12 days in July - Mexico, Cuba or Peru (alternatives)?
Discussion
Following the Euro road trip last summer, the gf and I have decided to go for something a little bit more exotic this year. With us having quite different work rotas, actually getting the same time off is rare so we intend to make the most of it.
We're wanting something interesting, exotic(ish), cultural and hopefully the opportunity to take some decent photos. No all inclusive by the pool malarkey, we're happy with a backpack and the Rough Guide.
So far our shortlist is Mexico, Cuba or Peru. My concerns regarding Mexico and Peru is that they are quite big and 11 days might not be enough time to make it worthwhile. Plenty to see though.
Anyone got any suggestions, would be much appreciated?
We're wanting something interesting, exotic(ish), cultural and hopefully the opportunity to take some decent photos. No all inclusive by the pool malarkey, we're happy with a backpack and the Rough Guide.
So far our shortlist is Mexico, Cuba or Peru. My concerns regarding Mexico and Peru is that they are quite big and 11 days might not be enough time to make it worthwhile. Plenty to see though.
Anyone got any suggestions, would be much appreciated?
Cuba. End of thread.
I did 12/13 days in Cuba last year (organised tour with Imaginative Traveller) and had a couple of nights in Havana on my own at the end. It was an amazing holiday.
You won't find the traditional Backpackers Hostel type place in Cuba though, instead you get "Casa Particulares" which is effectively a B&B. You get some good ones, and bad ones. A search on the web should find you a couple of websites with reviews. Best bet is to try and book your first couple of nights, and then just play it by ear.
However, 11 days, with having to sort out travel etc, might not be long enough (depending on your experience in backpacking and level of Spanish of course!) Cuba might be an island, but its quite big, and doesn't have the best public transport! You would need probably 3 days in Havana, 2 days in Trinidad, a day for Santa Clara, a couple of days for somewhere like Vinales, and probably 3 days for travelling (on the above itinery anyway). That would be quite a whistlestop tour, and still leave a lot of the island you haven't seen.
You might be better off doing something along the more traditional backpackers trip - fly into Cancun, head south into Belize, and then into Guatemala, flying home from Guatemala (it just so happens that is what I am doing this year!).
But, if Cuba takes your fancy - do it. You'll go back a second time to see the bits you missed, or spend more time soaking up Havana, but do it while it still retains some of its mystery (it won't be long before Obama legalises travel for the ordinary tourist direct from the States!!). It really is a fantastic place, and the Cubans are great. (You might want to look at the trips organised by Imaginative Traveller, or Intrepid or someone similar to see if dates match up to one of their trips - takes a lot of hassle out of the travelling around Cuba!)
I did 12/13 days in Cuba last year (organised tour with Imaginative Traveller) and had a couple of nights in Havana on my own at the end. It was an amazing holiday.
You won't find the traditional Backpackers Hostel type place in Cuba though, instead you get "Casa Particulares" which is effectively a B&B. You get some good ones, and bad ones. A search on the web should find you a couple of websites with reviews. Best bet is to try and book your first couple of nights, and then just play it by ear.
However, 11 days, with having to sort out travel etc, might not be long enough (depending on your experience in backpacking and level of Spanish of course!) Cuba might be an island, but its quite big, and doesn't have the best public transport! You would need probably 3 days in Havana, 2 days in Trinidad, a day for Santa Clara, a couple of days for somewhere like Vinales, and probably 3 days for travelling (on the above itinery anyway). That would be quite a whistlestop tour, and still leave a lot of the island you haven't seen.
You might be better off doing something along the more traditional backpackers trip - fly into Cancun, head south into Belize, and then into Guatemala, flying home from Guatemala (it just so happens that is what I am doing this year!).
But, if Cuba takes your fancy - do it. You'll go back a second time to see the bits you missed, or spend more time soaking up Havana, but do it while it still retains some of its mystery (it won't be long before Obama legalises travel for the ordinary tourist direct from the States!!). It really is a fantastic place, and the Cubans are great. (You might want to look at the trips organised by Imaginative Traveller, or Intrepid or someone similar to see if dates match up to one of their trips - takes a lot of hassle out of the travelling around Cuba!)
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