No fake Cuba here. We skip the staged shows and go straight to the real thing—busy streets, backyard barbecues, musicians on the corner and the everyday stories that make this island tick. We want you to experience Cuba, not just watch as it passes by from a bus window.
About Cuban Adventures, The Cuba Travel Experts
Our vision and story—how we became award-winning Cuba trip specialists
We're passionate about Cuba! As a trusted Cuba travel advisor, we love helping our guests to experience a genuine connection with the locals while positively contributing to their communities. Cuba's unusual society and fusion of different cultures is truly special and we show travellers how to enjoy it without the typical tourist offerings and the distraction of modern technology that they find in other destinations.
We also share the rare and unique wildlife and tropical beauty of our island sanctuary, as well as the layered socio-political past that shapes Cuban life today, all while ensuring comfortable, worry-free travel.
Our Story
Cuban Adventures was founded by tour guide John Ahrens, who fell in love with Cuba's natural beauty, spontaneous energy and the spirit of its people. He saw that many tour companies and Cuba vacation planners used foreign guides and overseas-owned hotels, which didn't give travellers an authentic Cuban experience. John envisioned setting up a 'grassroots' Cuba travel specialist that employs local guides and accommodates visitors in family-owned guesthouses, giving our guests the best opportunity to delve into the heart and soul of Cuba.
When John met Clarita Derwent, she not only shared his love of Cuba, but also had experience working as a tour manager with Cuban festivals and Cuban musicians. In 2005, with a shared vision of how they wanted the company to operate, they began to create the Cuban Adventures you know today, together.
Since we began over 20 years ago, Cuban Adventures has grown from the original team of John, Clarita, Tour Leader Natalia, Operations Manager Kirenia and a few others. Now we are a company that employs over 40 people passionate about helping travellers discover the real Cuba.
Trust built through local expertise
As our tours quickly grew in popularity, we became a trusted Cuba group travel planner. Our team expanded from two guides to over 40 today, and we became award-winning Cuba travel experts! We're also a Cuba Destination Management Company, supporting other international tour operators in planning and delivering tours in this incredible destination.
Our commitment to using small, family-run guesthouses, called casas particulares, creates a special connection between visitors and locals. We also use tour leaders and local guides from Cuba, giving our travellers specialist knowledge about the revolutionary past, creative spirit and cultural influences that have shaped modern Cuban society.
Turning passion into purpose
We've turned our passion for Cuba into purpose by structuring our business around making a positive impact in every aspect of what we do.
Our award-winning small group tours are designed so our guests can experience authentic cultural activities and interactions. As travel specialists focusing exclusively on Cuban adventures, our team members are Cuba holiday experts. We bring these elements together to give our guests a taste of the real Cuba, while directly benefiting the people and places that make our island home so special.
Client satisfaction inspires our day-to-day work, so happy customers mean we've achieved one of our primary goals. We support our guests with a range of travel services to complement our tours, such as eVisa applications and travel insurance that can be purchased directly through us.
Becoming the most reputable tour operator for travel in Cuba is our vision. As Cuba tour specialists, we help travellers make genuine connections, share stories and experience hospitality with Cuban locals. Our guests gain an appreciation of Cuba's legacy while supporting the Cuban people, celebrating the island's heritage and respecting its natural beauty.
We help travellers safely experience everything that makes the real Cuba such a magical place. We're committed to showcase its exhilaration, authenticity and unique culture, while maximising the positive impact of tourism on local communities and the natural environment. We achieve this through our small-group, socially responsible tours conducted by knowledgeable local tour leaders and guides. They're authentic, affordable and deeply enriching for both our guests and the people of Cuba.
We believe a better world is possible! Designing and delivering responsible travel experiences and activities in Cuba helps us add value to the lives of our team members, local partner service providers and residents. Our travellers also benefit from exceptional, life-changing experiences.
Running our Cuba tours in a socially and environmentally responsible way is paramount. Having a positive impact on people and the environment in Cuba is not just a business policy; it is vitally important to us. All staff and service providers we engage in Cuba also share this objective and work with us to implement our responsible travel policy.
Our Values
We don't just run tours—we introduce you to our colourful, lovable and wonderfully energetic island home. Our values guide everything we do at Cuban Adventures, from the routes we choose to the jokes we crack on tour!
We're guests in every community we visit, so we behave like good guests would. That means listening more than we talk, asking before we photograph and treating people, places and traditions with genuine care and dignity.
Our favourite souvenirs are friendships. Small groups, local hosts and shared meals mean you actually get to know Cubans, as well as your fellow travellers, so you make meaningful connections that go beyond small talk. More laughs, more stories, more 'I'll definitely be back'.
We love all your questions, both the easy ones and the awkward ones. Cuba is complex, fascinating and full of surprises, so we invite you to dive in with an open mind. We'll share the history, the realities, the rumours—and probably a few good chismes, or 'gossips', along the way.
Your trip to Cuba will make a meaningful difference. We work with locally owned casas, paladares, artists and community projects so your trip supports real people with real dreams in Cuba. Travel with us and your dollars stay on the island, not a big corporation overseas.
We want Cuba to stay magical for a long time. That's why we travel in small groups, choose partners who care for the environment and culture and make conscious choices to reduce our impact. It's good for the planet, good for Cuba and good for your travel karma.
Expanding our impact and leading the way forward
Cuban Adventures is proud of our commitment to offer visitors an unforgettable, realistic insight into what life is really like in Cuba. We show guests the pride of the people, their innovative spirit and culture shaped by African and Spanish influences. Our day-to-day operations and the responsible tourism initiatives we support and implement are also designed for ongoing positive impact.
Making a difference in our community
We were among the first Cuba group travel planners to hire local Cubans as tour leaders and guides, and to offer stays in family-owned guesthouses. This policy supports small local businesses, creates employment opportunities, provides training and fosters professional development opportunities for our team. Delivering multi-layered and meaningful experiences for our travellers while reinvesting in the community is at the heart of what we do best.
Our focus on sustainability and responsible tourism
Our commitment to sustainability centres on traveller and operator education, as well as actions designed to minimise the negative social and environmental impacts of tourism in Cuba. For example, we aim to eliminate plastic waste and reduce reliance on single-use plastics as part of our Responsible Tourism Policy, so Cuban Adventures provides purified water for refillable water bottles on our multi-day tours. When we take our guests to restaurants, we encourage them to bring their own reusable straws and request that drinks are served without plastic straws. In our Responsible Birding Cuba Project, locals are trained in ecologically friendly ways to guide birdwatching groups, and we discourage activities that involve animal exploitation.
Awards and recognition
Cuban Adventures has been receiving international press coverage about our tours for decades! The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards recognised us for activities promoting cultural engagement and conserving cultural heritage. Our 8-day Original Cuba Tour won Tour of the Year for Latin America three times, thanks to excellent traveller reviews on TourRadar. We have also received prestigious awards and accolades from other notable organisations, including TripAdvisor, Get Your Guide, Ecotur, LUXlife, and many others!
Our legal registration and operational licensing
To further expand our impact and global credibility, we are licensed to operate in Cuba and across multiple regions. Cuban Adventures is the main tour operator brand registered under the Australian travel company Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd, and we are registered with several other international companies, including:
- Australia: Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd ABN: 15154669360
- US: Big Planet Adventures US LLC: 201506410392 | CST#2121440-40
- UK: Big Planet Adventures Ltd | CRN 15574895
- Brazil: Viagens Caribe Ltda | CNPJ 59255104000190
Our credentials also include:
- Accredited Member of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (ATIA): A17177
- Member of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO): 55579588
- Member of the Australia-Latin America Business Council
Partnerships & Pledges
Partnering with and supporting organisations that share our commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism is important to us.
The people who make your Cuban journey extraordinary
Get to know the faces behind our Cuban Adventures family.
Our leadership team
John Ahrens
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
John has been living, studying, traveling and adventuring in Latin America since 1990, and guiding and developing tourism programs there since 1997. He speaks both Spanish and Portuguese fluently and first starting working in Cuba in 2002. Since then has found it hard to stay away from the island for any length of time. His passion is to share the uniqueness of Cuba and its culture with others and to provide an authentic experience for those who are willing.
Clarita Derwent
Chief Operations Officer (COO)
Clarita is trained in the Arts, in Event & Tour Management, and in Tourism. At Big Planet Adventures her focus is on Purpose driven Sustainable and Responsible tourism, and on Social Impact & Circular Economy. Clarita had the travel bug from an early age, travelling to Japan at 15 as an exchange student. She has travelled to, and lived in many countries, with her other interests strongly rooted in Culture and the Arts. She has worked, coordinated and performed in some of Cuba's fantastic festivals.
Kirenia Castañer
Destination & Admin Manager
Kire is the Manager for our whole operation in Cuba. She works on just about everything, from the organisation and bookings of tours to managing the entire local team - no small job! She also manages operations for other travel brands outsourced to us here in Cuba. She is a graduate in English and Social Science, an expert Arabian dancer, and graces us with her obvious and abundant charms. Kirenia is the longest serving member of our Admin team and without her Cuban Adventures would not be what it is today.
Our tour leaders and local guides
Ivan
Cuba Tour Guide
Ivan is originally from Trinidad and has been a professional tour guide for many years in Cuba. He speaks exceptional English, and as a guide there is almost nothing Ivan can not do! He loves reading and enriching his already vast knowledge of history and geography.
Yuri
Cuba Tour Guide
Yuri majored in Biology at the University of Havana, his hometown. He has worked successfully as a tour guide for more than 15 years. He has a great passion for wildlife and a broad experience in Nature Tours like hiking and Birdwatching. He loves travelling and exploring the wide diversity of towns and landscapes of his Cuba. He also likes History, Geography, Music and Sports. He is a proud ambassador of his country and he enjoys sharing his knowledge and experiences with visitors.
What Cuban Adventures offers you
Cuban Adventures is a Cuba trip planner and tour operator providing extraordinary travel experiences that focus on culture and community. Our team removes the barriers that can intimidate travellers to Cuba by delivering safety, knowledge and support for an uplifting and enriching adventure.
Why tour Cuba with us?
Looking for more reasons to choose us? Here's why Cuban Adventures is the right tour operator to show you this wonderful tropical island:
Over 1,000 glowing reviews across eight independent platforms provide proof that travellers love our Cuba tours!
Our 8-day Original Cuba Tour won TourRadar's Latin America Tour of the Year three times!
Every tour directly supports Cuban families and businesses, from local guides to guesthouses and restaurants.
We cut single-use plastics from our tours, pioneered Cuba's no-straw policy and launched eco-friendly birding tours.
Our inclusive packages, like the Queer Havana Tour, explore Havana's gay-friendly nightlife and Cuba's LGBTQI+ culture. We also offer Women-Only Tours for women interested in meeting and travelling with other women.
Our local guides and tour leaders are thoughtful and considerate, delivering hands-on care and attentive, personalised service.
Exploring in smaller groups of up to 16 people creates deeper cultural connections while minimising environmental impact.
Our Cuban guides are bilingual professionals trained in Cuban cultural history, cultural sensitivity, sustainability and Leave No Trace principles.
Stay in handpicked family-run guesthouses and experience authenticity, comfort and genuine Cuban hospitality.
We give back through pledge1percent.org, donating tens of thousands of Australian dollars each year.
As Cuba travel consultants, we specialise exclusively in Cuban tours and travel. Even global tour companies trust us to run trips on their behalf!
What travellers say after visiting Cuba with us
Excellent
Based on 1,518 reviews
JefferyMarch 18, 2025Cuban Adventure did an excellent job. I was impressed with the knowledge and friendless of the tour guides. It was wonderful overall experience. Great way to immerse yourself and learn about the culture of the Cuban people.
AndreaFebruary 14, 2025If you want to see Havana and the Cuban countryside in an authentic, meaningful way, there is no better option than Cuban Adventures. Go behind-the-scenes and get an intimate, genuine glimpse of life, work, and play in places no ordinary tourist would ever find. If you want to engage in real discussion with local business people, artists, and city residents, this is for you. It was the opposite of a boring, cushy vacation. No hotel is as good as a casa particulares. This trip will open your eyes to the magic of Havana and the richness of the island's lush greenery, amazing cuisines, and the genuinely welcoming, resourceful people of Cuba.
GordonFebruary 12, 2025Great tour, accommodation, food, night life for the money I would do it all over again.
DonaldFebruary 9, 2025Planning to go to Cuba? Book your trip with CUBAN ADVENTURES, you will not be disappointed. The service and guides are exceptionally qualified and well trained. CUBAN ADVENTURES pays attention to the most minute details that make their excursions exceptional. CUBAN ADVENTURES will be nothing short of amazing.
AnthonyFebruary 7, 2025Don't bother looking elsewhere. If you are looking for an exceptional, authentic, and memorable journey, CA is your best choice. We have partnered with them for multiple trips and have been 100% thrilled each time. You cannot make a better choice to experience Cuba.
MichaelFebruary 7, 2025Cuban adventure provided me and my group one of the most thorough travel experiences I have ever had.
Discover the island's heart and soul with a Cuba trip specialist
As an award-winning travel advisor in Cuba and tour operator with a passion for responsible travel, Cuban Adventures invites you to explore the very best of Cuba with us. We offer four tour types ranging from a few hours to 20 days, with a wide variety of experiences, activities and destinations in Cuba. Browse all our tours or plan a tailored trip to suit your interests.
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