Gondwana Ecotours, a New Orleans-based company, has added
Cuba to its roster of destinations.
The company's seven-day tour features accommodations in
casas particulares (private homes) with private room and bathroom. Most meals
are in paladares (in-home restaurants). Activities include horseback rides
through the Vinales Valley outside of Havana, hiking, snorkeling, a visit to
the guide's family farm, tours of Old Havana, concerts, a cigar factory visit
and numerous exchanges with locals.
"If you are not into cruise-ship type travel, you've
come to the right place," said Jared Sternberg, Gondwana Ecotours'
founder. "This tour offers an authentic experience where travelers will
get an insider's view into the unique culture and nature of this island."
Group size is limited to 10. Departures are Sept. 9, Oct. 7
and 21, Dec. 2 and 30. Price is $2,345 per person, double, not including air.
An optional guided three-day extension to each tour date
visits Cienago de Zapata National Park in southern Cuba and is priced at $600
per person.
The word Gondwana refers to a huge land mass that stretched
from the south pole to the equator millions of years ago. The company offers eco-tours
to Tanzania, Rwanda, Argentina, Ecuador, Alaska and Louisiana.