Cuba: La Isla Grande

Forget what you’ve heard, it’s time to uncover the true soul of the largest and most evocative Caribbean island

You already know the headlines: vintage cars and premium cigars; political turmoil and revolutionary icons; salsa rhythms and minty mojitos. This trip encompasses that and more, uniting you with local families and small independent stores to uncover the true spirit of Cuba. Staying in Cuban guesthouses, known as casas particulares, and dining in family-run paladar restaurants, we experience the dilapidated colonial grandeur of Old Havana, the lively nightlife of Santiago and the restored splendour of Trinidad, while taking time to relax in Baracoa, a lively coastal town wrapped by rainforest and cocoa plantations.

Join this adventure and find out why Wanderlust readers named Cuba the Most Desirable Island in the World 2023.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Every day of this trip is focused on activities that provide direct income for local people. This is in compliance with the United States' Support for the Cuban People scheme, which allows legal travel to Cuba for US citizens.
• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned casas particulares, paladares (restaurants), and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• We visit businesses including the art studio of Kcho, a local artist whose gallery and studio have brought much-needed investment to the Romerillo neighbourhood of Havana, take a cookery class of local dishes in Baracoa and enjoy an energetic drumming class in Trinidad, with fees paid to all participating local businesses.
• We spend time with a group of local women who are keeping regional traditions alive by teaching embroidery techniques and encouraging younger generations to embrace the skilled process of making textile handicrafts.
• We visit a dance troupe in Guantanamo that aims to encourage members of the community to come together, learn new skills and challenge themselves in a fun, active environment.
• These interactions allow the local people to improve their English skills, which can help widen employment opportunities, and give visitors incomparable insight into the daily lives of Cuban people.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles and encouraging visitors to bring filter water bottles, which can be refilled at public fountains and taps along the way.
• We spend time at Finca La Lima where Cuban cowboys share their way of life. This brings them an additional stream of income that allows for the continuation of traditional agricultural practices in rural areas.
• We visit a conservation project in Baracoa, run by a family who has dedicated its life to the conservation of the endangered polymita snail.
• We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Casas particulares are small guesthouses that have a lower carbon footprint than larger hotels.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re-usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been rated Activity Level 1 (Leisurely). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.

This is a busy itinerary with plenty of activities each day, but all participants with a reasonable level of fitness can take part. There is a short walk on Day 8 of the trip to see the Monument to the Runaway Slave. This walk is steep and can be hot (there is no shade on the route), and appropriate footwear for walking should be used. There is a 7km (4.3mi) hike on Day 9 to see Fidel Castro and Che Guevara's mountain hideout in the Sierra Maestra mountain range. This is a moderate hike that we do not recommend for people with mobility issues - it is possible to miss the hike and rejoin the group afterwards.

You may face minor frustrations in Cuba. We encourage all travellers to go with an open mind and with realistic expectations at what a visit here entails. If your guide announces a change of plans, please be assured that everything possible has been done to make satisfactory alternative arrangements.

Transport: We travel in a private air-conditioned coach. The longest journey is seven hours on Day 3, and there is another long distance to cover on Days 4 and 6. Travel times can vary depending on traffic and weather.

Phones: Mobile networks don’t make or receive calls particularly well in Cuba, and coverage may not be available in many locations. Cuba does have 4G but not all phone networks work here, so please check with your service provider before travel. Additionally, data roaming can be incredibly expensive – we recommend switching this off. Many casas particulares have free wifi, but download speeds are likely to be slow. You can purchase wifi scratch cards at official shops, but often you’ll encounter long queues. Alternatively, buy a Cuban sim card and roaming package valid for 30 days to use in an unlocked phone.

Please note: As an American-owned company, Exodus programmes to Cuba are fully compliant with the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) general license for Support for the Cuban People travel.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

Cuba

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Hepatitis A. We are advised that there is no risk of malaria. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

The above information can change at short notice; as we are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we recommend that you confirm with your doctor or travel clinic. 

Visa

Cuba

Customers from the UK or EU:
Travellers from the UK and EU do not need a visa to enter Cuba but do require a tourist card. A Cuban tourist card (valid for 30 days) is included and will be posted to you by Exodus approximately three to four weeks before travel. We will send instructions on how to fill it in but please be careful doing this as any mistakes may result in you having to purchase a new card at a cost of £25 per person. We will send one tourist card free of charge as long as you live at a UK or Ireland address and are a national of an EU country, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Japan. If you are not a national of one of these countries or are not resident in the UK or Eire you must contact your nearest Cuban consulate to check what visa is required – Exodus cannot provide a tourist card for you. Please note, tourist cards supplied by Exodus will not be valid if you are travelling via the US. If you are travelling via the US, you will be subject to compliance under the same regulations as an American citizen. You cannot use a tourist card purchased outside the US but will have to buy a ‘pink’ tourist card sold only in the US (at a US airport or from a US travel agent). For UK or EU customers, we do not recommend travelling to Cuba via the USA.

Customers from the USA:
Any US citizen wishing to travel to Cuba should be fully aware of current legislation before committing to any trip to Cuba. The main requirement is that for legal travel to Cuba, all US citizens must comply with the requirements set out by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC). As an American-owned company, Exodus programs to Cuba are fully compliant with the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) general license under the Support for the Cuban People category of travel.

Travellers from the USA are required to buy a ‘pink’ tourist card sold only in the US (at a US airport or from a US travel agent). We recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. For travellers from the USA, please check: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html where you can also find more information about the Support for Cuban People and OFAC requirements.

We advise you to keep a copy of your itinerary and any transactions relating to the trip for five years after the trip takes place to comply with OFAC requirements.

Customers from Canada or Australia:
Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate about how to obtain a tourist card prior to travel to Cuba (links below).

IMPORTANT FOR ALL CUSTOMERS:
Cuba now requires all passengers to fill in a locator form prior to travel – this form is mandatory. You can access the form here: https://www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/inicio Make sure to keep a photo of the QR code generated so that you can easily present it on arrival. Please note, you can only fill in the D’Viajeros form 48 hours prior to entry into Cuba.

The Cuban entry immigration is time consuming and most visitors encounter delays: it may take up to two hours to clear immigration and collect your bags, so please be prepared for a long wait on arrival. The Cuban government passed a law stating that all tourists visiting Cuba must have travel insurance to cover medical costs. You may be asked to provide proof of your travel insurance policy when you arrive at Havana Airport, so please ensure your documents are easily accessible. Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return, and to have at least two clear pages for entry stamps.

Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to organise this element of your trip. We recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia:smartraveller.gov.au/destinations
• Canada: travel.gc.ca/destinations
• United Kingdom:gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
• USA: travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html

Please note: If you travel to Cuba (or have done since 2021), you will subsequently not be able to apply for an ESTA to visit the USA. You can still apply to travel to the USA on a tourist visa.

Food & Drink

All breakfasts, 10 lunches and 10 dinners are included.

Cuba is not renowned for its culinary excellence (although it is improving) and some ingredients are just not possible to get secure. Food tends to be simple and relatively expensive – in no small part due to the long trade embargo implemented by the US.

Flavours tend to be relatively simple, with most mealtimes consisting of meat or fish accompanied by rice and salad or vegetables. Seafood is widely available on the coast, including cheap and abundant lobster.

Vegetarians will probably find they have the most limited choice. Snack food is not freely available in Cuba so you may wish to consider taking some with you. It can also be difficult to find quick lunches on the go as Cubans typically eat two meals a day, so expect the sandwich choice to be limited. While food choice can be basic, there is absolutely no shortage of rum! Havana Club, Black Tears, Ron Santiago, Caney… after a visit to Cuba you’ll be an expert.

The paladares are likely to be a highlight of any visit to Cuba – they are one of the few types of private enterprise allowed (although still heavily regulated). Think soul food: rice, black beans, slow-roast pork or chicken, fresh fish, lobster and plenty of tropical fruit. The atmosphere in private paladares and the opportunity to integrate with Cuban people will undoubtedly enhance your stay.

Some drinking water will be available while you’re on the bus, so please bring a refillable water bottle. To cut down on plastic and the need to buy water when not on the bus, please bring your own water-filter bottle.

Weather

The dry season runs from November to April (with December to March being the peak months for traditional tourism). It is very humid between May and October, with heavy rains at times and the possibility of hurricanes. July and August are some of the most popular months to visit Cuba by sunseekers from Europe and Canada but are hot (average 28C/82F) and wet. Cuba averages six hours of sunshine per day with a more or less constant humidity of 62 percent. Water temperatures normally range from 24C to 28C (75F to 82F).