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Cuba
CUBA - Pronounced Kuba - visit this facinating country for 17 days in late January 2008.
Being so
near the coast of Florida in the U.S. and still a thorn in the side of the U.S. conscience it is intended to visit this facinating country while it's leader Fidel Castro still lives. His brother Raoul rules at the moment - in lieu of Fidel's illness.
"Cuba is a beautiful country and I would suggest it to some people but not all. It seems more suitable for people who aren't really going on a trip to relax but to discover something"
The Buena Vista social club in Havana closed in 1948.
An enriching film - called "The Buena Vista social club"
is available on DVD and is a great intro into Cuba, its music and its way of life.
TOUR COST - is ? 2695.00 per person sharing - ex Dublin or Cork, Ireland. Ex Havana - Cuba - ? 1745.00.
The cost - per person sharing - includes
<> 17 overnight stays 3 or 4* hotels
<> daily breakfast
<> 13 x lunch, 12 x dinner (ev. meal)
<> qualified, bi-lingual tour guide
<> bike hire - 21 speed hybrid bike - equipped
<> transfers in airconditioned bus
<> Internal air transfer - Havana - Santiago de Cuba
<> transport of bicycles & luggage
<> tourist cards
<> accompanying bus during entire trip!
<> Single supplement - limited - is 250.00
<> REDUCTION - of ??75.00 if you have been on
a previous "Rothar cycle your" (ex Ireland only)
<> Reduction - of ?45 if you live more than 80 m - 50 km from Dublin (ex Ireland only)
Exclusions - Travel insurance - manditory - see booking form
Some entrance fees. Personal spending money, VISA FEE 30 euro - see under. EXIT TAX 25 c.c.u's - see under
PASSPORTS have to be valid for at least six months after the departure date from Cuba.
A LOCAL TAX imposed on all purchases. It is 15%
TIPPING - is expected in Cuba
WEATHER - in JANUARY expect 24 - 25 degrees C
WATER TEMPERATURE - 22 degrees C. on northern coast. 17 degrees C.on southern coast
MILAGE - Daily distance - can be expanded (or reduced !) - as a bus is at your disposal throughout the tour
VISA REQUIREMENTS
CUBA - A visa is required - the cost of whch is ? 30.00. You will need to send on - with your booking form - the photograph page of your passport. Either scan this - and send it as a p.d.f. - or photocopy it and send it on with your deposit and booking form.
IMMUNISATION GUIDELINES
DIPHTHERIA - TETANUS BOOSTER, TYPHOID, HEPATITIS A
ADVICE IS BASED ON COUNTRIES TO BE VISITED, NOT INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND ASSUMES ROUTINE IRL. CHILDHOOD IMMUNISATION HAS BEEN GIVEN. SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE.
CUBAN CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS
US DOLLARS CASH, TRAVELLERS CHEQUES AND CREDIT CARDS DRAWN ON US BANKS ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTED IN CUBA. EURO AND STERLING TRAVELLERS CHEQUES DRAWN ON IRL/ UK BANKS ARE ACCEPTED AT CUBAN BANKS AND BUREAU DE CHANGE.
EXIT TAX:
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE 25 CONVERTIBLE PESOS (CCUS) PER PERSON FOR PAYMENT OF DEPARTURE TAX AT THE AIRPORT. $US WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
MONEY: With regard to the money situation in Cuba, 10 euro = approx. 11 C.C.U?s. The Cuban Convertable Peso (C.C.U.) can only be obtained in Cuba. You cannot get this currency outside of Cuba. You should take either Euro, British Pounds or Canadian Dollars and these are then exchanged for local curreny without any penalty or tax being imposed on the conversion. Any Pesos (C.C.U?s) left at the end of the trip can be changed back to euro, as it is illegal to take the currency out of the country. The convertable peso has the same exchange as the U.S. dollar (another Cuban quirke) The USD - cash - is not strictly legal in Cuba. American Express cards credit cards are NOT acceptable in Cuba.
Thursday January 24th
Arrive CORK airport at 05.00 H for a 06.30 dept. to Amsterdam.
Arrive 09.05 H. Arrive DUBLIN airport at 04.30 H for a 06.00 H dept. to Amsterdam - arrive 08.45 H.
Depart 12.15 on Martinair to arrive Havana 17.00 H.
- welcome by the guide. Transfer by bus to the hotel (hotel Park View or similar with B+B)
Friday January 25th
HAVANA - SANTIAGO DE CUBA.
Breakfast at the hotel, after that transfer to the airport at 09:00 hrs. by bus for the clients and the bikes, flight to Santiago de Cuba
7L 882 at 11:30 hrs - 1H 40 m. Arrival in Santiago, transfer to the hotel Las Americas or San Juan. Evening dinner and free time.
Saturday January 26th
SANTIAGO DE CUBA.
Breakfast at the hotel, after that departure with the bikes to the city center (the bus will be with the group for the whole time). The tour includes interest places, e.g. santuario de la Virgen del cobre, La Fortaleza de San Pedro, Cuartel Moncada, parque Cespedes etc. The entrance fees - nominal- are not included in the price. Lunch box supplied by the hotel.
Sunday January 27th
SANTIAGO DE CUBA ? CRUCE DE LOS BA?OS.
Breakfast at the hotel, after that departure to the small town Palma Soriano with the bikes (27 kms). Short tour in the community, after that departure with the bikes to Contramaestre (28 kms) and after that to the hotel Salt?n (29 kms). Lunch box made by the hotel. Arrival at the hotel Salt?n, accomodation over there. Evening dinner and free time. ( 84km)
Monday January 28th
SIERRA MAESTRA.
Breakfast at the hotel, transfer for the area of the Sierra Maestre.
Optional - visit of the Tercer Frente Oriental. Lunch at the waterfall, after that free time, return to the hotel. Dinner and free time.
(48 km.)
Tuesday January 29th
SIERRA MAESTRA.
Breakfast at the hotel - check out. cycle with the bike to the small town de Baire (40 kms), which is an historic place since 1895, short tour over there. Drive to the entronque del Yarey (4 kms), visit of the Villa Yarey (5 kms). Stop for lunch box.
Optional visit of the Loma del Yarey and the waterfall. Short break and after that continuation of the bike tour to the small town Jaguani (16 kms) up to the historic city from Bayamo (26 kms). Arrival at the hotel Royalton or Sierra Maestra, accomodation there. Dinner and free time. ( 91 km)
Wednesday January 30th
SIERRA MAESTRA - LAS TUNAS.
Breakfast at the hotel, bike tour to the historic center of Bayamo and the boulevard. Optional visit to the Casa de la Trova and the museum from Carlos Manuel de Cespedes (the entrance fees - nominal - are not included). Lunch box for the way. Bike tour (always with the bus for the group) to the city las Tunas (82 kms). Some parts of the way the group will drive with the bus (30-40 kms) ( 82 km - or less - see above)
Arrival at the city Las Tunas, transfer to the hotel Las Tunas, accomodation there. Dinner and free time for the evening.
Thursday January 31st
LAS TUNAS - FINCA BEL?N.
Breakfast at the hotel, bike tour to the Finca Najasa across the town Sibanicu (55 kms). Stop for the lunch box. After that tour to Santa Cruz across the small town Najasa (33 kms.) Transfer by bus from Najasa to the Finca Bel?n. Arrival and accomodation there. Free time and dinner with a rural party. ( 88 km.)
Friday February 1st
CIEGO DE AVILA.
Breakfast at the hotel. Bike tour to the city of Camag?ey (50 kms), over there panoramic city tour with the bikes. Lunch at the Campana de Toledo. Tour to the town Florida (40 kms.) Continuance of the tour by bus to the city Ciego de Avila, accomodation in the hotel Ciego de Avila. Dinner and free time.
(90 km)
Saturday February 2nd
CAYO COCO (AI).
Breakfast at the hotel and departure by bus to Mor?n, from there bike tour to Cayo Coco (70 kms.) Arrival in Cayo Coco, check in at the hotel and lunch.
Free time to enjoy the beach. Optional to start a tour with the bike in the area where they want to go to. Dinner at the hotel and free time. ( 70 km - can be extended)
Sunday February 3rd
CAYO COCO.
Free day - to sit around, to relax, to go to mass, to swim, to stay in bed - but do not do this - go out and mingle with the locals - improve your Spanish..........
Monday February 4th
CAYO COCO ? HOTEL RANCHO HATUEY.
Breakfast at the hotel, early check out and departure by bus to the city Mor?n. From there continuating by bike up to Florencia (35 kms), tour at the area.
After that departure to Cabaiguan (10 kms.) and from there to Santi Spiritus (20 kms). City tour in Santi Spiritus, time for the lunch box. Departure by bus to the Hotel Rancho Hatuey. Check in and accomodation, dinner and free time. ( 65 km)
Tuesday February 5th
HOTEL RANCHO ? TRINIDAD.
Breakfast at the hotel, departure by bike to the city of Trinidad, stop in Banao at 20 kms from Santi Spiritus. From there by bus to the ecological station from Jarico.
Guided tour at the ecological place.
Departure by mule to the biological station de la Sabina, through the mountains
Guam Haya through the river Banao. The tour by mule takes about 4 kms., - 2 kms. By foot. Arrival at la Sabina, possibility to enjoy an unique landscape.
Lunch at the ecological station, return by mule and by foot to Jarico. Transfer by bus to the small town Banao, after that transfer to Trinidad. Check in at the hotel Costa Sur, accomodation. Dinner and free time. (20 km + Walking + mule ride)
Wednesday February 6th
TRINIDAD AREA.
Breakfast at the hotel, departure by bike from Trinidad, excursion to the Villa de los Ingenios and visit of the Torre Manaca Iznaga. Free time for the lunch box, after that return to the hotel. Free time at the beach. Dinner at the hotel for the evening. (30 km, easy day)
Thursday February 7th
TRINIDAD - CIENFUEGOS.
Breakfast at the hotel, after that departure by bike to Cienfuegos (81 kms). Stop for the lunch box. Arrival at the hotel Faro de Luna/Rancho Luna. Check in and accomodation. For the evening dinner and free time. ( 81 km)
Friday February 8th
CIENFUEGOS - HAVANA. Train ride - a "mix it time" with the locals.
Breakfast at the hotel, free time until check out. Depending of the timetable of the train, the bus will bring the clients to the train station in Cienfuegos, return to Havana by train (the train ticket is included in the price).
Arrival in Havana, transfer to the hotel Park View. Check in and free time for a walk in Habana Vieja.
Saturday February 9th
HAVANA.
Breakfast at the hotel, after that departure by bike to the city centre across the botanic garden Nacional (30 kms), tour by bike through the park.
Lunch in the restaurant Bamb?. After that continue the tour to Habana vieja, panoramic views at the Malecon, Calle Paseo, Plaza de la revolucion by bike. Return to hotel, free time.
Sunday February 10th
HAVANA.
Breakfast at the hotel, check out. Make the most of this last day in Cuba because at 17.00 H we must depart to Havana airport for a 19.05 H. Martinair departure for Amsterdam.
Monday February 11th
Arrive Amsterdam 09.00 H.
Some time to shop in Schipol airport before departing.
Depart for Dublin at 13.10 H
Arrive Dublin 13.45 H. Adios - goodbye - slan abhaile
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