Cuba, from Colomb to Hemingway...

Logbook

After fifty years withdrawn into itself, and almost completely cut off from the world, the island of Cuba offers an anachronistic face, as well as some remarkable assets and an incomparable diversity. From its towns with their very varied architecture, to its moving and imposing history and culture, its dream anchorages, its seabed and its famous crayfish, the beauty of its archipelagos, edged with white sand beaches and its coral reefs bathed in clear, turquoise waters, everything in Cuba is worth the detour!

And then there is the famous welcome by the inhabitants, with a kindness and simplicity you will not find anywhere else. In Cuba, you will have some genuine encounters which will remain engraved in your memory for ever…

With five centuries of a history which is as rich as it is eventful, Cuba will delight you. Here every event is celebrated with dancing. The best tobaccos grow here, and the Cubans have invented the most famous cocktails. And what can we say about the music, which has the world dancing, from the salsa to the mambo, the rhumba to the chachacha…

You will in fact quickly realise that more than visiting Cuba, you will experience Cuba. And in a catamaran it is even better, as with 4,000km of coastline, the island offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, from Varadero to Playa Santa Lucía, via Guardalavaca and a whole series of small islands (cayos), each one more wonderful than the last. A cruising paradise. The (unique) opportunity to visit this magical island via in a roundabout way...

Practical info

• Getting there:
  Numerous direct flights from the main European capitals. On the other hand, no direct flights from the USA...as long as the American blockade of the island lasts!

• Weather:
  Cuba benefits from a sub-tropical climate with around 330 days of sunshine per year. Two seasons dominate: the dry season (November to May) and the wet season (June to October). The temperature is relatively constant: an annual average of 25°C. You can sail here all the year round...

• Formalities:
  To enter Cuba as a tourist, you must hold a valid passport and a tourist card. This is a compulsory form for entering Cuba, and can be purchased (around 22 euros) in the consulates. Since May 2010, you must in addition have a travel insurance policy with medical expenses cover.

• Official language:
  Spanish, tinged with a wonderful melodic accent. English is understood almost everywhere.

• Currency:
  The currency in use is the Peso Cubano Convertible (CUC). Euros are accepted for everyday expenses in the hotels and in all the island's major tourist areas. 1 euro is worth around 1.30 CUC. The US dollar is not accepted for exchange. Visa International and MasterCard are accepted, on condition they were not issued by an American bank. Similarly, American cards are banished...because of the blockade.

• Not to be missed:
  The Queen's Gardens, Cayo Largo, and the sumptuous town of Trinidad, declared a cultural heritage site by UNESCO...

Itinerary

Here are the itineraries offered, according to the length of your adventure in catamaran, to enable you to enjoy this island and its countless riches to the full. But be aware that at the end of your stay, you will always find that it was too short, and will have just one wish – to return... 

7-day itinerary: Cayo Largo

10-day itinerary: Queen's Gardens

14-day itinerary: Queen's Gardens / Cayo Largo