Trips

Havana

Bienvenido! Welcome to Cuba. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. A local representative will brief you on what to expect over the course of the trip and after the briefing there is the option to join the group for dinner and an orientation walk. For the first night of your sailing adventure you will be staying at a local family-run guesthouse. Depending on numbers, the group may be split across two guesthouses which are located close to each other. The main guesthouse will be the central meeting point. If you arrive early and have free time, be sure to check out Habana Viejo (Old Havana) and its wonderful architecture. There are plenty of good museums to check out too, like the Museo de la Revolucion and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. Sports fans can go to a baseball game between October and May for a taste of Cuba's number-one ball game. Lining up for a famous Copellia ice cream is also well worth it. As you'll depart from Havana to Cienfuegos early tomorrow morning and only have a short amount of time in Cienfuegos before setting sail, we recommend that you bring all the toiletries and sunscreen that you'll need for the trip from home. Please refer to the packing section for a comprehensive packing list. There may be an opportunity to access the internet on Cayo Largo. You will need to have an an ETESCA card to access the internet and on this trip the only time you will have to purchase one of these cards will be in Havana. For more information on the purchase of ETESCA cards please see money matters.

Cienfuegos

Rise early and head off to Cienfuegos to begin your sailing adventure. After breakfast with your guest house family, your local representative will meet you and transfer you to the main bus station for the 8.20 am bus to Cienfuegos. They will accompany you on the bus to Cienfuegos. The bus journey will take approximately 5 hours and will include a short stop for refreshments and a restroom break. The bus will drop you off close to the yacht club where you will drop your bags and quickly meet your skipper. The skipper will collect your passports to complete the sailing permit process while you head off to a typical Cuban casa for a home cooked lunch with a local family. After lunch you will head back to the yacht club for a trip and safety briefing before setting sail at 3pm for for the Canarreos Archipelago. Please note: The beauty of sailing is that each day is unique and, while we have a destination to reach, if the weather changes or something takes the group’s fancy, we are flexible on the day's itinerary. The itinerary is subject to change and may vary depending on weather and berth availability. Your skipper will make the final call to ensure your safety at all times.

Canarreos Archipelago

Spend the next five days sailing the idyllic islands of Cuba, which are set among the beauty of the Caribbean Sea. Discover hidden beaches with untouched sands, clear blue waters and, if you're lucky, a turtle or two. By day, relax and chill out on the deck of the yacht, taking in the glorious Carribean surrounds; by night, enjoy island-style barbeques and unwind with new friends beneath the stars. Some of the spots you might visit over the coming days are: Cayo Largo del Sur The second-largest of the islands in the Canarreos Archipelago, home to some of the best beaches in the region. One stretch of beach is 13 km of the cleanest, whitest sand. The island is also home to nesting sites of loggerhead and green turtles. For those that way inclined, nudism is tolerated on certain beaches. Cayeria los Majaes A small group of beautiful islands with surrounding sand banks and shallow pools, excellent for snorkelling. The pools are less than half a metre deep, and with a sea temperature of around 30°C they are perfect for lazing around in. Look out for a large colony of iguanas on the eastern shore of the western pool. Cayo Alcatraz Pristine beaches of white sand where you can spot stingrays and manta rays. If you are not fond of snorkelling in deeper waters, you will find these more shallow waters a dream. Cayo Rico Arguably the perfect beach, with brilliant waters, soft white sand and a bar that serves up a range of cocktails. There are many umbrellas under which to enjoy a drink. There are also friendly resident iguanas here. Cayo Estopa An uninhabited island with a deep water channel. This is the perfect place to throw out a line and catch the night's dinner. Cayo Rossario Also uninhabited by people, this island teems with sea life – moray eels, groupers, barracudas, lobsters and the odd reef shark to name a few. The nearby reef is great for snorkelling. Cayo Cantiles Known as 'Monkey Island', Cayo Cantiles is uninhabited, with the exception of a small number of workers who tend to a monkey sanctuary. This island too is home to iguanas, and a funny rodent-like animal called a jutia.

Canarreos Archipelago - Cienfuegos

Your sailing adventure is coming to an end as we sail back towards Cienfuegos. Tonight there's the option of having dinner on board and then heading to a bar to have one last drink with your fellow travellers. You might also like to check out the live music scene later, or take to a dance floor for some salsa. Whatever the choice nothing will take away from the most remarkable week of sailing around the islands of the Canarreos Archipelago!

Cienfuegos - Havana

It's with heavy hearts we enjoy one final breakfast together on board the yacht before it's time to say goodbye to life at sea and head back to Havana. The bus pick up point is a hotel a short walk [550 metres] from the yacht club. You will need to make sure you are there no later than 10.15am for a 10.30am departure. There will be a representative from the bus company waiting in the foyer of the hotel who will check you off the passenger manifest before you board. The return bus journey will be unaccompanied and should have you back in Havana at 3.30pm. The trip finishes on arrival in central Cuba at the NH Parque Hotel. If you are planning on flying out on the last day please do not book a flight out before 8pm to take into account any delays that may occur. If you wish to book additional nights in Havana pre or post tour, or stay on in Cienfuegos please let us know at the time of booking so we can make the appropriate arrangements. Adiós y esperamos verte de nuevo.