Combo Culture and Fishing - My Favorite Trip!!!!
COMBINATION CULTURE & FISHING TRIP - 9 DAYS
As I often tell people, this is still my favorite trip of all those that I do in Cuba. I love introducing people to life on this island, and to the many beautiful people I have met there. This is an ideal trip for couples in that during the days while one is fishing, the other will be exploring the Cuban countryside. This is also a customizable trip, although I believe the itinerary I have put together is just about perfect.
I need a minimum of 8 people to join, and will cap the maximum size at 12.
Our Itinerary Will Include the Following:
The town of Vinales, west of Havana. Known for its beauty, and for growing the best of Cuba’s tobacco, we will visit farms and learn about life in this small rural community
Havana: Cuba’s capital is fascinating, both for history and the current way of life. We will be busy in Havana, taking guided tours, visiting schools, dance academies,& great restaurants. We will also be entertained by some of the music that has made Cuba famous.
After Havana, we venture to the small town of Playa Larga on the Bay if Pigs. From here, anglers will fish the Rio Hatiguanico, as well as the saltwater flats of the Zapata Peninsula
During the fishing days, I will take non-anglers to the beautiful town of Trinidad, and hike in the rain-forest nearby. Other days, we will birdwatch, snorkel, and enjoy the beach at Playa Larga.
DATES: April 1-9, 2025
PRICE:
$5295 pp for Anglers
$3495 pp for Non-Anglers
**pricing is for double occupancy rooms and fishing skiffs
Cultural Images
Fishing Images
Proposed Trip Itinerary
Tuesday, April 1st
- All Group arrive together to Havana Jose Marti Airport. Flight arrival should be no later than 11:00am.
- The group will be met and then transported directly to the town of Vinales (about 2.5 hours)
- Check in at Casa Lola and have lunch provided by the casa
- Walk to a local farm and learn about how they grow crops, how they share with the government, and how they produce local cigars, rum, honey, and other products
- Dinner and night at Casa Lola
Wednesday, April 2nd
- Breakfast at Casa Lola
- Tour the most famous part of the Vinales Valley by foot with a local Cuban guide. Interact with locals and farmers as they work their fields.
- Lunch at a local restaurant in the valley
- Check out of Casa Lola and transfer to Havana
- Check into lodgings in Old Havana
- Walking tour of Old Havana with a local guide
- Dinner in Havana at Antojos Restaurant
Thursday, April 3rd
- Breakfast at Casa
- Car tour of the city in vintage convertibles
- Lunch in Old Havana at Chachacha Restaurant
- Afternoon free to wander Havana
- Dinner at La Guarida restaurant in Central Havana
- Private Concert by Duo Iris at your hotel roof top (cost of the performance is again a minimum of $200 for the group. Please consider tipping extra. They are amazing)
Friday, April 4th
- Breakfast at casa in Havana
- Cigar factory tour with local expert
- Visit a primary school to leave supplies and visit students
- Continue on to visit to Finca Vigia on the outskirts of Havana (the famous residence of Hemingway)
- Lunch in Havana at la Monedo restaurant
- Dance performance with Litz Alfonso Dance Co (cost for a tour and a 20-minute performance is about $300 for the group, payable by you onsite)
- Dinner 5 Sentidos in Old Havana
Saturday, April 5th
- Early breakfast at Casa in Havana
- 6:30am: Anglers will check out and transfer directly to the Rio Hatiguanico for a day of Tarpon fishing (about 1.5 hours by transport)
- 9:30 am non-fishing guests will have their own transportation which will take us directly to our accommodations in Playa Larga. After check-in we will go to lunch on the beach and then later visit a famous garden frequented by the famous Bee Hummingbird only found in Cuba. The rest of the afternoon free.
- Fishing guests continue transfer to Playa Larga after fishing and check into accommodations
- Dinner together at the casa in Playa Larga
Sunday, April 6th through Tuesday April 8th (for fishing guests)
- Early breakfast at the casa
- Transfer to the fishing
- Also remember that there is transfer time each day: 30-40 minutes to the marina for the flats, and a little over an hour for the river
- Meals and most drinks each day are provided. Nightly dinners will be a mix of destinations, sometimes at the casa, some nights at other small restaurants along the beach, and at least one dinner in a neighboring village
Sunday, April 6th (for non-fishing guests)
- Breakfast at the casa in Playa Larga
- Transfer by car to Trinidad, the most beautiful town in Cuba. Check into our accommodations
- Lunch at La Botijah Restaurant
- Private tour of the historical center of Trinidad
- Dinner at Trinidad Paladar
- Night in Trinidad
Monday, April 7th (for non-fishing guests)
- Breakfast at casa and check out
- Transfer to the Topes de Collantes for a guided hike through the rain forest, viewing and swimming in the waterfalls along the way.
- Lunch at the end of the hike
- Transfer back to Playa Larga
- Dinner with the rest of the group
Tuesday, April 8th (for non-fishing guests)
- Breakfast at the casa
- Transfer to the saltwater flats of Las Salinas for a guided morning of birdwatching. This is a famous area for a great variety of wading birds.
- Transfer to Punta Perdiz for a lazy time at the beach
- Snorkeling provided for those interested
- Lunch at the beach provided
- Dinner together with group at Don Alexis restaurant
Wednesday, April 9th
- Breakfast at the casa
- Check out and transfer directly to airport for flights home
Included: All accommodations and meals ($25 per person allotment for lunches and dinners outside of provided fishing lunch), guided fishing and touring, all ground transportation including to/from fishing areas, on-site coordinator & host. When fishing, anglers are allowed 6 drinks as part of their daily allowance, which can be made up of water, soft drinks, or beer. At lodgings, alcoholic drinks are tabulated per guest and paid for at trip’s end. During meals while touring, drinks are part of the overall tab, and guests are allowed $25 per lunch and dinner. Any overage is paid for by guests.
Not Included: All airfare, misc. personal expenses while touring, meal and drinks expenses over allotment, staff & guide gratuities, and private performances noted in itinerary.