Cuba Active Multisport Tour

Optional activities are not included in the trip price and can be booked with your local Host through your Skyhook dashboard or directly in country. Payment for the optional activities will be directly in country to the local guides. Here is a list of the optional activities you can add to your trip: DAY 2 & 3 (Vinales afternoon) - Take on Cuba's best zipline: - Explore the impressive Cuevas Santo Tomas (Cuba's largest cave system): US$12+ US$25 transport (per taxi) - Learn to salsa with a local teacher: US$10/person - Taxi to Cayo Levisa, beautiful white sand beach 40mins away: US$20 to US$35 - Horse riding: US$5/hr - Rock climbing: DAY 4 (Bay of Pigs) - Snorkeling: DAY 5 (Bay of Pigs) - Scuba diving with experienced dive masters: - Trek with a National Park's Guide: DAY 8 (Trinidad) - Bus/taxi to the beach: Bus US$2/person, taxi US$8 - Scuba diving: US$60 (2-tank dive) - Ziplining: - Horse riding to a waterfall: US$25

You need an average level of fitness and must be ready for some fun and adventure to do this trip. The hike in the mountains requires you to hike about 10km each day while carrying your day pack. The walk is not particularly difficult. However, you need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy the experience. The difficulty level of the bike trip is medium. If you can ride a bike around town you should be fine. The heat and humidity can be another factor affecting people`s well-being, especially in the summer months of June, July, and August, when even the Cubans complain. While our guides work hard to ensure that everyone is catered to equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day’s activities unaided. You will be encouraged (rather than expected) to participate in optional group activities.

Accommodation is on a twin-share basis and, if you are traveling on your own, you will be sharing a room with another traveler of the same sex. If there is an odd number of group members and you have to have a room to yourself, you do not have to pay extra. If at some stage during the tour, you wish to have a room to yourself, the tour guide can arrange this on a request basis and charge you the difference in cost. This is subject to availability. If you decide at the booking stage, that you want a single room throughout the tour, contact your local Host as soon as possible through your Skyhook dashboard to make arrangements. Note that you'll pay this directly in country.

Cuba is a lot more expensive than most developing countries. Be prepared to pay as much for food and services, as you would in any western ‘developed’ country. Here's what to budget: - Food: Allow about US$25 to US$50 a day for food where no meals included - Other: Drinks, souvenirs, communications - Optional activities and excursions - Taxi to the airport for departure: US$25 to US$35 - Tips: US$2 to US$5 per person for local guides on day trips and other optional activities - Tips: US$3 to US$5 per person per day for your tour guide It's best to bring plenty of cash with you. Most cards issued by U.S. institutions will not work in Cuba. So bring more cash than you’d expect to spend, just in case. USD and EUR are the most useful currencies and are accepted in many places. You'll also be able to exchange money once you're in the country.

For privacy reasons, we cannot provide you with advance details on your traveling companions. However, the tours appeal to a wide range of travelers, most of whom share an adventurous spirit and a desire to experience this destination at a grass-roots level. The tours are conducted in English, so this tends to attract people from North America, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Most participants find the mixture of nationalities an interesting and enjoyable part of the experience. The age composition in the groups is really quite a lottery and can be made up of people of all ages. A typical group could be a couple in their 20's, a single guy in his 30's, 2 single women in their 30's, a woman in her 40's, and a single man in his 50's...

DOCUMENTS: - Passport (with photocopies) - Travel insurance (with photocopies) - Airline tickets (with photocopies) - Cash and travelers cheques (see FAQ) - Visa or MasterCard credit card (issued by non-US bank) - Any entry visas CLOTHING: - Fleece top or similar - Sandals and footwear for walking - Small towel and swimwear - 4 shirts/t-shirts - Sun hat - 1-2 pairs of shorts - 1 pair of long trousers - Refillable water bottle - Toiletries (including soap) - Sunglasses - Sunblock - Insect repellant - First-aid kit, including lip salve, aspirin, band Aids, anti-histamine, imodium or similar OPTIONAL: - Camera - Reading/writing material - Binoculars - Cover for backpack - Snorkeling gear - Healthy snacks

Yes, you can! Many of our guests are solo travelers. Joining a group trip makes it nice and social, and you'll meet like-minded adventurers.

We strongly recommend bringing a backpack or duffel bag, or a small travel case with wheels. Keep in mind that you will normally have to carry your luggage on and off buses and along cobblestone streets. If you need to leave some luggage in Havana, this will be possible and you can ask the tour guide to help you arrange this.

Meals and camping gear are provided, including sleeping mats and blankets. However, it's a good idea to bring a sleeping bag. Occasionally there aren't enough blankets, and it can get cold at night in the mountains, especially in the winter months of December through February. If you don't have a sleeping bag, a simple sleeping sheet will make you feel more comfortable. Here's what we recommend for the overnight hike: - Good footwear for walking - Hydration bladder/water bottle (2L capacity) - Snacks for hiking - Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses - Swimwear - Change of hiking clothes - Change of clothes for sleeping in - Toiletries (wipes, soap, bug spray, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, etc.) - Mini First-aid kit (aspirin, lip salve, band-aids, antihistamine, Imodium or similar) Don't forget a day pack large enough to carry your personal items.

Yes, in most cases, your local Host can arrange additional accommodation at your starting or ending hotel. You can order this on your booking form. To do this, let your Host know by messaging them from your Skyhook dashboard. You can settle this directly in country.

We can cater for most dietary requirements, provided you let us know well ahead of time. If you have dietary requirements please 'Message Your Guide' after booking from your Skyhook dashboard and also indicate this on your Trip Form as soon as possible.

There will be times when there'll be opportunities to tip local service providers - such as drivers and local guides. This is a completely optional practice to show your appreciation for excellent service and you should never feel obliged to do so, especially if you feel you did not receive good service. You may tip individually, or your tour guide will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. For local guides on day trips and other optional activities in Cuba, as a suggestion, we recommended a tip of US$2 to US$5 per person. Also at the end of the tour, if you felt your tour guide did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. For this, we recommend between US$3 to US$5 per person per day.

Accommodation is on a twin-share basis. If you're a solo traveler, you'll be paired with a member of the same sex. Guesthouse accommodation is in airconditioned rooms with ensuite bathrooms. The night camping is in tents, with camping equipment provided. We do recommend brining your own sleeping bag or sleeping bag liner (sheet), for hygiene and comfort.

Included in this multisport trip is: Day 3: Half-day cycling excursion in Vinales Day 6 & 7: Overnight hiking trek in Sierra Escambray Mountains Day 9: Visit to Che Guevara Memorial

Airport arrival transfers are included from Havana Airport if you arrive on Day 1 of the itinerary. The transfer is also included if you arrive in Cuba before Day 1, as long as you arrange pre-tour accommodation through your local Host. Otherwise, your Host can arrange your included transfer from your place of accommodation in Havana to the starting guesthouse for the tour. Note that airport departure transfers are not included. These are easy to arrange at your accommodation on the final day of the itinerary.

Anyone 18 years or older can join our tours. Anyone under this age can also participate as long as they are accompanied by an parent or legal guardian.

Summer in Cuba is from June to August. These are the hottest months and some people (including the Cubans!) find the heat quite intense. Temperatures rise to 100 degrees F on the Eastern side of the island, which when coupled with high humidity, can be quite unpleasant. On the other hand, summer is one of the most festive times of the year with carnival being held in many cities, and festivals happening throughout the island. This is also holiday time for the Cubans so there are many social occasions. Summer is also a tourist high season because it coincides with the holiday season in Europe. Hotels, flights, and tours can often be booked out well ahead of time, and prices can be higher than during other times of the year. The hurricane season is from June to November with September and October being the months with the highest probability of cyclone activity. There is on average more rain in these months due to this tropical storm activity. When hurricanes occur they generally aren't a risk to life, however, they can cause some interruption to travel plans. Cuba's safety record concerning hurricanes is excellent and it is unusual that in even the biggest storms there is a loss of life. This is in stark contrast to other countries in the region (such as Haiti and even the US). Cuba is very well organized, disciplined, and prepared for such events and there are excellent evacuation procedures. We run tours during the hurricane season and if you book on a tour during this period you should be aware that hurricanes could disrupt the normal tour itinerary. The rest of the year in Cuba generally enjoys beautiful warm weather. December, January, and February are the coolest months of the year in Cuba where the average maximum daily temperature is 77F, and an average of 65F at night. During these winter months in Cuba, occasional cold fronts can make their way down from North America, during which, for a period of a couple of days, temperatures at night can drop to around 50F in some places. Rain may or may not accompany these cold fronts. There is more rainfall during the summer months and during the hurricane season. Even in these months the rain usually comes in short afternoon bursts, which can be a pleasant relief from the heat.

The Tourist Visa (or Tourist Card) is required by the Cuban Government for travelers from nearly every country. We recommend checking the entry requirements for your nationality to determine whether this information applies to you. The visa is valid for one entry for a stay of up to 90 days but can be renewed for an additional 90 days while you are in Cuba. It is important not to lose your visa while in Cuba because they will collect it when you depart.

If you are flying from any country other than the US to Cuba (even on a US passport), you will buy what is known as the 'Green' visa. This is the same as the 'Pink' Visa (see FAQ) but is a different color. We recommend checking your visa requirements with your local consulate. As an overview, here are the general visa requirements for various nationalities/countries of departure: -Flying from Latin America or the Caribbean (e.g. Mexico, Panama, Cayman): Purchase your visa at the airport during check-in for your flight to Cuba. The cost is around US$25-30. Verify with your airline in case of changes. You can also purchase in advance from a third-party visa service. - Flying from Canada: The visa is usually included with your flight. Verify with your airline. - Flying from Europe: The easiest way to get your visa is to buy from a third-party servicer. There are several companies that will ship the visa to your home. Make sure you order the tourist card with sufficient time to receive it before your trip. You can also deal directly with your local consulate.

If you are flying directly to Cuba from the US (e.g. Miami, Tampa, Houston), regardless of nationality, you need a Pink visa. You will purchase the visa in the airport before you board your flight to Havana. In the process of purchasing the visa, you will be asked to verify that you are traveling legally to Cuba. This is the time to select your category of general license, the most common is 'Support for the Cuban People.' The pink visa will cost between US$50-100 and the transaction takes just a few minutes to process. Some US airlines will also allow you to buy the visa in advance and ship it to your home. Airline call center staff are usually not well informed about travel to Cuba, so it's best to search the airline's website (Airline name + Cuba + Visa in a Google search) instead of calling to ask about the Cuba visa.

For this trip, we need at least two people booked on a date to confirm departure. If you are traveling solo, you're welcome to book, but please drop us a message beforehand to confirm existing groups.

We take a maximum of 14 people per group on this trip.