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About us – Caledonia Worldwide

Established in 1996, Caledonia Worldwide is an independent specialist tour operator organising enriching and unique holidays in Cuba and selected other countries.  We organise and promote culturally aware travel for individuals and groups, and strongly believe that our trips provide an authentic way to be involved with local people and communities.

With over 25 years of experience in Cuba, we know the island, its people and landscapes, its culture and history inside out.  We love to share our acquired knowledge and personal experiences to ensure we can provide you with the travel experience of a lifetime at a pace to suit you.

Our small team of dedicated bilingual staff have travelled widely in Cuba and we all love our specialist areas. Read on to find out more about our team in Scotland and in Cuba…

 


Caledonia over the years…

2023
2018
2013
2011
2004
1996

Meet the team…

Kath Bateman

Kath Bateman

Director

Kath Bateman founded Caledonia in 1996 and still has a very active role in the company.  As a linguist and avid traveller, Caledonia brings together many strands of Kath’s personal and professional interests.

She is a Modern Languages and Tourism graduate and has worked as a tour leader, ski resort representative, English language teacher, salsa teacher, cultural events organiser and salsa club promoter.  She is also a qualified Blue Badge Scottish tourist guide, has lived and studied in France and Austria and has travelled widely elsewhere in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia and particularly in Cuba.

Kath is still very much involved in the business and is as motivated by what Caledonia does as when she first set up the company in the spare room at home all those years ago.

Mara Ival-Duncan

Travel Coordinator

Mara is the most recent addition to the Caledonia Worldwide team. She has grown up bouncing between Scotland and Cuba visiting her family in Havana. Mara has been dancing salsa since she was a little girl and loves to share the excitement and fun it creates with people all over the world. She has a passion for modern languages and is of course proficient in Spanish.

Mara has completed studies in Fashion and Textiles and loves to learn about different international cultures and how they can impact modern mainstream fashion.

Mara is very well travelled around Europe, travelling as far as East Asia and has been on music and dance trips all over Africa. This experience has provided Mara with a wealth of knowledge about the African roots of Cuba how that is represented and operates in contemporary Cuba today.

In Cuba

Many of you will know our team in Santiago de Cuba and Baracoa already and will appreciate the friendly, professional support and personal attention provided by our local representatives.

Odalis Calzadillo, Yalina Cardero and Oscar Gamez have all been working with our clients for many years now, and are very definitely part of the Caledonia family! Our tour leaders, Aylin Garcia and Naomi Kindelán are on hand in Cuba to make you feel part of the family too.

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Odalis

Santiago de Cuba tour leader

Yalina

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Oscar

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Aylin

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Naomi