June 7
D
- Arrive into Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on independent flights.
- Check into accommodations in picturesque and convenient Vedado neighborhood of Havana.
- Orientation: Late this afternoon meet with staff and fellow travelers.
- Driving tour of the city in Classic Convertibles. Ride in style along Havana’s famed seawall and through Vedado in classic cars from the 1950s. One of Cuba’s first private businesses that emerged after the new economic changes, this has become an important source of income for local families.
- Enjoy a welcome dinner at La Guarida paladar, famous not only for its delectable dining, but also as the location for the film Strawberry and Chocolate. It is housed on the third floor of a large, old town house carrying the charming ambience of the early 1900s.
June 8
B,L
- Breakfast will be served each morning at your accommodations.
- Explore the historic center and learn about the history and architectural importance of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. Venture to the side streets to witness Cuban life first-hand stopping at local bodegas, markets and the popular gathering places where Habaneros play dominos and discuss sports, jobs and other topics of their daily life.
- Lunch at Doña Eutimia paladar. Famous for its ropa vieja and frozen mojitos, this cozy paladar made Newsweek Magazine’s top 100 restaurants in the world in 2012. The restaurant’s location in the beautiful cathedral square is unbeatable.
- Tour of La Finca Vigía. Formerly the home of Ernest Hemingway, it still houses his expansive collection of books and his boat El Pilar.
- Music performance by Primera Linea, a youth band that fuses music from Cuba and New Orleans.
- Dinner is on your own tonight.
June 9
B,L
- Conversation with expert Oscar Fernandez Estrada. Get an update and real insight into the state of the Cuban economy: currency reform, foreign investment and economic changes.
- Visit to the Lizt Alfonso Academy, a women-led dance company and school for local youth, specializing in various types of dance. We will watch a private performance by the adolescent dance group and sit with the dancers afterward to discuss how they came to join the school and the impact it has had on them. The talent and work ethic at this school is impressive.
- Enjoy lunch catered by Paladar El Café and a private music performance by “The Ninfas” female String Quartet. Their repertoire is characterized by its genre diversity mixing the world’s and Cuban classics with today’s new trends.
- Havana Deep Dive. Choose Your Activity:
- Private tour of Christopher Colon Cemetery, a national monument and one of the oldest and most prestigious cemeteries in Latin America.
- Attend salsa lessons with a private instructor. Learn the moves of Cuba’s most famous type of dance.
- Discussion with a physician about the Cuban health care system.
- Dinner this evening is on your own.
June 10
B,D
- Tour of the Museum of Cuban Art accompanied by an art historian, who will provide an overview of Cuban art and artists over the last four centuries.
- Lunch this afternoon is on your own.
- Behind-the scenes visit to the studios and galleries of up-and-coming Cuban artists.
- Figueroa-Vives studio, a private art gallery run by Cristina Figueroa, an art historian who helps run the family business out of her stylish, art-filled home in Havana.
- Ama, a trendy store started by two young women offering colorful designs and accessories from various local designers. Meet the owners and learn about their story and experiences as entrepreneurs.
- Enjoy a private performance by Chicksoul, a female vocal musical group dedicated to “Retro” music of Disco, Funk, Soul, and New Wave of the 70’s and 80’s. The group also mixes Cuban music, defending genres such as bolero, guaracha, and salsa.
- Farewell Dinner at Grados, a private restaurant provider of the traditional Cuban cuisine and member of the slow food movement. Each dish has a history which is thoughtfully laid out by chef Raulito Bazuk.
June 11
B
- Check-out and transfer to Havana International Airport.
Trip Price
Per person double occupancy: $2,125
Single supplement: $300
Included
- Accommodations in Havana in casas particulares (bed and breakfasts)
- Daily breakfast. Lunches and dinners as listed on the itinerary
- All local ground transportation
- Admission to all museums and public buildings listed in itinerary
- Pre-trip departure information
- Compliance with US Treasury Department regulations
- Tips for meals included with the tour
Not Included
- Round trip airfare to/from Havana, Cuba
- Cuba E-Visa: currently $85
- Tips to guides, drivers and others
- Airline baggage fees
- Individual house/hotel expenses (mini bar, room service, laundry fees, etc.)
- Meals other than those listed on itinerary
- Anything not specifically mentioned as included
Round-trip airfare to and from Havana is not included. A recommended flight schedule will be provided to registered travelers. Airport arrival/ departure transportation travel on designated tour dates will be provided.