Please extend our thank you to all involved in our booking! It was perfect from start to finish. Aylin really did make our trip so special! She's an amazing person. So sweet, clever, and accommodating 24/7.      -  Kelly M., San Francisco November 29, 2016

 

 

"If you want an intimate experience of Cuba by immersing yourself in the culture of this extraordinary country, talk to Manny - the guy behind the curtain with Cuba Travel Adventures. I hold him personally responsible for the exceptional 2 weeks we had in Cuba last month. All we wanted was a good guide and a vehicle to get us from Havana to Vinales to Trinidadwithout complication. I was not certain this was possible, after too many people kept defining "personalized tour" as being herded on and off a bus with a small group of strangers, kept on a tight schedule and an even tighter leash. Enter Manny. I wrote to him, and he called back in under ten minutes, and his first words were, "How's this for service?" I liked him immediately. He made it clear he could create an itinerary woven around our interests, with the freedom to stray at any given moment from what we had planned for the day. No tight leash. No leash at all. Nice. Yes we could have a guide, and our guide would be well educated and available at all times, and the driver would be professional, and the car would actually run. (I specifically asked if the car would run, and maybe even for the definition of "car.") If you're having any concerns about the legitimacy of this company because there aren't a lot of reviews, let me put your mind at ease: I was a bear about researching them. I didn't like the idea of handing over deposit money and passport numbers to someone who might just be talking a good game; getting taken like that might put me in a bad mood for the next several years. Nothing to worry about. Manny handled my interrogation flawlessly. He delivered on everything I asked for and answered all my questions and kept a sense of humor and never lost his cool. At no time was the communication anything less than stellar - before and after we signed on the dotted line. Should I write about how deeply Cuba touched me? How much fun it was, how easy it was to fall in love with and how I was so often overwhelmed that I just needed to sit still and be thankful? Can I talk about the places we went in detail? Explain why we adored our guide and driver so much that even now, 3 weeks later, we still miss their company? Do you want to know that the paladars were superb and the locations breathtaking and the people far more beautiful inside and out than I ever imagined? Cars there tell stories. Buildings tell stories. The hosts at each casa particular, opening their homes and hearts to us simultaneously, redefined what it means to be gracious. The history, the architecture, the music, the soul. The talking trees at Finca Luna. Willie, who I keep telling myself actually exists - and his family actually exists - though I still think I dreamed it all. The baseball game in Vinales - unplanned, but perhaps not so unexpected (thanks Uncle Buddy, with memories of watching you play at Thillens Stadium). Yes, this was a personal tour. Very much so. No need for me to tell you what Cuba is like. You already feel the pull or you wouldn't be reading this. Have your own discovery, and be as moved as you want to be. Maybe all you need is a reliable way to get there and back, some solid recommendations, and a great guy with a fabulous company to bounce ideas around with and make it all happen. Work with Cuba Travel adventures. Talk to Manny. Note that while you are listening to him he is listening to you. This is someone who is as invested in your stay as you are. His love for Cuba, and the Cuban people, will be palpable. Just like yours will be, when you return."                          -   Gail and Jeff

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Earlier in July I went to Cuba with the Cuba Adventures Group and it was ideal. My sister and her son il law went from LAX nonstop to Havana. My niece and I went from Miami to Havana (45 minute flight). There was maintenance problems on this American Airlines charter. We got in 4 hours late. My sister was taken to dinner and we were taken to join them. Our guide had a hard time finding out when we would arrive but his smiling face was there at baggage claim.

 

The entire trip in Cuba was the best. Our own driver and guide. They were with us as late and again as early as we wanted to start. There was total flexibility. We decided to go swimming with the locals in a natural pool at the bottom of a beautiful water fall. No problem just went a little longer that day.

 

The bed and breakfast facilities we stayed in were as good as you could find any place in the world. The fresh fruit was especially good. Lot of it with fresh juice every morning.

 

When planning the trip they asked what I had in mind. I went over about 15 things. Several things were not practical and they helped me set up the entire trip. We did our own thing from Havana (took a second ride in a 1952 red V-8 conferable a second time as it was so much fun), To the water fall (mentioned above) to the Bay of Pigs (swimming and museum). Jon ended up short of cash. No problem he had it the next day thru Manny's contact in Canada.

 

If you want a outstanding trip use Cuba Travel Adventures Group.

   -   John H.  Chicago, IL

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August 2016

I wanted to take a moment to give you some feedback on our recent long weekend in Havana.  The trip was amazing. It was one of the greatest learning experiences of our lives.  Ernesto did a great job of arranging activities and our guide, David, was absolutely wonderful.  Our driver, Damian, was great.  The accomodations at our casa were outstanding.  The itinerary was good but the highlight of our trip was the interaction with the Cuban people. We enjoyed our time in Havana and we cannot wait to go back.
Thank you all at Cuba Travel Adventures Group for making the process a painless experience and arranging the itinerary with superb Cuban guides. I have already recommended you to colleagues interested in going to Cuba.

Thanks again,  The Osbornes

 

 

 

Daniel and Rolando did a marvelous job for us on the recent trip I completed with my Grandson, Jack. Both men were so enjoyable and took care of our every desire.  Jack and I both felt that the trip was more than we had ever anticipated.  Please send Daniel’s address as I want to send him a book to pass on to a friend of his.

 You and your staff are all wonderful and provide a great experience.

 Regards,

 

 

Barry Kannon

Vice-Chairman of the Board/CAO

(415) 901-4400 | www.malcolmdrilling.com

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I had the opportunity to accompany my 14 year old grandson on a baseball trip to Cuba with the Cuba Travel Adventures Group this summer.
It was a life-changing experience as we were introduced to “inside Cuba” including warm interactions with the Cuban people.
Our tour was guided by a team of highly educated, articulate young men who informed us of Cuban history to modern day. 
We had a lunch lecture from a University Professor and talks from private business entrepreneurs to communal farms.
We toured the highlights of Cuba and had first hand experiences with the culture in art, music, photography and dance.
We even got to ride in the classic cars and the horse and buggies
.Our trip extended outside the city of Havana to the countryside and the beautiful beaches of Valerdaro.
We visited the haunts of Hemingway (including his estate and boat), had tea with the new American Ambassador and enjoyed the performance of the famous Buena Vista Social Club. 
A unique experience was delivering food to families with special needs children, bringing “state of the art” baseball equipment to the Cuban teams and interacting with the Cuban baseball players during meals provided after the games.
The dining venues chosen were of high quality and we were often accompanied with live entertainment. 
We traveled in an air conditioned bus with a perfect balance of activity and rest. Every effort was made to accommodate our needs and comfort.
I recommend Cuba Travel Adventures Group for your next vacation and do it sooner than later!!!
      - Grandparent on Baseball exchange tour (July 2-10)

 

 

 

Great trip. Thank you! Unique trip! To that extent I wouldn't change anything.

Thanks again, Manny, I appreciate all that you, Soo and your team did to encapsulate complexity and let the rest of us have a unique experience of a lifetime. I learned a lot about Cuba, though the more I learned, the more I knew that I did not understand! I had many meaningful experiences and connections, some sobering. I also enjoyed the fun and camaraderie that you made possible. All that in a week is really quite amazing. 

   - Richard

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Hi Manny, I didn't have a chance at the end of our travels to let you know how much Alex and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip.  It was truly the trip of a lifetime! I feel like we came away from Cuba having experienced a months worth of sites and activities.  The ever changing itinerary, the guides, the food, the towns we visited, the accommodations, the Cuban baseball team, the bus, were all fantastic. We really appreciated your help guiding the group in the airports as well.  I'm sure we'll see you around Tiburon. Thanks, 

  - Kirsten & Alex

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"Thanks so much for arranging our amazing trip to Cuba, Manny!  Bill and I had a wonderful time and we appreciated the great guides and drivers, the opportunity to see so many different areas of the country and learn about its history, the delicious food and the great experiences.  Several friends have expressed an interest in visiting Cuba after hearing our stories, so I wanted to make sure I can pass on your contact information.  Thanks again!"
     - Sincerely, Cheryl Brady

 

 

May 29, 2016

Hi, Manny, Just to let you know I HAD THE MOST FABULOUS TIME IN CUBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'll write or call with more detail when I return home and I will have more time to describe how amazing and terrific the trip was.  Didn't however want to wait any longer to contact you and tell you how happy I was.

    - Bonnie

 

 

"You are a rare gift to the travel world! Many thanks, Denise.

 

 

"Manny; Just a quick note. We had an amazing trip to Cuba. Both our guide Raul and driver Rolando were fantastic. Many thanks to them and you and your team for the arrangements.     -  Best regards, Peter

 

 

From recent travelers -  "Highlights... It's difficult to say because it really was a spectacular trip throughout. Ana was a big highlight. She really made the trip special. Talking to the professor was big. The day in the country was great. Making our own lunch and mojitos was very special."

 

 

"Manny,
Big, big kudos to tour guide Anita, or Ana, as she asked us to call her and Ernesto. We couldn't have asked for a better guide. She is now a friend for life and we are keeping in touch via Facebook."   - Suzanne and Bruce

 

 

"Manny and Suzanne,

 Many thanks for a super trip!  Cuba is a wonderful country and the people are so friendly and helpful.  We had so many experiences we will never forget.  Andrew practiced his Spanish, and now I want to learn it too.  The driver and guide were extremely good.  Thanks again!"  -   Susan Roberts 

 

 

"My Mom and I went through Cuba Travel Adventures Group earlier this year and had a great experience. At the Miami airport we easily picked up our charter flight tickets and then were off to Cuba. At the airport we were met by our guide and driver and started our journey. I can't stress enough how satisfied my Mom and I were that we decided to go on a tour with just the two of us. We were really able to get to know our guide and even met his wife, family and baby at his mother in law's home. It was experiences like this, that really made our Cuba trip special. 

Anywhere we went our guide seemed to know somebody, and we were really satisfied with the restaurants and areas he recommended. All lodging was already taken care of when we got there. We stayed mostly in Casa Particulares which are peoples homes that they rent out. Every home we stayed in was clean, comfortable and safe. 

Overall I think that if you want a more authentic trip to Cuba then this is a great company. It will offer more of an opportunity to see the Cuban lifestyle than being in a larger tour. We really liked both our driver and our guide. Manny was also very responsive throughout the booking process and called us during our tour to see how we were doing. We were in Cuba for 10 days and felt that we got to see a lot of the country with most of our time in Havana."

    -  Michael M.  March 2016

 

 

"Manny and company at Cuba Travel Adventures Group put together a spectacular two week trip to Cuba for our small group of two couples. They provided a van with driver AND guide, augmented with local specialist guides who provided greater detail about localities and attractions. We stayed in private homes (casas particulares) on Manny's recommendation, and are very glad we did. We learned a great deal by spending time with our hosts, who were invariably open about their island's history, economy, and prospects.

Because one of our group is a frustrated botanist we focused on botanical gardens and outdoor excursions. Along the way we visited nine cities and learned a lot of Cuban history. Our primary guide was an absolute gem. He had over twenty years experience in the travel business in Cuba, spoke excellent English, and obviously loved his work. We shared a dinner one evening in Havana with a former Cuban diplomat, who was very candid in his responses to our questions. In Santiago de Cuba our local guide was a professor of law and author of books on the death penalty. We had fascinating discussions.

We hiked in nature preserves and natural parks, and swam in three waterfalls. We visited UNESCO sites. We immersed ourselves in the history of the island, from San Juan Hill up which Teddy Rosevelt (may have) charged, to the site of the troop train derailment in Santa Clara where Che Guevara turned the tides of the Cuban Revolution. We saw countless 1950s cars kept running by willpower and inertia. We saw blockish apartment complexes built by the Russians for factory workers.

We were very satisfied with our experience with CTAG, and have already recommended them to family and friends considering travel to Cuba."

     -    T. Brown, D. Gephart Group   March 2016

 

 

"Suzanne and Manny

It was a trip of lifetime.   An excellent adventure.    Thank you for your organization and individualized planning.  Your colleagues in Havana are a good team.

Highlights for us were:

1)      The casa particular home stays which showed both hospitality, comfortable rooms and full breakfasts with lots of fruit.  

2)      A wide variety of activities from mountains to beach at a pace that was efficient – for the large amount of territory we covered

3)      Many informative encounters with Cubans (partly due to Skip’s Miami Spanish).    The Havana palador meal with Camilo Garcia Lopez-Trigo and the day and home cena in Santiago with  Reinaldo Suarez were excellent.     I exchanged botany with five local guides – especially at Jardin de los Helechos in Santiago.

4)      Meals that were in very good paladares everywhere we went.

5)      Manuel was a superior guide – experienced and fluent in English.   We enjoyed his care thoroughly.

6)      We learned a lot of history on the spot from the people who were there.

7)      Our driver Yoandi was very safe and reliable.   The Chinese van had good air conditioning and thus the two longer drives were tolerable.

8)      And we must not forget what was perhaps our best day - cooking at Ajiaco and then the gardens at Vivero Alamar with our host Isis."

 

Thank you so much,  Dale & Connie      March 2016

 

 

"Manny, I keep hearing fabulous reports form the group about the trip, the success in the last minute adjustments, and the wonderful guides. Jan"

 

 

 

From a Travel Agent Client on behalf of her Clients:   "Thank you so very much for taking such great care of the (client group).They absolutely had the trip of a lifetime!!!    - Sharon March 2016

 

 

"You won't find a more patient and engaging guide than the team at Cuba Travel Adventures Group. We commend their can-do attitude, and willingness to always find a solution for any issue - big or small. They have an approach that draws out the very best out of everyone we interacted with."

So many enjoyable moments but here are our favorites:

• Salsa lesson

• The Paladars - especially La Guarida, Otramanera, the organic farm up in Vinales

• Tobacco farm - especially since we could buy some!

• Exploring Old Havana - so much charm and character.

• Our interactions with the locals. For example: Our dinners where we were able to mingle with the owners and their families.

• Singing songs with the lovely abuela at El Meson.

In sum, our fondest memories were the spontaneous experiences when we  could interact with the Cuban people and just being able to absorb the atmosphere wherever we stopped on our journeys during our 10 days in the country." 

 

 

 

"We really couldn't thank you enough for the amazing memories of our Cuban adventure!"   -   The JH/VH group

 

 

"An experience in Cuba that I can truly say has changed my life. Thank you!"    -    K.T.

 

 

"Thank you for introducing us to an amazing and unforgettable place! The timing was perfect and it was an incredible experience all around."

        - A recent Cuba Travel Adventures Group member of a 15-person group tour

 

 

"Manny, You and your team made the dream of a 77 year old ballroom dancer come true!  I was able to experience the Salsa where it was born, in Cuba.  What a great adventure  you made possible for me. You provided such a great support network in Cuba that I always felt safe, and I enjoyed once-in-a-lifetime cultural and dancing experiences with great Cuban people every day.  My guides opened doors to a Cuba ordinary tourists seldom see, making for a fantastic Cuban fantasy."     -     Sincerely,  C.D.B  (June 2015)

 

 

"My family has traveled to many places around the world with me and nobody seems to show more attention for detail than you guys!  Thank you for an amazing trip."

     

 

"Manny, Thank you for a great trip to Cuba. 

Everything was good and your guide was great. He could not have done more for us. Young energetic knowledgeable, what more could we ask for. 

Thanks again and happy thanksgiving."     -     Jerry (Family of four - Thanksgiving trip 2015)"

 

 

"We have talked with so many people here in CO and in TX last week about our trip.  Everyone is amazed that we were able to plan it for such a short time and that everything went even more smoothly than we could have hoped.  We love Ernest!  It was definitely a dream come true! "    -   VP and SP 12/21/15

 

 

"I just returned from a trip to Cuba with my 4 young adult kids (in their early 20s). I organized the trip entirely through Cuba Adventure Travel. I was able to work directly with Manny and Suzanne to completely customize the trip around our family's preferences. They worked with me to establish an affordable budget and created a terrific price fix excursion. We traveled with a young, energetic guide who spoke perfect English and directed our driver on our travels to several cities. We experienced home stays with very nice, clean accommodations, and were directed to some wonderful restaurants and bars in the evenings. We came away feeling as though we had a great sense of the people, their culture and history from a Cuban perspective. And music is everywhere! Don't miss the chance to visit this place while it is just beginning to awaken. Thanks for all of your help.  It was great!"    -     Heidi  1/3/15

 

"We felt very fortunate to have found Manny and his group!  I am 73, my husband is 75. We have traveled to central and So. American countries in the past, so we had pretty realistic expectations and weren't surprised at putting toilet paper in a trash can and drinking bottled water. Neither of us speak Spanish, but our 26-yr-old Cuban guide has an English degree from the university and we got along just fine. We were fortunate to have him all to ourselves, as we were the only ones booked with them the week we went.  We found everyone to be very warm and friendly and felt very safe. We stayed in an apartment building in a Cuban neighborhood and walked around w/o our guide most evenings. Manny suggested we bring a flashlight, which we did. The food was wonderful. We loved seeing and riding in the old cars! We did quite a lot of walking, with our guide, as well, in Old Havana, etc. we also took a driving trip to Vinales with an overnight in a private home there. The trip and the accommodations were most enjoyable. Their itinerary is flexible. Some people like clubs, some favor museums, etc, but there is a lot to see and do. Our guide was most accommodating regarding what we did/didn't want to see or do.
Manny had all the paperwork - visa, charter flight tickets, Cuba health stamp in order and waiting for us in Miami, which made it very easy for us."
December 2015

 

 

" Singing the praises of a great travel experience."    Habana,  2015

 

 

"Manny and Suzanne, We want to thank you for a wonderful experience.! It was like going back in time. We got to experience a variety of places and meet different people. We can only use positive adjectives to describe the Cuban people. Warm,friendly,generous,are just a few. They are also very creative and ingenious in making use of materials and resources they have .I hope that with the thawing of relationships things will get better for them.

Our guide Yuri was excellent we would HIGHLY recommend him for future travelers.He was very flexible and accommodating .We learned a lot from him about the Cuban people their history and politics .We had a number of talks with him on all levels He has an interesting history and  we thoroughly enjoyed him and our driver.

The casas gave us an opportunity to get to know families .The hostesses were all gracious and welcoming and provided us with ample good food. We are pretty adaptable , but after experiencing the first two casas  it was quite unexpected how basic was La Moka casa .We do not know options at that location that may have been the best available . We look at it as an adventure and unexpected always happens.  I am glad we did not get isolated in a large hotel removed from reality of life there.

It was truly a great time, we are so happy we went ! We would recommend traveling with you to people who want to experience real Cuba . Thank you again for a great trip!"            -    Penny and Tom Zarfoss 

 

 

"Had truly the trip of a lifetime in Cuba. Decided to go to Cuba with a friend last minute over Xmas and New Year's and randomly found Manny's company. After a few emails and phone calls, we were on our way. Had our charter flights and visas organized with Manny on Gulf Stream via Aruba Air and were warmly greeted at the airport. From then on it was smooth sailing, it was just the two of us and we had an amazing guide and driver with us throughout the two weeks. It was great because our itinerary was flexible and if we wanted to stay somewhere longer or cut out somewhere else we could. And then we'd see the large busloads of tourists and we were so happy to get a tour of Cuba that was off the beaten path.

It was money well spent having Manny organize for this and I'd highly recommend it if you are wanting to do your own adventure of Cuba with a highly knowledgable guide and your own driver. Our guide was Manuel and we called him the mayor of Cuba because he knew people everywhere we went.

 

I hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did and go scuba diving if you can!"    -  Laurel W and Susan E   February 2016

 

 

"My family and I just returned from a humanitarian trip to Havana, Cuba and the surrounding countryside. It had long been on my bucket list and Manny and his team at Cuba Travel Adventures Group made it happen. The trip began with a five hour delay at the Tampa Airport due to the Pope being at the Havana Airport. That, however, was our only snag. The people, the underlying beauty of the island, the old American cars…it was like stepping back to the 1950s. Our penthouse apartment was great with views of the Malecon and beyond. The trip exceeded all of our expectations.  Thanks again Manny. The experience was priceless."     -   Randy Akers - two  couples from Georgia  March 2016

 

 

"Good morning, Manny!  Cuba was amazing, and you were right about our guide. Oscar, was a complete pleasure. He made our trip fantastic. What a gem you have in him! Thanks again for all the coordinating.    We have many friends who want to chat with us about Cuba after seeing all our Facebook pictures. I will be definitely referring them your way. Thanks!!!"  -   GWP 2/26/16

 

"Hi Manny, Suzanne, and the CTA team, Just wanted to let you know that we had a fabulous time in Cuba.  Our guide (Nelson) was wonderful and extremely knowledgeable.  He changed things on the itinerary around as necessary and added in a concert at the Fine Arts Museum and a trip to the caves in Vinales.  Our drivers (a father/son team) were great too, and when something broke in the car while we were in Vinales, the son got it fixed quickly.
We could not have been happier with our trip and really appreciate all that you did to make it happen!"    Thanks!    -    Jen & Mayank Seksaria   2/25/16

 

 

“This was a trip of a lifetime!  We’ve traveled all over and this trip goes down in history as the best trip ever.  

The driver and guide were wonderful. I would not change anything!"    -    Diana and Kim Coit March 2016