Vinales & Cayo Levisa in 4 days

Replies: 3 - Last Post: Nov 27, 2012 4:47 PM Last Post By: Georgecom

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Nov 19, 2012 8:37 AM
Posts: 19

Vinales & Cayo Levisa in 4 days

Hi everyone,

Im off to Cuba in March for three weeks and need help finalising the last part of my trip, so Im calling on your expertise :-)

My friends and I would like to visit Vinales and Cayo Levisa for a few days before flying home. If possible we'd like to spend at least 2 days in Vinales and at least 1 night on Cayo Levisa (is this reasonable for these places?).

We leave our group on a Sunday morning and dont need to be back at Havana Airport until Thursday morning, 4 days later, as we fly out at 4pm... Are we being over ambitious or is this doable?? It would be nice to have some chill out time before heading home.

Does anyone have suggestions on the easiest/fastest way to visit these places, without costing a fortune?? I know the public bus goes to Vinales (around 3-4hrs), but it seems getting to Cayo Levisa from Vinales is a little harder, as I think the boat only leaves at 10am in the mornings and getting from Vinales to the boat isnt possible by public transport??

How practical is it to get Taxis??

As our flights depart around 4pm on the Thursday, would we be better off heading back to Havana the previous night, just in case of delays?? This would then only leave us with Sunday to Wednesday night to do the things we want.

Has anyone stayed at some nice places at these destinations??

Thanks in advance for your help and advice, as always!!!

AL

ryannm

Nov 19, 2012 11:41 AM
Posts: 113

There is only one place to stay on Cayo Levisa, about 40 nice bungalows in a small, all-inclusive resort- very nice, low-key and laid back. We enjoyed the very relaxing environment; scuba, swimming, beach-time. Getting there from Vinales was easy via Viazul- they run a bus directly to the landing where you take the ferry to the cayo. But ferry service is very limited- I think maybe once in the morning and once in the afternoon (5pm?). We took the bus from Vinales in the afternoon, arriving at the ferry a little before it departed to the island. Book ahead on Cayo Levisa, because being so small it can easily get full at certain times of the year. I would think a minimum of 2 nights would be necessary, so you have at least one full day on the beach and in the water. Book a taxi ahead of time (the resort can do that for you) to be waiting for you at the ferry to take you to Havana, about a 2.5 hr ride. Waiting to return to Havana the day of your departure is possible, but there's always the risk some glitch in your travel plans will delay you enough to miss your flight.

ryannm

Nov 19, 2012 7:48 PM
Posts: 113

It is trying to do a lot in a short amount of time. It would be doable, though, if you really want to see the areas briefly. You could leave Havana for Viñales Sunday afternoon, hike around, late Sunday, get up early Monday and hike around some more, before getting on the afternoon bus for Cayo Levisa (assuming it runs daily- I'm not sure); take the ferry over Monday evening, spend Tuesday relaxing on the beach; then, take the ferry back over Wed or Thursday afternoon and a taxi to Havana.
Or, if you want to chance it, spend Monday and Tuesday in Viñales, then bus to Cayo Levisa Tuesday afternoon, spend Wed on the beach, and then take the morning ferry and taxi to Havana Thursday morning in time for your flight. Doable, but you risk something coming up unexpectedly to delay you getting to the airport on time.

Georgecom

Nov 27, 2012 4:47 PM
Posts: 45

Conectando Cuba or Conectado Cuba (depending on how you spell it) gets you to Vinales in 3-4 hours. 12 cuc. I used it last week with no hassle apart from 1 stop where a mystery box was loaded into the bus (bananas?). It picks you up from a local hotel you designate and drops you at a point you choose. A mate booked a day trip to Cayo Levisa whilst in Vinales through one of the local travel agencies.

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