Western Cuba & Regions

Tailor Made Holidays in Cuba

The island of Cuba lies at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico; the main island is 1,200km long with an irregular coastline that offers hundreds of bays and beaches. The largest of all Caribbean Islands is an addictive mixture of lavish Spanish colonial architecture, imposing communist statues and plazas, sublime powder white beaches, teeming coral reefs, densely forested mountains and verdant tropical plantations.

Travelling in Cuba is without doubt an incredible cultural experience and it should be treated as such. Cuba is definitely not a country that should be visited if you are looking for luxury or a trip where everything runs like clockwork. The appeal of Cuba is that it has remained free of western influence and commercialisation. There are no advertising hoardings or fast food restaurants. The countryside is beautiful, the beaches are stunning (although many are dominated by large all inclusive resorts) and most of all the people are wonderful. The colonial architecture, history and music all add further to its appeal culminating in a unique holiday which you will never forget. Anyone visiting with an open mind, a sense of humour and an adventurous spirit will be more than rewarded by what they find.

Cuba's unique and turbulent history weaves a fascinating tale from Spanish colonial rule and the slave trade to Batista's dictatorship and Castro's revolution. This is reflected in its vibrant culture, thriving arts scene and flamboyant music. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union Cuba's economy has struggled and this combined with the US embargo are still very much in evidence. Although Cuba's focus is now on tourism to ensure its future prosperity, the country is a law unto itself when it comes to quality of hotels, food, service and transportation. It may be a Caribbean island with the climate, scenery and wonderful beaches to match but the fact remains it is a communist country struggling not only with a crumbling infrastructure and the governmental control over its people and businesses but also the continuing US embargo.

Without doubt all of this adds to the charm of this unique country but it also means that Cuba's ability to maintain service levels and standards is far less reliable than that of other developing countries in the world. Capital investment is restricted and requires approval by the government. The Cuban government sets most prices and rations goods. Even simple items that we take for granted, such as bread, can be hard to come by. The government's control over everything prevents private enterprise and with a strictly enforced regulated wage system gives many of the local people little incentive to be doing a good job. With Raul Castro now in control, change is occurring but progress is slow.

At ICAN Holidays we pride ourselves in the fact that we offer clients what they want - our holidays are all tailor made. Only you know what your ideal holiday should include. Whether you want to concentrate on culture or spend time wildlife watching, sample a city’s hustle and bustle or relax in a secluded beauty spot, ICAN Holidays will assist you discover the joy of designing a unique holiday just for you.

Throughout this website we have provided suggested itineraries for all the regions we visit, and you may wish to base your travels on these. After an initial consultation, one of our Specialists will create a unique itinerary for your holiday, complete with background information, historical notes, colour pictures, etc. We will not begin to book your holiday until you are completely satisfied with it.

Because our Specialists regularly travel to the regions you will be visiting, they can offer invaluable advice and suggestions for things to see and do while you are there and you can be confident that your unique itinerary has been created by someone who has extensive first-hand knowledge of the places and accommodation it contains.

Cuba has a warm and tropical climate with two distinct seasons.

The best time to visit is from December to May when you will have dry sunny days. From June to November Cuba can be hot, humid and wet. During the winter months of December and January daytime temperatures can drop below 20 degrees centigrade whilst in the summer months of July and August temperatures soar, especially in Havana and Santiago de Cuba.

The hurricane season begins in June and in some years can continue through to November.

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All our holidays are unique travel experiences, and therefore tailor-made to suit individual requirements. We do not publish prices on our website as they can vary enormously for tailor-made travel. In some instances we do promote holidays that are part of our "Classic" series and these will include approximate pricing.

Prices are generally for private arrangements and are per person using economy class flights based on two people travelling together and sharing a room.

There are a number of factors which will influence the price of your travel arrangements, these include the standard of hotel (we offer a variety of standards from ‘three star’ to the super-luxurious), the season, the duration of your trip, the class of flights and the airline used, the level of private guiding and the complexity of the itinerary. Our specialists will be delighted to discuss the various options in more detail with you.

ICAN Guides Cuba

ICAN Itineraries Cuba

Classic Cuba ~ 8 Days / 7 Nights

Western Cuba & Regions

Written by Travel Correspondent

Sunday, 26 April 2009 16:39

Western Cuba and Regions

Vinales Western Cuba Western Cuba is dominated by the province of Pinar del Rio. It is a rich and fertile region characterized by tobacco plantations, beautiful and unusually shaped mountain ranges, thick tropical vegetation mixed with fragrant pine forests, charming colonial towns, extensive cave systems and some pristine, remote beach locations. This exceptionally beautiful, varied and unique area is easily accessible from Havana and is often a highlight for many visitors.

Cabo de San Antonio

Cabo de San Antonio marks Cuba's most western limit and is perched on the tip of the Guanahacabibes Reserve on the Strait of Yucatan, almost as close to Cancun as it is to Havana. The reserve is named after an indigenous group of Indians inhabiting the peninsular in pre-colonial times, the Guanahatabeyes. It is now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is home to prolific birdlife and mammals such as deer, boar and a type of opossum called a 'jutia' as well as beautiful and unusual scenery, deserted beaches and pristine coral reefs perfect for scuba diving.

Cayo Levisa

The small island of Cayo Levisa lies just off the North West coast of Cuba, just a few hours from Havana and Vinales. The island is part of the Los Colorados archipelago and has a beautiful powder white beach, pristine and colourful coral reefs and the warm azure waters of the Gulf Stream washing its shores. Accommodation here is simple but the location is quiet and extremely beautiful.

Las Terrazas

Las Terrazas is a small rural community set in the heart of a 25,000 hectare UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Sierra del Rosario. The area was badly affected by deforestation so an vast regeneration project was started in 1968 and terraces were laid out for re-planting, giving Las Terrazas its name. Today the inhabitants work within the reserve, often involved in eco-tourism and benefit from some of the best living standards in the country.

This region is now covered with thick tropical vegetation, deciduous pine and tall royal palms with their distinctive white trunks providing a lovely contrast against the rolling blanket of green. The cooler climate and lovely scenery make Las Terrazas a popular place for walking and it is also excellent for bird watching.

Maria la Gorda

Maria la Gorda is located on Cuba's south-western coast on the sweeping Bahia de Corrientes and owes its names to a Venezuelan girl who was abducted by pirates and abandoned here in colonial times. The area is pristine and undeveloped with miles of deserted powder white beaches, warm clear waters and beautiful coral reefs. The vast majority of visitors are attracted to Maria la Gorda because of its excellent scuba diving but if you are not a keen diver then there is little to keep you occupied. The accommodation and food is simple and merely functional but the diving is very accessible, varied and impressive and the location is remote and extremely beautiful.

Vinales

The landscape of Valle de Vinales is a designated UNESCO World Cultural landscape and is a peaceful rural region of western Cuba where impressive limestone 'mogotes' impassively guard rich tobacco plantations. The mogotes are limestone outcrops which rise almost vertically out of the flat ground. This picturesque valley is popular for hiking, exploring caves or simply relaxing and taking in the surroundings. It is also where the world's best dark tobacco is processed into its finest cigars.

Last Updated on Saturday, 12 September 2009 17:48

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