Our Team 
Our Tour Experts 
Heroes and Heroines 
Places to stay
Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.
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Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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Heroes and Heroines The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Cuba Holidays
A country that conjures up vibrant images of Castro, classic cars and cigars, not to forget rum, is certain to be an intriguing holiday destination. Our Steppes experts will help you avoid the crowds and tired tourist trails.
Cuba is an exceptionally diverse island and offers a wealth of nostalgia, vibrant culture, abundant wildlife, sweeping white beaches and an intoxicating music scene that permeates the very soul.
2019 marks 60 years since Fidel swept into Havana to claim the island. The revolution has left an indelible impression on every walk of life in Cuba and it’s utterly fascinating to try and unpackage and understand this unique country that has existed in relative isolation for over half a century. Don’t listen to the curmudgeons who insist that Cuba should have been visited ten years ago. Revolution is being replaced by an evolutionary wave of private enterprise, self-expression and creativity. This is exactly what makes Cuba such an exciting place to visit right now.
Why we like Cuba
Cuba remains in a socialist time warp. It is still a country locked in the last vestiges of socialism but now offers a greater level of accommodation, tours, and restaurants than ever before. It still remains a unique travel destination and we can help you avoid the crowds and the tired tourist trails. As Cuba’s restrictions on it’s citizens and private enterprise relax, we are seeing an explosion of creativity that is expressing itself in some remarkable modern art. Witness this revolution through private audiences with a new wave of artists.
Galleries & Beaches
Visit their studios and galleries and the outstanding Fabrica de Arte Cubano in Havana. Steppes Travel can introduce you to knowledgeable and welcoming guides who are keen to share their experience of life in Cuba in increasingly imaginative ways as well as find the empty beaches, take you behind the scenes at exhibitions and unearth little-known clubs where you can dance the night away.
Cuba: What to Expect
Cuba remains a complex destination with socialist revolutionary ideas, a struggling economy and a very different concept of service. And demand now entirely outstrips supply. Despite it not always being an easy place to visit, it is still well worth exploring. The Cuban people are warm, cultured and welcoming. The country is a true melting pot where colonial Spanish buildings stand side by side with the monolithic edifices of the communist revolution. The Caribbean beaches are in contrast to the mountainous rain-forested interior. The state-run restaurants are indifferent but we will advise you where to find the private family run paladares often found in the ballroom or drawing room of a grand old family house.
Experiences
What do you really love doing? We curate your itinerary especially for you.
Meet our experts
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
James Armitage
James first travelled to Cuba in 2007 and was amazed by the wonderful people and smiling faces. Talk with our experts
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John Faithfull
Since 1999, John has returned multiple times to explore this fascinating Caribbean island that charms and challenges in equal measure. Attracting visitors with a heady mix of music, cigars and revolution, there is a dynamic new generation of artists, entrepreneurs and thinkers waiting to be discovered beneath the surface. Talk with our experts
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Is it safe for Americans to travel to Cuba?
Yes – however there are restrictions in place for US citizens visiting the country. Check with your embassy for full details.
Is rum cheap in Cuba?
The average cost of a Cuba Libre or Mojito cocktail is 2-3 CUCs (around £2), and it is very cheap to buy a decent bottle of rum (older Havana Club or Santiago rum is around £4 a bottle).
Is salsa popular in Cuba?
Salsa is hugely popular in Cuba and there is a Cuban variation of the dance – the Casino Rueda. Dance classes are available in Havana, and there are plenty of options to watch locals dancing too.
What is accommodation like in Cuba?
Accommodation in Cuba ranges from beautiful and atmospheric old Spanish colonial buildings to ‘Casa Particulares’ (Cuban home stays). Some of these are very simple arrangements where you are sharing a house with a family, but also include top-end, fully-serviced penthouse apartments.
IMPORTANT: Cuba is currently extremely busy. As we approach a time when the USA will finally end its long-standing embargo on its citizens visiting Cuba, Canadians and Europeans, in particular, are travelling here in large numbers. Over the peak season (Dec-Apr), hotels in Cuba are nearing capacity. Even the casas are struggling to cope with the demand. Consequently, you must be flexible regarding your choice of accommodation and be prepared to stay in casas where demand outstrips hotel beds. This is actually a much more interesting lodging option. While these rooms are often quite basic, they are usually air-conditioned and en-suite. Alternatively, we have a much better chance of securing your preferred accommodation choices over the lower season (May-Nov).
Who is Camilo Cienfuegos?
Camilo Cienfuegos was part of Fidel’s gang, a leading member of the Granma Expedition and famous for defeating Batista’s troops at the battle of Yaguajay in December 1958, following which they took Santa Clara. Considered one of the heroes of the revolution, Cienfuegos was appointed head of the Cuban armed forces in 1959 after the success of the revolution. He was suspected to have died in a plane crash later the same year, although the wreckage has never been found. Che Guevara was so close to Camilo that he named his son after him.
Can I take cigars out of Cuba?
You can export up to 20 cigars without documentation. If you would like to export 50 cigars or more, they must be in their original container, closed and sealed with the hologram. Do not buy cigars on the street or from unofficial sources – you will be scammed.
Are American cars still in Havana, and is it possible to drive in one?
Yes, there are lots of classic American cars on the streets. You can take a tour in one and even have one drive you around the country (with a driver/guide, but not as a self-drive).
Are there good wines available in Cuba?
Now there are more wines than ever available, but you’ll find they are mainly new-world and from Latin America. If you are partial to a good bottle, or if you will be celebrating while you are visiting Cuba, it is a good idea to take a bottle with you. Cuban wine is not particularly palatable.
Are we going to find prices in Cuba similar to the UK/USA, or to third world countries?
Prices are similar to Europe or the USA. Cuba is not a ‘developing country’ in terms of prices.
Can I eat street food in Cuba?
Yes, there is basic street food, such as pork rolls, rice and beans, however, we wouldn’t recommend it. There are some incredible paladares for local culinary experiences.
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Speak to our experts
Our team is waiting to help you tailor a trip that will leave you with stories for a lifetime. Call us on
01285 601 784Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise sets us apart. So too our curiosity. A curiosity of the world and of you, and your passions. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
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