9 DAY COMBINATION FISHING/CULTURAL TOUR

For many guests, the ideal trip to Cuba involves both fishing and culture. I could not agree more!! This, out of all the trips I do to Cuba, is my favorite. The Cuban people are a joy, and life on this island is markedly different than what most of us know. As with our other trips that include cultural activities, this trip has few boundaries. It is completely customizable to the tastes and interests of those in the group.

Normally, this is a trip that Jon Covich would host. It is certainly possible to put you in the hands of our Cuban guides, but Jon’s nearly two dozen trips to Cuba has given him insights and strategies for travel that add value in the opinion of our customers. You will not be subject

Our Proposed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive at Jose Marti airport in Havana. There, our group will gather and transfer directly to the Vinales Valley. This is a trip of about two and a half hours. The town of Vinales is small and located in the incredibly picturesque valley where most of the famous Cuban tobacco is grown. We will check into our private accommodations, and after lunch have a walking tour of a local working farm. Later, our hosts will prepare a roast pig for us to enjoy on their rooftop terrace as the sunsets over the valley of Vinales.

Day 2: Breakfast will be prepared for us at the casa, but soon afterwards we will visit a part of the valley where all agriculture is still done without machinery. Here, fields are plowed behind teams of oxen. We will visit with the farmers as well tour the area and take time to visit the dry houses where tobacco leaves are hung and cured before becoming cigars. We will have lunch in the valley, before gathering our luggage and transferring to Havana.

In Havana, we will check into a small family-run hotel in the old part of the city (Habana Vieja). From here, much of the most interesting history of Havana is available within walking distance. This afternoon, we will meet our guide who will give us a walking tour of the old city. This tour will give guests a great sense of Havana’s historic importance in the world and its role in connecting the old and new worlds. Tonight, we will have dinner in one of the old town’s fine restaurants.

Day 3: Breakfast will be provided at our hotel. Afterwards, we will be picked up and driven to one of Havana’s famous cigar factories for a tour with a local guide. No matter if you are a cigar aficionado or not, you will love seeing the process of selecting and grading the leaves, and then rolling the different cigars by hand. After our hour-long tour at the factory, we will tour the different districts of Havana in vintage American convertibles. We will have lunch in Havana before attending a private performance at the famous Litz Alfonso Dance Academy. We will have dinner tonight in a special restaurant in Central Havana. Guests wanting to attend a performance at the Tropicana Club can opt to do this on their own, before returning to our casa for another night in Havana.

Day 4: After breakfast at the casa, we will drive outside the city to tour Finca Vigia, the famous Hemingway estate. Once done with the tour we will make a short drive to a local primary school. At the school, we can meet teachers and students, who will do their best to show off their English skills. Normally, we bring basic supplies to gift to the school and students. We will have lunch nearby before returning to Havana. Back in Havana, guests will have a few hours of free time which they can use as they wish. After an early dinner in the city we will gather for a private concert with Duo Iris. Now famous all over the island, this young couple is talented, charming, and provide an experience that many say is the highlight of their time in Cuba.

Day 5: Today, the group will check out of the casa after an early breakfast, and travel directly to the Rio Hatiguanico for a day of Tarpon fishing. This is an isolated jungle river, which drains the massive Zapata swamp. All guests will join their guides 2 to a skiff for a full day on the river. The Tarpon living in the river range greatly in size, from true babies in the feeder creeks, to teenagers between 15-40 pounds living in the main river, to truly large Tarpon which on occasion arrive to gorge on the catfish which also inhabit the river. Most fishing is done with sink-tips lines, cast in front of groups of rolling fish. It is not uncommon to also catch Snook Snapper, and Jacks during your day here. After fishing, we will travel another hour to the small fishing village of Playa Larga, located on the famous Bay of Pigs. We will check into our casa where our group will stay for the remainder of the trip. Dinner will be served in the casa some nights, and other nights in neighboring small restaurants which line the beach of the town.

Non-Anglers will continue on to the small town of Playa Larga once the anglers are dropped off. After checking into our casa we will visit a famous private garden which is frequented by the famous Bee Hummingbird, which is the world’s smallest bird and found only in Cuba. We will have lunch on the beach and a bit of free time before the anglers in the group join us for drinks and dinner at the casa.

Day 6: Day 6-8: (Anglers)Every day after breakfast, your group will head to either the saltwater flats, or to the Rio Hatiguanico. The mix will largely be up to your group, although it should be planned beforehand. Most groups who fish a total of four days will fish one on the river, and three on the flats. Either way, it is important to note that there is travel time each day since you will be fishing in protected national parks. It will take about thirty minutes by car to reach the marina for the saltwater, and about an hour to reach the river.

The saltwater environment in this area of Cuba is incredible. The Zapata swamp borders most all of it and provides an amazing habitat which serves as a nursery for Permit, Tarpon, Snook and Bonefish to grow up. Once they reach maturity they then venture into the nearby flats, channels, and beaches where they can be accessed by fly anglers. Bonefish here are prolific, and range greatly in size. Anglers will fish for them from the skiff, although there are many opportunities to wade as well. Tarpon live here every day of the year, amongst the mangroves which border the peninsula and the nearby islands. In Spring and early Summer, more Tarpon arrive during the annual migration. This is also an excellent Permit fishery, with a multitude of habitats where they thrive. There are also Snook, Snapper, Barracuda and Jacks throughout the flats.

After fishing each day, your group will have time for drinks on the patio of your casa, and on some nights you will travel to other small bars or restaurants in the town.  

Day 6: (Non-Anglers)After breakfast on Day 6, we will be transported to the beautiful town of Trinidad. This is Cuba’s most beautiful town, and a perfect example of Spanish Colonial architecture and history. We will have lunch in town, and then be joined by a private guide for a tour of the most important parts of the city. We will have dinner and spend the night in Trinidad.

Day 7: (Non-Anglers) Today will be an adventure! Our group of non-anglers will transfer to the beautiful rainforest surround the mountains to the north of Trinidad. We will hike the “Topes de Collantes” with a private guide who will point out the unique flora and fauna of the area. We can swim in the pools made by the many waterfalls along the way. Lunch will await us afterwards. This afternoon we will make our way back towards Playa Larga, stopping in the town of Cienfuegos for a short visit. We will then continue our to journey and join the rest of our group for dinner in Playa Larga.

Day 8: (Non-Anglers) We will start with an early morning of birdwatching inside the national park, in an area known as Las Salinas. It is a famous area to view myriad wading birds feeding in the rich shallow water. Our ornithologist guide will accompany us to explain so much of what we are seeing. We will return to Playa Larga for another lunch on the beach, and then have some relaxing time in the afternoon before the arrival of the anglers

Day 9: After breakfast, our group will check out and return directly to Jose Marti airport in Havana for return flights home