Active Holiday in Cuba — Hike, Snorkel, and Cycle

Included:

• • An experienced local guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 10-day active Cuba tour (hiking, cycling, snorkeling throughout)
  • Accommodation for 9 nights
    • 8 nights of accommodation in casas particulares (twin-shared, air-conditioned rooms with an ensuite bathroom)
    • 1 night camping in tents
  • Some meals — all breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
  • Transportation during the tour — private air-conditioned minibus, taxi, jeep, open-sided truck
  • Activities as in the itinerary (half-day cycling excursion in Vinales, 2-day trek in Sierra Escambray Mountains, visit to Che Guevara Memorial)
  • Airport pick-up

Add-ons:

• • Single occupancy — $250, available at checkout

Not included:

• • Flights to Cuba
  • Airport drop-off at the end of the tour
  • Accommodation prior to and after the tour — guides can arrange this, just let us know in advance
  • Drinks and some meals
  • Optional activities, day-tours, and excursions
  • Visa and passport fees
  • Travel medical insurance — required
  • Guide gratuities — optional

This Cuba active tour is beginner-friendly, requiring a basic level of fitness! You can check out day-by-day activities in the itinerary, but in general, you can expect a half-day cycling excursion, a 2-day trek in the Sierra Escambray Mountains, and some snorkeling.

There will be more optional activities as well, such as scuba diving, hiking, ziplining, horseback riding, rock climbing, learning to salsa, and more!

The most strenuous thing on this tour is hiking for 6 miles (10 km) for 2 days in a row and a half-day cycling tour. Still, if you’re not up for it, your guides can always arrange some other activities for you—or simply let you chill in the guesthouses or at the beach. Other than that, it’s up to you how you want to spend your free time. You always have the option to tailor this tour to your expectations and wishes.

It can get very hot and humid in Cuba in the summer months of June through August, when lightweight clothing is recommended. In the winter months, it can get colder, particularly in the evenings. Although the temperatures generally don’t get very low in Cuba, the cold can be hard to escape from due to the humidity levels and the fact that Cuba houses aren’t set up for cold weather. During the day, the climate in Cuba is hot and tropical.

Clothing:

• • Fleece top or similar
  • T-shirts
  • Shorts
  • Pair of long trousers
  • Sandals and footwear for walking
  • Water shoes — optional
  • Swimwear
  • Small towel and swimwear
  • Sun hat

Personal items:

• • Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
  • Toiletries (sunscreen, soap, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
  • Sunglasses
  • First-aid kit (lip salve, aspirin, band-aids, antihistamine, Imodium or similar)
  • Binoculars — optional
  • Money belt — optional
  • Camera — optional (but recommended)

It’s best to bring a backpack, a duffel bag, or a small travel case with wheels. Our advice is to pack as lightly as possible since you’ll normally have to carry your own luggage from the minibus to the accommodation. It’s possible to leave some luggage in Havana, just ask your guide to help you arrange it—it only costs around 5 euros per week.

Group sizes and pricing

• • For this active Cuba tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 14:1.
  • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 14 participants.
  • The standard price is based on twin-share rooms. Single occupancy can be arranged at an additional fee—you can add it to your booking at checkout.
  • Solo travelers can share a room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee.

Active Cuba tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the active Cuba tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

E-visa

Cuba has replaced its old pink and green paper visas with a new e-visa system.  

If you already have a paper visa (tourist card), it’s valid until June 30, 2025. Starting in 2025, all visitors—including those from visa-exempt countries like China and Russia—need an e-visa to enter Cuba. The e-visa is valid for 90 days (renewable once for another 90), allows a single entry, and expires one year after issue. It can be extended once in Cuba for a small fee (your guides can assist), allowing you to stay up to 180 days on a single visit.

Apply online through the Cuban government website or via resellers like EASY TOURIST CARD. And for U.S. citizens or travelers coming from the U.S., check out CUBA VISA SERVICES.  Your e-visa will be emailed to you. All this applies to most foreigners, but always check with your local consulate for specific entry requirements.

The D’Viajeros Customs & Immigration Form

This is required for all travelers to Cuba. When you receive your e-visa email, you’ll also get a link to the mandatory D’Viajeros online customs and immigration form. It must be completed no more than 7 days before your arrival date to validate your e-visa.

This tour and its itinerary comply with US travel regulations and are legal for both US and non-US citizens. No special OFAC permission is needed. Your guides will provide you with an affidavit to sign as proof of legal travel.

When booking flights, you’ll need to select a permitted travel category—choose “Support for the Cuban People”. Once you get to Cuba and join this tour, all you’ll have to do is use private businesses and interact with locals. Here’s a summary of the 5 requirements:

• • Use privately-owned businesses (e.g. private restaurants, private shops, private taxis, etc.)
  • Stay in privately-owned accommodation—these are the casas particulares you’ll be staying at.
  • Maintain a full schedule of meaningful interactions for 6-8 hours a day.
    “”Enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities and that result in meaningful interactions with individuals in Cuba.”
    Here are some suggestions that are considered acceptable:
    • Supporting local artists by visiting galleries and/or purchasing art
    • Conversing with your hosts at casa particular
    • Volunteering
    • Taking lessons (dance, language, music, sport…)
    • Shopping in privately-owned businesses
    • Eating at privately-owned restaurants
    • Taking guided tours
  • Avoid transactions with Cuban Government entities on this Prohibited List. The most important thing is to avoid the hotels and shops listed. For example, most 5-star hotels are prohibited so you wouldn’t want to make purchases there.
  • Document your activities and transactions in a ledger or travel journal and maintain the records and receipts for 5 years.

To get to your Cuba adventure, fly into Havana Airport (HAV). Airport shuttle to Havana is included, even if you arrive in Cuba prior to Day 1 of the tour, as long as you arrange your pre-tour accommodation through your guides. At 7pm, the guide will meet with those who have already arrived and go for an optional dinner.

Be sure to review all visa and entry requirements carefully. A detailed breakdown can be found above.

The local currency is the Cuban Peso (CUP), but exchanging money isn’t necessary—USD and EUR cash are widely accepted (bring small bills, no coins).

Avoid official exchange offices due to poor rates—ask your guide or guesthouse for help if needed. Bring enough USD or EUR cash for your entire stay. Credit cards are unreliable in Cuba, and US-issued cards won’t work at all. Most local businesses only accept cash.

An estimated amount of €320 to €460 EUR ($350 to $500 USD) is recommended for local expenses during this active Cuba tour, including food, drinks, and optional activities, but excluding souvenirs. Meal costs can vary significantly, particularly in Havana, depending on the restaurant chosen.

Medical and travel protection is mandatory. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!