4 weeks in Cuba - what do you think of this route?
Replies: 15 - Last Post: Jul 19, 2012 9:07 AM Last Post By: Marcel601
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4 weeks in Cuba - what do you think of this route?
Hello,I'm going to spend nearly 4 weeks in Cuba in July and August with 4 friends as bagpackers. I was there for the first time in 2009 and now this country makes me return.
In my first trip I only saw the western provinces until Santa Clara. Now we're arriving at Havana in July 20th and leaving at Holguín in August 15th.
Altough we'll enjoy the country spontaneous and with no pressure, we made a plan how our trip could possible be. This plan is with exact dates, so we saw how much time we could spend at each city and how many we'll be able to visit:
20.- 22.07 Havanna
23.07 Viñales (Soroa)
25.- 26.07 Havanna
27.07 Matanzas
28.07 Santa Clara
30.07 Trinidad (La Boca)
01.08 Camagüey
03.07 Bayamo (La Plata)
06.08 Santiago de Cuba
09.08 Baracoa
13.08 Holguín (Cayo Saetía)
What do you think about that?
( In the brackets are possible daytrips from that locations )
Edited by: Marcel601
Edited by: Marcel601
2
A few brief comments.Is doable..
Soroa is on way to Vinales.
Travelling Vinales to Trinidad direct (or stopping at SClara, Cienfuegos) more efficient than going via Havana. But if you are flying out of Cuba from Holguin then you will need more days in Havana so why not just spend more time there before heading west to Vinales.
Skip Matanzas unless going there for a specific reason.
Santa Clara if going for Che stuff can be done in a few hours - better to stay overnight(s) at Cienfuegos or go straight to Trinidad from there.
Maybe more time in/around Trinidad - Playa Ancon for beach?
How are you getting from Holguin to Cayo Saetia? If I have understood correctly that you are flying out from Holguin on 15th then leaving for Cayo Saetia on 13th may be a tad tight.
And even after you have 'settled' on stopping points DO still retain the option to stay longer/shorter in particular places as the mood takes you.
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Realize that any trip from one place to another ends up consuming at least 1/2 day. That's counting from when you leave for the bus station, ride the bus, and find where ever you are staying. And that 1/2 day too often is in the middle of the day, leaving you with only some hours before departure and some hours after arrival.Are you sure you only want 5 days for Havana? And several of those are arrival / departure days. You have been so you know it is diverse and big. Also the capital. I would suggest a week. I have spent at least a week there for 9 or 10 trips and still have things there I have not gotten to do.
Leave a 4-5 day buffer in your tentative plans. Plan on an extended stay somewhere besides Havana. You will discover that place and time while you are there. Stay where ever it turns out to be, take a break from traveling and explore the local culture and people in more detail. You will find days 4-5-6 in one place to be more rewarding than days 1-3 in someplace new.
Always remember that you have the ultimate in flexibility in your plans. While it is good to have a rough idea as you do, have no hesitancy about making last minute adjustments in your itinerary.
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Thanks for your answers! I know that travelling in Cuba soaks up a lot of time, especially b< train or camion. Especially in the end of our trip we'll have a bit more flexibility with time and are also able to move a few days around, so that we can choose in one location whether to travel to the next one or to stay for another night.We're visiting Matanzas because we'll meet there a good friend - otherwise I wouldn't go there.
And your're totally right: Our plan is maybe a bit too tight. So my idea was to skip Camagüey or stay there only for the night and use instead more time for any other city in the west, e.g. Trinidad, Viñales, Havana. What do you think?
But the advantage of our plan is that there are only short distances to travel per day because we'll have "bridge-cities". So we won't travel more than 300 kilometers from one city to another, mostly about 200km.
Our idea of being in Havana - Viñales and then again in Havana is because of July 26. Altough the main celebration will be held in Guantánamo this year, I think there will be even then more action in Havana than in Viñales. What is your experience - or do you have an better idea?
Thanks a lot for your responds!
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Marcel:You are counting distances in kilometers. I would “count” them in time to spend to connect from one site to the other as per the type of transportation you plan to use; and time to spend at each location to enjoy and learn not only to “see”.
Soroa-Viñales in 48 hours. I wonder which mean of transportation you will use to leave Havana, stop in Soroa, enjoy the area fully and then continue to Viñales eventually to fully make it a vacation there as well.
Are you going to rent a car? I doubt it because right now there are NO CARS to rent in Havana unless you pay a hefty bribe “on the side” to a clerk (re: and I mean seriously high).
A factor you must consider: we are right now in summer break. All means of transportations are used by us to commute (and that includes Viazul). Many locals on the road . Consequently prices of taxis (official and private) are raised a bit.
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Soroa is only an option - probably we won't have time for it.I think we'll mainly travel by train, hitchhiking on trucks and cars as well as taxis.
Maybe we'll also use the Viazul-Busses. But because they're boring, we'll try to avoid them a bit.
Don't you think that's enough time for all if we use some of the time we spend in the east?
8
+I think we'll mainly travel by train, hitchhiking on trucks and cars as well as taxis.Maybe we'll also use the Viazul-Busses. But because they're boring, we'll try to avoid them a bit.
Don't you think that's enough time for all if we use some of the time we spend in the east? +
Given your preferred mode of transport the answer is NO. And I don't know what you achieve if you are spending a lot of time virtually very day travelling (or attempting to if using trains/hitchhiking!).
9
So, how can we go best around? Is there a bus line from Havana to Viñales which maybe stops at Soroa? Or which city should we cancel to stay all in all longer in the rest?And another question: In October 21th there will be elections in Cuba. Will there be the billboards and the lists of the candidates showed till August 15?
Edited by: Marcel601
10
Marcel said: I think we'll mainly travel by train, hitchhiking on trucks and cars as well as taxis.I have traveled as Cubans do but only for the experience, not to actually get from one place to another. Remember that you will be competing for space with a never ending stream of Cuban people who consider it worthwhile to spend an extra 6 hours to save a dollar. Spend the money and ride the Viazul bus
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Bob # 10: "...Spend the money and ride the Viazul bus .."Be ready for issues with Viazul as well. Today there were no last minute tickets to go anywhere to the East of Havana. So the sooner you book for summer, the better.
No Bus line from Havana to Viñales that will take you to Soroa. Buses use highway. Soroa is 6 k from Autopista.
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To get fast from one place to another in Cuba is not possible. Tranquilo.ADVERTISEMENT
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