence. This full-day guided tour takes you to the major places of interest, including the Moncada Barracks, famed for the unsuccessful pre-revolution attack by a handful of rebels led by Castro. This failed attack nevertheless was the springboard which launched the revolution. Cementerio Santa Ifigenia, Barrita de Ron Caney, the Casa del Habano and the San Pedro de la Roca colonial fortress. You’ll have a seafood lunch at the quay.
This classic hotel makes much of its history, and justly so – constructed in 1914, the property has attracted some illustrious guests in its heyday including movie stars, jazz singers, author Graham Greene (who wrote the classic novel Our Man in Havana) and baseball great Babe Ruth. It’s an imposing building, inspired by the colonial edifices of the Spanish era with graceful arches and shady terraces.
The guest rooms are located on five floors, some with views of the main square on which it has pride of place. A great location as a base for explorations, it sits in the very heart of an exuberant and musical city.
Other facilities include a large airy restaurant and a wonderful rooftop garden with cocktail bar and good views over the city and the sea.
Baracoa is set at Cuba’s most easterly point, and was the first Spanish settlement on the island (Columbus landed here in 1492). It remained isolated from the rest of the country, only accessible by sea, until the construction of a mountain road, La Farola, in the 1960s. The town is set in a spectacular curve of mountains and feels as if it has been suspended in time; isolation has protected it from the excesses of tourism, and it’s a delight to wander the streets and take in the surprisingly vibrant and authentic nightlife.
Hotel Rio Miel, offers comfy and bright mid-range accommodation on the seafront promenade in the coastal town of Baracoa. There are 12 classically furnished guest rooms set over three floors (no lift), each accommodating a maximum of two people, with air conditioning and private bathroom. In room facilities are pretty good for a hotel of this type in Cuba: satellite TV, minibar, safety box, telephone and balcony. Breakfast is offered and there’s a lobby bar on the ground floor where you can get a snack or light meal. The hotel has its own private car park.
The region surrounding Baracoa is one of rich, tropical beauty, and there’s a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The banks of the Yumari river, are groaning with cocoa and coconut groves with a soundtrack supplied by a myriad of tropical birds. You can elect to ascend ‘El Yunque’ an anvil-shaped mountain which dominates the skyline. The climb is steep but there are wonderful views from the top over Baracoa Bay.
Hotel Rio Miel, offers comfy and bright mid-range accommodation on the seafront promenade in the coastal town of Baracoa. There are 12 classically furnished guest rooms set over three floors (no lift), each accommodating a maximum of two people, with air conditioning and private bathroom. In room facilities are pretty good for a hotel of this type in Cuba: satellite TV, minibar, safety box, telephone and balcony. Breakfast is offered and there’s a lobby bar on the ground floor where you can get a snack or light meal. The hotel has its own private car park.
Head west cross country towards Holguin. Holguin is Cuba’s fourth largest metropolis but for visitors is primarily a transit point for those heading to the island’s increasingly popular north-east coast beaches such as the resort of Guardalavaca, 50km away. Despite its size, Holguín is an easy-going and friendly city. The centre is quite dilapidated but its several parks and squares are dominated by statues to national heroes.
Hotel Caballeriza, as its name in Spanish indicates, was formerly a stable for the cavalry of the Spanish army, and the horsey theme dominates the décor and furnishings throughout. It is situated in the attractive little low-key port Gibara on Cuba’s unspoilt north east coast. Paintings of horses are ubiquitous; wagon wheels decorate the walls alongside antique clocks and wrought iron candelabras. Dating from 1810, the property has been renovated to a high standard while maintaining the Spanish colonial architectural style of the residences of the 19th century Cuban aristocracy. There are 21 spacious guest rooms with air-conditioning, set over three floors around an inner courtyard with tables and chairs where you can sip a Cuban coffee. The hotel has its own bar and restaurant.
The off-the-beaten-track community Gibara, a little port situated on a bay on the scalloped north east coast has been spruced up after earthquake damage, is delightful and worth the detour. The fishing port is situated in rugged, hilly landscape dotted with royal palms and interspersed with sugar cane plantations in the valleys.
Gibara is the epitome of a remote one-horse town, a folksy and recently renovated fishing port on the coast near Holguin which is the perfect host for its blossoming film and arts festivals. The boutique-style Hotel Ordoño, a former Spanish colonial residence which has been delicately and sensitively restored, is a response to the growing interest in the town among visitors to Cuba. The exterior and some of the stained glass features (typical of Gibara’s architecture), including an impressive atrium, are ornate but the air-conditioned guest rooms are decorated with contemporary simplicity and have a light and airy feel. Each of these rooms and suites has individual character and painted murals in the bathrooms. There’s a two-floored roof terrace where you can take the sun, and an à la carte restaurant (but no lift). Service is reputedly friendly and helpful.
The crinkly coastline, with secret coves which once sheltered buccaneers, is gradually being opened up to tourism, but the port Gibara retains its off-beat, remote ambiance. The town is named after the lumpy hill which composes its backdrop. There’s a grand view of the town from the ruined fort El Cuartelon. The main square, dominated by a 19th century cathedral built in eclectic mix of styles, is shaded by African oak trees imported from Angola in the 1970s. The calm little streets and waterside malecón are lined with sedate old houses with porches and stained glass windows, gradually being done up.
You may decide to drive or walk further afield to visit the Cavernas de Panadernos, a chain of underground limestone caves – you are advised to take a local guide if planning to enter them; you can hire one in town. The presence of fluttering bats ads to the eerie atmosphere. Alternatively drive along the craggy coast to one of the gorgeous beaches, many of which now feature hotels and facilities. Guardalavaca is the best established of these.
Gibara is the epitome of a remote one-horse town, a folksy and recently renovated fishing port on the coast near Holguin which is the perfect host for its blossoming film and arts festivals. The boutique-style Hotel Ordoño, a former Spanish colonial residence which has been delicately and sensitively restored, is a response to the growing interest in the town among visitors to Cuba. The exterior and some of the stained glass features (typical of Gibara’s architecture), including an impressive atrium, are ornate but the air-conditioned guest rooms are decorated with contemporary simplicity and have a light and airy feel. Each of these rooms and suites has individual character and painted murals in the bathrooms. There’s a two-floored roof terrace where you can take the sun, and an à la carte restaurant (but no lift). Service is reputedly friendly and helpful.
You might choose to stay on longer at one of the north-east coast’s beach resorts, if not, you will be transferred today to the airport at Holguin to begin your journey home.
Please note: Flight options from Holguin can be minimal and restrictive, meaning you may need to transfer back to Havana (with an overnight en route) for your flight home instead.
The places you’ll stay and explore on this tour. Here’s a closer look at each one and what makes it worth the trip.
Cuba - Havana
Havana holidays showcase one of the world’s most captivating cities, where grand colonial squares, colourful classic cars and faded mansions create an unforgettable atmosphere. As Cuba’s cultural and historic heart, Havana blends architecture, music and everyday life in a way few destinations can match.
Cuba - Las Terrazas
Las Terrazas is one of Cuba’s most successful ecological restoration projects, where lush forests, winding trails, sparkling lakes and abundant wildlife have transformed a once-deforested landscape into a thriving UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Located just 74km from Havana, Las Terrazas offers a contrast to Cuba’s cities, providing opportunities for hiking, swimming, horse riding and nature.
Cuba - Trinidad and the Escambray Mountains
Trinidad holidays offer a captivating mix of colonial history, music and natural beauty. Wander UNESCO-listed cobbled streets, soak up the city’s vibrant atmosphere and explore the waterfalls, forests and jade-green pools of nearby Topes de Collantes.
Cuba - Viñales and the Sierra de los Organos
Viñales holidays reveal a slower, more rural side of Cuba, where tobacco plantations stretch beneath dramatic limestone mogotes and pine-covered hills. Explore the UNESCO-listed Viñales Valley, visit family-run tobacco farms and discover a landscape far removed from Havana’s bustle.
Cuba - Cienfuegos, Santa Clara and Bay of Pigs
Discover a fascinating region at the heart of Cuba, where elegant colonial architecture, revolutionary history and one of the Caribbean’s most infamous shorelines combine to create an unforgettable journey. Our Cienfuegos holidays take in the French-inspired streets of Cienfuegos, the revolutionary landmarks of Santa Clara and the historic Bay of Pigs.
Cuba - Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba holidays offer a fascinating blend of revolutionary history, Afro-Cuban heritage and Caribbean culture. Set between the Sierra Maestra mountains and the Caribbean Sea, Cuba’s second city is renowned for its music, festivals and the events that helped shape the island’s history.
This holiday puts together the top sights of Cuba, creating a narrative of the country’s history while you enjoy incursions into glorious countryside and less developed stretches of the rugged coastline. Explore the principal cities with insightful guided walking tours, and stretch your legs further with hikes to a couple of the country’s bucolic locations. It’s not a beach holiday but you could extend your trip to soak up the rays at one of the delightful eastern coves if you wish. Cuba’s vibrancy and friendly people will make a lasting impression.
The trip begins in Havana, Cuba’s inimitable capital, with its faded grandeur – gradually being restored – and pulsating rhythms. Visit forested Las Terrazas, an eco-experiment which works, from where you head west to stroll around Viñales, a fertile valley with a fairy-tale limestone landscape composing the tobacco-growing region. You’ll step into four of the country’s principal cities, Cienfuegos, colonial Trinidad, Camaguey and Santiago, each with a story to tell. Visit the thickly wooded Sierra Maestra, Fidel Castro’s revolutionary hideout. Lingering in the less visited east of the country, you call in at Baracoa, and Gibara, a pretty port on the craggy northeast coast.
Lina Fuller
All of our experts have lived or travelled extensively in Latin America, so you will receive unrivalled advice based on unique personal experiences.
The practical detail for this tour, all in one place. Transport, accommodation, what’s included and what to pack, so you know exactly what to expect before you go.
- Summary of Nights
18 days, 17 nights: Havana 2; Las Terrazas 2; Cienfuegos 1; Trinidad 2; Camaguey 1; Bayamo 2; Santiago 2; Baracoa 2; Holguin 1; Gibara 2.
- Accommodation
We use a mix of hotel standards from mid-range upwards, choosing accommodation we think is great value, comfortable, well-located and which showcases a touch of local character. Properties will vary in heritage from colonial style, to modern, purpose-built developments, but will all be well-equipped with rooms that have private bathrooms. All accommodation is flexible and can be tailored to meet your specific preferences and requirements.
- Transport
10 scenic road journeys.
- Meals
Breakfast daily; Lunch on day 7
- Guides
Our local, trusted and carefully selected partners understand the expectations of our customers very well, and their staff and guides are consistently singled out for praise by clients on their return. On this holiday, you will be joined by different guides for each activity and or region, ensuring you benefit from specialised expertise and knowledge, often from someone local to the area. In Cuba there is a shortage of English-speaking drivers so many will only speak Spanish or at best very basic English.
- Optional Excursions
As well as any included activities, this Private Journey includes some free time for optional excursions. As optional excursions are often subject to availability, we recommend you discuss and arrange them with your Travel Expert as early as possible before you depart.
- When is the best time to visit Cuba?
The high season for visitors is Dec – Apr when the weather is usually sunny, mostly dry and not too humid, though there can be cool days. Hurricane and tropical storms are possible Aug – Nov.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What's the official language of Cuba?
The official language of Cuba is Spanish.
- What is the official currency in Cuba?
The Cuban National Peso (CUP) is the only official cash currency in Cuba, however many outlets will accept US dollars and some may also accept Euros. We recommend you bring your funds in US$ cash and exchange a small amount into CUPs when in Cuba. You can also exchange Euros but we don’t recommend Sterling. Your bank notes should not be damaged in any way. As a foreign tourist you should receive a considerably better exchange rate than the ‘official’ rate used for commercial transactions.
A limited number of ATM’s are available around Cuba, but queues can be large, charges can be high, and the official rate of exchange is given which makes them much less attractive.
Changing small amounts at a time into CUPs will help to avoid having leftover currency when you leave Cuba (it is not always easy to exchange CUPs back to other currencies).
Private hotels, bars and restaurants often accept payments directly in US$ (or Euros) cash. For these transactions bring small denominations if possible, and note that coins will not be accepted. Change may sometimes be given in CUPs.
You’ll generally need to use a credit/debit card to cover transactions in government shops and hotels, as well as car-rental extras such as petrol and local fees. However, some clients have issues using cards in Cuba so don’t rely on them as your only source of funding. Be sure to check with your bank that your cards are accepted in Cuba (cards linked to US banks are not accepted locally). At Cadeca exchange offices it is now possible to purchase a prepaid card (Tarjeta Clasica) which can be bought in cash with US Dollars/Euros. These can be used to obtain petrol.
Using money changers in the street is not recommended as it is illegal and you are more likely to receive forgeries.
- What is the time difference between Cuba and UK?
Cuba operates daylight saving hours, so is generally 5 hours behind the UK year round, but as the dates of their time changes are slightly different, there are short periods around March and October/November when this will vary.
- Do I need a visa to travel to Cuba?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. A completed Cuban tourist card is essential for all UK citizens travelling to Cuba, we will organise this for you. Clients with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the Cuban consulate.
APIS – Many countries now oblige airlines to provide additional information about passengers prior to the flight departure. This Advance Passenger Information (APIS) must be supplied to us promptly in order to issue tickets and avoid fare increases. We will provide the airlines with the relevant details if we are booking your international flights. If the information is not provided you may be denied boarding. - What vaccinations are recommended for visiting Cuba?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
- What places combine well with Cuba?
Mexico’s Yucatán is a great place to combine with Cuba. Flights from Cancún to Havana take approximately 1hr 15mins.
- What are the festivals and cultural events in Cuba?
There are carnivals throughout the country on different dates. Havana’s carnival moves around date-wise year upon year, but is always accompanied by parades, music, drumming and dancing. Santiago’s carnival in July is probably the biggest and the best.
International Jazz Festival takes place in Havana in December. This is one of the world’s best, and there are workshops and concerts to enjoy.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Explore the cobbled streets of colonial Trinidad. You might extend the trip with an optional tour of the old sugar mills in the surrounding Valle de los Ingenios.
Trek through the lush mountainous landscapes of the Sierra Maestra to reach the revolutionary headquarters where Fidel Castro and his comrades plotted revolution.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation. Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you will relax in utter comfort
The Iberostar Grand Hotel Trinidad is an elegant, restored colonial property, with an impressive marble staircase, cigar bar and beautifully decorated rooms.
Madero Bed and Breakfast is a smart guesthouse in the historic centre of Havana.
Located on a hillside above the village of Las Terrazas, La Moka is set in acres of forest in Cuba’s Sierra del Rosario Nature Reserve.
Papagaio
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Featured Articles
To round the corner of a mountain and see the lost citadel of Machu Picchu unfold beneath you remains one of the most awe-inspiring experiences in Latin America, one of those dreamlike experiences that makes travelling here truly extraordinary.
The Pantanal wetlands cover an area almost the size of the British Isles and offers better wildlife opportunities than the Amazon. Writer and photographer Alex Bellos discovers them.
Small, breathtakingly beautiful Costa Rica is a treasure trove for the nature lover. Trees laden with orchids are home to quetzals and hummingbirds, while the Caribbean shore hosts volcanic beaches and palm-sheltered coves.
