Let's aim for a trip to Cuba in 2021!
There
have been many rumors floating around about what will or won't be
possible regarding travel to dear Marea del Portillo, Cuba, this year.
I've been watching and waiting, not wanting to book another trip that
might be cancelled. As well, there were many unanswered questions
regarding isolation/quarantine due to the ongoing COVID-19 issues. Upon
return to Canada, would we need to hide out for two weeks? How would
testing factor in? What about insurance?
For most of the summer, Sunwing had been offering flights to Manzanillo
de Cuba beginning in mid October. Some of my friends eagerly booked
trips but I still had reservations. I felt that late November would be
more viable. Then, October options disappeared from the Sunwing website
and, not long after that, so did November. Their site is still showing
trips available beginning Dec. 16 but I'm skeptical because I've heard
from a trusted source that Sunwing will be cancelling all trips to
Manzanillo (Marea), Camagüey and Santiago de Cuba for their winter
travel season. Some of my early-booking friends have been advised their
trips have been cancelled; others are awaiting what is likely coming.
Maybe things will open up by April 2021 but, of course, nothing is
certain. There are still simply too many variables. Outside of Havana,
Cuba seemed to be doing pretty well with respect to controlling COVID.
Unfortunately, despite precautions, cases of the virus are now on the
upswing in other provinces – mainly those close to Havana. Provincial
borders have been closed to all except essential travel.
However, Cuba has cautiously opened the doors to tourism in "the Cayos"
(islands along the northeastern coast), where the guests can be
contained and not allowed onto the mainland; a plan intended to protect
both foreigners and nationals. They are also providing free mandatory
COVID tests to anyone entering the country and have other health/safety
protocols in place. Sunwing and other major airlines are now offering
travel packages to Cayo Coco, etc. and have added free COVID-19
insurance coverage. I suspect that Sunwing is planning to drop other
Cuban destinations this winter in order to swing tourism traffic to the
Cayos, so they're more likely to have full planes and non-discounted
prices.
Since it does not appear that we're really out of the woods yet
regarding COVID, either in Cuba or North America, I intend to keep
watching and waiting. I most certainly HOPE to be able to travel to
Marea in the early part of 2021! However, I've stopped anticipating a
trip there this year, I'm very sad to say. If the stars were to align
and an opportunity presented itself, I would definitely jump on a plane
but, at this moment, I just don't see that happening.
Meanwhile, if you're looking for something to offset a potential
Cuba-deficit disorder, I may be able to help. I've recently signed a
deal to have my first novel published! Entitled, Cuban Kisses / Cuban Wishes,
it should be out in November. It's primarily set in Cuba, at a
fictionalized version of Marea del Portillo. I will send out a note when
it's available to order through my publisher's website. The image
below, which I shot at Marea a few years ago, is the template for the
book's cover.
Stay tuned!
Jenny
