Discover Cuba!
| ADVENTURE DETAILS |
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| TRIP DATES: Available to Private Groups of 6 or more. Please call for details and price (based on the number of guests). |
| LOCATION: Cuba |
| PRICE: TBD |
Captivating Cuba Trip for Women
Discover and connect with the culture of this land of richness and spirited people. This cultural exchange trip affords a small window of opportunity to us. We’ll learn the history of this island nation back to the 15th century, the spirit of revolution the Cuban people carry in their hearts, and how this spirit is reflected in their beautiful art, music, architecture and food. We travel with a government-authorized operator, with a very busy schedule of educational and cultural activities. We start from Havana, Cuba’s enigmatic capital city, whose nearly 500 year Old Havana is home to the largest collection of Spanish-Colonial architecture in the Americas. Then we’re off to the Vinales Valley, Pinar Del Rio and back to Havana, with incredible memories and an appreciation for an era and a culture right at this historic time of change. Join us on this special adventure, and interact with local Cuban women to discuss their lives, economy, challenges, aspirations, and more. Note: Itinerary is subject to change based on current political environments.
Activities at a Glance
Discover Cuba Itinerary
Day 1
Upon arrival in Havana at the Jose Marti International Airport and clearing customs, meet our local English speaking Cuban Guide outside the baggage terminal. Our drive from the airport orients you with Cuba’s enigmatic capital city, whose nearly 500-year Old Havana is home to the largest collections of Spanish-Colonial architecture in the Americas. Make a photo stop and learn more about the Plaza de la Revolucion, the center of Cuban political life where millions of Cubans listened to speeches of Fidel Castro. Enjoy a fascinating walking tour of the Colon Cemetery founded in 1876, and noted for its elaborate sculpted memorials containing more than 500 major mausoleums and chapels. The cemetery is the final resting place for famous Cubans including artists, writers, musicians and ballplayers. Check into our hotel and unpack for our five night stay. Our welcome dinner is at a local Paladar. Overnight Havana (D)
Day 2
This morning enjoy a guided walking tour of pedestrian only Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the beautiful Cathedral de la Havana, built in baroque style in 1748 and learn about its preservation and continuous restoration. Next, enjoy a fascinating tour of the Havana Club Rum Museum with a local Cuban rum expert to learn about the history and process of making Cuban Rum and an opportunity to sample the differences. Following lunch at a local Paladar in Old Havana this afternoon we visit the famous Museum of the Revolution that displays documents and artifacts, weapons and planes from the revolution. Learn about the Bay of Pigs, the 1961 historic clash between the CIA trained Cuban exiles & rebel forces. Next head to the charming fishing village of Jaimanitas to visit the incredible Home and Work Shop of world famous artist, painter and ceramicist Jose Fuster, often called the “Picasso of Cuba”. He has adorned an entire neighborhood with colorful ornate mosaics. Here we spend
time with locals to discuss the influence of the artist’s work and their lives and community. Dinner is on your own this evening allowing you to explore the fine restaurants, cuisine and Jazz clubs of Havana. Perhaps even take in the world famous Tropicana Cabaret Show on your own that offers an evening of music and history at this famous nightclub show that presents song and dance performances of 1950’s Cuba. Overnight Havana (B, L)
Day 3
This morning following breakfast we begin the day with a fascinating visit and guided tour with a local cigar expert to the La Corona Cigar Factory. See firsthand and learn about the history and the process of Cuban cigars being hand rolled. The factory rolls such brands as Hoya de Monterrey and Cuaba & Punch. Next enjoy a performance by the amazing Habana Compas Dance Group. Interact with the students and teachers to learn more about the Cuban dance culture. Next, tour the famous Nacional Hotel, once Havana’s flagship hotel that has hosted celebrities and world leaders during its heyday, such as Winston Churchill and Frank Sinatra to name a few. Free time to explore this historic property housing pictures and nostalgia from a by gone era or sip a Mojito on the patio. Meet a former famous professional Cuban baseball player and join in a discussion regarding the history and love of this game in Cuba and the U.S. Overnight Havana (B,L)
Day 4
Today we travel out of Havana and into the rural Cuban countryside to the Vinales Valley located in the western most mountainous range in Cuba and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This region, the western province of Pinar del Rio is known for its stunning scenery, a landscape of prehistoric looking flat-top mountains or “mogotes”, tobacco plantations, caves and rivers. Next, visit a traditional Tobacco Farm and Farmhouse to meet with the farmer to learn about tobacco cultivation, the drying process and experience a cigar rolling demonstration inside the drying hut. Enjoy a visit inside his farmhouse, meeting and interacting with his family while enjoying some Cuban coffee. A great opportunity to witness up close, how Cuban families live in a rural setting. Next enjoy lunch at the beautiful Finca Paraiso Paladar (organic farm) offering incredible panoramic views of the Vinales Valley and an opportunity to meet the Cuban family that owns this organic farm. Later stop at the Los Jasmines viewpoint offering incredible views of the Vinales Valley and an opportunity to enjoy the spectacular scenery and take photos of this beautiful and unique region of Cuba. Return to Havana later this afternoon with the evening on your own to explore Havana’s many outstanding Paladars, jazz clubs, or simply relax. Overnight Havana (B, L)
Day 5
Following breakfast, we enter the world of Ernest Hemingway with a visit to Hemingway’s Farm, Finca La Vigia (meaning ‘lookout house’). This beautiful property hosts the house where the Nobel Prize winner lived with his wife Martha for 21 years. View the perfectly preserved home where many of the Hemingway personal furniture and belongings remain intact. View his famous boat on display, the Pilar in which he used to patrol for Nazis in the Caribbean waters and featured in his novel “Islands in the Stream”. A photo stop is made at the Morro Castle, built in 1589, to protect the mouth of the Havana Harbor. “Morro” in Spanish means a rock which is very visible from the sea and therefore serves as a navigational landmark. Perched on the headland on the opposite side of the harbor from Old Havana it can be viewed from miles around as it dominates the port entrance. Next visit the San Jose Craft Market and Art Center to meet and interact with the local artists to discuss and learn of the importance of their art in Cuban culture. Learn from the artists who share their experiences of pursuing the arts with limited access to materials and funding. Before dinner, meet the local Old Style Car Club owners. A chance to interact and talk with the owners and learn why Havana’sstreets are filled with vintage American automobiles and understand what it takes to keep them on the road. Enjoy a drive through the streets of Havana in a vintage car to your farewell dinner at a one of Havana’s top local Paladars. After dinner you have an opportunity to meet and discuss with the owners how this private Paladar enterprise works in Cuba. Overnight Havana (B,L,D)
Day 6: Havana and surrounding area
Following breakfast, this morning, we’ll transfer to the airport for our return flight home with incredible memories of the amazing people and culture of Cuba. (B)
What’s Included:
- 6 days / 5 nights fully guided tour by English speaking local guide and a Canyon Calling Trip Leader
- Roundtrip Airfare from your major airport / Havana. This will be booked for you 30 days prior to departure. Prices will vary by US region and more information is available.
- Air departure taxes and fees
- Havana Airport Departure Taxes
- Cuban Health Insurance (required by Cuba)
- First Class hotel accommodations in double occupancy
- Airport/Hotel/Airport transfers
- All transportation as noted in the itinerary via deluxe, air conditioned motorcoach
- 12 Meals as noted in the itinerary (5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners)
- All activities as outlined in the itinerary or similar replacement activities
- All entrance fees, permits and passes to activities
- Baggage handling (one checked bag meeting baggage guidelines)
- Gratuities for all activities, hotel porters, wait staff at included meals, local step on guides, and all people to people visits and interactions.
What’s Not Included:
- Round-trip transportation from/to your home city to Havana, Cuba (see pricing for West/Central/East US)
- Alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature
- Charter flight baggage fees – can only be paid in cash at the airport in Miami. At time of publication, Miami-Havana bag fee is $25 (up to 44 lbs., including carry on).
- CUBAN TRAVEL VISA is required for travel to Cuba and applies to US citizens only. The Cuban Visa cost is $100 per person including processing fees and will be invoiced with final payment. This is subject to change.
- Trip Cancellation insurance – see Special Notes #2 below
Special Notes for Cuba:
- Deposit of $1,00 per person is due at time of registration; and final payment on this trip is due 90 days prior to departure (versus the standard 60 days on other Canyon Calling international trips). This is due to our destination management company’s requirements following the US’s regulations and Cuban government-authorized operators. We proudly partner with Premier World Discovery. There will be additional forms required for trip registration.
- Trip Cancellation fees are stiff for this trip! Cancel more than 180 days prior to departure: Full Refund
– Cancel 179-75 days prior to departure: $500
– Cancel 74-45 days prior to departure: 25% of total price
– Cancel 44-15 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
– Cancel 14 days or less/no shows: Nonrefundable - A passport photo page copy is due with your deposit payment at time of registration. To avoid change fees, submit full passport names (first/mid/last) exactly as they appear on your passport.
- Since travel to Cuba for US citizens is relatively new, we’ll send a special FAQ (frequently asked questions) document to you. The purpose of the trip is to have meaningful cultural exchanges with local Cubans. Our guide may be a master at replacing activities so pack your spirit of adventure and flexibility.
- Due to the strict governmental requirements with US visitors to Cuba, we will be on an aggressive cultural itinerary with little free time. We will also be part of a larger group movement.
- The best things to bring on this tour are curiosity, flexibility, a sense of humor and a global citizenship point of view!
