Days of Doreese in Cuba

I loved sharing our Cuba experience in 2016! And we loved Cuba so much that we returned again in 2018 and 2019! I'm looking forward to writing about our 2019 experience as it covers a lot of area....Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Camaguey, Santiago de Cuba, and Baracoa.

When we started planning our 2019 'escape from Canadian winter' adventure, we knew we really wanted to go back to Cuba again. Vince's mom, 'Mama', also wanted to see more of Cuba after a small bus tour that she went on in 2017. She kindly offered to take Vince on a 2 week Intrepid Travel tour that would cover the areas mentioned above, a great overview of Cuba. At the end of their tour I would meet them to enjoy 8 nights in Havana together before we travelled to Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

The Tour with Intrepid Travel

Click here for tour info... Intrepid Travel Best of Cuba Tour 2019

Photo Courtesy of Intrepid Tours

Day 1 ~ January 20th

Flights were booked from Kelowna and Vancouver to Cancun, via Westjet with an overnight in Cancun before continuing on to Havana with Aeromexico Airlines. Tourist Visa was purchased at the Cancun airport. Vince and Mama arrived in Havana on January 20th early afternoon. Transportation was arranged via the tour to take them to their 'Casa Particular' for the night. All of the tour involved casa particulars which is a great way to stay with the welcoming people of Cuba.

This casa was in a great location in Habana Vieja and only a block from the casa where we stayed on our past 3 visits.

Casa Irma y Roly

It wasn't long before their steps took them to one of our favourites....La Bodeguita del Medio...wonderful mojitos and great live music.

A snack was just what Mama needed after a long travel day....oh, and a mojito!

All of the walls inside and out are covered in signatures.

After some unpacking, the tour group wandered off to a new restaurant Mas Habana. The food was amazing and full of flavour. Staff was very attentive and the prices were very reasonable. When I arrived after the tour, we went here several times, especially for their happy hour!

Mas Habana

The sauce that came with these complimentary chips was to die for!! Loved it!

Day 2 ~ January 21st

The next morning the group gathered for a walking tour of Habana Vieja. It was a varied group with 4 people from England, 2 from Australia and then Mama and Vince from Canada. The tour guide Andy, was a Cuban and extremely knowledgeable and proud of his country.