Espíritu Travel Bewertungen 201

Espiritu Travel provided a very worthwhile tour of Cuba and I would highly recommend the trip with a few caveats. I had a great opportunity to get to see Cuba up close and personal which included meeting our various tour guides and Casa hosts, all of whom were extremely open, friendly and helpful. It was very special to be able to visit Cuba in such an intimate way. Our trip enabled us to go way beyond the typical hotel accommodations and major attractions. It was very special and I will always have fond memories of our trip.
But to take this trip you need to be adaptable to what Cuba is all about. One of our casa's was lovely except it was a three story walk up in a small apartment building that was pretty run down. The unit we stayed in was very clean and our host was incredibly sweet. But our room had no chair to sit and there was no common area to rest up in. So be prepared for some adjustment from what American tourists are used to.
Cuba doesn't have many new vans and the one we traveled around in was not in the best condition. The roads are very rough so traveling was not the most comfortable experience. So be prepared for some "bumps" in the road. If you can deal with that and really want to see Cuba beyond a cruise ship excursion or a stay in the big hotel, go with Espiritu. They gave us good service, the guides and driver were very special, the information provided was excellent and everyone involved tried their best to make our trip a meaningful and enjoyable one. I recommend them for travelers who want to see the real Cuba but are a little adaptable.

I would recommend this trip - Uncovering Cuba - to anyone who is interested in getting an insider's view of what it's like to live in Cuba (a bit austere, limited freedom, good education, limited access to products and lacking the infrastructure that we take for granted in the states) and what the Cuban people are like (warm hearted to the core, some satisfied while others frustrated and bursting to get out to see the world, welcoming, and all eager to help you see their country).
Espiritu arranged a well planned and executed trip and populated it with the most terrific, knowledgeable and personal guides and drivers - Yillian and Michael, that's you. In fact, I think Yillian, the guide, was the best part!
Espiritu was clear in warning that this is not your typical luxury vacation with American amenities, but the homes we stayed in were clean and breakfasts tasty. If this fits your style and interests, this is your trip.

Espíritu travel planned a great trip to Cuba. It covered the mountains, forests, beaches and towns. The casa particulares were all very comfortable, clean and inviting.Our guide Yilian was very knowledgeable and open to answering all questions we asked in a very thoughtful manner. Our driver Michael was professional and a dapper dresser. We felt safe in his hands. The small group of 6 was manageable and comfortable. I highly recommend this company.

This is late in coming as my husband and I r just now recuperating from severe colds due to the very cold weather that welcomed us back to New York. Our much anticipated trip to Cuba more than exceeded our expectations. It was indeed an unforgettable experience. Many thank yous and appreciation to Eiser Mojica Roque, our guide and driver throughout our stay. Not only was he an excellent source of information, but he also became a friend, making sure that we were well taken cared for by everyone we came in touch with. We will always remember his friendliness, cordiality, caring and warmth. All the B&B’s we stayed in were very comfortable, clean and accommodating. Breakfasts at all of them were delicious. Owners and or employees were friendly, cordial, eager to share anecdotes, experiences, etc. We had great food while in Cuba. All the paladares visited were very good and quite reasonable. Mario, our city guide in Trinidad was an extremely knowledgeable and very educated individual who gave us a very detailed, concise description of this beautiful colonial city. We thank him and also our very nice Cienaga guide. (Sorry I forgot his name). He was also very verse and super enthusiastic about the ecological wonders we were witnessing. We definitely acquired new knowledge through his very clear and detailed lecture. We were able to visit and thoroughly enjoyed all the music venues suggested by Karin. We also thank her very much because due to her flexibility, we were able to modify our tour to include Santa Clara and visit Che Guevara’s monument. All in all, hands down, we recommend Espiritu Tours if you want to visit Cuba. It really is the only way to go if you want to experience Cuba more closely and intimately. Once again, thank you Espiritu Tours for making these old folks’ dream come true.

The people make the country, and the company, great!
Karin responded to all of our many requests for information, and compiled an excellent tour. Carlos made time to come see us, listen, and both helped us contact and reassure family after the tornado.
Yillian was fun, thorough, knowledgeable and professional as our fearless guide.
Michael was professional, insightful, knowledgeable, and graceful as our wonderful driver.
WHAT A TEAM!

I had a wonderful time. Out guide, Adriana, could not have been better! She went out of her way to help our group in many ways. The only negative was Buena Vista Social Club, I would skip that.

Every exquisite detail of our trip was meticulously researched, planned and coordinated by Karin, CEO of Espiritu Travel, and expertly implemented by Mario, our Cuban guide/driver/ friend.

We have always been independent travelers, and this was our first ever “organized”, private tour. So we weren’t sure what to expect from our lengthy road trip through Cuba. Well, it exceeded in every way! Upon our return to the USA, we realized we could never have done it on our own - no matter how well we might have prepared and planned. Karin’s itinerary included sites and places we had always hoped to experience, plus sites and places a first-time visitor would never have realized existed - but for her vast knowledge of Cuba’s hidden secrets and treasures. She selected clean, comfortable, pleasant Casa Particulares - all within easy walking distance from the heart of each city we visited, and all with hosts who welcomed us as friends. Her advice about sightseeing on our own when time allowed, and her tips for travelers in a Socialist country could not have been more relevant or helpful. Nothing was left to chance or prepared haphazardly - from the selection of excellent English-speaking local City guides, to museums’ hours of operation, to suggestions for free time activities and bus schedules for our (more-or-less) independent excursion to Vinales. I can’t thank you enough, Karin.

Once in Cuba, Mario saw to it that we experienced a carefree, safe, and informed holiday. When he picked us up at Havana airport arrivals , he assured us that he would be “ on call” for us whenever and however we needed him. And he was! Every day, in every way, for over 2 weeks of travel. He went far beyond driver/guide. He entertained and informed us. He watched over us like our own sons would. He has a sense of self and sense of humor much like my husband’s and they got along like brothers from different mothers! Along our route, he went out of his way to point out some of his personal favorite spots, ocean views and impressive lookouts. Or to buy us exotic fruit and sweet local treats he thought we’d enjoy. He amazed us with his historical and cultural knowledge and willingness to share it all with us. We (especially my husband) bombarded him with questions and comments that should have taxed his patience. But all we ever noticed was his accommodating nature. He never complained if we requested a slight revision in schedule or an unexpected stop along our road trip. He truly was “ there” for us!

There’s so much more I could say about this amazing adventure and the two people who made it possible. I’ll just conclude by commenting that of all the places, worldwide, we have been fortunate enough to explore throughout the years, this Cuban experience has been our favorite and most memorable. If you are considering a trip to Cuba, you won’t be disappointed if you book it with Espiritu.

I had a great experience in Cuba with Espiritu Travel. My guide was exceptional with her knowledge of Cuban history and culture. We developed a friendship which I hope will continue long after the memories have faded. The accommodation were clean and comfortable and the hosts pleasant and very flexible with breakfast hours, etc. The local guides knew their subject and were interesting and entertaining. Karin who helped organize my trip in the US was very patient and helpful. All in all, I would recommend this company to anyone who wants to experience Cuba.

From the first time we called Karin to the very last minute in Havana, Espiritu travel went above and beyond to make us comfortable and happy. Our tour guide Tai was amazing. She took care of our every need, answered every question, she was patient, funny and warm. We also loved our driver Francisco. Thanks to Espiritu travel, we loved our trip, and can't wait to go back. Thank you Karin.

I HIGHLY recommend traveling with Espiritu Travel if you want to have a truly memorable experience in Cuba. I spent many months planning the trip for my organization directly with their CEO, and she was incredibly accommodating to the needs of our group and and our specific interest in Cuban art. She was very well organized and informative, and made all of the arrangements for us with our hotel, restaurant reservations, and excursions.

Our tour guides were equally as fantastic. They were so knowledgable and willing to share with us so much about life in Cuba. We had an unusually large sized group, and they were amazing at keeping all of us engaged and having fun. Request Carlos or Luis as your guides if you can!

You will have a great experience and be well taken care of if you choose to travel with Espiritu Travel.

Our guide in Cuba, Eiser Monica Roque, was totally awesome from the moment we landed til departure. When we asked for recommendations, dinner, explanations, changes to the itinerary, there was never any challenges. I was a little taken back by the accommodations, the houses listed were not the houses we stayed in, however, the owners and staff was were very gracious, and Eiser made sure that all our needs were satisfied. Everyone should see Cuba, and let Eiser be your guide!

We had an absolutely fantastic, phenomenal experience in Cuba through Espiritu. It really could not have gone more perfectly. Karin, the owner based in the US, has a great understanding of Cuba and begins the process with a suggested itinerary and then worked with us on any customization we wanted. She was extremely responsive all throughout the planning process.

My wife and I normally do all our planning on our own, but given the nature of the US relationship with Cuba, we thought it better to have more guidance on this adventure. It proved to be a great decision. Our family of five had a private tour guide from Espiritu named Oscar who was great fun to be with, and showed us both the "real" Cuba and the more tourism-centric Cuba. We learned so much from him about the culture, the history, and the people of Cuba. He has a great sense of humor and really connected with our kids (ages 23, 21, and 16) in addition to my wife and me.

When we traveled to places outside of Havana, Oscar came with us but passed us onto local tour guides for specific activities or tours where the local guides had more knowledge or experience. Oscar, and Espiritu's hired driver (Carlos) were on time every time and completely flexible regarding however much time we wanted to spend in any location.

What was also really nice is that we had time on our own. On some days, the guided portion of our visit would end at noon, or mid-afternoon, or late afternoon, and we then had the remainder of the day to wander on our own as a family, have dinner, and listen to music somewhere in the evening.

The trip exceeded all our expectations. The excursions gave us great insight into life in Cuba.
Our tour guide, Santi, was personable, extremely well prepared, knowledgeable, and made the entire trip very pleasurable.

I highly recommend the Havana trip exactly the way it was planned for my family.

Great trip. Very educational. Our guide Adriana and driver Jordy were excellent. I would highly recommend Espiritu

It was an amazing experience. Well organized and planned. Our guide Santy was outstanding- he elevated the whole experience on another level.

We have traveled quite a bit around the USA, Canada, South Africa, Europe and the Virgin Islands. With exception of South Africa, we have not used guides/drivers and prefer to do it ourselves. However, there is NO WAY we could have done such a rewarding deep dive into Cuba in eight days without the exceptional guide and driver we got through Espiritu. Our trip was amazing in every way -- culturally, historically, politically -- and with a laser focus on the local and the authentic such that we would never have been able to replicate it on our own. Our guides added tremendous value through their inside knowledge, candid responses to our questions about life in a communist country, and winning personalities. Adriana was the best!!! She is smart, bilingual, personable, candid, and as conversational as we wanted to be (and perceptive enough to respect silence). She is a 100% get it done young woman that all four in our group truly liked as a person and respected as a professional. And our driver Os Mani (sp?) was great!!! He was easy to be with and drove us expertly to our major destinations, which involved some rough roads. I was skeptical but quickly became a complete convert to the benefit of traveling this way!
Money is hard to come by and credit cards are not recognized or accepted - anywhere. Be forewarned: When you get the opportunity to exchange in Cuba, get plenty, store it in a money belt under your shirt and take out what you need for each day. Lines are LONG, banks close unexpectedly, and some of our $20 bills were rejected due to being worn or having an ink smudge or tiny tear.
Our trip to Cuba allowed us to get to know and support locals. Since the death of Fidel Castro in 2016, more little private businesses, such as restaurants and bed/breakfasts are popping up. With Espiritu, our holiday featured staying in the homes of Cuban people where they received payment instead of government owned/operated hotels. Our accommodations were comfortable, clean, air conditioned, and had a mini-bar in our room. The families prepared us breakfast. We also went to small private restaurants, often on ground floor of people's homes, instead of government owned/operated bars and restaurants. In Cuba, the government owns and runs everything! But there is now a budding of private enterprises by private citizens, which we supported. I highly recommend Espiritu Travel!!!

My husband and I had an outstanding vacation in Cuba. Karin, CEO at Espiritu Travel, helped me to plan a custom 12-day trip that included all of the things we wanted to do. She selected casa particulares that were top notch. We were fortunate to have Eiser as our guide/driver. Our vehicle was a very comfortable 2016 Ssangyong Korando SUV. In summary I highly recommend Espiritu.

We had wonderful trip in Cuba. Enjoyed to be with Cuban people and learned a lot of cultural and history of Cuba. The most unforgettable things were Cuban music and old cars and building structures in Cuba.

All Casas we lived were all beautiful, well arranged, clean, comfortable and with very good and large breakfasts. The hosts are very friendly and willing to provide any help they can, making our trip in Cuba smoothly.

Just remind people to Cuba to take with you mosquito and bug repellent.

Espiritu Travel provided us with the perfect journey to Cuba! Not only was Karin responsive, informative, and helpful with our many questions before we left, but everything she planned and promised us was achieved while we were away. Our guides were all wonderful - informed, friendly Cubans who were eager to make us feel the spirit of their country. They could not do enough for us, and we feel as if they are now our friends. We cannot say enough positive things about Espiritu! This was a wonderful experience!

The trip was great. Our guides were knowledgeable, engaged, thoughtful. Over the course of just a few days we forged a strong connection to Cuba and the people of Havana. Definitely recommend to others looking for a "behind the scenes" experience and access to out of the way life in Havana.