TRAVEL CATALOG

Transcription

1 TRAVEL CATALOG

2 DISCOVER The True Spirit of Cuba Step off the plane and back in time. Cuba, an enchanting island brimming with history, culture, and warm, welcoming people, is calling. From its timeless Spanish architecture to its soul-stirring music, to its people, who are as warm and welcoming as its tropical climate, Cuba has a deep-rooted culture all its own. Just 90 miles off the coast of the United States, Cuba is a captivating journey back in time, with nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, cobblestone streets filled with classic cars, and a landscape almost untouched by Western influence. It s time to discover Cuba through its people. Join us, the experts in legal travel to Cuba, as we explore the mystique behind this fascinating country and the gracious, welcoming spirit of the Cuban people. insightcuba is the proud recipient of Condé Nast Traveler s Top Travel Specialist award four years in a row. insightcuba.com CUBA 1

3 DISCOVER CUBA Why Visit Now? For more than 50 years, Americans have been all but forbidden to travel to Cuba. Now, legal travel to this enigmatic country is possible for any American, and insightcuba will take you there in ways no one else can. People-to-people travel to Cuba became possible in 2000 and we have led the way, sending more than tens of thousands of Americans to Cuba for nearly two decades. I signed up for a tour because I wanted to go now, before the United States ends its travel-and-trade embargo and the island is transformed faster than you can say, Hard Rock Café Havana. JOHN FLINN, TRAVEL WRITER, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE Now is the time to discover Cuba before it changes forever. 2 insightcuba.com CUBA 3

4 El Malecón, the winding seaside esplanade along Havana s northern coastline, hums with the spirit of Cuba and its people. DISCOVER CUBA With the Experts Leading the way. InsightCuba specializes in this once-in-a-lifetime experience for Americans. Our in-country knowledge and expertise is unmatched in the industry, allowing us to provide travelers with unique access to people and places the average person rarely sees. Simply said, we do Cuba better than anyone else. The exceptional travel experience we provide is built on nearly two decades of detailed research, comprehensive knowledge of Cuba, and our longestablished relationships there. We ve explored Cuba extensively and our connections and friendships in the country allow us to create unforgettable travel experiences and lifelong memories for our guests. 4 insightcuba.com CUBA 5

5 THE INSIGHTCUBA DIFFERENCE Invaluable Advantage InsightCuba has such a deep, long-standing connection with Cuba that we re treated like family, and when you travel with us, you will be, too. A trip to Cuba is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Americans, so choosing the right company is important. InsightCuba s highly trained and experienced team is dedicated to providing you with: AMAZING CUBAN GUIDES Discover Cuba with our favorite English-speaking Cuban tour guides. Specially chosen for their knowledge and passion for the country they call home, they will ensure that your trip exceeds your expectations. EXCLUSIVE EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES We ve explored every inch of the country, which has given us a deep understanding of how to create unique experiences with people and places most visitors seldom see. Our tours include exclusive activities and provide memories you will cherish forever. THE MOST CHOICES Backed by nearly two decades of experience in Cuba, insightcuba offers the most tours, departures, and destinations. Travel when, where, and how you want in this exciting country. 6 I believe the program was the best of what people-to-people tours are intended to be. B. BLADES insightcuba.com CUBA 7

6 THE INSIGHTCUBA DIFFERENCE Invaluable Advantage InsightCuba makes traveling easy, provides superior programming, and delivers exceptional service. WE TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING Due to more than 50 years of travel restrictions, travel to Cuba for Americans can seem complicated. We make it easy by taking care of all the details, from beginning to end. You can rest assured knowing your trip is 100 percent legal, so you can focus on discovering Cuba. OUR SIGNATURE CUBA TOURS Our Signature Cuba tours are the product of 20-years of exploring the island and feedback from thousands of guests. These tours are the best-of-the-best taking you to Cuba s most famous sites and special places that only insightcuba can provide. Each departure is specially curated by experts and designed to inspire meaningful experiences with the lifelong residents who give Cuba its spark. The programming and execution of all of our activities was of the highest caliber, with people in Cuba to help us unconditionally all along the way. EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND EXPERTISE Each guest s satisfaction is paramount. Every employee visits Cuba, meaning he or she personally knows the same places and faces you ll meet during your trip. Our top priority at insightcuba is providing the best travel experience and service possible. K. DAVIS 8 insightcuba.com CUBA 9

7 The depth of my gratitude is endless for the opportunity that you gave me and the 14 Americans on our private tour. TRAVELING TO CUBA Has Never Been So Easy S. LUCIA CHOOSE HOW YOU WANT TO SEE CUBA SMALL GROUP TOUR $ Travel with an intimate group of like-minded travelers to share experiences and make new friends. It s our most popular choice and allows you to save on your trip. Average group size is 10 guests. PRIVATE DEPARTURE just for you $$ Select your favorite Signature Cuba tour, your dates of travel, who you want to travel with, and we ll take care of the rest. Ideal for two or more guests. CUSTOM-MADE TOUR $$$ Start with your favorite Signature Cuba tour and make it your own, or work with our expert team and we ll help you curate your own trip. Choose your hotels, destinations, restaurants, excursions, and just about anything else. Ideal for two or more guests. 10 insightcuba.com CUBA 11

8 SIGNATURE CUBA TOURS Incredible Value InsightCuba invites you to choose from six carefully crafted Signature Cuba tours, offering unique access to the people and places the average tourist rarely sees. EACH TOUR INCLUDES: Accommodations at the Meliá Cohiba when in Havana, or another hotel on a Private Departure or Custom-Made trip Accommodations at the Meliá Varadero Beach Resort (Varadero + Havana tour) Accommodations at the newly renovated Meliá San Carlos when in Cienfuegos (Classic Cuba tour) Accommodations at the Meliá Santiago when in Santiago de Cuba (Undiscovered Cuba tour) Standard accommodations in other provincial hotels Expert local Cuban guide Private Cuban driver insightcuba exclusive-guided activities All meals while in Cuba, except for one or two evening dining experiences on your own U.S. Department of the Treasury authorization under a general license Intimate group size All entrance fees to scheduled activities and events All in-country ground transportation and airport transfers* Gratuities for luggage handling, restaurant service, and programmed activities throughout tour Fresh bottled water while touring insightcuba travel guidebook 24-hour customer-service hotline Flight concierge service (flight cost additional) Cuban visa ($99 fee applies) SIGNATURE CUBA TOURS UNDISCOVERED CUBA PAGE 14 CLASSIC CUBA PAGE 16 LEGENDARY CUBA PAGE 18 JAZZ IN PAGE 20 WEEKEND IN PAGE 22 VARADERO PAGE 24 * Transfers available only for group blocks or recommended flight arrival and departure times. Customary end-of-tour gratuities for the Cuban guide, driver, and tour leader are left to the guest s discretion and should be based on the guest s satisfaction with the level of service received. Gratuities are not included on the Varadero + Havana tour. Not included: Cost of airfare 12 insightcuba.com CUBA 13

9 UNDISCOVERED CUBA SANTA CLARA CAMAGÜEY BAYAMO SANTIAGO DE CUBA BARACOA HOLGUÍN SANTA CLARA CAMAGÜEY Camagüey's National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC). After lunch at a paladar, we'll meet with the dancers of a local ballet company. We'll dine tonight at the hotel. UNDISCOVERED CUBA 12 DAYS 11 NIGHTS THE INTRIGUING ISLAND OF CUBA is roughly 780 miles long. This culturally and geographically rich country boasts virgin forests hugging rustling tobacco fields; colonial cities sprouting at the feet of rugged mountains; and rivers carving blue tentacles into fertile valleys with the generous, warm spirit of Cuba s people enhancing your journey every step of the way. We wouldn t blame you if you wanted to explore it all. That s why our 12-day Undiscovered Cuba tour is our most sought-after trip. This is the ultimate excursion for travelers who long for adventure. Follow your Cuban guide on a cross-country tour that gets you behind the scenes and into the art, beats, and everyday lives of the people who give this fascinating country its soul. Available on: Small Group Tours Private Departures (6 or more guests) Custom-Made (6 or more guests) TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Explore the historic corridors of Old Havana Visit the Che Guevara memorial and museum Enjoy a heartwarming visit with children at a local elementary school Visit a Cucurucho farm and taste these local treats Visit a cigar factory Experience a Cuban rum tasting HOLGUÍN BAYAMO SAMPLE ITINERARY* SANTIAGO DE CUBA DAY 1 After clearing immigration and customs at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, you ll take a short drive to the Meliá Cohiba hotel for check-in and a tour orientation**. This evening, we ll celebrate your arrival over a welcome dinner. Meals Dinner BARACOA DAY 2 Begin the day with a visit to a cigar factory. Then we'll journey through Old Havana's labyrinth cobblestone streets for a walking tour of the old city. Along the way we'll meet the creative minds at the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) to learn about social, political and economic challenges Cuba faces today. After lunch, we'll continue our walking tour of Havana Vieja before returning to the hotel. Tonight, we'll dine at a popular paladar, a private, family-owned restaurant. DAY 7 CAMAGÜEY BAYAMO SANTIAGO DE CUBA After breakfast, we'll make our way to Santiago de Cuba by way of Bayamo and other picturesque points of interest in between. After stopping for lunch in Bayamo, we'll meet with the members of the Choir of Bayamo and be treated to a special performance. Continuing our journey toward Santiago de Cuba, we'll stop at Cuba s most important church, La Caridad del Cobre, frequented by the Pope on visits to Cuba. After arriving in Santiago de Cuba, will dine at the favorite Meliá Santiago hotel restaurant. DAY 8 SANTIAGO DE CUBA This morning, we'll meet with local musicians to learn about the unique rhythms of Santiago de Cuba and have a dance lesson. After, we'll take a 20-minute boat ride to the lovely Cayo Granma, where we'll also dine for lunch. After visiting El Morro de Castillo, the historic colonial Spanish fort, and taking in the magnificent views, we'll explore the old town of Santiago de Cuba. Enjoy the evening and dinner on your own tonight in Santiago de Cuba. Meals Breakfast, Lunch DAY 3 This morning, we'll visit a farmer's market and experience firsthand how Cubans shop daily for groceries and the unique challenges they face. Then we'll meet with artists at the inspiring Muraleando Community Art project. After lunch, we ll join in a discussion with leaders in Cuba's film industry and take a tour of the film institute. We'll finish off the day with a visit to Ernest Hemingway's famed home, Finca Vigia, in the seaside town of Cojimar. Tonight, you ll dine on your own at one of many recommended paladares. Meals Breakfast, Lunch DAY 4 SANTA CLARA Today, we'll journey to the colonial town of Santa Clara, where we'll meet with a specialist at a community children's project at a local art gallery. After lunch, we'll visit with with members of a traditional music troupe and listen to a performance. The troupe will demonstrate their unique style of music, common in theatrical performances and silent movies at the beginning of the 20th century. Then we'll visit the Che Guevara memorial and museum before checking in to our hotel in Santa Clara. DAY 5 SANTA CLARA CAMAGÜEY After breakfast, we ll depart for Camagüey, and have lunch in the beautifully restored square, Plaza de Carmen. Afterwards, we'll meet with a sculptor and painter in her studio. In keeping with the day s artistic theme, we'll visit a local art school. We'll end the day with an interesting visit to a polyclinic to learn about socialized medicine and medical practices in Cuba. Tonight, you'll dine at a local paladar. DAY 6 CAMAGÜEY During our second day in Camagüey, we'll visit an inspiring community project for children. Then, meet creative minds at DAY 9 SANTIAGO DE CUBA BARACOA The day begins with a drive along one of Cuba's most scenic highways and through the lovely town of Guantanamo (not the prison) on our way to one of Cuba's most unique city's, Baracoa. We'll stop for lunch along the way. DAY 10 BARACOA Your first morning in Baracoa will include a visit and tour of the quaint town center to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Next, we'll visit the Matachin Fort Museum, rich in the history of Baracoa's fortification. After a short boat ride, we'll stop for lunch at Rancho Toa. Then, we'll visit the Fabrica de Cucuruchos, where sweets from palm leaves, coconut, sugar, and pineapple are handmade. Tonight, dine on your own at a paladar. Meals Breakfast, Lunch DAY 11 BARACOA SANTIAGO DE CUBA After breakfast, we'll meet with Grupo Nengón Kiribá, a traditional Baracoan music and dance ensemble, for a performance and discussion. After lunch, we'll head back to Santiago de Cuba, where we'll have a farewell dinner. DAY 12 SANTIAGO DE CUBA HOLGUÍN Adiós, Cuba! After breakfast, depart for Holguín and visit an artist community, where we ll meet local painters. Then, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight from Holguín s Frank País Airport back home. Meals Breakfast, Lunch PRICES STARTING AT $5,395 For a complete list of dates and prices, please visit our website. * Activities in this itinerary should be considered a sample only. Final itineraries are sent to guests one-to-two weeks prior to departure. ** Check-in begins roughly at 3pm ET. The tour start time will vary slightly depending on flight arrivals.. 14 insightcuba.com CUBA 15

10 CLASSIC CUBA PLAYA LARGA CIENFUEGOS TRINIDAD PLAYA LARGA CIENFUEGOS TRINIDAD 8 DAYS 7 NIGHTS CLASSIC CUBA BUSTLING AND CHARMING TRINIDAD stir visions of brightly painted colonial buildings, pulsating mambo rhythms, and bustling barrios. This exciting, eight-day tour of Cuba s most famous cities will provide the brushstrokes you ve been longing to add to the unfinished canvas of your vision of Cuba. Your experience begins in the boisterous harbor city of Havana and ends in the artistic enclave of Trinidad and Cienfuegos, a jewel of a city known as the Pearl of the South. At each destination, a generous Cuban spirit unfolds as residents open their hearts and shed light on their colorful and often complex way of life. Available on: Small Group Tours Private Departures Custom-Made TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Walking tour of historic Old Havana Visit with La Colmenita, Cuba s most famous children s performing group Discover the enchanting cobblestone streets of Trinidad Visit Ernest Hemingway s home, Finca Vigía Experience a Cuban rum tasting SAMPLE ITINERARY* DAY 1 After clearing immigration and customs at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, you ll take a short drive to the Meliá Cohiba hotel for check-in and a tour orientation**. This evening, we ll celebrate your arrival over a welcome dinner. Meals Dinner DAY 2 Start your day with an exhilarating discussion on contemporary Cuba and how Cuba has changed over the past few years. Next, we'll take a walking tour of Old Havana and its labyrinth cobble streets. After lunch, we ll visit a rehabilitation-and-care center for senior citizens for some heartwarming stories. Next, a visit to Havana's famous rum museum. We ll end the day with dinner at a traditional Cuban restaurant. DAY 3 Begin your day with a visit to a farmer's market to gain insight into Cuba s developing community initiatives. Then, meet with an internationally recognized dance troupe and enjoy backstage access to a dress rehearsal. After lunch, we'll visit the Cuban Institute for Film (ICAIC). Later, we ll meet performers from La Colmenita, a children s touring group that performs locally and internationally. (In 2012, they performed at the United Nations.) DAY 4 Today, we ll meet a historian at the Colon Cemetery, the most important burial ground in the Caribbean. Next, we'll pay a special visit to a polyclinic. After lunch, meet an art specialist for an insightful tour of Havana s Museum of Fine Arts. Tonight, dine on your own at a paladar, a private, family-owned restaurant. Meals Breakfast, Lunch One of the best trips I have ever taken. M. JENSEN Morro Castle and its lighthouse, perched on a seaside fortress at the mouth of the harbor in Old Havana, can be viewed from miles away. DAY 5 PLAYA LARGA CIENFUEGOS Today, we ll leave Havana for Cienfuegos via Playa Larga, where we ll have lunch. From Playa Larga, we'll continue our journey to the charming island town of Cienfuegos. We'll check in to the newly renovated Meliá San Carlos hotel and dine at one of Cienfuegos' best restaurants. DAY 6 CIENFUEGOS TRINIDAD After breakfast, we'll visit the Museum of Architecture to learn about Trinidad s architectural and historic preservation and UNESCO designation. After lunch, learn about the Santeria religion at Casa Templo de Santería Yemayá. Tonight, dine on your own at a paladar. Meals Breakfast, Lunch DAY 7 CIENFUEGOS This morning, we ll visit an artists' cooperative, then meet the singers and artistic director of the internationally acclaimed Coro del Cienfuegos (an all-time guest favorite). After lunch, we ll travel back to Havana and visit Ernest Hemingway s home, Finca Vigia, where the author wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea. In the evening, share your favorite stories during a farewell dinner. DAY 8 Adiós, Cuba! After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. Meals Breakfast PRICES STARTING AT $4,195 For a complete list of dates and prices, please visit our website. * Activities in this itinerary should be considered a sample only. Final itineraries are sent to guests one-to-two weeks prior to departure. ** Check-in begins roughly at 3pm ET. The tour start-time will vary slightly depending on flight arrivals. 16 insightcuba.com CUBA 17

11 VIÑALES VALLEY PINAR DEL RÍO LAS TERRAZAS LEGENDARY CUBA LEGENDARY CUBA 7 DAYS 6 NIGHTS VIÑALES VALLEY PINAR DEL RÍO LAS TERRAZAS DISCOVER CUBA FOR YOURSELF AND UNCOVER A HISTORY SO RICH, its legacy is memorialized in its architecture and its people. Learn why icons such as Hemingway, Churchill, and Sinatra felt an affinity for this rare place. Experience the music, which, for generations, produced global superstars. On our Legendary Cuba tour, spend your days and nights discovering Havana, Cuba s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, where breathtaking sixteenth-century Spanish colonial buildings line cobblestone streets, Buena Vista-style guitar riffs emanate from courtyards, and friendships form along the Malecón, the city s magnificent seaside boulevard. From Havana, you ll journey west to the province of Pinar del Río, where Cuba s world-famous tobacco is grown. Discover the majestic Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Cuba s Yosemite National Park, where forested hills with exposed dome-like limestone outcrops, known as mogotes, soar from the valley floor. Available on: Small Group Tours Private Departures Custom-Made TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Visit three of Cuba s nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites Visit Ernest Hemingway s home, Finca Vigía Step onto a tobacco field and visit a factory where cigars are made by hand See Viñales Valley, known as Cuba s Yosemite National Park Meet with artists and musicians at a local community project Experience a Cuban rum tasting Editor s Pick SAMPLE ITINERARY* DAY 1 After clearing immigration and customs at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, you ll take a short drive to the Meliá Cohiba hotel for check-in and a tour orientation**. This evening, we ll celebrate your arrival over a welcome dinner. Meals Dinner DAY 2 After breakfast, we ll hear a lecture by a local expert on contemporary Cuba. Guests will be encouraged to ask their most pressing questions. After we'll embark on a walking tour of Old Havana, a famous UNESCO heritage area, and explore its labyrinth of cobblestone streets and alleys. After having lunch at a local paladar, a privately, family-run restaurant, we'll visit the extraordinary Museum of Fine Arts. Then we'll have fun at farmer's market. Tonight, we'll dine at one of our favorite paladares. DAY 3 This morning we ll meet the dynamic artists and musicians behind Muraleando, one of Havana s groundbreaking projects, where artists converted an old water tank into an art-and-performance space. Next, we'll visit the famous Rum Museum before taking lunch at a popular paladar. After lunch, we ll soak up Havana s nostalgia the Cuban way, by taking the ferry across the harbor to the town of Casablanca. Next, we'll visit Ernest Hemingway s home, Finca Vigia, where you may come to understand why the author chose to spend twenty years in Cuba. Dinner tonight is on your own. Meals Breakfast, Lunch The mecca for tobacco growing in Cuba, Pinar del Río produces what many aficionados say are the best cigars in the country and the world. DAY 4 PINAR DEL RÍO After breakfast, we ll depart Havana to begin a journey exploring the magic of the eastern province of Pinar del Río. Along the way, we ll stop for a visit at the Patio de Pelegrin community project, an organic farm, art space and coffee shop. There, we ll enjoy a lunch prepared by community residents (guest highlight). Next, we ll meet a curator at a popular artist s home and studio to learn about his artwork, displayed in galleries in the U.S. and museums in Cuba. After checking in at the hotel, we ll meet with members of a remarkable opera-and-theatre group, who perform around the world. Dinner tonight will be at the paladar Café Ortuzar. DAY 5 PINAR DEL RÍO VIÑALES VALLEY This morning, we ll head towards Viñales Valley and National Park to meet a local guide who will take us on a short walk through the park. Next, we'll visit a tobacco-drying house where a tobacco farmer will teach us how to roll cigars. For lunch, we ll enjoy a farm-to-table meal prepared with local ingredients from near-by crops. After lunch, we ll wander into Viñales Valley, Cuba s Yosemite-like habitat, and into the town of Viñales. We'll walk on clay and admire up close the giant limestone rocks (mogotes) that make Viñales famous. A perfect end to the day, treat yourself to a savory coco loco (honey, rum and coconut water). Dinner tonight is on your own. Meals Breakfast, Lunch DAY 6 PINAR DEL RÍO LAS TERRAZAS After breakfast at the hotel, we ll check out of our hotel, then visit a cigar factory in Pinar del Río to see firsthand, how Cuba's legendary cigars are made. On our way back to Havana, we ll stop for lunch at Las Terrazas, a quaint, wholly self-sustainable eco community that also acts as a nature reserve. Then, we'll watch a dance performance from a local dance company who combines classical training with contemporary moves. In Havana, enjoy a farewell dinner at a paladar. DAY 7 Adiós, Cuba! After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. Meals Breakfast PRICES STARTING AT $3,595 For a complete list of dates and prices, please visit our website. * Activities in this itinerary should be considered a sample only. Final itineraries are sent to guests one-to-two weeks prior to departure. ** Check-in begins roughly at 3pm ET. The tour start-time will vary slightly depending on flight arrivals. 18 insightcuba.com CUBA 19

12 JAZZ IN In eras past, jazz musicians in the U.S. and Cuba would travel on the twice-daily ferry between Havana and New Orleans. MATANZAS Cuba s most famous song, Guantanamera, has several reported origins, including a poem. Its title means woman from Guantánamo. SAMPLE ITINERARY* DAY 1 After clearing immigration and customs at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, you ll take a short drive to the Meliá Cohiba hotel for check-in and a tour orientation**. This evening, we ll celebrate your arrival over a welcome dinner. Meals Dinner DAY 3 MATANZAS This morning, we ll depart for Matanzas, where your first stop is a unique book publisher that makes handmade paper and handbound books. After lunch, we ll visit a dance-and-performing-arts center to meet with the performers and learn about rhumba and other folkloric dance forms. JAZZin 5 DAYS 4 NIGHTS MATANZAS CUBA S WORLD-FAMOUS MUSIC SCENE IS one of its strongest draws. That s why we take you deep into the groove with our Jazz in Havana tour. We ve teamed up with Cuba s leading jazz artists and aficionados to offer this rare insider plunge into the thriving Cuban music scene. Immerse yourself for five music-rich days of Afro beats, freewheeling jazz, and swirling salsa. When you re not swaying to a toe-tapping performance, your Cuban guide will usher you behind the scenes, to show you where the beats are rooted. You ll engage in meaningful and memorable dialogue with musicians, music teachers, producers, and engineers. It s an extraordinary tour that goes well beyond what you ll find in any guidebook. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Engage with experts in Cuban jazz Discuss jazz culture and history in Cuba with an influential Cuban musician Experience a live music session at Cuba s most famous recording studio Visit with AfroCuba de Matanzas, Cuba s most respected African song and dance group Available on: Small Group Tours Private Departures (6 or more guests) Custom-Made (6 or more guests) DAY 2 After breakfast, we'll meet with a popular musician to discuss Cuban jazz. We'll then head to Old Havana for a walking tour of this famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. While in Old Havana, we'll stop for lunch at a paladar, a private, family-run restaurant, before we continue our walking tour. Later in the afternoon, we'll visit one of Havana's recording studios. Tonight, we ll dine at a paladar. The beat goes on during a special visit with AfroCuba de Matanzas, one of Cuba's most-respected folklore groups, performing traditional African dances, percussion, and songs. After, we ll take a leisurely journey back to Havana on the northern coast. Dinner tonight will be on your own, we suggest trying one of Havana's local paladares. Meals Breakfast, Lunch DAY 4 This morning, we'll visit a farmer's market. Later in the morning, we'll have a special visit to the Fine Arts Museum, where we'll meet with a specialist who will tell you about Cuba's most impressive collection of national art. After lunch, we ll participate in an educational exchange with a group of local artists. We'll wrap up the day with a farewell dinner at a local paladar. DAY 5 Adiós, Cuba! After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. Meals Breakfast PRICES STARTING AT $3,295 * Activities in this itinerary should be considered a sample only. Final itineraries are sent to guests one-to-two weeks prior to departure. ** Check-in begins roughly at 3pm ET. The tour start-time will vary slightly depending on flight arrivals. For a complete list of dates and prices, please visit our website. 20 insightcuba.com CUBA 21

13 WEEKENDin WEEKEND IN 4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS LIKE THE SIZZLING SALSA RHYTHMS that ripple through its cobblestone streets, Havana springs to life with warmth and vivaciousness that never stops taking you by surprise. Cuba s largest city is a place of rambling colonial architecture, endless adventure, and unfettered discovery. It s where a trip to this Caribbean country, long forbidden to U.S. travelers, truly begins. Our Weekend in Havana tour is more than a brush with exotic culture. It s an immersive journey that lets you experience Cuba s dynamic rhythm and color, and dive in and become part of the canvas. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Visit Fusterlandia artist José Fuster s neighborhood canvas Enjoy a walking tour of Old Havana s cobblestone streets Visit a cigar factory Experience the riveting Compás drumming & dance group SAMPLE ITINERARY* DAY 1 After clearing immigration and customs at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, you ll take a short drive to the Meliá Cohiba hotel for check-in and a tour orientation**. This evening, we ll celebrate your arrival over a welcome dinner. Meals Dinner Available on: Small Group Tours Private Departures Custom-Made DAY 2 This morning, we'll have a discussion with an expert on Cuban social issues, economic reforms, and the impacts of U.S.-Cuba policy in Cuba. Next, we'll visit a famed cigar factory. After lunch at a paladar, a private, family-owned restaurant, we'll visit an artist in his studio and then, experience the Compás drumming & dance group. We'll end the day with a visit to a farmer's market. Tonight, you ll dine on your own at one of Cuba's many paladares. Meals Breakfast, Lunch DAY 3 Begin the day with a walking tour of Old Havana's labyrinth cobblestone streets and admire the beautiful sixteenth-century Spanish colonial architecture. Then, meet with local residents in their homes to learn about new private enterprises that are gaining popularity in Cuba. After lunch at a paladar in Old Havana, we ll have a private visit with an internationally known choral group for a discussion and uplifting performance. We'll end the day with a visit to the famed Jose Fuster community art project, known as Fusterlandia. This evening, share your favorite stories about your time in Cuba with your travel companions over a farewell dinner. DAY 4 Adiós, Cuba! After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. Meals Breakfast PRICES STARTING AT $2,595 For a complete list of dates and prices, please visit our website. Cuba s capital city is home to approximately 2.5 million residents, 15 municipalities, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its Habana Vieja neighborhood. * Activities in this itinerary should be considered as a sample only. Final itineraries are sent to guests one to two weeks prior to departure. ** Check-in begins roughly at 3pm ET. The tour start-time will vary slightly depending on flight arrivals. 22 insightcuba.com CUBA 23

14 VARADERO + VARADERO CARDENAS VARADERO CARDENAS VARADERO + 4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS CUBA IS A COLORFUL COUNTRY WITH WARM AND FRIENDLY PEOPLE. Its Spanish colonial cities and 3,500 miles of unspoiled Caribbean coastline make it one of the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean. We ll take you to the heart of it all. Join insightcuba, the most trusted name in legal people-to-people travel and get an inside look at two of Cuba s most popular cities, Havana and Varadero. Our people-to-people excursions let you dive right in. Available on: Small Group Tours Private Departures Custom-Made TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Walking tour of Old Havana Explore Cardenas and meet its people Visit The Sugar Cane Museum and ride an antique train Tour the Museum of Fine Arts in Havana One UNESCO World Heritage Site SAMPLE ITINERARY* DAY 1 VARADERO Arrive at Varadero s Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport. After clearing immigration and customs, you ll head to the Meliá Varadero resort for check-in, lunch, and orientation**. Then we'll head to the town of Varadero to meet with a local ceramic artist at his workshop. Later we ll return to the hotel for a welcome dinner. Meals Lunch, Dinner DAY 2 VARADERO CARDENAS After breakfast, we'll go on an excursion to Cardenas, a small town just south of Varadero, for a visit to the farmer's market. After, visit the Sugar Cane Museum to learn about sugar processing and how sugar cane is used to make Cuba s infamous rum. Then ride the famous Sugar Cane antique train. We ll return to the hotel for lunch. After lunch, we ll visit the Varahicacos Ecological Reserve, known for its hiking trails and unique flora and fauna. We'll visit one of the areas caves where pre-columbian pictographs and 2000-year old burial plots can be found. DAY 3 VARADERO After breakfast, we ll drive along the beautiful coast for a day of exploration in Havana. We ll begin our full-day excursion with a walking tour in Old Havana, a splendid UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most incredible examples of preserved Spanish Colonial architecture. You ll stop for a visit at a local artist studio before getting a special panoramic look at this historic neighborhood. After lunch on your own in Old Havana, we'll visit the Museum of Fine Arts. Afterwards, we'll hop into a restored pre-1959 classic American car and cruise over to the Hotel Nacional for some great views. After dinner on your own, we ll return to our hotel in Varadero. Meals Breakfast DAY 4 VARADERO Adios, Cuba! After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. Meals Breakfast PRICES STARTING AT $2,395 For a complete list of dates and prices, please visit our website. * Activities in this itinerary should be considered a sample only. Final itineraries are sent to guests one-to-two weeks prior to departure. ** Check-in begins roughly at 3pm ET. The tour start time will vary slightly depending on flight arrivals. Please note: The U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) requires your full participation in our full-time schedule of educational exchange activities. 24 insightcuba.com CUBA 25

15 I ve lived in and traveled to many countries around the world and this was the best trip I ve ever experienced. R. ANDERSEN 26 insightcuba.com CUBA 27

16 TRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE Accommodations Since 2000, insightcuba has carefully sought out accommodations that are centrally located and provide the best rooms and service available. Below are some of the hotels that we feature on our tours. Meliá Cohiba, Havana - Our #1 pick. This hotel boasts great amenities and the best service on the island. Featured in all Signature Cuba tours in Havana. Meliá San Carlos - Newly renovated, this elegant hotel in the center of Spanish colonial Cienfuegos is an architectural gem with breathtaking city and bay views. Meliá Varadero - This beach front, all-inclusive resort is located on the best part of the beach and is featured on our popular Varadero + Havana tour. Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski, Havana - Cuba's first true 5-star property, blends luxury, style and historical beauty. Private Departures Custom-Made Meliá Santiago, Santiago de Cuba - Great service, amenities and our 'go-to' choice in eastern Cuba, this property is featured on our Undiscovered Cuba tour. Hotel Saratoga, Havana - A boutiquestyle 103 room property, centrally located, and has a great view from its roof top pool. Private Departures Custom-Made 28 insightcuba.com CUBA 29

17 TRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE Mentions in the Media Noted for our expertise and unwavering commitment to providing a unique travel experience, insightcuba has received hundreds of accolades from the most trusted and prestigious sources in travel. As part of a newly approved people to people tour in Cuba last summer, a group of Americans met with 40 blind Havana residents, who welcomed them with poetry and conversation. Then, Cubans being Cubans, four of them pulled out instruments and within minutes, arms and legs were intertwined as Americans and Cubans danced with abandon in the front yard of Cuba s National Association for the Blind. Many Cuban children like to pose for photos and especially love to see themselves on the digital screen of the camera. ALSO SEEN IN InsightCuba has also received high praise from these well-known outlets: DAMIEN CAVE, NEW YORK TIMES For half a century the vast majority of Americans have been barred from traveling to Cuba With insightcuba, visitors interact with ordinary Cubans and get a taste of the forbidden fruit. SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN Within minutes of our arrival in the living-room-turned-museum, we re comrades in arms picking up the finer points of swing, boogieing to vinyl recordings of Sonny Rollins and Dizzy Gillespie, and discovering the true meaning of people-to-people. LAURA BLY, USA TODAY 30 31

18 TRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE Frequently Asked Questions InsightCuba offers an unmatched level of travel expertise. Here are a few of your top questions and answers. For the most comprehensive list, please visit insightcuba.com/faq. DO I NEED A CUBAN VISA TO TRAVEL TO CUBA? A Cuban visa, which is referred to as a tourist card, is required for all visitors traveling to Cuba. InsightCuba will provide all guests with their Cuban visa. Cuban American Travelers - If you are a Cuban American born in Cuba, you may need a special visa. Please call insightcuba for more information. HOW MUCH FREE TIME IS THERE? The U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) requires that individuals traveling under a people-topeople license participate in a fulltime schedule of educational exchange activities that result in meaningful interaction between travelers and individuals in Cuba. Because of this, full participation by guests on our Cuba tours is required. However, guests on one of our authorized people-to-people tours will have free time in the evening, or at night. A typical day on an insightcuba guided group tour is packed with exciting and memorable adventures and activities that you don t want to miss. WHAT ITEMS SHOULD I PACK FOR MY TRIP TO CUBA? Seasons in Cuba correspond to the seasons in the United States. Weather is similar to Florida. During the summer months (May through September), pack light clothes, as it will be very hot. During the rest of the year, it s advisable to bring a long-sleeved shirt or light sweater for the evenings. Casual walking shoes or sneakers are recommended, as you ll be walking from place to place throughout your stay. Dress can be casual, but should be presentable. You may also want to pack a nicer outfit for evening dining if you choose. Reasonable laundry and dry-cleaning services are often available at hotels in Havana and Santiago de Cuba. Bringing a bathing suit is wise if you want to go swimming, as some hotels feature pools. In Cuba, goods aren t as readily available as most travelers are accustomed to. As a result, it can be challenging to find specific items in a pinch. When traveling to Cuba, you should bring what you need in daily life. CAN I USE CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS IN CUBA? Actually, credit cards/debit cards issued by U.S. banks cannot be used in Cuba. Due to the official embargo, U.S. issued debit/credit cards are not recognized by Cuba banks. It s necessary to bring a sufficient amount of cash with you to cover the entire duration of time that you'll be in Cuba. HOW MUCH SPENDING MONEY SHOULD I BRING TO CUBA? Most of your expenses are covered on your tour, however you will want additional spending money for dinner on your own, nights out, personal purchases and inciden tals. How much an individual spends when traveling varies a great deal and depends on personal preference. We recommend bringing a minimum of $100 -$200 per day per person. If you think you might want to purchase artwork, music, cigars, rum, enjoy evening entertainment, or buy gifts for friends and relatives, you may want to plan on bringing more. It s always easier to bring your excess money home with you rather than to run out of money while in Cuba. IS WIFI AVAILABLE WHILE I M IN CUBA? Many hotels have WiFi, a business center with internet access, or both. Internet access in business centers is often charged by the hour. Complementary WiFi is available for insightcuba guests staying at the Meliá Cohiba in Havana. Please note that inter net and WiFi access in Cuba is much slower than in the U.S. and many personal device applications (apps) do not work in Cuba. WHAT CAN I BRING BACK TO THE U.S. FROM CUBA? As of October 2016, the monetary value limitations on what authorized travelers may bring back to the United States as accompanied baggage has been removed. Authorized American travelers may now bring back Cuban goods, including rum and cigars in quantities typically allowed by U.S. Customs, duty-free. IS THERE AN AGE POLICY FOR INSIGHTCUBA PARTICIPANTS? Due to the nature of our tours, participants should be at least 8 years old, with the exception of Undiscovered Cuba which is 12 years. If you are a family with children under 8 years of age, we recommend creating your own Personalized Cuba tour with one of our travel specialists. IS CUBA SAFE FOR AMERICANS? Yes. Cuba is very safe. In fact, Cuba has the lowest crime rate in Latin America. The aver age traveler has little reason to worry about personal safety in the streets, hotels, or any other places he or she might visit. While petty crime does exist, it occurs only rarely and poses little problem for attentive travelers. IS MY TRIP WITH INSIGHTCUBA 100% LEGAL? Absolutely! Our tours operate on a peopleto-people general license issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). This license allows any American who books a tour with insightcuba to travel to Cuba legally. For more answers to your questions, please visit: insightcuba.com/faq 32 insightcuba.com CUBA 33

19 DISCOVER CUBA Vamos a Cuba! InsightCuba has the most departures available. Reserve your spot today. Such a rich variety of experiences and contacts with people there. It truly is a trip of a lifetime. I am so glad I chose this tour and insightcuba. D. LAWSON CALL CUBA (2822) VISIT CHAT LIKE US TWEET US insightcuba.com travel@insightcuba.com insightcuba.com 36

20 Cuba takes a hundred lifetimes to understand, but only a moment to fall in love. D. SMITH 16 School Street Rye, NY 10580, USA CUBA (2822) info@insightcuba.com insightcuba.com 1218