How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Lian was a lovely guide who had a lot of passion for her country.  Her knowledge of the local life and history held no bounds.  She had a comedic flair and was able to get on with everyone and was so gentile.  The bus driver, Jose, was also a hoot and between the two of them they made our holiday memorable.  

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Be careful of sun when sun, particularly in Cayo de Levisa..I would recommend taking over some soap, shampoo, T-shirts and children's clothes, pens and paper to give to the poor families in the mountains.  They are so appreciative of these gifts and I felt so humbled by their appreciation.  It certainly made me take stock of how lucky I am in life.  Aside from that, Cubans are so friendly and I am in awe of how they manage with so little but are still happy with their lot.  Also, just be careful of the sun when sunning yourself in Cayo de Levisa.  If you're vegetarian, all you will get is the same... rice,beans and vegetables and fruit.  Sometimes pasta,  Otherwise carnevals will be ok.

Do you have anything else to add?

"Don't expect 5 star treatment, but expect 5 star hospitality and you won't go wrong.  I was under the ""bungalow"" aka pergola and managed to burn my feet and back.  The sun is extremely strong.  Make sure that you take 50% deep repellent to combat mosquitos.  The food was not as bad as expected although it was limited.  I enjoyed eating lobster and crocodile for first time.  All in it was tasty.  If you like hot n spicy you will be disappointed."

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

"I can only agree with the earlier review from Mary, Ernesto along with our driver, looked after us wonderfully and ensured the trip ran smoothly even when faced with a broken bus, lost items of clothing and unfortunately, theft of some money.

He was well organised, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his country and genuinely concerned about his group."

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Keep valuables with you or locked up when able to.

Some people may find walking poles useful in the mountains, but to be honest there are also plenty of 'good sticks' laying around.

Learn a few salsa steps before you go - it just means you will feel more confident at joining in from the beginning."

Do you have anything else to add?

If you have any desire at all to go to Cuba, go now.... you won't be disappointed, but it will almost certainly change in the years ahead.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

EXCELLENT - Ernesto (sorry can't remember his last name) was certainly among the best tour leaders I have ever experienced in any company.  Proud of his country, full of information, caring about us, his customers and about the environment.  Definitely fun to be with and he certainly helped to make my experience of Cuba a complete success.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Go with the flow'  -  Cuba is a very vibrant country with lots of experiences to offer.  The atmosphere is infectious and the experiences wonderful.

Do you have anything else to add?

My only suggestion is connected with the 'Mountain Stays'.  We were allowed to take our large cases some, as you can imagine, heavy.  Our support crew dealt with everything wonderfully BUT to help them can I suggest that for the 'mountain stays' small overnight type bags for a couple of nights would be better leaving full cases in secure place under care of coach driver whom we left behind anyway.  We didn't need everything in our cases.  Only a suggestion I know BUT I have done this before on previous trips - it has always been successful and accepted and it would save local support staff lugging heavy cases around unnecessarily.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Very good. Good ability to communicate with a wide ranging group

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Check the flight schedule to see if a more direct flight can be found

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Excellent tour leader. Elio had an enthusiasm for Cuba which rubbed off on to me. He had a great knowledge of the island and its history. Elio responded well to the needs of the group

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Be prepared to live out of a suitcase for 2 weeks. There was an opportunity for a reasonably priced and efficient laundry service at the hotel in Santiago. If I had known this I need not have packed so many clothes. You do need some warm clothes for the evenings in the Topes Mountains. The walks in both Topes and Sierra Maestra are quite strenuous over a hard terrain
Every band that plays in a cafe or bar comes to sell you their CD I bought 3 CD's one of these was a dud. For dancing at the Casa de la Trova you need to go after 10.00 pm. It is very quiet before then.  You are probably feeling very tired after a 10 hour flight and then you have to join a massive queue to change money at the airport CADECA operated by 2 very slow clerks "

Do you have anything else to add?

"Overall an excellent tour - I am pleased that I did it before any anticipated political changes in Cuba
Elio was a very good guide - so too were the other guides in different areas "

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Very pleasant and knowledgeable

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

If varied food is important for you don't go on this trip but if you like cocktails and salsa music this is the place to go to.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Rene was possibly the best tour leader I have ever had. As a local man he had a great depth of knowledge about the country, it's history and it's current state and as an ex teacher he also demonstrated a great desire to impart that knowledge to us, his group.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Be aware that it is a busy tour, that the days are often long and full with some long drives (albeit full of rural landscapes). No time for lazy lie ins. This is not a strenuous trip but you are constantly on the go and living out of a suitcase.

Do you have anything else to add?

If you are thinking of going, go now before things change too much in the country. Change is inevitable and has already started. We spoke to several local people who are eagerly anticipating the 14Jan 2013 when they will be allowed to travel freely to other countries.  The BBC documentary with Simon Reeve about the coming change in Cuba was aired just two weeks after we returned home. It was an excellent, thought provoking programme and worth seeing.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

He had a good knowledge of Cuba to day and in the past. Was well prepaired.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

The hiking can be quite hard if the paths are slippery. Bring good walking boots.

Do you have anything else to add?

As always a pleasure to travel with Explore.

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Guillermo was a very knowledgeable tour leader. He answered all our questions, whatever they were.  He ensured that everything went smoothly, even when changes had to be made to plans at short notice. He was friendly and joined in with our fun. He knew where the best places to eat were.  He helped us to understand what being Cuban really means.  We were shocked that we knew so little of Cuba's recent past and that there was rationing. He said that our group was the last Cuba Libre tour he would be leading, as it meant being away from his family for 2 weeks each time. A sad loss to the company.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Take a walking pole! Take small toiletries, pens, stationery, hair accessories, small balls  to hand out in isolated communities. In April you needed a sleeping bag, but we were lucky and saw very few mosquitoes. Pack some snacks such as energy bars, dried fruit, biscuits etc for on the coach as there is not much to buy when you stop en route. Be prepared to reassess the way that you live your life compared to the way Cubans live theirs!

Do you have anything else to add?

"The whole trip was fantastic. We were amazed at how much was fitted in to 15 days. There were so many different experiences across the whole island, and we loved them all!
We had researched all aspects of the trip in detail and knew what to expect at each location, some of our fellow travellers obviously hadn't, so do your homework! There were long journeys on the coach, but there were regular stops, and there was always something interesting to see out the window. The food was repetitive but at least we had a choice which locals didn't have.  We were so glad that we were able to see Cuba now before it changes, as it's inevitable it will.  Vive la Revolucion!  and what an interesting man Che Guevara was!"

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Absolutely excellent and faultless.  Very informative and passionate about his country without bombarding us with too much information.  Extremely caring and went out of his way to help the members of the group who became unwell.  This was my first holiday with Explore and from this experience of a tour leader I would definitely travel with you again.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Take a decent torch for the haciendas and the caves you visit on the tour.  If travelling in the summer you only need a very lightweight sleeping bag and could get away with just the liner.  Take lots of insect repellant - we were all plagued by mozzie bites!  Very hot in the summer so take lots of light layers to cover up when it gets too hot.  

Do you have anything else to add?

Cuba is a fantastic and fascinating country - everyone should go!!

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Excellent, he worked extremely hard to ensure we enjoyed our tour

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

I thought the walks were difficult not moderate.  I would have taken my walking pole if I had known.

Do you have anything else to add?

I personally, would not book another holiday involving camping.  The facilities at the hacienda were a little too basic for my tastes although I realise everyone has different expectations.

A really comprehensive tour. Brilliant driver, Manuel; lively, informative guide, Liann. We saw and learned a lot about Cuba. TIPS: take your own bar of soap so you can give away the free bars in the hotels. Soap is not included in Cuban ration books and is expensive. Take lots of biros as practically every adult asks for one. Also give your guides tips in STERLING not CUCs. It's worth a lot more for them.  Finally DO NOT LOSE YOUR EXIT VISA!!! The Cuban visa is just a loose piece of paper and is easy to lose. Staple it into your passport!  Drink lots of water - it's hot over there!  Have fun - we did.

The inimitable face of Fidel Castro lit up in the darkness as the bus from the airport passed the Plaza de la Revolucion on its way to our hotel - the first of many striking images. From the faded glory and vintage cars of beautiful Havana to colourful colonial Trinidad to the hiking trails of Topes de Collantes to the revolutionary atmosphere of Santiago to the totally tropical waters of Cayo Levisa... So much to take in, so much to do and see and experience. It's certainly a packed trip! Our guide and driver were brilliant, taking us to some lovely places, and we felt at ease the whole time.  Don't expect 5-star accommodation and a fair bit of time was spent on the bus (one leg took about 8 hours), but at the very least there was always an interesting view and plenty of breaks. One of our favourite games was to play "spot how many images of Che Guevara and revolutionary slogans on billboards" - which does give you a real sense of the politics of the country and how life is gradually changing for its inhabitants. A great holiday if you want to learn a bit about everything, from history to nature to culture.(CL)

I wasn't sure what to expect during this trip but what a lovely country! People were friendly and welcoming and there is a great atmosphere wherever you go.  Our guide Marlon was very knowledgeable and taught us everything we needed to know in regards to the history of Cuba. Highlights: Havana, Cayo Levisa, eating at a local families’ house, camping at haciendas, beautiful scenery, Cuban culture, cocktails!!!!  Tips: Go on a Hemmingway bar crawl in Havana and try a different cocktail everywhere you go! Take a mosquito net if you're planning to sleep out at the haciendas.  A sleeping bag isn't really needed, far too hot (in July) sheet or liner would be fine.  There is a LOT of travelling, if you don't like sitting on a coach this trip isn't for you.  Find out a bit about the history before going.  Takes lots of pens and soap (and even old clothes if you can) to give to people, they are desperate for it and so happy to receive even a small amount. ( CL - 23rd July 2011)

When travelling with Explore you are always told to 'expect the unexpected' and it is often that which can turn out to be the highlight of your holiday. This is exactly what happened on our holiday to Cuba in 2010. The carefully planned itinerary began to fall apart when we were caught up in the middle of a tropical storm. We were temporarily stranded in Trinidad with the imminent possibility of our cabin being flooded. The National Park that we were to have moved on to was closed because the roads were too dangerous. The next stop had to be abandoned because a tree had fallen on to the kitchen block (thankfully no-one was hurt). In Santiago there was an earth tremor of 5.1 on the richter scale. What else could go wrong? Fortunately our excellent guide was more than up to the task and when there was another forced detour in the Sierra Maestra he took us to a small secluded hotel which indeed proved to be a real unplanned highlight. There was a waterfall in the back garden, and we had a local guide to walk us around an area of riverbeds and mountain tracks that were only ever used by local people and mules. We passed a small farm and were invited in for coffee. Coffee beans were being roasted over a fire in the back yard, and an old lady was in the kitchen using a huge mortar and pestle to grind the coffee. Their best tiny china cups were brought out and whilst we had chickens and cats running around our feet we drank the best coffee I have ever tasted. All of this only happened 'because of the rain!'. (CL - 10th January 2010)

This was a brilliant trip to gain a flavour of Cuba. I loved the time walking in the mountains and seeing hummingbirds for the first time was a highlight for me. Our local guide was very enthusiastic on the walks to and from the Haciendas and really wanted everyone to share his passion for the Cuban flora and fauna. It was great to see round the cities and in particular Havana, although I was surprised at how many buildings in Havana are in a poor condition. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the Houses of Music that we visited and loved watching the dancing and music. Cuba is a fascinating place and if approached with an open mind (for example the variety of food is limited and there are long days travelling) this was an amazing trip and the two weeks passed in a blur. (CL - 23rd May 2011)

This is a great trip with so much variety and so much to see. There is a lot of walking, not always on the flat, there is also a couple of long days on the bus - books and sweets help to pass the time as does playing a few games as our group did eg 'chinese whispers, who am I? etc. Allow enough money to buy meals as though not included on the whole these will be taken at restaraunts chosen for you with a limited choice. Local beer, cocktails and of course rum are fairly cheap - and plentiful. as long as you have an open mind and are eager to see as much as possible that this lovely country has to offer it will be an enjoyable experience. Remember most of the year it is hot so the day will start early, the Cubans love their music and to dance so the days are likely to end late. (CL - 7th February 2011)

A fantastic tour – covering every aspect of Cuba. I particularly enjoyed Trinidad and the walks in Topes de Collantes – seeing the Trogon and learning about the history of the Revolution.

It was also great to see the tobacco farmers hand rolling cigars and getting to eat in the ‘home’ style restaurants and meet the families who lived there.

Take a ride in an old Yankey Doodle car or even a ‘Coco-taxi’ and my top tip – try a new cocktail at every place you stop and don’t hesitate to dance with a local when they ask you at one of the many houses’ of music. They will whirl you around and show you how to salsa the night away! Great fun! (CL - 26th March 2011)

Cuba is a hugely interesting place and very pleased with explore generally. Our tour guide Renier Rodriguez absolutely made the trip for us with his professionalism, humour and hard work. We'd certainly like to recommend him for an award. He obviously loves his country and his job and nothing was too much trouble in terms of explaining aspects of his country and giving us advice. I understand he is sub contracted to work for Explore. He is a complete diamond and I hope he is fully appreciated! (CL - 8th January 2011)

The island was beautiful, varied both geographically and in crops & vegetation and the trip was just loaded with highlights from old colonial towns and old American cars to to nights on the verandas of haciendas in the mountains and pina coladas on white-sanded beaches. Our guide, Luis, was fantastic and gave us a great insight into life in Cuba today through the eyes of a young man. For me the real highlight was getting so close to the events & the people involved in one of the most fascinating stories of the last century and to see the "experiment" of a socialist society  at first hand. It provoked endless discussion amongst the group, And when things started getting intense the endless supplies of rum, music and sunshine restored the balance! My advice would be to go with an open mind and be prepared for anything - and try & get there quickly before it changes too much. (CL - 20th November 2010)

There were some things I already knew about Cuba.  I knew it had beautiful beaches, that it makes cigars, that it is a thorn in the USA’s side politically, that Fidel Castro’s regime has largely continued under his brother Raoul and that I would see lots of vintage American cars.  I had heard that the food was bad.  However there was a lot that I did not know, and this was a fascinating trip.  Our guide Dayron was wonderful, and I recommend that you try to go when he is leading.    I had no idea that the scenery was so varied, and that Cuba has rainforest.  I was surprised to find that some local people were prepared to criticise the Castro regime to tourists.  I was shocked to see beggars in a socialist country, begging because they cannot survive on the basic state wage.  Many Cubans run unofficial businesses or have several jobs – there is an enterprising and imaginative approach to coping with a dysfunctional economy.  I did not know that there are two currencies, one for tourists and one for locals, with separate shops – very much like former Communist foreign currency shops under the old Soviet system.    While Cuba is not a gourmet destination, the food was not as bad as I had feared.  Some meals were grim, but generally the food is just very plain – no sauces or spice, and a limited choice.  But everything is fresh and seasonal, mostly organic because Cubans cannot afford pesticides and chemicals, and the spit roast pig we had at one of the haciendas was a truly memorable and delicious meal.    Cubans know how to have fun, and the music and dancing were great.  Sadly the CD I bought did not work at home.  The mojitos and other rum cocktails are wonderful, and they taste nearly as good when you make them at home.    A word of warning.  While the meal costs on the itinerary are factually accurate, I underestimated the amount of money I would need.  Almost everywhere, tourists have to eat at specific places and there is a set menu at an inflated price.  There are few if any cafes where you can get a cheap snack.  So if you are on a budget, take some energy bars.    I wanted to see Cuba before the inevitable political changes which will come after the Castro era.  I will want to go back again, but I hope that Cuba keeps its charm and culture rather than becoming a conglomerate clone. (CL -27th February 2010)

Thank heavens for Vitamin R!  Cuba’s liquid gold (rum) soon transformed 18 shy strangers into firm friends.  Who could remain aloof when we were immediately whisked along to strut our (fairly rusty) stuff at a samba evening and we were soon making a beeline for the excellent music and dancing to be found at the  “Casa de las Trovas”  in each town.     

This trip is for you if you like to leave your normal comfort zone behind.  Some might dread the challenging all day treks to the haciendas, but the scenery was stunning and the sense of achievement priceless.  Kicking back in a rocking chair, watching humming birds drift around the grapefruit tree – total paradise.    You do need to take a fairly relaxed attitude to personal space and privacy  - “washing” being mainly thanks to dips in mountain lakes and sleeping under the stars revealing exactly who snored the loudest!   What bliss though to revert to childhood, safe in the knowledge that our every whim was catered for by Luis, - a worthy finalist in the 2010 Explore Tour Guides Awards.  The food was astounding (a hog roast rustled up in the middle of the mountains) and the Vitamin R in constant supply.  We were free to be dirty, weary and just a little tipsy – on this basis great friendships are made.    

As the largest and possibly most beautiful island in the Caribbean, Cuba really does offer something for everyone.  History buffs enjoyed the Bay of Pigs (quite a smelly backwater swamp), the romantic mountain Commandatura de la Plata hideaway from revolutionary days and the inescapable photos of Che (all the more noticeable as advertising is banned).   Nature lovers were spoilt for choice, with stunning flora and fauna, but Cuba is mainly for fun lovers, with the crazy 50’s automobiles, the locals’ passion for music and dancing and a lovely, lazy day on a Caribbean beach to round off a perfect trip.    We covered quite some miles in our swish air conditioned bus, but any complaints (“not cheese and ham sarnies again”) were soon muted as we whizzed past the locals, queuing endlessly for lifts in this socialist paradise.   Tourists are cosseted in a parallel universe, with dual currency and limited opportunity for interaction (don’t you wish you had paid more attention to school Spanish lessons?)  However, when we did get chatting, there was no stopping them.  Generations on from the glorious revolution, young people are desperate for greater opportunities and a wider world view (currently, most cannot travel and internet access is severely restricted).  Most food is still rationed and a  lack of material wealth is also quite evident. 

PLEASE take stacks of western shower gel and other small toiletries, as these were hugely appreciated.  Also, if you have any old hiking boots and gear, do be prepared to leave these behind, as they will find a very welcome home.  On a selfish note, take plenty of snacks and sweets for the bus trips, as a change from the inevitable cheese and ham sarnies.   

If you want to have your eyes opened, your senses refreshed and your value system challenged, then this is the trip for you.  For passion, pride and sheer exuberance, you can’t beat Cuba and its vibrant people. (CL -March 13th 2010)

Things that explore fail to tell you before you book... The walks are described as easy to moderate but you need to be fit- uphill in a hot climate. If you are unfit you will struggle, both young and old did on this trip. The tour throws you in at the deep end with the first big walk being a struggle for some of the older and younger unfit tourists. If it was not for our superb tour guide and local guides most of us would not have made it, they made us walking sticks and helped a member of the party up all the way... ...Only one shower for our party [at the hacienda] and additionally another party. More worrying for the future another hut seemed to be being constructed to sleep yet more people. Highlights -Castro's hide out and walk to it, superb scenery and knowledge of guide re the revolution was excellent. Good tour for an overview of Cuban history and variety of scenery. (CL- 31st July 2010)