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This nine-day Premium adventure through Cuba takes you through vibrant architecture, vast beaches and lush countryside. The colourful local history still dominates most aspects of daily life, and you’ll explore Havana in all its faded glory. See the beauty of rural Vinales, wander the cobblestoned streets of Trinidad and soak up the coastal vibe of Cienfuegos. Visit the home of a local family for dinner, learn some salsa moves and hop in a classic American car for a real Cuban experience.
Call or email our experts to find out more and help with ideas and planning.
Sarah
Petra
CharlotteOur Important Notes and Packing List cover all essentials, from necessary equipment to inclusions, ensuring you're fully equipped and informed for this extraordinary adventure and more.
1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel. 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 3. Travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers entering Cuba. You may be asked to show proof of your travel insurance by immigration staff upon arrival at Havana Airport. 4. Please advise bedding configuration requests to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel to aid guesthouse and rooming allocations. You may request your confirmed list of accommodation inside 7 days of departure from your booking agent. 5. We recommend you bring enough cash to last your whole time in Cuba. This is currently the best option and will provide you with the best value for money. Please see the ‘Money Matters’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details. 6. For non-US passport holders, we recommend travelling to Cuba via Canada, Europe, South or Central America. Please refer to the ‘Passports, visas and entry requirements’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details. 7. For US passport holders this trip operates under the “Support for the Cuban People” category (§ 515.574) and requires a signed and countersigned travel affidavit. Our licensing agreement only allows one night of pre-tour accommodation to be booked and no post-tour accommodation. Please refer to the ‘Passports, visas and entry requirements’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details.
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. We recommend you pack as lightly as possible, ensuring that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Help will be on hand in most locations, but there may be times you need to handle your own luggage, for example in airports and train stations. A lockable suitcase with wheels is ideal for this trip. It is recommended that you keep your main luggage weight around 23kg. A small or medium-sized backpack (45-50 litres) is another good option. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, jacket, etc. when you’re exploring during the day. Below is a link to our ultimate packing list, a guide to get you started:https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-listOther than the items and clothing you always need on a trip, below we have listed packing suggestions specific for this trip: ESSENTIAL: - Warm as well as light clothing. Cuba has a tropical hot climate, but it can get cold in the countryside, mountains and at night in the winter so we suggest you check the expected temperatures en route and bring clothing that you can layer - Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings - Sun protection - hat, reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses - Insect repellent (with DEET or picardin) RECOMMENDED: - Soft and/or hard copies of all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, travel insurance etc. and keep the hard copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a copy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary - Universal travel adapter. Cuba uses both 110V and 220V outlets, and Types A, B, C and L sockets are used. Types A and B are encountered most frequently (two flat prongs commonly used in North America) - Rechargeable personal fan to use when no air conditioning is available -A power bank/portable charger (Only permitted in carry-on luggage) -A headlamp/small flashlight/torch -Tissues or a small supply of toilet paper to use in public toilets -Antibacterial hand gel -Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes and Band-Aids -We highly recommend you consult with your doctor or a travel health clinic before traveling to Cuba to ask about any precautionary medications they might recommend bringing - Watch/Alarm clock or phone that can be used for both - Swimwear - Travel beach towel -Small travel umbrella for sun or rain protection - Toiletries. We recommend you take your own supply of shampoo, soap and toilet paper to use in the guesthouses and public toilets. We also encourage women to take their own supply of sanitary items as these items are not widely available for purchase in Cuba - Despite their low income levels, Cubans love to dress up smartly and fashionably whenever they can. For going out in the evenings, casual dress is acceptable everywhere although one collared shirt for males is recommended OPTIONAL: - Ear plugs to guard against a potential snoring room-mate - Phrase book Do NOT pack drones, satellite phones, walkie-talkies, or standalone GPS units like Garmins (Phones with GPS capacbility are permitted). VALUABLES: Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your safe if available. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden LAUNDRY: A laundry service is offered at some hotels used on this trip, or in some guesthouses if you’re travelling in Cuba. You might need to wait for a two-night stop to make sure you get it back in time. While laundry at hotels is usually charged by the item, laundromats which are also an option, usually charge by the kilo, which is generally inexpensive (approximately USD$5 per kilo) GIFTS FOR THE CUBAN PEOPLE: Given the difficulty of securing basic goods in Cuba, surplus items that you have at home such as soap, shampoo, perfumes, over-the-counter medications, insect repellent, sewing kits, toothbrushes and pens or pencils are warmly accepted. We do encourage you to discuss gift giving with your leader so that items can be distributed to organisations in need. If you decide to hand out gifts without the leader’s guidance, we suggest you distribute as a sign of appreciation after a genuine interaction, whether that be a conversation or offered help, rather than a means to create engagement. Please always refrain from handing items directly to children. It is not necessary to bring gifts for the guesthouse owners in Cuba; these are not a homestay experience and as they are a business they are most likely run by some of the more well-off families who will be happy enough with just your good-natured presence. WATER BOTTLE Please bring your own water bottle to refill. While it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when you're travelling, sometimes your acommodation or transport will have a water dispenser you can use. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. Some travellers like to bring a bottle with its own filtration system or water purification tablets. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip, you will need to carry at least 2 litres of water with you.
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