Canyoning Cuba!
An exclusive travel
of adventure and culture!
Season
2009 :
Rates
: all-included with flight
for a group of 6 persons (8
days program ; see detailed itinerary below):
December
6 to 13, 2008: 2199$ at Club
Ancon, 3-star hotel , from Montréal
April
18 to 25, 2009: 2349$ at Club
Ancon, 3-star hotel , from Quebec City
April
20 to 27, 2009: 2299$ at Club
Ancon, 3-star hotel , from Montreal
May 2009 (student package, minimum 12 persons, rate to be
calculated)
Rate
for 6 persons. Package is possible for 4 persons with an
extra of 300$ per person.
Other
dates are possible for groups of 4 or more people upon request:
call us to check.
An
extra fee of 125,00$ will be charged for single occupancy
at the hotel.
VIP
trip for 2 persons: extra charge of 1000$
per person. Transport will be done with a 4X4 vehicle.
In
collaboration with Tours Mondial, Canyoning-Québec
is offering you a unique opportunity to hike in wonderful
tropical canyons.
For
information, contact Christian Morneau (Quebec permit holder)
(418) 522-8930 or 1-800-363-5523
Reserve early to make it happen!
The escape key
Cuba is
strategically well situated in the Caribbean Sea and was
fairly knicknamed "The Caribbean Key". It's a
large island ponctuated by substantial mountainous regions
hiding small treasures that are still pretty virgin. Canyoning-Québec
is offering you the key of some fabulous canyons that are
still echoing the cheers of our recent explorations.
Between
boulders and through the sunrays piercing the canopy
Canyoning
is barely known in Cuba. Invited by government tourism organisations,
we brought our experience and contribution to the first
canyoning explorations in Cuba. We have lived inforgetable
trips to discover virgin cascades waiting for their first
descent. We are now able to offer excursions for tourists
wanting something different than the casual beach, off the
beaten path.
Canyons
of Cuba
Every canyon displays a variety of landscapes and waterfalls.
Canyoning is an experience away from our usual time and
space reference points, away from the altered territory
altered by mankind. We follow a stream that evolves with
altitude, carving a smooth slide or jumping in a vertical
fall walled by the canyon. Further down, the 18°C
emerald green waters flow in a open jungle, revealing amazing
ferns or colorful birds. And again, joyful cascades offer
a refreshing music to celebrate the wild life of that lost
paradise.
La
cascada Escondida means "Hidden cascade" and was
discovered in march 2004
Welcome to the paradise!
The package lasts 8 days including 4 daytrips in canyons
offering increasing technical challenges but with an introductory
clinic and easy start for a maximum of 10 persons. The excursions
are adapted to the group abilities. Since travelling is
also discovering a country and its people, we planned cultural
visits of the historical cities of Trinidad and Cienfuegos,
architecture treasures as well as a couple stays by the
seaside.
Smooth
waters of Rio Caburni
Description of a typical
canyoning excursion
The
group is leaving to the canyons at 8h30 AM after reviewing
the individual and collective equipment. Transportation
to the trailhead is done with a converted and open russian
military truck (6x6). Follows a downhill hike for 30 to
45 minutes to reach to the upstream access to the canyon.
Participants have to expect to walk in narrow and sloping
trails, carrrying a backpack with personnal equipment and
some rope. The trails are snaking in a nice forest with
magnificent sierra scenery. The canyon descent lasts 4 to
6 hours, depending on the groupšs pace. Since the streams
have a good horizontal development between the cascades,
progression will involve walking in the streambed and occasionnal
swimming. Toboggans and jumps can be proposed to pass a
vertical obstacle. Rappelling on rope is a fun part of the
excursion and is generally easy, even on 40 m drops. Very
often, calcite deposits creates steep slopes for rappelling
and are carved by waterfalls in many shapes.
Cabagan
canyon reveals geological surprises
The
canyon waters are not cold but rather refreshing after a
good hike. Wearing wetsuit longjohns adds comfort even for
crossing deep pools. Many stops are made along the canyon
to take pictures, listen to the local "eco-guide"
about the wildlife or learn more on canyoning techniques.
Gastronomic and nutrient food is provided by Canyoning-Québec
during the trip.
The excursion finishes by the end of afternoon and there
is a hike and transport to get to the hotel, relax and enjoy
a good evening meal, with tales about the magical canyons...
See the whole program below.
Requirements
No previous
skills on rope are necessary. Before the first and easy
excursion, an introductory clinic enable beginners to learn
the basic techniques for a safe descent on rope. Two guides
will always be present to belay each individual descent.
Hiking and climbing experience is optional but everyone
must feel comfortable about the idea of rappelling with
a seat harness. It's also good to remember that the excursions
are done in a wet environment involving swimming and occasional
jumping.
The
famous Caburni Falls : 25 m high.
Equipment provided
All technical
equipement is supplied for the activity. Each participant
will have a helmet, a wet-suit with booties, a harness with
gear and a drybag. Canyoning-Québec will bring ropes,
anchors, first aid supplies, watertight containers, etc.
Each person needs to bring a bathing suit and a pair of
hiking shoes with good sole and support. Technical sandals,
kayaking slippers and light sneakers are not accepted. An
accessory list will be sent prior to the trip.
8
day package itinerary
Day
1. Arrival to Cienfuegos
Arrival to the airport. You will be met by a Canyoning-Québec
representative. Transfer to Villa Guajimico by the seaside
(40 km drive). Lodging.
Day 2. Guajimico and Escambray
Breakfast. A relaxing moment with various nearby activities
such as snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, etc. Lunch and
transfer to Topes de Collantes, in the Escambray mountains.
Lodging at Los Helechos hotel. Dinner. Information meeting
with the guide and the logistics team. Equipment preparation.
Between
amigos...
Day
3. Nengoa Cave and Guayanara Park
Breakfast and departure for Cabagan river. Descent of a
small canyon with a cave to introduce rappeling techniques.
Lunch and transfer to the Guayanara natural park. Hiking
and unforgetable dinner at La Gallega restaurant, isolated
in the tropical forest. Camping nearby (tents, mattresses
and blankets provided).
Day
4. Canyoning in Cabagan canyon
Transport
to Aguacate village in the early morning. Hike to the start
of the Cabagan canyon upper section with its spectacular
cave like natural bridge. Canyoning day. Lunch during the
excursion. Return to the village by hiking on a trail uphill.
Return by 6x6 to the hotel. Dinner and night at Los Helechos.
This
cave is traversed during the Cabagan canyon excursion.
Day
5. Trinidad
Breakfast
and transfer to Trinidad, a nearby colonial town registered
in UNESCO's world heritage list, a bridgehead for the conquest
of the American continent, built in its days of prosperity
from the sugar trade. Guided tour of the old city and lunch
at Plaza Mayor restaurant. Look for local handicraft souvenirs
on the street or visit the shops of talented artists (painting
or sculpture). Excursion to Ancon beach with possible snorkeling
excursion at the reef barrier. Return for dinner in a spanish
colonial house before going out to the live music and dance
shows at the Plaza Mayor. Lodging in Trinidad.
Day 6. Canyoning at Caburni canyon
Breakfast,
transfer to Topes de Collantes. 6x6 transfer to El Gallo.
Downhill hike to the Caburni river canyon. Descent of the
Escondida cascade and the famous Caburni Falls followed
by various cascades ending in a final lake. Lunch during
the excursion. Return uphill with mule assistance for packs
halfway up. Return by 6x6 to the hotel. Dinner and night
at Los Helechos.
Day
7. Canyoning at Vegas Grande
Skilled by the experience of the three previous canyons,
the group is ready for an amazing descent. Transfer by 6x6
to the trailhead of Vegas Grande. Hiking through the forest
in steep trails for an hour. Descent of a spectacular canyon
offering many vertical cascades for over 200 meter of relief.
Lunch during the excursion. Return to the trailhead from
the bottom of the last cascade. Transfer by 6x6 to Los Helechos.
Dinner at Mi Retiro restaurant. Lodging at Los Helechos.
Day
8. Topes de Collantes- Trinidad- Cienfuegos
Breakfast.
Departure to Cienfuegos. Souvenir stop to Trinidad. Lunch
at Cienfuegos and city tour. Transfer to the airport for
return to Montreal.
A
typical easy cascade to descend in Cabagan.
Main
facts about the package
The package includes the following:
- Guiding by Marc Tremblay of Canyoning-Québec (fluent
english spoken);
-
Canyoning equipment;
-
Transportation between the airport and the hotel;
- Transfer in air conditionned bus;
- Lodging in three-stars hotels except for the one night
camping at La Gallega (Day 3);
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners;
-
One drink per meal but all can bring their own wine for
most dinners;
- Transportation to the trailheads for the canyoning excursions;
- Gastronomical and nutritional lunches for each canyoning
excursion;
- A cuban guide for the tours and the travelling and tourism
information and a naturalist guide for the nature excursions;
- Information and documentation for the trip preparation.
The package does not include :
- The flights to travel to and from Cuba;
-
Personnal expenses;
- Alcoholic drinks and meals not mentionned in the package;
- Travel insurance;
- Optional excursions;
- Tips.
Acknowledgment
and assumption of risk
All participants will have to fill and sign an acknowledgment
and assumption of risk form before their departure to Cuba.
For more details, please contact Marc Tremblay of Canyoning-Québec.
Season
2009 :
Rates
: all-included with flight
for a group of 6 persons (8
days program ; see detailed itinerary below):
December
6 to 13, 2008: 2199$ at Club
Ancon, 3-star hotel , from Montréal
April
18 to 25, 2009: 2349$ at Club
Ancon, 3-star hotel , from Quebec City
April
20 to 27, 2009: 2299$ at Club
Ancon, 3-star hotel , from Montreal
May 2009 (student package, minimum 12 persons, rate to be
calculated)
Rate
for 6 persons. Package is possible for 4 persons with an
extra of 300$ per person.
Other
dates are possible for groups of 4 or more people upon request:
call us to check.
An
extra fee of 125,00$ will be charged for single occupancy
at the hotel.
VIP
trip for 2 persons: extra charge of 1000$
per person. Transport will be done with a 4X4 vehicle.
Reservation
conditions
Earlier is better to ensure
your place! Packages will be offered upon availability of
flights for the chosen dates.
More informations? Christian Morneau of Tours Mondial (Quebec
permit holder): (418) 522-8930 or 1-800-363-5523
Canyoning-Québec: ask for Marc Tremblay (418) 998-3859
or (418) 827-8110
info@canyoning-quebec.com
Š 2008 Canyoning-Québec
