In summary
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Sports
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Duration15 days
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LevelIntermediate
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DestinationAmerica / Cuba
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions2358.1 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
English
In a few words
Blessed with a privileged climate and abundant natural beauty, Cuba combines stunning scenery with a rich colonial architectural heritage and a warm and welcoming population. After visiting Santa Clara, where we'll discover Che Guevara's mausoleum, we'll hike along the shores of Lake Hanabanillas and through the lush Sierra de Escambray mountains. We'll explore Trinidad, one of Latin America's most beautiful colonial cities, where we'll stay with a local family. After a short detour to the Bay of Pigs and Playa Larga, we'll explore the Sierra de Milo Cumbres and the wild Viñales Valley on foot. Finally, we'll end our trip in style with Havana and the beautiful emerald beaches of the Bahamas. But a trip to Cuba is also a journey into the heart of music. It's everywhere, and Afro-Cuban rhythms will set the pace for our days.
The highlights
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Hiking in the Sierra del Escambray and the Viñales Valley
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An authentic and varied discovery of Cuba
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Our best trip to Cuba in 20 years!
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Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 4h30
- Average distance/day: 10 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 113 m
- Average daily descent: 38 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Languages spoken:
French
English
French
English
Supervisor
Supervisor
Based in Havana for many years, our agency, Altaï Cuba, guarantees a successful active travel experience, thanks to our guides and logistical infrastructure. During your trip, you'll be accompanied by our adventure guides, fully committed to helping you discover unique places in the heart of nature. Let us guide you...
Program
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Flight to Havana.
- Transportation Plane - 07h - 8000km
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Flight to Havana. Airport pick-up by your tour guide, transfer to a private home (casa particular) in Havana. Dinner at your leisure or on the flight.Day 1 -
Havana - Santa Clara and the Che Guevara mausoleum.
- Transportation Minibus - 03h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We'll spend the morning exploring Havana's old quarters, and then, after lunch, we'll head towards the city of Santa Clara, located about three hours from Havana. Often called "Che's City," it's a symbol of the Cuban Revolution. A quick visit to the city will allow you to discover the vestiges of its colonial past. Note: Che's mausoleum is closed on Mondays, so we'll visit it the following morning.Day 2 -
Santa Clara - Lake Hanabanilla - Sierra del Escambray
- Transportation Minibus - 03h
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 200 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After a visit to the famous Che Guevara Mausoleum, we'll transfer to the Sierra de Escambray, where we'll begin our hike by a lake that will lead us to La Casa de la Gallega, where we'll have lunch. In the afternoon, we'll continue our trek through the Sierra, where the vegetation resembles an exotic garden. Swimming in a waterfall is possible. We'll spend the night in a mountain refuge (a small house nestled in lush greenery; we'll lay the mattresses directly on the covered terrace).Day 3 -
Hiking in the Sierra del Escambray
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 300 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A beautiful walk that will allow us to observe a wide variety of orchids in their natural habitat and will lead us to a viewpoint overlooking the sea and the Ancon peninsula. After a hike of approximately 2 to 3 hours through the mountains, we descend to Topes for lunch and then take the bus to the Banaos region. We'll hike to the "La Sabina" refuge (approximately a 2-hour ascent) where we will spend the night. Dinner will be prepared by the family. (Note: we leave our large backpacks at the Jarico farm and only carry a small daypack containing our belongings for the night and the following morning.)Day 4 -
Bella Waterfall - Trinidad
- Transportation Minibus - 01h
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Negative elevation 300 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Our final hike in the Sierra offers the opportunity to swim in La Bella waterfall. In the afternoon, we'll continue our journey to Trinidad, a colonial gem of Cuba. We'll settle into a homestay and enjoy an evening stroll through this beautiful town. From sunset (and even before), Cuban music will captivate you with its infectious rhythms.Day 5 -
Discovering Trinidad.
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A day dedicated to discovering this magnificent and unique city, a veritable living museum where time seems to have stood still. You can lose yourself in the typical, colorful alleyways, meeting locals known for their hospitality. We will visit the craft market and the potter's house. Dinner will be at a local's home, where you can savor an excellent grilled lobster.Day 6 -
Trinidad - Cienfuegos - The Bay of Pigs, playa Larga.
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After breakfast, we'll head west to the Zapata Swamp, the historic site of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. We'll stop en route for a quick visit to the city of Cienfuegos. The protected natural park is home to many endemic animal species, including the rhombifer crocodile. Lunch and the afternoon will be spent relaxing and swimming in the Caribbean Sea at Caleta Buena (fins, mask, and snorkel available for rent at a reasonable price). After a short transfer, we'll arrive in Playa Larga at the end of the day and check into our homestay.Day 7 -
Bay of Pigs - Sierra de Mil Cumbres
- Transportation Minibus - 05h30
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 2h
- Distance 5 km
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We will continue our journey (approximately 5.5 hours) towards the Sierra de Mil Cumbres. Along the way, there is an optional stop to visit a crocodile farm (this is quite touristy). Lunch will be in Charco Azul. Upon arrival in Mil Cumbres, we will settle in and take a walk through the Sagua Valley, passing through fields of crops (cassava, coffee, sweet potatoes, beans, etc.) and meeting with the local farming community. We will spend the night in a former hacienda converted into a refuge (a light sleeping bag or sleeping bag liner is necessary).Day 8 -
Sierra del Rosario
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 15 km
- Positive elevation gain 200 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A day dedicated to hiking in the Sierra del Rosario, through a pine forest and dry tropical vegetation. Visit to a farmers' cooperative. Return to the hacienda in the late afternoon, and for those who wish, the opportunity to swim in a small waterfall nearby.Day 9 -
Hiking in the Viñales Valley
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 100 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Drive to Viñales and hike through this stunning landscape where tobacco fields are dominated by mogotes (limestone hills). We'll head to Alexis's farm and tobacco drying barn, where he'll show us the tobacco cultivation and cigar-making process. Lunch at a local farmer's home in the valley. Evening in Viñales where you can listen to and dance to Cuban music, a mojito in hand.Day 10 -
Hiking in the Viñales Valley.
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 100 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Hike through the enchanting landscapes of the Penitentiary Valley. This is one of the most beautiful regions of Cuba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The karst formations rising amidst the tobacco fields are reminiscent of southern China. After a partial ascent of a mogote, we will have lunch at a farmer's home (Ana's or Paco's).Day 11 -
Cayo Jutias: White sand beach and coral reef.
- Transportation Minibus - 04h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Departure for the day to the Cayo Jutías peninsula. The road is in rather poor condition, but our journey will be worth it! Here, we discover a superb 4 km white sand beach lapped by translucent water. 400 meters from the shore, the coral reef invites you to observe a multitude of multicolored fish. It's possible to reach it by boat for a reasonable price. Mask and snorkel provided on site. Return to Viñales. Note: As of January 2020: following the ban on buses accessing Cayo Jutías, it's now the turn of classic American cars! The journey will therefore be made in a conventional vehicle (state taxi, the only authorized vehicles). We are offering you a tour of Havana in a beautiful American car instead.Day 12 -
Pinar del Rio Cigar Factory - Havana
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 5 km
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Departure for Havana, which we will reach in the late morning. En route, we will visit the Pinar del Rio cigar factory. We will then settle into our homestay in Old Havana and visit the various neighborhoods and monuments, such as Revolution Square, the Prado Museum, the Cathedral, and the Obispo Building. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Havana is undoubtedly the most beautiful colonial city in all of the Americas. At sunset, many Havana residents head to the Malecón (the waterfront promenade) with family, friends, or loved ones to enjoy the cool evening air; we recommend you go there to soak up the atmosphere. On this day or the following day, depending on departure times, we offer you a tour of Havana in a beautiful 1950s-60s convertible (a 45-minute to 1-hour drive through different neighborhoods of Havana). Lunch and dinner are at your leisure.Day 13 -
Havana and return flight.
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Free day in Havana to enjoy its squares and monuments one last time, transfer to the airport and overnight flight to France. Meals at your own expense or on board.Days 14 to 15
Note
Depending on weather and operational conditions, the tour leader reserves the right to modify this itinerary. Furthermore, in Cuba, all hotels are government-owned, and accommodations may be replaced at the last minute without recourse, even if reservations were made well in advance and were already confirmed. Similarly, while we can influence the quality of accommodations in homestays, we have limited control over state-run hotels and establishments.
Accommodation
- Days 1 to 13
You will be accommodated in the following lodgings:
- Standard hotels based on shared double rooms.
- Staying with a local family is generally better than staying in hotels: the service is impeccable, and your hosts will sometimes even join you for a tour of the city at the end of the day. Depending on the size of your group, dinners are eaten together, but the rooms will be spread across several houses (1 to 3 rooms per house). Each person will have breakfast in the house where they stayed overnight. (A single room is available but not guaranteed.)
- Mountain huts: These are converted farmhouses. Generally, you sleep on mattresses laid out on the concrete slab all around the building, sheltered from the rain by the overhanging roof. Tents are sometimes available for those who would like to sleep a little further away. Note that while blankets are available in some huts, we recommend a sleeping bag, especially during winter, as nights in the mountains can be chilly (no heating).
- Triple room: Generally speaking, in Cuba we cannot guarantee a triple room to those who have requested one. It is rarely possible to find rooms with 3 beds (unless the 3rd person is a child, in which case an extra bed can be added).
All accommodations have showers but in the refuges, the water is not heated.
Here is a list of the accommodations we most often book for this trip:
- Havana: Homestay/guesthouse (casa particular) in the Old Havana district
- Santa Clara: Los Caneyes Hotel
- Sierra del Escambray: Codina refuge and Sabina refuge
- Trinidad: Homestay/Guesthouse (casa particular)
- Playa Larga: guesthouse/private homestay (casa particular)
- Mil Cumbres: Mil Cumbres hacienda refuge
- Viñales: guesthouse/private home (casa particular)
Accommodation details are provided as a guide and may change depending on availability.
"TRUTH" INFORMATION: At certain points along the route, hotel facilities offer a more basic level of comfort than international standards for the same category. Furthermore, the hotels are not always well-maintained (broken elevators, hot water problems, etc.).
Given the current popularity of Cuba, hotel changes beyond our control may occur at the last minute while you're there. As for the cuisine, it's not Cuba's strong point, as the country still suffers from shortages of certain products due to the ongoing embargo. However, the country's authenticity remains unchanged, and this will be more than compensated for by the kindness of the people and the incomparable atmosphere that reigns in Cuba!
Access
Departure
La Havane
Day 1
End of stay
Idem
Day 15
Go to the starting point
The nearest airport isLa Havane
Most of the time, we will offer you the Paris CDG/Havana/Paris CDG flight with Air France, undoubtedly the best option in terms of onboard comfort and punctuality. However, sometimes, due to availability, we may offer you a flight with another airline, such as Air Europa or Cubana de Aviación. These airlines are less well-regarded in terms of service, onboard comfort, and punctuality. We advise you to book early. The scheduled airline is usually indicated at the time of your booking; if it is not Air France, please do not hesitate to ask us to make you an offer with Air France.
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Price details
The price includes
- Regular flights departing from Paris (Departures from other regions on request and subject to availability).
- Local transfers.
- Accommodation in a double room.
- Full board except for meals in Havana on days 1, 13 and 14.
- The Team of Drivers.
- The tour is led by a French-speaking Cuban guide.
The price does not include
- Visa fees: electronic visa (to be done directly online): €22.
- Personal expenses, drinks and tips.
- Meals in Havana on days 1, 13 and 14 (free or on flights).
- Entrance fees to sites and museums (approx. US$5).
Options
- Extra night before your stay - Homestay - Single room : CHF68.61 / unit
- Extra night before your stay - Homestay - Double room : CHF73.18 / unit
- Extra night before stay - Hotel - Single room : CHF173.81 / unit
- Extra night before stay - Hotel - Double room : CHF182.96 / unit
- Extra night after your stay - Homestay - Single room : CHF68.61 / unit
- Extra night after your stay - Homestay - Double room : CHF73.18 / unit
- Additional night after stay - Hotel - Single room : CHF173.81 / unit
- Additional night after stay - Hotel - Double room : CHF182.96 / unit
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment to bring
- Walking poles (optional but useful in case of knee sensitivity)
- Toiletries bag and bath towel.
- Sunscreen cream (face and lips) + mosquito repellent lotion.
- Headlamp, with spare batteries and bulbs.
- A water bottle with a minimum capacity of 1 litre, lightweight and insulated.
- Sleeping bag (only required for the 2-week "Caribbean Hike" trip, code UCUB; it can sometimes be a little chilly at night in some shelters that are not heated and are not equipped with blankets; a fleece or silk sleeping bag liner, with good underwear, may be sufficient for those less sensitive to the cold).
- Toilet paper.
USEFUL FOR THE LOCAL POPULATION:
If you wish, you can bring from France: small toys or clothes which will be very useful and much appreciated by the local population who suffer from certain deficiencies due to the embargo.
You can give them to your guide upon arrival; he will distribute them.
Clothing to bring
Clothing, from head to toe:
- A pair of high-top hiking boots (terrain can be slippery).
- Casual shoes or sandals for stops in villages.
- socks.
- trousers suitable for trekking.
- Lightweight and comfortable canvas trousers for the evening.
- shorts or bermudas.
- swimsuit.
- t-shirts.
- A pullover or a light fleece for the evening.
- rain jacket or raincoat.
- hat or cap.
- sunglasses.
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4.4/5
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For over 30 years, our local partner has been designing adventure walking trips around the world. Specializing in small-group treks, they cater to both casual hikers and seasoned trekkers seeking unspoiled natural environments and a return to the essentials. Their key strength? They own their own agencies in over 30 countries, guaranteeing complete trip creation from start to finish, without intermediaries. This direct, on-the-ground expertise ensures memorable active experiences and total freedom amidst breathtaking landscapes.
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