Cuban Trails

This Grade 4 moderate holiday includes full and half day walks at a moderate pace over hilly terrain and is likely to include an element of sightseeing as well. Half day walking will probably include about 3 hours of walking, with full days having around 5 hours. Expect ascents and descents of up to about 600m. See the 'Proposed Itinerary' section for more information.

This holiday seeks to explore many aspects of Cuba with a diverse programme of city and country walks together with some periods of sightseeing and travelling. There should be walks taking us on paths and tracks through tropical forests, coffee and cacao plantations and farmland, usually of less than 5 miles, but taking 2-3 hours and involving up to 400m of ascent. Please note on some of the walks there may be short sections at the top of the grade and on some days swimming opportunities.

All local transport costs in conjunction with the advertised activity programme are included in the holiday cost. There may be occasions where additional visits or excursions are added to enrich your experience, these will be paid for locally by you if you choose to participate. Local transport can be a mix of private hire coaches, taxis, local buses and ferries depending on the itinerary.

A range of local excursions and activities may be available to book at your destination through a local operator. We have no involvement in such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised or controlled in any way by us. Your contract will be with the local activity supplier and we accept no responsibility for their actions or omissions.

When budgeting for your holiday, you will need to consider drinks, any meals not included in the holiday price, non-included entrance fees, optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally and any souvenirs or additional services such as laundry. A general guideline for lunches and drinks is £10-£20 per person per day.

Tourists are required to use the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC).  CUCs are exchangeable at the airport, banks or CADECA exchange offices.

US dollar notes and coins are not accepted as currency in Cuba.  Tourists are required to use CUC notes and coins, which are pegged to the US dollar in value. Sterling or other currency can be exchanged for CUC at the airport, in banks or CADECA exchange offices in most Cuban towns.  Surplus Convertible Pesos can also be changed back into sterling at airports, or into euro at banks and CADECA.  Many hotels do not change sterling although they accept euro.

To avoid time-consuming visits to banks, it is suggested that you change most of the currency needed for the whole trip either at the airport on arrival, or at Vinales CADECA after the first day’s walk. Many clients have found that about CUC$300- 350 (equivalent to US$ 300-350) per person is a realistic amount.  To avoid double currency transaction charges, sterling seems the most practical choice of currency to take.  Cash is the easiest option, but there are now cash machines in some towns and airports, and these accept most UK credit and debit cards. Before travelling to Cuba, you should check with your card provider that your cards are valid for use in Cuba. Cards issued by US banks are not accepted. Also note commission charges on ATM transactions can be expensive.

If you opt for cash, obviously concealed body belts and hotel safes (when available) are good choices! Notes should be clean (no writing on them or tears) and of £10, £20 or £50 value.

It is prohibited to enter or leave Cuba carrying Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) currency. Please make sure you have spent or exchanged any remaining CUC prior to passing through immigration when you leave Cuba.   You can do this at the CADECA exchange office at the airport, but we recommend you do this before reaching the airport as queues can be long and only a maximum of CUC300 will be exchanged into another currency. Any drinks, snacks, duty free and souvenirs will now need to be paid using a credit card or cash (GBP, CAD, AUD, USD, EUR etc.).

Although entirely at your own discretion, tipping is an important aspect of tourism and hospitality life and expectations are fairly high.  In order to simplify tipping, we strongly recommend that you allow your leader to take care of making sure tips are given to hotel and restaurant staff and to local guides and drivers. This will be done using some funds provided by us together with, if you wish, a contribution from you, which he/she will collect during the holiday.

A supply of small denomination notes and coins is very useful. The people are poor and you’ll find that they do not resent small tips – but ensure that you do receive a service, however small. On occasions tipping may be best co-ordinated through your Ramblers Walking Holidays leader.

The local guide and driver accompanying the tour tend to be mines of information relating to all aspects of Cuban life and the country, and are also excellent travelling companions.  Should you wish to tip our Cuban colleagues, you may wish to consider an allowance of £ 2.00 per day for the driver and guide.  It must be stressed however that such tips are at your own discretion.

Your tour leader makes the world of difference to your holiday and ours are as passionate about discovering the world on foot as you are. They're resourceful, organised and widely travelled. They will handle all the local administration and other needs that might arise to ensure that you don't have to worry about planning your days and you can enjoy your holiday. Although leading group holidays, they won't forget that every group is made up of individuals. Each tour leader has their own individual style, talents and professional backgrounds and all are trained, qualified, experienced and dedicated to making your holiday as enjoyable, interesting and inspiring as possible.

Each evening, your tour leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. This will be your opportunity to discuss the details and ensure the planned activities suit your walking ability. If you have concerns on clothing or equipment, this can be discussed then also. If you do not wish to join the organised group programme, please let the leader know.

To enhance your experience, as well as your tour leader, each holiday will be accompanied by a well qualified and knowledgeable English-speaking local guide.

If you wish to organise your own flights from a non-UK or provincial airport or travel by rail or car to your holiday destination, 'land only' reductions are often available. Please contact us for details.

Before finalising any independent travel arrangements, please check with us first - especially if doing so 12 weeks or more before your intended date of travel. If you do intend to join your holiday locally please do tell us at least 14 weeks in advance.

If you are joining and leaving your holiday overseas we assume, unless you advise us otherwise, that you will join and leave the holiday at your hotel.

Although airport transfers are not included for those making their own independent travel arrangements, if you wish to join the group at the overseas airport, depending on your flight arrival time, you may be able to be included on the group's transfer. Please contact us at least 5 weeks before departure for more details. 

Please note that your flight must arrive within 30 minutes of the group flight to be able to join the group transfer. We also need your flight number, arrival time and departure point so that the group leader is able to meet up with you.

For all those booking a flight or rail inclusive holiday, details of your travel arrangements and baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days prior to departure.

To ensure that we can accurately administer your holiday arrangements, please confirm that the personal details we hold for you are up to date and that you have provided the information we need to secure your holiday travel and accommodation arrangements. Please check your passport details, date of birth and any other important details necessary for us to properly manage your holiday booking. You can view and update information already provided, and add details not yet asked for, by using the Manage My Booking facility on our website www.ramblersholidays.co.uk, or by calling our Sales and Reservations team on +44 (0)1707 331133. When you receive your booking confirmation please check the details as soon as possible.

It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to your home country.

Passport and visa requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements.

General travel and destination advice for UK nationals is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel and at www.gov.uk/travelaware.

A passport is required which should be valid for the duration of your intended stay. Please note the Cubans are now stamping passports on arrival in Cuba unless requested not to. 
If you prefer to not have a Cuban stamp in your passport, for instance if you plan to travel to the USA on the passport, please inform the immigration official who deals with your entry formalities. 
We will send you a Tourist Card (a type of visa) with your airline ticket allowing you to stay for up to 30 days. Please check that the information on this Tourist Card is accurate, and then keep it with your passport – replacing a lost document will cost approximately $25, and you will not be allowed to leave Cuba until payment has been made. Please note we can only issue Tourist Cards to EU, EE.UU, Canada, Australia and New Zealand passport holders. Clients travelling under any other passport must contact their nearest Cuban Embassy to obtain a Tourist Card. 
Should you anticipate visiting or transiting the United States at a future date, we strongly recommend that you ensure that you have no evidence of your visit to Cuba in your travel documentation, and that any Cuban baggage labels are removed from your luggage. 
The US government has imposed commercial and travel restrictions on Cuba and have banned unauthorised visits by US travellers to Cuba, even if booking and travelling via a third country. Non US citizens should be aware that a visit to Cuba may affect their status on entering the United States. Although we do not advocate breaking the laws of any country, as a part of our responsible tourism policy we do promote a reasonable philosophy towards all nations and cultures.

Breakfasts and dinners are included in the holiday charge, and will be taken either at the hotels or in local restaurants. When staying in the Casas in Trinidad, breakfast will be taken in the casa where you stay. For dinner the group will eat altogether in one of the casas. There is a communal bar where everyone can meet and socialise. Service in Cuban restaurants and bars can be a little slower than you may be used to.

Lunches are provided and may be packed or restaurant meals.

Please note, vegetarian eating is not widespread in Cuba, and that some tolerance or patience may be needed at mealtimes. Should you require a gluten free diet or have other special dietary needs, we suggest that you take some of your own provisions with you.

Lightweight waterproof walking boots with a good moulded sole (such as Vibram or similar) and a deep tread and which provide ankle support are strongly recommended and may be essential for some walks. 

We recommend that you either wear your walking boots or shoes or pack them and some waterproofs in your hand luggage as in the unlikely event that your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to participate in the holiday programme.

Outdoor activities are always safer and more enjoyable if you are prepared.

If you have not travelled with us before the following list might be of use:

• Waterproof jacket (Goretex or similar) and trousers
• Lightweight quick-drying trousers
• Walking T-shirt/shirts
• Walking socks
• Fleece or jumper
• Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and sun block
• Warm hat and gloves (if appropriate)
• Swimwear (if appropriate)
• Day sack (this should be able to carry all you would need for the day's activity)
• Day sack liner
• Water bottle - at least 1 litre capacity (more than 1 bottle may be required)
• Basic first aid kit
• Lunchbox
• Walking poles (should you find them useful)
• Sit mat

This list is not exhaustive and every walker is different and may have their own preference.

The Caribbean has a typical tropical climate with high temperatures and plenty of rainfall, which is why the islands are so lush. There is little seasonal variation in temperature due to the islands location near the equator, but the seasons are determined by the amount of rainfall, and consist of rainy (generally June to October/November), and dry (generally December to May) seasons. 

During the wet season, rainfall is usually in the form of short, but heavy, bursts with a high increase in humidity, while the dry season’s rain showers are generally lighter and the humidity is not so intense. Daytime temperatures can reach up to 30°C all year round. 

With high temperatures and humidity, you will want to dress for comfort. Light cotton t-shirts, shorts, skirts and trousers are ideal for the day, especially ones that are quick drying so you can rinse them out to use again (saves on packing too!). For the evenings, smart casual attire is fine. 

The Caribbean can occasionally experience short, sharp, heavy periods of rain that can occur without warning, leaving trails wet and streams higher than normal. When this happens, for some trails we may need to change the plan at short notice or, for more straightforward trails, it has been very useful in the past to don water/aqua-shoes for short sections where lying water is higher than boot level.  These shoes can also be useful in and around rocky areas like waterfalls, for people with sensitive feet when getting in and out of water. It is also useful to carry a small, |light towel|. You may feel that waterproof trousers are not needed.

Documents and Information to take with you:

• Passport (make sure it's yours and valid)
• Your travel tickets or e-ticket itinerary
• Any visa or electronic travel authorisation (if required)
• Holiday money
• Credit or debit cards (and separate details of who to call if lost)
• Car parking ticket and car park directions (if prebooked)
• Coach or rail travel tickets (if prebooked)
• Your holiday Booking Confirmation document
• Your travel insurance details
• Alternative form of identification (such as a driving licence)
• Photocopy of the personal details pages of your passport
• A valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if relevant
• Details of any medical condition or allergy your holiday leader should know about

The electricity supply is generally 110V at 60 Hz, although some hotels now operate on 220V, or both. Please check what supply is provided before plugging in any electrical device.  Please note that any appliance set for 110V will almost immediately burn out if connected to a 220V supply. Most sockets cater for the round pin EU style plugs, however you will also come across flat pin US style plugs. You should bring both kinds of adapters, as these are not easily available in Cuba. More information can be found at https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/

An alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter such as a Water-to-go bottle available from www.watertogo.eu. Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles.

We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays.

There are many travel guides covering Cuba to suit every taste. The Rough Guide and Lonely Planet Guide are the most well known but many others should considered. In fiction Cuba is most famously featured in Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene. It is an interesting insight into life in pre-revolutionary Cuba. There are many worthy tomes considering the revolution from every political perspective. Readability was not always high on the author's agenda. Choose carefully.

Maps and guidebooks relating to your the areas you will be walking in may be brought before your holiday from The Map Shop at www.themapshop.co.uk

Visit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination:

• Weather2 - www.myweather2.com
• BBC Weather - www.bbc.co.uk/weather

Health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP.

No compulsory immunisations are required for visits to Cuba.

You should be up to date with the usual immunisations recommended in the UK.

Hepatitis A immunisation is recommended.

You might also like to consider immunisations against Tetanus, Cholera, Hepatitis B and Rabies.

Dengue fever, Zika virus and Chikungunya virus also exist in Cuba; please take normal precautions against mosquito bites. Seek pre-travel Zika virus advice from your health care provider 6-8 weeks in advance of travel, particularly important if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy.

Don’t forget to exercise caution with what you eat to avoid upset stomachs and stay away from unpeeled fruit and vegetables, salad and do not have ice in your drinks. Hot, fresh cooked food, where possible, is best. 

Hand washing facilities may be poor or unavailable when travelling, we therefore strongly advise you to carry antibacterial sanitizing gel and / or hand wipes at all times and use to them regularly.

Drinking or cleaning teeth in un-boiled water is not recommended.  Bottled pure water is inexpensive and widely available in shops, at hotels, and on the coach. Make sure you only buy sealed bottles.

For further advice please visit:

• The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) travel health website at www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
• The NHS 'Fit for travel' website at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
• The Foreign Office Travel Advice Website at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
• Or a local travel health clinic.

You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel with you for times when you're unable to wash your hands.

You must be adequately insured to join our holidays. We do not insist that you insure with us but we require that you are adequately insured for the nature of your holiday. You will be unable to participate in our local walking and other activity programmes without being able to demonstrate that you have valid travel insurance.

Please ensure that as a minimum your travel insurance policy covers you for travel to your holiday destinations (country and geographical region) and for medical expenses, mountain rescue (including helicopter rescue) and emergency repatriation to your home country in the event of illness or injury. Your policy should also provide adequate cover for the activities, included and optional, you are likely to participate in during your holiday.

See our brochure or website for further advice regarding holiday insurance.

Whoever you insure with, please ensure that you take full details, and ideally the policy itself, with you on holiday and provide our tour leader with your insurer's name, the policy number and emergency assistance contact numbers.

Please note that it is very difficult to obtain travel insurance once your holiday arrangements have started.

Cuban law requires all foreign nationals arriving in Cuba to be able to produce proof they have valid travel insurance including medical insurance and cover for evacuation by air ambulance for the duration of their intended stay. All visitors should have a photocopy of their full policy, not just a cover note, available for inspection by authorities on arrival at Havana Airport. Spot checks will be made at immigration. Anybody unable to produce the documents will be required to purchase a Cuban policy.

Any clients not holding a policy purchased through RWH Travel Ltd should specifically confirm that travel to Cuba is covered by the policy as cover issued by insurance companies based in the United States will not be valid in Cuba.

The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up to date information on security and local laws for travellers, together with current passport and visa information, at www.gov.uk/travelaware. Please take a few minutes to look at the current advice on your planned destination.

Please be aware of what's going on around you, take sensible precautions with your credit cards and passport and avoid displays of wealth such as wearing expensive jewellery or watches. Do not carry more cash on you than you will need for each day, and we recommend that a money belt is used.

We're committed to ethical tourism in all our destinations. Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence of the country you are visiting. Travelling in small groups not only gives you an up close and personal experience of your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate environment. We feel that the most important starting point to protect the environment is to be out in it. For more details visit our website.

Unlike many tour operators we have our own trust through which RWH Travel’s profits are channelled back into a variety of outdoor, walking-related or environmental conservation projects in the UK. The focus of the Trust’s financial support is Britain’s leading walking charity, The Ramblers, and their role in promoting the benefits and importance of walking to the British public. In addition the Trust welcomes applications for small grants from local organisations in the UK who need support for walking-orientated activities. This includes the establishment of footpaths and bridleways, funding for rebuilding bridges and renovating huts, as well as bursary funding for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for children who could not otherwise afford to do it. Please visit the ‘About Us’ section of our website and click on the Charitable Trust link for more details.

We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to be able to use our profits to help make a difference to people's lives. Heart & Sole is a venture managed by our office staff, whose aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries we visit. Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a long term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less developed countries where even a small amount goes a long way. See our website for more information and details of some of the projects we support.

Please do provide us with a mobile phone contact number. We will only use this to contact you with important information relating to your holiday arrangements. 

Do keep your mobile phones switched on and readily available when travelling to the airport or if delayed in transit so that we can contact you with any last minute information relating to your travel arrangements.  

As a matter of courtesy, please switch off your mobile phone during walks, or endeavour to minimise its use. Please also try to minimise the use of mobile devices during group meals.