Whether it’s rum and cigars, sun and surf or dining and dancing, nowhere does good vibes quite like the Caribbean.
A mojito or a pina colada? Reggae beats or salsa rhythms? Trekking across volcanoes or relaxing with sand between your toes? These are the only questions you need to answer while kicking back on the brilliant beaches of the Caribbean. Spend days taking in the tropical sun from white sand beaches or wading under the clear blue water while snorkelling for marine life. Fill the nights with food and music, eat fresh fish and jerked chicken, listen to Bob Marley and dance the cha-cha (though maybe not all at once).
Soft white sand? Check. Crystal blue water? Check. World-renowned snorkelling sites? Check. Everything that could make a beach perfect can be found in Cuba. Not only that, but sometimes locals will even park their classic vintage cars on the sand at places like at Cayo Jutias, adding a distinctly Cuban flair to a beach day out.
What can definitely work at getting you off the beach at the end of a relaxing day is the drifting smell of mouth-watering Caribbean flavours. You'd be treated to a feast of fresh produce and unique flavours that blend together the many sub-cultures of the region. Unsurprisingly, the tropical tastes of coconut, seafood and bananas are favourites, especially in Cuban cooking.
If you've only got time to stop by one Caribbean spot, you can't really go wrong with Havana. Jump into the energy of the region in this bright and lively capital. Spend days walking through pastel-coloured city streets, riding in vintage cars and soaking up the beauty of the old neighbourhood. If you get thirsty, well, they're known for some pretty refreshing drinks in this locale.
Where better to learn how to salsa dance than in the place where it was created? Not only is Cuba the home of salsa but it's also the originator of the danzon and rumba dances (they really know how to dance here). Get in the swing of things while on a tour of Cuba with beginner-friendly classes in Trinidad and Vinales. Or, simply watch the professionals at a salsa band performance.
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Beautiful Cuba
Isabella · Traveled April 2024
The trip to Cuba has been amazing and exceeded my expectations. Our tour guide, Yuri, was very knowledgeable, organised and super professional. The trip started in L'Habana. I loved having the opportunity to stay at a guesthouse and experience some of the Cuban life. We explored old Habana and Yuri provided the group with lots of information about history, architecture, flora and fauna. The following day, we went to Soroa and had the possibility to visit the botanical garden and taste some amazing Cuban food (I am vegan due to food intolerances, and I really appreciate that during the whole trip I have never had any problem with choice, something that I do not take for granted). Vinales was a revelation: it shows how Cubans make the best of what they have. A very small town with a vibrant social life. We took a trip to the tobacco plantation and had a fantastic dinner with a beautiful sunset at the organic farm (the food was delicious). Stop at the Bay of Pigs and a dip in the sea: priceless! Then we went to Cienfuegos - a colonial city where I discovered Beny More'. Dinner at an excellent restaurant and accommodation in another great guesthouse. The following day, we visited Trinidad, a beautiful city with cobblestones and amazing architecture. Then, Santa Clara, to visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum and Museum. Back to l'Habana (plaza de la Revolution), accommodation in a different great guesthouse, a farewell dinner, and a night dancing at a local bar.
The tour perfectly balanced trips, time to chill, seaside, history, food, vitamin R (rum!), and Cuban lifestyle. I am definitely going back to this fantastic island. I was really lucky as the participants in the tour were amazing: we immediately gelled, and it felt like we had known each other for ages.
It was my first time travelling with Intrepid, and the experience has been really positive. I have already booked my next holiday with Intrepid!
Review submitted 28 Apr 2024
Beautiful Cuba
Jessica · Traveled April 2024
An incredible and life changing trip around Cuba. An experience I'll never forget. And if you're thinking of booking- get to it and make sure you ask for Yuri as your tour leader. You won't regret it!
Review submitted 29 Apr 2024
Cycle Cuba: East
Rachel · Traveled April 2024
Enjoyable trip, nice scenery and towns visited. Interesting history and guided walks of local towns. Bikes were of good quality and plenty of support with the leaders. Guesthouses are basic, but comfortable and clean.
Review submitted 25 Apr 2024
Cycle Cuba: East
Suzy · Traveled April 2024
This tour is absolutely wonderful. The mountains will be on your left and the Caribbean will be on your right, and beautiful horses, cows, goats, pigs will watch you as you ride. Cl
Review submitted 26 Apr 2024
Best of Cuba
Michaela · Traveled April 2024
Fantastic trip. Cuba is beautiful. The people are warm and welcoming. So much more to see than just the beautiful architecture of Havana. Fascinating history.
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
The Caribbean is mostly known for its warm, tropical climate. It does, however, have an alternate rainy season that brings tropical showers from around May to November every year. This time of year is known as the wet or summer season because temperatures will get to their yearly peak around July/August and the rainfall will get to its highest monthly average.
There is intense humidity from May to October for most of the region, with tropical storms and hurricanes typically occurring from June to November.
As the Caribbean is an island region, expect moderate to intense windy conditions all year.
Aside from the wet season, the temperatures remain pretty constant throughout the year. Daily highs are likely to sit between 28-32ºC and lows can range from 22-26ºC.
The dry season is from December to April however, the seasons can differ depending on the region in the Caribbean.
The best time to visit the Caribbean is from December to May for the dry season.
The busiest time of year falls during the months of February and April as the northern hemisphere's winter temperatures and school holidays coincide, bringing in many sun-chasing visitors.
If you're looking for a quieter time, avoid the major holidays and look to go around April before the dry season ends but tourist numbers have lessened.
With tropical storms and the hurricane season starting from May and running to November, it can be riskier travelling to the Caribbean during the wet season. However, because the weather deters many travellers, it means fewer people around.
Storms and hurricanes are most likely to occur from June to November while the rest of the wet season can have sudden, intense downpours and rained-out days. But not all places will get as much wet weather as others, so it's worth doing a bit of research before you plan.
Whether you need a visa for the Caribbean will depend on your passport, the length of your stay and the countries you are visiting. For many travellers, including those with a UK, US, Canadian or Australian passport, you may need to pay an entry tax or a visa waiver fee or purchase a tourist card for countries such as Cuba, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic. Many countries in the Caribbean may allow foreign travellers to enter as long as they are only staying for a certain amount of time. This can change depending on the country visited and your nationality. Certain countries may also have a fee to extend your stay. Countries that may not require a visa for entry may still require each traveller to have a return or onward ticket.
If you are visiting the Caribbean, make sure you have thoroughly checked the entry and exit requirements specific to your nationality and make sure you do this for each destination you are travelling to or transiting through.
The page is for general information only and may be subject to change. It is your responsibility to obtain relevant visa and travel information required for entry, departure and travel to each country or region you visit on your trip. You should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates.
Last updated: 29/08/2023
Tipping in the Caribbean is typically done at the discretion of the individual. If no gratuity has been added to the check, it's customary to add about 10-15% minimum.
Generally, tips are given to bellhops, housekeeping and room service. You may also tip bartenders, spa workers, barbershops, taxi drivers and waiters, it's up to you.
Internet access in the Caribbean is usually accessible, especially in the tourist areas.
Restaurants and venues may even have their own wi-fi for guests to use; sometimes, this may be for a small fee.
You can use a mobile device in the Caribbean. However, some areas, mainly rural and remote island areas, may not have coverage.
Several destinations also have local phones you can rent during your stay, while in other areas, the roaming function on your own device will work to keep you connected. However, ensure you've turned on global roaming before leaving your home destination. If you intend to activate global roaming while in the Caribbean, be sure to check with your service provider to find out about any fees you may incur when using this option, as sometimes this can be expensive.
Toilets in the Caribbean are typically western porcelain flush toilets. Some locations, specifically remote away from major hubs, may use a toilet hose or even a pit latrine if there is no indoor plumbing. You may need to pay to use toilets while travelling in the Caribbean and sometimes toilet paper isn't supplied - so it's a good idea to carry small change and toilet paper while out.
Also, keep an eye on whether you can flush toilet paper, as in some countries, you may not be able to.
Some countries in the Caribbean do have safe tap water, however, it may be chlorinated and cause stomach upsets.
Countries where tap water is not safe to drink include:
Cuba
the Dominican Republic
Haiti
Trinidad
Tobago.
Tap water safety can also vary within countries depending on if you are outside the tourist regions. For this reason, it's not advisable to drink water from the tap in the Caribbean.
For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable bottle or canteen with filtered water if you can – your group leader will provide larger and less disposable water containers for refills on private transport days when they have the resources available.
It's also best to avoid ice in drinks and to peel fruit and vegetables rather than eating washed or unwashed produce.
Major credit cards are widely accepted in the major tourist hubs in the Caribbean. Most countries will also have sufficient ATM access in these popular areas, however, they can sometimes be unreliable.
It's advised to carry cash when visiting more remote islands and destinations just in case card payments are not accepted.
With so many countries and territories in the Caribbean, public holidays can vary from island to island. Many of these countries include Christian holidays in their calendars, as well as some more regional celebrations like Carnival.
1 Jan: New Year's Day
7 Apr: Good Friday*
10 Apr: Easter Monday*
1 May: Labour Day*
29 May: Whit Monday*
8 Jun: Corpus Christi*
25 Dec: Christmas Day
26 Dec: Boxing Day
Carnival celebrations 2024/2025
Feb: Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti and the Dominican Republic
Apr: Jamaica
Jul: St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Cuba
Aug: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Grenada
Homosexuality is illegal in several Caribbean countries with imprisonment used as punishment for some homosexual acts. These countries include Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. In these countries, a high amount of discretion is recommended for LGBTQIA+ travellers.
While the other countries in the Caribbean have made homosexuality legal, the general attitudes towards the LGBTQIA+ community in this region are still conservative. It is recommended not to show public affection while travelling in this region as public affection can be uncommon, even among opposite-gender couples. Stigma still remains in some parts of the culture of this region, especially in rural areas. It is strongly advised that LGBTQIA+ travellers be discreet and mindful of local attitudes so as to avoid negative attention.
For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel.
If you are travelling solo on an Intrepid group tour, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at the time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travellers who do not wish to share a room.
Last updated 30/08/2023
We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations.
We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.
For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance
Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:
Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
Eden Reforestation Projects
Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe.
World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most.