Dive & Revive Cuba
8 Days & 7 Nights in Cuba
Starting at
US$3520
Cuba is home to over one-third of the coral reefs in the Caribbean basin, and most of it is still pristine although not indestructible. Cuba’s coral conservation and restoration programs are integral to the conservation and preservations of her reefs, nearly unscathed by large-scale recreational diving like at more popular tourist destinations, but still in danger. During your visit to Cuba, you will visit three distinctly different and equally important areas, where conservation and preservation of these delicate ecosystems is a priority and a way of life.
Mar 9 - Mar 16
US$3520
Sold Out
May 25 - Jun 1
US$3370
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Itinerary
- Arrive to either Juan Gualberto Gomez in Varadero or Jose Marti International Airport in Havana (Panoramic drive through the Cuban countryside)
- Meet your driver upon exiting airport terminal for transfer to the City of Cienfuegos (2h 45min from Varadero/3h 10 min from Havana)
- Arrive for check-in at Villas del Jagua by Melia Hotels and enjoy welcome refreshments
- Meet your Cuba Plus Travel tour manager and guide Welcome dinner at Villa Lagarto, a tropical paradise on the Bay of Cienfuegos. This lovely and inviting familyowned and farm-to-table restaurant offers the freshest foods from the owner’s farm, as well as fresh caught local fish and seafood. You will be served by the owner, Maylin, who supervises every dish that leaves the kitchen.
- If desired, enjoy a night-time tour of Cienfuegos’ historic city center and learn the history of this unique city and how the French influenced its development
- Nightlife & entertainment recommendations will be made
- Arrive to either Juan Gualberto Gomez in Varadero or Jose Marti International Airport in Havana (Panoramic drive through the Cuban countryside)
- Meet your driver upon exiting airport terminal for transfer to the City of Cienfuegos (2h 45min from Varadero/3h 10 min from Havana)
- Arrive for check-in at Villas del Jagua by Melia Hotels and enjoy welcome refreshments
- Meet your Cuba Plus Travel tour manager and guide Welcome dinner at Villa Lagarto, a tropical paradise on the Bay of Cienfuegos. This lovely and inviting familyowned and farm-to-table restaurant offers the freshest foods from the owner’s farm, as well as fresh caught local fish and seafood. You will be served by the owner, Maylin, who supervises every dish that leaves the kitchen.
- If desired, enjoy a night-time tour of Cienfuegos’ historic city center and learn the history of this unique city and how the French influenced its development
- Nightlife & entertainment recommendations will be made
- 08:00 Breakfast at the hotel
- Transfer to the Faro Luna Dive Center for a general briefing and your first dive
- First Dive at Faro Luna Dive Center, an international center for the identification of causes and prevention of bleaching of the coral reefs. You will learn about how the dive center sinks ships to create artificial reefs and multiply the fish population which has grown 10-fold in the past few years by limiting fishing, carefully controlling the number of people diving and engaging in a continuous scientific effort with marine biologists from all over the world.
- Lunch at Rancho Cristal, a family-owned waterside restaurant with a spectacular view of the Bay of Cienfuegos
- Visit El Nicho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located inside the Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes (UNESCO), a forested park that extends across the Sierra Escambray mountain range in central Cuba. Actually 5 waterfalls, El Nicho is located on the Río Hanabamilla and the protected zone that surronds it. View the falls, swim in one of two natural pools and navigate a couple of short, steep but well-defined trails that end at a mirador (lookout point) offering views over lush mountains and the distant Embalse Hanabanilla.
- Dinner on your own; prepare for early departure to Trinidad
- 08:00 Breakfast at the hotel
- Transfer to Trinidad (1 hr drive), an entire town declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can still almost sense the presence of 17th century Spanish garrisons and pirates in a place nearly frozen in time where the architecture dates back to the Spanish conquest during the 16th century. This is one of the few places in Cuba that has nearly no 20th century construction and home to excellent restaurants and a lively music scene almost every night.
- Check-in to Mystique Trinidad Hotel
- Second Dive from Playa Ancon Dive Center, located at the end of the Ancon Peninsula, a 4 km stretch of white sand beach just 20 minutes outside Trinidad. There are over 30 dive sites off of Ancon, including Cayo Blanco de Casilda, a small cay surrounded by pristine coral reef, a 45 minute boat ride from the dive center.
- Lunch on the beach at Playa Ancon in the “ranchon” restaurant
- After lunch, return to town to freshen up and enjoy an early evening strolling tour of the historic city center and enjoy shopping for unique hand-made clothing and crafts typical to Trinidad
- Visit La Canchanchara for a traditional cocktail of the same name that you will also learn to prepare Dinner at La Esquina 373, a family-owned restaurant that offers delicious home-style Cuban food and excellent service
- 08:00 Breakfast at the hotel
- Third Dive from Playa Ancon Dive Center
- Visit family-owned working ranch, Finca La Lima, and enjoy a day in the country. Meet the ranchers, milk a goat and a cow, make cheese, roast and ground your own coffee while interacting with the locals.
- Hike or horseback along the river to the Finca’s private natural spring and small waterfall
- Enjoy a traditional Cuban country lunch raised, grown, and prepared by your hosts on the ranch-style terrace overlooking nature at its best
- Return to the hotel
- Dinner at El Secreto and meet owner Carlos Mata, Cuba’s night painter, at this private restaurant set in the family s antiques gallery
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Early departure for the Topes de Collates National Park in the nearby Escambrav Mountain range, another of Cuba’s magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This very unique ecosystem covers nearlv 31. 000 acres The giant 40 meter tall pines, eucalyptus, mahogany and magnolia, coupled with ferns, orchids and lichens make for a wondrous tropical forest right in the middle of Cuba. This is a nature lover’s paradise amidst the spectacular scenery. with hiking trails and waterfalls and breathtaking scenery and views
- Stop at the Valley of the sugar Mills. another of the area’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites and learn about the slave trade in Cuba and the wealth derived by the land barons through the 19th Century. Hike either the Vegas Grandes or Caburni trails that lead to the waterfall and natural pool of the same names
- Lunch at a traditional “ranchon” restaurant in the mountains
- Return to the hotel
- Evening on your own to stroll and enjoy the lovely town of Trinidad and live Cuban music around every corner; prepare for earl departure to the Zapata swamp National Park!
- 07:30 Breakfast at the hotel
- Depart for Zapata Swamp National Park (1.5h drive)
- For the scuba divers, Punta Perdiz Dive Center offers spectacularly clear water, abundant and diverse life and some of the most spectacular wall dives in the Americas
- An option if you aren’t diving is a nature hike to various natural pools that are among the most beautiful attractions in the national park
- Lunch at Punta Perdiz Restaurant
- Visit Cuba’s largest crocodile breeding facility located in the Tesoro Lagoon in Zapata Swamp. This is Cuba’s largest crocodile farm that breeds, protects and releases 500 crocs per year back into the national park to reproduce and flourish. Take a speedboat from the town of Guamá.
- Depart for Varadero, Cuba’s most famous beach resort town
- Check-in to Grand Aston Varadero Beach Resort
- Dinner at the hotel at one of the three specialized restaurants or the splendid buffet
- 08:00 Breakfast presentation by your CPT tour manager, an experienced scuba diver and conservationist, on coral and coral reefs, their impact on the ecosystem, coral bleaching, coral planting, and an introduction to the Coral Planting Program
- Meet your Playa Coral Dive Center dive instructor and marine biologist team
- Transfer to Playa Coral to adopt your coral and become a coral gardener in Cuba
- After a briefing on scuba diving, depending on your level, you will receive a number with which to identify your adopted coral and to help keep track and give you updates on the progress
- Tanks on and to the water!
- Collected from a living bank, you will move your coral fragment and place it on the trees, and after reaching 20 to 30 cm, they are planted directly into the substrate.
- If desired, visit the nearby Laguna de Maya Nature Reserve, one of Cuba’s 250 Marine Protected Areas and enjoy a boat ride through the wildlife refuge while learning about its unique flora and fauna, and delicate ecosystem
- Lunch at the resort
- Time at leisure to enjoy Varadero attractions (paddle boats at Josone Park, jet skis, watch a beautiful sunset on the beach and more)
- Farewell dinner at Varadero 60, one of the first private restaurants in the beach resort town, with excellent international cuisine and live music
- Nightlife recommendations will be provided
- Breakfast at resort at leisure
- 11:00 Check-out from room and enjoy the resort until departure to the airport, depending on your schedule
Included in price
- Airport transfers from Varadero or Havana airports to starting city
- Ground transportation for entire adventure
- Professional guides (certified divers) & drivers
- 2 nights at Villas del Jagua by Melia in Cienfuegos
- 3 nights at the Mystique Trinidad Hotel
- 2 nights at the Grand Aston Varadero Beach Resort (all inclusive)
- 7 breakfasts
- 6 lunches
- 7 dinners
- All programmed scuba diving immersions
- Scuba diving and coral gardening equipment & coral fragment
- Dive instructors & marine biologists
- Trip management in Cuba
- All adventures and experiences as described in itinerary
Not Included in price
- Airfare to Havana or Varadero from country of origin
- Cuban Visa (purchased from airline providing flight to Cuba)
- Alcoholic beverages (outside of all-inclusive resort)
- Personal purchases
- Experiences during “Time at Leisure”
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant personnel
- Anything not included in “What’s Included”
Mar 9 - Mar 16
Sold Out
May 25 - Jun 1
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Adventure
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