Peru & Delfin I Cruise - 12 Days with flights

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

Peru & Delfin I Cruise - 12 Days with flights

Written by Travel Correspondent

Tuesday, 22 September 2009 21:55

Peru & Delfin I Cruise - 12 Days including flights from South Africa

Lima / Iquitos / Northern Amazon / 4 day Delfin Cruise / Cusco / Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu

From R40,340 p.p.

From the mighty Andes to the steamy Amazon and everything in between, Peru’s appeal to the adventurous traveller is manifold.

This holiday takes you to two of the most wonderful areas in Peru, to the Amazon's Pacaya Samiria Reserve in northern Peru on board the Delfin 1 and then onto Cuzco, the capital of the vast Inca Empire. From here visit many of the highlights of the surrounding Inca ruins. Drive into the stunning Sacred Valley, the larger Inca ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo are visited before Taking the train to Machu Picchu which provides a fantastic journey along the banks of the raging Urubamba River.

Places Visited

• Lima
• Iquitos & the Northern Amazon
• Cusco
• Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

Itinerary

Day 1: South Africa / Lima
Fly from South Africa to Lima, where you will be met and taken directly to your hotel.

Day 2: Lima
Morning tour of the colonial centre of Lima.

Day 3: Lima / Iquitos / Delfin 1
Afternoon flight to Iquitos where you will be met and taken to board your Amazon cruise vessel, the Delfin 1 for 3 nights.

Days 4-5: On board Delfin 1
Wildlife excursions from your cruise vessel.

Day 6: Iquitos / Lima
Disembark your vessel in Iquitos and fly back to Lima for 1 night.

Day 7: Lima / Cusco
Fly to Cusco for 3 nights. Cusco Sightseeing.

Day 8: Sacred Valley
Day excursion to Sacred Valley and fortress of Ollantaytambo

Day 9: Machu Picchu
Day excursion by scenic train to Machu Picchu.

Day 10: Cusco / Lima / Sao Paulo
Fly back to Lima where you will connect with your flight to Sao Paulo with an overnight stay.

Day 11: Sao Paulo / Johannesburg
Afternoon departure to South Africa.

Day 12: South Africa Arrival
Arrive in South Africa.

To view the Delfin I detailed itinerary please [ follow this link ]

Holiday Cost:

R40,340 per person from Johannesburg for departures up to 17 November 2009

R41,850 per person from Johannesburg for departures from 18 Nov. 2009 to 26 Feb. 2010

NB. For pricing outside these dates please contact one of our Peru specialists.

Holiday Information

fot_itiner32_04 Taking a cruise is an interesting alternative to staying in one of the many Amazon lodges across Latin America.

In most cases cruise boats offer a more comfortable experience with air conditioned, en-suite cabins in which you can escape the heat of the rainforest.

In addition you can expect a similar level of expert guiding but on less strenuous excursions as most are done in small inflatable boats called Skiffs or aboard motorised canoes. This means less walking and being taken up small river tributaries close to the foliage for wildlife spotting instead of walking on trails from your lodge.

Most cruises also offer interesting cultural experiences with visits to small local communities which, being remote, have not been affected by mainstream, mass tourism and therefore provide an authentic experience.

Food is plentiful and well prepared and there is a range of boats to choose between the simple to the luxurious. Although more expensive than the lodge options there are more options than ever to explore the Amazon basin by cruise boat.

Delfin 1

delfin-01 The Delfin is a classic Amazon River boat that was originally built in 1986 but has undergone an extensive refurbishment in 2006, making it one of the most comfortable options for Amazon River cruises in Peru.

The vessel is purpose built for cruising the Amazon and on its four or five day itineraries visits the pristine Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve which is one of the best areas for wildlife viewing in Peru's northern Amazon region.

There are six cabins over two decks, each with private bathroom, wood panelling, shower, two open closets and air-conditioning units with remote control. Four cabins are twin bedded and there are two suites at the front of the boat with king size beds. Although labelled suites they are actually smaller than the standard cabins but the beds face out through the front facing windows of the boat so you can wake up seeing the Amazon journey ahead.

The observation deck and lounge is very spacious with a wooden floor, comfortable reclining chairs, a fully stocked bar and TV with DVD and video. The cosy dining room is air-conditioned with large panoramic windows and a window through to the kitchen so you can watch the chef in action.

The Delfin has two aluminium skiffs for excursions, flashlights for night excursions and ponchos with hoods and rubber boots in case of rain.

Last Updated on Friday, 02 October 2009 10:25

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