On Sunday, January 31 TotalAdventure hired a late model Chinese car for the 180 mile, 320 km drive from Havana to the colonial city of Trinidad. As we can see in the video below, the modern four lane freeway is almost always empty. No traffic jams in Cuba !

KM 141 Rest Stop.

Along the shores of the Caribbean.

Propaganda, not advertising.

Only one still alive.

In late afternoon we arrived in Trinidad.

In keeping with our philosophy of helping local people wherever possible and having a more authentic experience, TotalAdventure stayed in a private compound – casita below.

Dinner – one of the better meals of the trip – baked Florida lobster – $ 10.

For current adventures in Cuba CLICK HERE.

Monday, February 1st, dawned warm and springlike, with TotalAdventure being awakened by crowing roosters. The countryside near Trinidad reaches from high mountains to white sand Caribbean beaches.

A 1951 Chevy was hired for the day. For a 65 year old car, it ran great , though the driver would not take it over a high mountain pass.

We drove to a finca for horseback riding.

Lunch was being prepared – boiled yuca.

In Cuba, rum flows like water.

Off on a trail to the mountains.

To a large cenote – cool water in a cave – perfect after riding in the hot sun.

Torre Manacas Iznaga – 200 years old, 200 feet tall , 61 meters – built by sugar cane plantation slaves in 1816.

For current adventures in Cuba CLICK HERE.

On the way back from Trinidad, TotalAdventure stopped in Cienfuegos for a couple of hours. Cienfuegos is an industrial port, with a center that is like a Spanish themed American town of the 1950s.

A cafecito is one CUP Peso – about 4 cents.

Cienfuegos is the home of the famed musician Benny More.

The Young Communist League.

TotalAdventure was asked not to come inside.

Perhaps this sign will be taken down soon ?

In the Cathedral.

For current adventures in Cuba CLICK HERE.

After Cienfuegos the car returned me to Havana for the final two nights at the apartment in Ciudad Vieja.

TotalAdventure spent the final day exploring eastern Havana from the Malecon to Miramar – the diplomatic district. Above , is the newly recommissioned United States Embassy.

On Avenida 5, the Iranian Embassy.

The very retro Habana Riviera, untouched since the 1950’s. Scenes from the Russian propaganda movie Soy Cuba  were filmed here.

Closed since New Year’s Eve 1959. Not much chance to redeem.

Inside – the Copa Room – your Grandparents may have danced here.

The all-seeing Soviet Embassy. The Russian Embassy occupies a huge plot of oceanfront land.

Venezuela, a close ally.

On Thursday, February 4th TotalAdventure returned to Miami, once again, on the 45 minute Eastern Airlines flight. TotalAdventure will return later in 2016, hopefully on the overnight ferry service that is expected to launch from the Port of Miami. In the meantime, please enjoy the video below – “Cuba Road Trip 2016.”

For current adventures in Cuba CLICK HERE.

TotalAdventure has just returned from a road trip in Cuba, only 45 minutes away from our home city of Miami. A 45 minute flight and 57 years back in time.Due to limited internet access TotalAdventure was unable to upload video and photos on a daily basis. The entire story of the trip will be uploaded shortly, with many great photos.

For current adventures in Cuba CLICK HERE.

BEL-MAO-MIA   In the morning TotalAdventure packed ( still carrying  ski jacket from Chile ) and boarded TAM for the 2 hour flight to Manaus – Amazonian Capital – and  hopping off point for many jungle and river adventure trips.

Coming into Manaus.

Time To Return Stateside –

The 4 1/2 hour journey offers beautiful aerials of the Northern Amazon, Venezuela’s Gran Sabana, the Guajira Peninsula, Cuba and finally into Miami.

The 2.5 hour flight from Miami to Panama City, Panama passes directly over Cuba, in the central part of the country. Though US – Cuba relations are not at their best , American Airlines pays the Cuban government for the privilege of using an air corridor, as it saves lots of fuel for not having to fly around the island.

Isolated Cayos on the North Coast. Unspoiled Paradiese.

A tiny farm town cut off from the world, yet only about 150 miles( 250 km ) from Miami.

The South Coast does not seem as sandy. However, fishing is rumored to be incredible.

Since I abide by the US Treasury Department regulations,and to avoid angering my fellow Miamians – I have never set foot on Cuban soil. However, during my many trips to South America, I have flown over Cuba many times. Cuba will be an adventure paradise for a LONG time – thousands of kilometers of untouched beaches,wild tropical mountains, unfished, unpolluted reefs and deep seas. Above is Matanzas Bay.

Unproductive Farmland.

Gitmo Bay in the distance.

Santiago.

Cayo Coco