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Overview

Scuba diving trip in Cuba

The Canarreos archipelago is a large garden floating near the south coast of Cuba. In the warm Caribbean Sea, you can explore deserted islands with white sand beaches covered with an exotic flora. This scuba diving trip your opportunity to sail on the clear waters in the blue lagoons perfect for snorkeling. The renowned cayos of Cuba shelter an incredible wildlife: endemic flora and fauna you will see nowhere else in the world.
Discover a different side of Cuba aboard a magnificent catamaran with skipper. Our spacious sailing catamaran offers 6 double cabins for 12 passengers, fully equipped with private bathroom. The crew comprises a captain and a sailor-cooker.
Some nautical activities are offered on board are: kayaking, masks and snorkels (snorkeling), fishing equipment. Away from the hordes of tourists, you will discover this small corner of wild paradise of small cays and islets. It's time to take a break, another Cuba awaits you!

Don't hesitate to contact Uniktour’s Cuba specialist for more information about this fantastic sucba diving trip!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight - Arrival in Cienfuegos
Arrival to the Santa Clara or other airport, land transfer to Cienfuegos city. Boarding between 06:00 pm and midnight. Dinner and night in the marina.

Day 2| Cayo Guano del este, 4h00 - Cayo Largo, around 2h30
Breakfast on board and a short sail with the wind to Cayo Guano del Este, the first stopover before the mythic Cayo Largo. Lunch on board, then swimming in a small creek located North of the island, and snorkelling on the coral reef. A 2:30 hr navigation takes you to Cayo Largo. Mooring for the night in Playa Sirena.

Day 3| Cayo Largo
Breakfast in front of the beautiful Playa Sirena, then visit a sea tortoises' farm, some of which are centenarian. Lunch on board, swimming, kayaking, snorkelling and relaxation in Playa Sirena and Playa Paraiso in the afternoon. Night in the marina, where the night club of Cayo Largo welcomes you to dance to the Cuban
rhythms (optional).

Day 4| Cayo Rosario, around 2h30
After breakfast, depart for the coral barrier of Los Ballenatos. Snorkel on splendid reefs, then lunch at anchorage. In the afternoon, swimming and water sports in the spectacular natural swimming pools of Quinto Canal. Late afternoon, sail to Cayo Rosario. Mooring for the night in front of the beach.

Day 5| Canarreos Archipelago
Swimming and beachcombing on one of the most beautiful beaches in the Canarreos Archipelago; snorkelling in the coral reef between thousands of multicolored fish, as if in a genuine aquarium. Visit the Cayo Cantile reserve walking through the forest to discover Flor y Fauna park.

Day 6| Cayo Rico - around 2h00
After breakfast, snorkelling in the reef of Quebrado del Rosario. Departure to Cayo Rico. Lunch at anchorage in front of the beach, and then swimming and water sports. For those who care for rum, the bar on the beach welcomes you to taste the renowned Mojito cocktail. Mooring for the night in Cayo Rico.

Day 7| Cayo Iguana - Cayo Largo, around 45mn
Depart for Cayo Largo after breakfast. With the dinghy, visit Cayo Iguana, a small island inhabited by hundreds of iguanas. Lunch at mooring and then visit the "Gardens of the Tower", shopping in the village's shops and watch the sunset from the bar of the Marina. After dinner, night sailing to Cienfuegos.

Day 8| CienfuegosDisembarking in Cienfuegos at 09:00 am
Transfer to the airport or extension tour in Cuba.

Budget

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Other fees

Overview

The Cuban archipelago comprises a surface area of 110, 992 km² and is situated in the westernmost part of the insular Caribbean, at the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico. More than 4000 keys and islets form part of the Cuban island, including the special municipality Isle of Youth (Isla de la Juventud), with a surface area of 2200 km². Also known as the key to the Gulf, Cuba is the largest of the West Indies and one of the largest in the world.

Cuba has more than 300 natural beaches of fine white sand and crystal clear waters. The most famous of these is Varadero; however, there are others to the east of the capital city in Holguín and Cayo Largo del Sur, as well as in the northern keys of Ciego de Ávila and Villa Clara.

Three mountain ranges, two long regions of savanna and numerous valleys known worldwide like Viñales, Yumurí and Los Ingenios go all through the Cuban island. Waterfalls and cascades in beautiful rivers like Hanabanilla keep charming nature lovers.

Geography

Warm, gentle, crystal clear waters surround the Cuban archipelago. The mild tides and no strong currents of its waters, their virgin condition, the non polluted and well-preserved bottoms and the diversity of its underwater flora and fauna may be some of the reasons why so many diving lovers come to Cuba.
The Cuban reef forms a submarine string of coral around the entire archipelago, both north and south of the island. It is made up mainly of full-grown corals. Rocky buttresses of different structures are shaped by these corals, some incredibly resembling gothic pillars or majestic castles. They are the habitat and shelter of other marine species like sponges in the guise of cups, tubes or branches; sumptuous gorgonians that sway with the waves; algae of capricious growth, and in the crevices and pits: octopus, sea urchins, starfish, polychetes and crustaceans.

To complete the wonderful underwater world, astounding caves, vertical walls, tunnels and cliffs join this sea party, along with many other attractions of this submerged tropical garden.

Rivers
Most rivers in Cuba are relatively short and the water currents are quite strong. They flow through the mountains, creating beautiful waterfalls such as Salto del Caburni and Agabama Falls. Cuba's longest river is Cauto (about 240 km long) located in the east. There are also many reservoirs and lakes.

Fauna
Our flora and fauna is very rich and diverse. There are more than 300 protected areas that cover approximately 22 % of the national territory. Cuba treasures six areas declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO: Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Sierra del Rosario and Ciénaga de Zapata National Park, in the western; el Caguanes National Park in the center; and Baconao Park and Cuchillas del Toa in the eastern part of Cuba. More than 50 % of insular flora is endemic and its variety becomes evident if you take into account that in our country is represented 4 % of the total flora in the planet. Among these and most appealing are orchids, cactuses and the palm tree, which is the national tree.

Flora
Cuban fauna is very attractive. It still preserves rarest species like the zunzuncito -the tiniest bird in the world-, the tiniest frog, a very small bat called Mariposa and a scorpion not longer than 14 millimeters.

Endemic species are also seen when it comes to amphibians and reptiles. The crocodile, commonly found in crocodile breeding centers in the country, is very characteristic of Cuba.

Around 400 species of birds are estimated to exist in our island, and none of them are harmful to human beings.

Relieve
Cuba has a wide variety of landscapes, either plains or hilly and mountainous areas. The three most important mountain ranges in Cuba are Cordillera de Guaniguanico, in the western part of Cuba, Escambray in the center, and Sierra Maestra, in the east, with Turquino peak, the highest point in the country, with 1,974 meters above sea level.
The rest of the territory is plain and fertile. There are plenty of caves, some of outstanding beauty like Bellamar in Matanzas province.

Culture

Cuban culture is very prestigious. Its happy people live very rooted to its traditions and customs. If you want to know about that go and visit the museums.

Diego Velázquez and SPanish conquerors in Cuba founded 7 villas: Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa, San Salvador de Bayamo, Santiago de Cuba, Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe (today Camagüey), Sancti Spíritus, Trinidad and San Cristóbal de La Habana (Havana).
Havana, capital of Cuba since the 16th century, is one of the Caribbean cities with the most rich and ancient cultural heritages. Its historical center and its system of fortresses were declared World Heritage.

If you take a tour of our cities you will see the development of music, dance or plastic arts, manifestations that have left a trace in the world. The fortifications of the Spanish military engineering can be seen in many cities of Cuba ans well as the patrimonial and architectonic value of many of the constructions.

Many important festivals like the ballet, cinema, Habanos are held in Cuba, thanks to the prestige the island has earned worldwide.