Cuba Excursions – from Guardalavaca

Transfer from your Hotel by air conditioned coach/minibus, you will be taken first to Boca de Sama, a fisherman’s village where you will have a brief tour of the surroundings. You will then continue to Yaguajay and take a visit to Aldea Taina and Chorro de Maita Museum. You will then board to coach/minibus to go to Guardalavaca beach where you can spend free time at the beach and craft market. Continue on to Conuco de Mongo Vina Restaurant to experience a typical Cuban lunch with a drink included. Free time at Laguna Dorada which is a natural lake where you can spend time enjoying the stunning views and birdwatching.

This tour is available on Wednesday and Friday. Comfortable walking shoes, money and bottled water is recommended to take with you for this tour.

PRICE = 39 cuc per adult and 23 cuc per child – book in resort through Gaviota (prices and availability subject to change)

Holguin City is the third largest city in Cuba, behind Havana and Santiago de Cuba. It is a friendly City with a population of more than 1.5 million...

For this Tour, you are transferred by air conditioned coach to Holguin, the well known City for it’s beautiful parks. The Tour includes visits to Loma de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross – pictured above) which is a beautiful lookout and also the cigar factory. You will have lunch at a local restaurant with a drink included. You will then be given free time to walk downtown along the main streets, Marqueta Square, Calixto Garcia main square and the surrounding area finishing with the return transfer back to your Hotel in the air conditioned coach. This Tour is available on Monday – Wednesday – Friday and is subject to a minimum of 6 persons. Comfortable walking shoes, camera, money and bottled water is recommended to take with you for this tour.

PRICE = 44 cuc per adult and 27 cuc per child - book through Gaviota in resort (prices and availability subject to change)

A different day out for you to experience the everyday Cuba that moves around you, at the Caribbean pace. You will visit a local farm with different plantations, Sams fishing village, and the Chorro de Maita Indian Village. This trip will also take you to a doctor’s house, and you will have fre time in Guardalavaca and it’s market. Lunch is included. This is the perfect opportunity for you to relax and take in your surrounding area.

This tour is available on Thursday’s and Saturday’s.

PRICE = 55 cuc per adult and 19 cuc per child – bookable in resort through Thomas Cook (prices and availability subject to change)

Transfer from your Hotel in air conditioned coach to Rafael Freyre town. Take an unforgetable trip back in history aboard a steam engine locomotive built in the XIX century that still remains working today round sugar cane plantations and other typical local crops of the country with stops to take pictures and listen to explanations about different issues of the life for the local people at the farms. After the Tour continues to Holguin with a city tour including the visit to Loma de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross) and the cigar factory. Lunch is at a local restaurant with a drink included. Free time is then available to walk downtown along the main streets, Marqueta Square, Calixto Garcia main square and the surrounding area.

This tour is available on Tuesday and Thursdays and subject to a minimum of 4 persons. Comfortable walking shoes, camera, money and bottled water is recommended to take with you for this tour.

PRICE = 59 cuc per adult and 30 cuc per child – bookable through Gaviota in resort (prices and availability subject to change)

Similar to the above excursion but not quite the same, Cuba Inside is a popular local tour starting with the old steam train ride through the countryside. Then into Holguin to visit a cigar factory and find out how the famous Cuban cigar is made. Walk around the Cathedral square and spend some free time exploring the city centre streets, visit the local symbol of Holguin, Loma de la Cruz and enjoy the spectacular street performers. Then it is off to visit the fishing town of Gibara which is where a lot of Cubans will go when they have a day out themselves and take in the towns architecture which is in itself all of it’s own. Lunch and 1 drink included.

Available on Wednesdays and Fridays.

PRICE = 61 cuc per adult and 32 cuc per child – bookable in resort through Thomas Cook (prices and availability subject to change)

Collected from your Hotel by air conditioned coach, transfer to Santiago de Cuba is approximately 2 and half hours drive. Santiago was also the home of the revolutionary hero, Frank Pais of whom Holguin Airport is named after. On July 26, 1953, the Cuban Revoluiton began with an ill-prepared armed attack on the Moncada Barracks by a small contingent of rebels led by Fidel Castro. Shortly after this disastrous incident, País began talking with students and young working people informally, drawing around him what became an extremely effective urban revolutionary alliance. This developed into highly organized cells coordinating a large scale urban resistance that became instrumental in the success of the Cuban Revolution. País’ group prepared carefully, accruing weapons, collecting money, collecting medical supplies. They published a cheap newsletter that reported news that criticized the government, attempting to counter Batista’s censorship. In the summer of 1955, País’ organization merged with Castro’s July 26 Movement. País became the leader of the new organization in Oriente province. On January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro proclaimed the victory of the Cuban Revolution from a balcony on Santiago de Cuba’s city hall. So as you can see, Santiago de Cuba is a very important City in Cuba, and is the second largest City with a population of approximately 494,337 residents.

On this tour you will visit the Revolution Square, the Cemetery Santa Ifigenia and the bar of a rum factory and also have time to visit a fruit market. Lunch with a drink is included. You will then take in the panoramic views of the Moncada Garrison together with a walk downtown to Cespedes Square and surroundings. This tour is finshed off with a visit to the Hotel Casa Granda with a cocktail included.

This tour is available on Saturday's with a minimum of 6 persons. There is a lot of walking involved in this tour so this tour is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties. Comfortable walking shoes, camera, money and bottled drinking water is recommended to take with you on this tour.

69 cuc per adult and 42 cuc per child – bookable through Gaviota in resort (prices and availability subject to change)

86 cuc per adult and 59 cuc per child – bookable through Thomas Cook in resort (prices and availability subject to change)

ALTERNATIVELY - Travel to Santiago de Cuba in style in a classic American Car and take in the Cuban rhythm, warmth and history of the Cuban nationals. Full day with Lunch in the city and 1 drink included. Available on Tuesday’s and Saturday’s.

Departure from your Hotel by air conditioned coach to Pinares de Mayari which is a Plateau found over 680 metres above the sea level in the Sierra Cristal.

Taking a 4 x 4 Jeep for an excursion along the beautiful countryside with a visit to el Guayabo waterfall (pictured) there you will continue on to Villa Pinares de Mayari which is situated in La Mensura National Park for lunch with a drink included at the restaurant. Onward then to the La Sabina Trail in Sancti Spiritus and Jardin la Plancha to see the abundence of biodiversity of flora and fauna.

This tour is available Sunday – Monday with a minimum of 2 persons and is recommended to wear comfortable shoes, take money, camera and bottled drinking water.

PRICE = 78 cuc per adult and 56 cuc per child (prices and availability subject to change)

This excursion takes you on a 4 x 4 Jeep around the beautiful countryside of the Holguin Province and is a tour mixed with nature, entertainment and adventure. You will be able to do aquabiking along the shore, visit the place where Christopher Columbus landed in Cuba, ride an ox-carriage, visit a forester’s house, with optional horse riding time. You can experience and take part in common activities of the Cuban Farmer and will have a Cuban lunch with one drink included at Colombo y Bariay restaurant. Suitable and comfortable clothers and shoes are essential as well as a cap, bathing suit, sunglasses and suntan lotion, money, camera and bottled water.

This excusion is available everyday. The round trip transfer between your Hotel and the departure point for the Jeep Adventure could be done by coach/bus – please enquire with the Gaviota representative at your Hotel.

PRICE = 79 cuc per adult and 55 cuc per child (prices and availability subject to change)

Probably our favourite excursion (with UK tour operators is known as Paradise Island excursion) you will be collected early from your Hotel by air conditioned coach for the 1 hour transfer to Port Antilla where you will board a comfortable catamaran (shoes not allowed to be worn on board the catamaran). On board you will find an All Inclusive open bar. You will sea cruise towards the mouth of Nipe Bay one of the biggest bag bays in the World on your way to Cayo Saetia Natural Park considered as an important natural resort and an exotic beautiful island, before the catamaran stops at Cayo Saetia, you will be given the opportunity to snorkel the reef nearby with an abundence of tropical fish (have even seen a lion fish snorkelling here!) and live coral (please do not get close to or touch the coral), the Catamaran will then drop you off on the beach of Cayo Saetia. You will them experience Cuban cuisine and the food is excellent at the beach restaurant served as a buffet and here you can try exotic dishes of Antelope or Water Buffalo (animals are culled to keep the population of exotic animals in balance) with one drink included but you may buy extra drinks if required and not expensive. Preserved in a natural way, the island has 42 square kilometres length and it is widely forested and also shelters a diverse variety of exotic animals originally imported to the island by Fidel Castro himself. Among the exotic animals that roam free and undisturbed are white tail deer, water buffalo, royal turkeys, zebras, antelope, bison, there is even an ostrich and a crocodile (the croc is penned!) You are able to take a Safari by Jeep or truck to explore the island and see the exotic animals (you wont see them from the beach!) where your driver knows the optimum areas to see the animals in their wild habitat and show you the most outstanding points of interest of the island. You can also take a horse ride to explore the island. Both the Safari and the horse riding are payable locally at the island and not included in the price you see below, but the horseriding is only 6 cuc per person and the safari is 9 cuc per person. Not of course forgetting the stunning tropical beaches of pure white sand and the clear turquoise sea which is incredibly warm and is a must for relaxing and unwinding. In the afternoon you will board the catamaran again for a leisurely sail back to Port Antilla where if the conditions are correct the catamaran captain will launch the spinniker (main sail). Transfer back to your hotel in the air conditioned coach. It is recommended to wear swimwear, take a towel, suitable clothing, wear flip flops (not allowed to wear footwear on board the catamaran), take your camera, money and bottle water.

This excursion is available on Wednesday – Thursday – Friday through Gaviota and daily through Thomas Cook

PRICE = 89 cuc per adult and 45 cuc per child – bookable in resort through both Thomas Cook and Gaviota (prices and availability subject to change)

A once in a lifetime experience that you will never forget. A 20 minute transfer to the Natural Park and then transfer to the dolphinarium by boat as the Dolphinarium near Guardalavaca is in the sea. On arrival at the natural aquarium, you will be given a welcome cocktail, then after a briefing you will be able to get up close and personal with these fascinating mamals of the sea with a 20 minute interaction and swim programme. After you have swam with the dolphins, you will have time to watch the Show with the dolphins and sea lions.

Please, if you want to swim with dolphins wear only biodegradable sun tan lotion or none at all. Sun tan lotion is toxic to dolphins and can ruin their eyesight. Please wear suitable and comfortable clothes and bathing suite appropriate for swimming with dolphins, sunglasses are recommended to take with you along with money, towel and camera.

This excursion is available everyday .

PRICE = 108 cuc per adult and 54 cuc per child. PREGNANT WOMEN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SWIM WITH DOLPHINS – Dolphins sense the unborn baby and become defensive of a pregnant woman. bookable through Gaviota in your resort. NOT AVAILABLE WITH THOMAS COOK (prices and availability subject to change)

If you wish to experience just a little more than swimming with the dolphins, why not try this memorable excursion. This excursion starts with a transfer from your Hotel by air conditioned coach/minbus to International Marina Gaviota where you will board a modern catamaran to eplore the Littoral with time for snorkelling included. You with then stop at Naranjo Bay for your boat transfer to the aquarium where you will enjoy 15 minutes of interaction and swimming with the dolphins. Lunch is included at that aquarium with one drink included also.

Suitable clothing, swimwear, sunglasses, money, camera, towel etc are recommended to take with you. Again, please wear only bio-degradable sun tan lotion or none at all.

This excursion is available everyday with a minimum of 25 persons

PRICE = 120 cuc per adult and 60 cuc per child. PREGNANT WOMEN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SWIM WITH DOLPHINS. – bookable in resort through Gaviota. NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH THOMAS COOK (prices and availability subject to change)

First day – From your Hotel you are transferred to Holguin City by air conditioned coach/minibus for a visit to the cigar factory (no pictures allowed) and lunch at a local restaurant with a drink included. After lunch you are transferred to Holguin Airport for a flight to Baracoa. There you will have a city tour and visit El Matachin Museum. Accommodation and dinner is provided at either Castillo Hotel or Porto Santo Hotel. There is also an optional trip to Casa de la Trova for authentic Cuban Music.

Second day – After breakfast, visit Finca Duaba including a visit to the Cacao Trail and rowboat ride on the Duaba River. Lunch is at Rancho Toa with a drink included. Departure to Santiago de Cuba where you will find accommodation and dinner is at Melia Santiago de Cuba. There is also an optional trip to Cafe Santiago Cabaret. If you wish to take in the world famous Tropicana Show there is an extra cost of 30 cuc.

Third day – Start the day after breakfast with a tour of Santiago de Cuba, visit the Revolution Square, the Cemetary Santa Ifigenia and the bar of a rum factory. Then it is off to El Morro Fortress (pictured) where you will have lunch with a drink included at a local restaurant. Panoramic views of the Moncada Garrison together with a walk downtown and free time. After free time visit the the Hotel Casa Granda with a cocktail included. Visit to the Basillica del Cobre church and then you will be ready for your return transfer to you Hotel in or near Guardalavaca.

It is recommended to take suitable clothing with a small bag for change of clothes, money, passport is essential for internal flight to Baracoa along with 25 cuc departure tax from Frank Pais airport, also take suitable walking shoes and camera. Minimum of 6 persons for this tour.

PRICE = 239 cuc per adult and 155 per child – bookable in resort through Gaviota (prices and availability subject to change)

A chance to see Havana and appreciate this vibrant City. The first day is spent in Havana, stepping back in time to the 1940’s seeing old American cars driving by. Spend the second day in old Havana, a UNESCO world heritage site with free time for shopping. On the first evening you have the option of going to enjoy Cuba’s most famous cabaret show, Tropicana! Tropicana Show is ADULT ONLY

See rep for more details of days available – Please note airport tax of 25cuc per person is not included in the price, this will be paid to the rep upon booking. Flight tickets are included in the cost of your excursion.

PRICE = 384 cuc per adult including Tropicana Show. 312 cuc per adult excluding Tropicana and 312 cuc per child – bookable in resort through Thomas Cook (prices and availability subject to change)