This forum seems to be divided into 2 groups of travellers - the ones going to all-inclusive resorts, and the ones trying to experience and see as much of Cuba as they can.
I am considering myself to be part of the second, and as such I joined a GAP Adventure Tour. There is not too much info about this kind of holiday in this forum, and I had some requests of some kind of report about it, so here it is.
First of all, I was a bit "unlucky", since I was the only one on my tour (one participant cancelled ahead of the tour, one came to say he wouldn't join, and 2 got stuck in Mexico), but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise!
The tour works as follow, you are met by your "local leader", and the tour is explained. Usually I suppose that the members get to know each other and the interests and wishes are exchanged. The leader is there to accompany the group, whch usually is not greater than 15 people. The good part about it is, that with a small group, you do not end up in a large coach with a boring tour guide telling you uninspiring stories about the country, but you have a local, who you can interact and ask whatever you want. Also, I felt that you are so much closer to the "real" Cuba than in a resort or a large group! Cuba is such a complicated country, and the impressions I had about it would be enough to write a book. I am very grateful I did a GAP tour, as it is such a different approach to traveling.
Usually I am BIG on independant traveling, and this is the first time I joined a tour for a long time (I had some bad experiences with group tours, believe!), but GAP Adventures is different(like, I suppose Intrepid Travel, Exodus or Tucan etc.). It has most of the advantages of independant traveling, but having one local leader gives you the chance to really get to know the country, at least in the eyes of the leader and his/her "friends". It probably the closest I could have gotten to the "real Cuba" in such a short amount of time. We also stayed in Casa particulares, which were spotlessly clean and not so basic as one might have though. This gives you an insight of the Cuban Middle Class (yes there is such a thing, one of the many lessons learned with GAP). Regardless of GAP, the Casas would be the best way to get to know Cuba!
I would recommend GAP Adventures Tours for everybody with an appetite for a "mild" adventure who is willing to take an occasional cold shower or a mild culture shock in order to get an holiday experience like no other.
Feel free to ask me anything you like about it!


