Hotel Central

Food is, of course, difficult in Cuba and we had low expectations.

JG, Isle of Colonsay

Most memorable experiences: "The PEOPLE - lovely and warm, friendly, positive. The music and the dancing - in streets, in clubs, in bars. Wonderful!"

MF, London

Highlight?: Santa Clara - fantastic accommodation and very memorable tour of city, Che mausoleum etc. The tour of Cienfuegos thanks to a wonderful guide (Sara(h?)).

JM, Dorking

Highlights: Our lovely hosts in all the homestays  and especially being looked after by Mirtha in Trinidad.

BG, Bristol

We had a great time in Cuba, very pleased with the literary suggested and implemented by JLA. Hannah (W) was a pleasure to deal with. We would certainly recommend JLA to anybody thinking of travelling to South America / Cuba etc.

JH Bedford

Most memorable experience: "Difficult to choose one! Sunrise boat trip on the Laguna del Tesoro with mist coming off the water and variety of bird life, watching the sun go down behind mogotes in Vinales with a mojito or humming birds flying around while having breakfast in Trinidad. Or even dancing the conga with the rest of the audience at the Buenvista Social Club!...The holiday was fantastic - every place we went to has its own unique character and feel so we felt that we had experienced at least something of what Cuba is about. The contrasts between the way of life in the cities and the countryside were extraordinary - mobile phones, brand name clothes, immaculately manicured and painted nails to a single ox drawn plough. Stunning landscapes and views through to urban decay and piles of rubbish in the streets. It's an experience that we thoroughly enjoyed and won't forget."

AW, High Wycombe

Really enjoyed all of it, especially Havana and Trinidad. Loved the music, the atmosphere and the people. Very good walks.

GG, Diss

Highlights?: In no particular order: (1) the Hemingway tour (2) walking tour of old Havana (3) two trips to the fortresses across the Harbour (4) the Museum of the Revolution and (5) walking tour of the three valleys at Vinales.  . 

DA, London

Highlights: The music/case da la culturas. driving and getting off the beaten track.

RGJ, London

An excellent trip covering many of the key historical, geographical  and political sites, and providing insight into a rapidly changing country. Go before it changes irrevocably.

DW, London

Cuba is such a different place that it is hard to pick out an individual experience....Overall, the tour was fantastic. All the guides allocated gave us an excellent description of the area, in each of Havana, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Trinidad and Vinales. We used our free time to retrace part of our guided tour, to explore further ourselves, or to enjoy the food and ambience, especially the music and dancing of Cuba! We were warned that the food provided at Homestays (breakfasts and dinners) would be huge, and indeed they were. We were unable to finish any meal because of the quantity!  We did a few of our own trips, catching a taxi to the beach in Trinidad, being driven around Havana in a classic car, museum visits and trips on bicycle taxis. We found the people friendly and very helpful.

IB, Stockbridge

Most Memorable Moment: Seeing so much of Havana and the amazing countryside around Vinales.

GF, London

Highlights?: There were so many!  We took an excursion  to the forest ; truck, walk, waterfall swimming...loved it.  But we really enjoyed everywhere.

ER, London

Highlight: Santiago City tour helped us understand the history of the revolution, coupled with the excursion to Comandacia de la Plata.

EM, Bristol

Cuba is a fascinating, beguiling, enchanting, confusing and sometimes challenging country caught in a 60 year timewarp. It is almost as though the clock stopped in 1960. If you can't live without creature comforts you'll find plenty to complain about; if you like a challenge and adventure, thrive on the unexpected, then go quick before it's too late! The only way out of their economic and social chasm is private sector capitalism and it's waiting less than 100 miles away...

SM, Madrid

Highlight?: The road journeys through eastern Cuba.

JB,

Highlights?: Topes de Collantes water fall. Visit to Santa Clara Che Guevera monument. A day spent with a family we met in Bayamo, visiting their home & the local market, food preparation, and just chilling with them.

DW, Mirfield

Hiking in Topas de Collante - swimming in a natural pool and bar hopping in Old Havana. 

RS, Twickenham

Highlight: The music & atmosphere in Havana. Seeing the countryside. Experiencing the quite different locations.

AKD, Malmesbury

Most Memorable Moment?: Hard to say - I love driving in Cuba - and Havana is a great city.

AH, London

Best Bit?: Just the huge contrasts in the country.

LW

The food was better than we had feared (but they routinely overcook seafood, so stick with chicken) and there was more English spoken than we had expected. Weather was great. The state of the buildings generally was better than we had been led to expect - although there is a lot of work outstanding in the southern parts of the Old Town in Havana. People are helpful. The country is clearly at an interesting stage of its development - which is why we wanted to go - and might go in many directions from here; not all of them favourable. Roads, particularly outside towns, were empty.

PR, Edinburgh

Most memorable experience: “the vibe and architecture of Havana; driving on the roads of Cuba - empty motorways, gigantic potholes, no signs, picking up random people who flagged us down; cigar rolling and smoking on a tobacco farm in Vinales; daily daiquiris and mojitos, especially those in Hotel Nacional garden; gorgeous peaceful countryside; noisy people and music everywhere; but also extreme poverty and areas that had barely moved from early 20th century; every Cuban we spoke with said how hard living was and that no one could survive on one job. We had such an interesting and wonderful time and will definitely return.”

SB, Lewisham

Highlights? Everything! The casas for showing us how Cubans live, the guides and their information, the sunset from the Palacio at Punta Gorda (Cienfuegos), the casa at Punta Gorda, the music everywhere, the food, the cocktails, the nice and hospitable people.

EV, Enfield

Most memorable aspect: “Watching my Cuban friend in Havana dance with members of his dance company practicing in National Theatre Havana.  Dancing and watching dancing in Guantanemo, Santiago and Trinidad.  The music everywhere - it gets inside your head and is wonderful.  Also the road trip from Guadalavaca to Baracoa (6.5 hours) was amazing.  Beautiful views driving through the mountains.” 

SZ, Bungay

The live music in all the bars, restaurants and on street corners everywhere. We loved the variety of Havana , vinales, Trinidad and the flop on the beach at the end at Cayo Santa Maria.

LD, Beaconsfield

Cuba is a very diverse country and fulfilled our expectations.  Parakeet is an adventure rather than a holiday so go with an open mind and immerse your self in the Cuban way. Colour, music and smiles more than make up for what some people may find frustrating if comparing Cuba to life in the UK. 

GW, Birmingham

Most memorable experiences: "a fantastic thunderstorm while dining in La Habana on Friday night, the waiters bending over backwards to please. Conversations with drivers and guides in Spanish (my mother tongue) about the country and being Cuban. Arriving at Viñales and visiting the tobacco farm. The cobbled streets of Trinidad and music at La Trova. The extra walk we organised at Tope de Collantes and the special cocktail provided for my birthday. Staying in the Village at Ensenachos. Visiting the Che museum and mausoleum. Hearing local musicians jamming in a bar in Havana. The warmth and welcome of everybody we met. Wildlife. Cocktails. Trinidad in general. Music. The stunning beach at Ensenachos."

CB, Swindon

Most memorable experiences: "Driving around the country seeing beautiful buildings and plants. The music in Bayamo - a special festival. Going to the Granjita near Santiago where Castro planned the 26th July."

AH, London

Havana music, Vinales cigar plantation & Luis the guide in Cienfuegos

AB, Dollar