Cuba: Community, Culture & Cuisine 7-Days Escorted Journey

Transcription

1 2015 Cuba: Community, Culture & Cuisine 7-Days Escorted Journey MIAMI HAVANA SAN LUIS VIÑALES

2 JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS Discover the diverse Cuban arts scene Visit local farms, shops and manufacturers Interact with school children and educators, farmers, entrepreneurs, artists and musicians Savor Cuban Cuisine during a private cooking demonstration Test your skill at hand-rolling cigars while visiting tobacco farms Interactive discussions with the Director and his staff of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve An interpretive walk of Habana Vieja, (Old Havana) a UNESCO World Heritage Site Visit Colegio Universitario San Geronimo, the first Cuban University Attend a special cañonazo (cannon-lighting) ceremony at Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña Current as of 8/21/2014 2

3 OPENING THE DOORS TO CUBA Once a favored playground of American and European jet setters, today Cuba is known more for its culture than its beaches and bars. Travel to this Caribbean island nation by U.S. citizens has been prohibited for half a century; now, step through the once-closed door to explore Cuba s past and present, its revolution and evolution, to gain different perspectives from the Cuban people themselves. Take a front-row seat to history while chatting with one of Cuba s fledgling entrepreneurs. Learn how those who were educated under government mandates for literacy and the arts are now spreading their wings and exploring newfound freedoms. See how 21st-century enterprises like organic farms and eco-tourism are gaining a foothold. Experience meaningful encounters with Cubans both in the rural countryside as well as in cities. Travcoa s Educational Leader and a professional Cuban national guide facilitate conversations around a variety of themes: education, environment, religious traditions, culture, the arts, architecture, community projects, farming, and private enterprise. Bring your curiosity and witness a country in transition; one that few Americans have experienced. Travcoa s small-group People-to-People educational exchange is limited to only 18 participants, and features a full-time schedule of cultural and educational exchanges and meaningful interactions between Travcoa guests and the Cuban people. Our guests are enriched by this rare opportunity to learn about the Cuban way of life from a cubano perspective. In so doing, unique opportunities for authentic interaction will make this a journey of a lifetime! Special Notes: Cuba is a developing country, and as such, guests are reminded that certain aspects of life in Cuba are not as you may be accustomed. Many amenities and services that we take for granted are luxuries in Cuba, or simply not available. We recommend that guests arrive with an attitude of acceptance that is attuned to the casual pace of life in Cuba. Travcoa Corporation, Inc. (dba Travcoa) has been granted a license (CT I) by the United States Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, to provide travel to Cuba for the purpose of People-to-People educational exchange visits. U.S. law requires that all participants of the program adhere to a full-time schedule of activities. Deviation by participants from this itinerary, even in part, is not permitted. Guests should be prepared for long travel days and limited leisure time. This itinerary is based on information available at the time of printing and is subject to change. Specific itinerary inclusions, visits, meetings with individuals and organizations, and home visits are dependent on outside factors, and as such, it may be necessary to substitute alternatives of equal relevance and interest. Travcoa reserves the right to change a program s dates, staff, itineraries, or accommodations as conditions warrant. Current as of 8/21/2014 3

4 DAILY ITINERARY Travcoa journeys are designed to accommodate the most common flight times from the USA. The first and last included accommodation and meals are specified in the itinerary below. Thursday, Day 1 Arrive Miami, USA Journey accommodations begin with the hotel night on Day 1. Check-in time is approximately 3 pm. Included meal services begin with dinner on Day 1. You are greeted upon arrival at Miami International Airport, and transferred to your luxury Art Deco style hotel that overlooks a peaceful blue lagoon The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Relax, or perhaps explore nearby South Beach. This evening, join your Travcoa Educational Leader and fellow guests for welcome cocktails and an important briefing about your journey at 6:00 p.m., followed by a welcome dinner at the hotel. Hotel Sofitel Miami Friday, Day 2 Miami to Havana, CUBA This morning, we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Havana, Cuba. After retrieving our luggage, we clear customs and immigration before proceeding to the main terminal. Here we meet our Cuban national guide who will accompany us throughout our stay in Cuba. Departing the Havana airport, we begin our sightseeing with a panoramic orientation of the city. Havana is Cuba s vibrant capital city, rich in history, culture, and the arts it is the heart of Cuba. We stop to explore the famous Plaza de la Revolución (Revolution Square). The plaza is dominated by a memorial tower honoring 19th-century Cuban patriot José Martí, and has been the site of major historical events including many of Fidel Castro's speeches. More recently, in March 2012, Pope Benedict XVI spoke to a crowd of more than one million Cubans here. After lunch at a local café, we embark on a two-hour interpretive walk of Habana Vieja, (Old Havana) the 500-year-old heart of the city. This area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to one of the largest collections of Spanish Colonial architecture in the Americas. We explore three restored plazas: Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de Armas, and the Plaza Vieja. Next, we visit the Colegio Universitario San Gerónimo, the first Cuban university, and meet with a representative of the Office of the Historian. Discussion topics include the on-going restoration and conservation of Old Havana, the social policy and philosophy behind the city s revitalization project, and similar efforts in the U.S. Current as of 8/21/2014 4

5 Late afternoon, we arrive at our deluxe hotel, your home for the next four nights. Tonight we dine at Casa Española. Set in a reproduction of a medieval castle, this restaurant features excellent Spanish cuisine. Meliá Cohiba Activity Note Havana Sightseeing requires walking, and climbing stairs, with some steep steps at the university. There are no handrails on the stairs to the rooftop at Casa Española. Saturday, Day 3 Havana: Politics & Cuisine Politics is first on our agenda this morning. We are privileged to engage in an informative lecture and discussion with a policy expert on the history and current state of U.S.-Cuban relations from both countries perspectives. Then, roll up your sleeves for some kitchen diplomacy during a cooking demonstration at La Imprenta, a restaurant whose well-known chef hosts a popular Cuban TV cooking show. Learn about the local cuisine, talk with the staff about the Cuban restaurant industry, how and where they procure their ingredients and equipment, and the challenges faced by restaurant entrepreneurs in Cuba. The class ends with lunch served at the restaurant. Next, we meet with artist Mayelin Pérez Noa and her Cuban colleagues at her art studio, Proyecto Artistico Por la Costa. Learn about their special techniques, and the modern art they create with recycled materials, as well as Mayelin s recycling movement, which aims to promote the benefits of recycling to Cubans. Tonight s dinner is at a lively, traditional paladar (family owned business) in Old Havana that features excellent Cuban cuisine. Afterward dinner it is a short drive to attend a special cañonazo (cannon-firing ceremony) at Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña. Meliá Cohiba Activity Note Havana Sightseeing requires long walks on cobblestone streets. As it s a long walk in the dark to attend the cañonazo a flashlight is recommended. There are steep steps at some restaurants. Sunday, Day 4 Viñales Valley: People & Agriculture This morning we travel into rural western Cuba, to the Viñales Valley in the province of Pinar Del Río. En route, view the mountains and fertile valleys, perhaps Cuba s greenest, and extensive agriculture. Current as of 8/21/2014 5

6 Our destination is the town of San Luis and the Vegas Robaina tobacco farm that has been in the same family for over a century. Meeting with the Robaina family and their staff, we learn about harvesting tobacco and the cigar-making process from growing to drying to rolling the cigars. You even have the chance to try rolling your own! We lunch on traditional country fare in a ranchón (large dwelling) at the farm, with the opportunity to meet with the family in the intimacy of their own home, discuss their lives, and the cultivation of Cuba s most famous export. Next, we explore the rural town of Viñales, stopping to meet some of the local residents before continuing on to visit an organic farm. The farm s owner is happy to show off his crops and explains how he began the farm and the unique organic farming methods he employs with limited access to modern fertilizers and pesticides his farm has flourished. We arrive back at our hotel in the early evening. Dine in the hotel or choose to experience Travcoa s exclusive Dine-Around Program. Should you have a passion for jazz, you may want to take in the nightly performance at the hotel s lounge. Meliá Cohiba Activity Note San Luis & Viñales Sightseeing requires walking on dirt paths and in farm fields over uneven terrain. Long drives by coach total approximately 8 hours. Monday, Day 5 Havana: Community Projects, Art, Afro-Cuban Dance & Music Begin today with a visit to the home studio of internationally known artist José Rodríguez Fuster. Known as the Picasso of the Caribbean, Fuster creates in the folk/primitive style of art known as naïve, working in a rather unusual medium houses. For more than a decade, Fuster and his son have transformed the quiet fishing village of Jaimanitas into a unique work of public art. More than 80 houses are adorned with ornate murals and domes to suit the personalities of the neighbors. View the elaborate chess park, swimming pool, various statues, and some of the decorated homes. We meet with the Fuster family and local residents, and understand what this unusual art project personally means to each of them. Next, we visit the Muraleando Community Art Project and meet with residents and artists who are part of the collective. Discover how through simple art classes the locals have transformed the neighborhood into a public art gallery that features colorful murals. After lunch in Old Havana Old Havana, we take a walk across the street to see the San Francisco de Asis Square and then hop aboard Coco-taxis (Cuban auto-rickshaws) to transfer to the Museo de Artes Decorativas (Museum of Decorative Art). The museum features valuable works of European and Oriental art dating back more than 200 years. In the gardens of the Current as of 8/21/2014 6

7 museum, we attend a private Afro-Cuban music performance followed by an interactive discussion on the Santería religion and its traditions. For a different perspective, we then visit the Jewish Synagogue Sephardic Center before returning to our hotel. This evening we drive to Old Havana, where we meet for pre-dinner cocktail at the legendary Sloppy Joe s Bar recently reopened after 50 years before dinner at a popular restaurant. During its heyday, Sloppy Joe's Bar was frequented by international characters and Hollywood celebrities including John Wayne, Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable and Ernest Hemingway. In 1959, after the Cuban Revolution, the bar was closed. Our evening continues with dinner at El Templete in Old Havana, then we proceed to the legendary Tropicana Club at the Salón Bajo las Estrellas. We have preferred seating so that we may fully experience the cabaret s long tradition of exceptional Cuban evening entertainment. Meliá Cohiba Tuesday, Day 6 Havana: Literacy, Hemingway & the National Hotel This morning, we visit the Museo de la Campaña de Alfabetización (Literacy Museum) for an educational exchange with the project director and staff. Meet with the professors and students and learn about Cuba s movement to teach the entire country to read and write. Next, we drive to the University of Havana, where we meet with Cuban college students and professors to discuss the higher education system in both Cuba and the U.S. Lunch today is at Il Divino, a small paladar situated on an organic farm. Explore Il Divino s impeccably maintained botanical gardens and farmland, and take time to interact with the paladar owner s family to learn about the commercial benefits they receive from their gardens and farm. After lunch, we learn about the connection between Cuba and author Ernest Hemingway by making a short stop at Ernest Hemingway's homestead, Finca Vigia, where the author lived with his wife from 1939 to The house is in excellent condition and while entry inside is not permitted, we can easily view the rooms from the open windows and doors as our guide relates the history of the property. Next, we drive through the fishing village of Cojimar, which was the setting for Hemingway s novel The Old Man and The Sea. Hemingway had a great fondness for Cuba and its people; the sentiment was mutual. Before returning to our hotel, we make one last stop at the iconic Hotel Nacional to walk in the footsteps of notables including Winston Churchill and Frank Sinatra. View the hotel s extensive photo gallery of celebrity guests who stayed at the property during its heyday in the 1950s. Learn how the hotel was built and about its various restorations. Current as of 8/21/2014 7

8 For our last evening in Cuba we have a special treat we drive in a parade of colorful vintage, convertible antique cars along the Havana Malecón waterfront into Old Havana. We disembark for our farewell reception and dinner at one of Havana s renowned restaurants that offer panoramic views of Old Havana. It s a wonderful way to end our incredible exploration of Cuba s history, culture, and people. After dinner we transfer back to the hotel by motor coach.. Meliá Cohiba Activity Note Havana The drive to dinner this evening is in convertible vintage vehicles. A scarf for your hair and a sweater or jacket to keep warm is recommended. Wednesday, Day 7 Havana to Miami & Depart This morning we transfer to the Havana Airport for our flight to Miami, USA. After clearing U.S. Customs & Immigration, proceed with your luggage to check-in for your connecting flight home or on to your next destination. The Havana to Miami flight is scheduled to arrive approximately 12:30 am. Please do not book your connecting flight until after 3:00 p.m. in order to avoid potential missed connections. Journey accommodations end with the hotel night on Day 6 in Havana. Check-out time is approximately 11 am on Day 7. Included meal services end with breakfast on Day 7. NOTE: The Daily Itinerary above is subject to change dependent upon local conditions and/or operational changes or improvements. The specific times and order of inclusions within each destination may also be altered to best accommodate unscheduled closures, special events, weather, traffic, etc. Please contact your Journey Consultant before scheduling any coinciding appointments. You will receive an up-dated, itinerary approximately 21 days prior to your journey s scheduled departure date. Current as of 8/21/2014 8

9 ACCOMMODATIONS DAY 1 DAYS 2-6 Miami, FL, USA, Hotel Sofitel Miami (Junior Suite) Havana, Cuba, Meliá Cohiba Hotel (Standard Room VIP) Travcoa has secured the best available accommodations, yet some of the destinations on this journey may be considered undeveloped by Western standards. Most hotels are older and/or basic, with limited facilities; however comfort and cleanliness are assured. Many amenities and services we take for granted (including air conditioning) are luxuries in Cuba, and are simply not available or are prone to unreliability, therefore we ask you please to bare these factors in mind. Travcoa offers a choice of room category on this journey. Our Travcoa Select category features standard/deluxe rooms at each property; our Travcoa Grand category (where available) offers an upgrade to a larger room and/or suite and/or view along with suite-level amenities. See the hotel descriptions below for more information on specific room types. Miami, FL, USA, Hotel Sofitel Miami The Sofitel Miami offers contemporary French ambiance and is conveniently located near Miami International Airport, South Beach, and world class shopping at Dolphin Mall. Discover a tropical paradise tastefully decorated in Art Deco style overlooking a peaceful blue lagoon. Hotel features and services include a beach, swimming pool, fitness center, and business center. There is a variety of restaurants including La Riviera - blending Latin cuisine with French flair, Le Petit Marche, and Le Bar for drinks overlooking the lagoon. Each of the Sofitel Miami's 281 hotel rooms and suites are decorated in elegant Art-Deco style with contemporary accents. Each features Sofitel's luxurious feather-top bed, state-of-the-art technology including high-definition Web TV, free Wi-Fi, a working area, in-room safe, coffee/tea maker, Lanvin amenities, and an iron/ironing board. Your large Junior Suite (499 sq. ft.) also has a separate living room, a make-up/magnifying mirror, and complimentary bottled water on arrival. Room Categories: Travcoa Select Junior Suite Travcoa Grand Junior Suite Havana, Cuba Meliá Cohiba The Meliá Cohiba is located in the modern El Vedado district, overlooking the Havana Malecón, and less than 4 miles from the heart of Old Havana. This elegant, deluxe hotel offers 462 rooms, the luxurious comforts of Royal Service, and lively nightlife in its Habana Café. Other facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, sauna, gym, business center, assorted shops, and beauty parlor. Current as of 8/21/2014 9

10 Five restaurants feature diverse cuisines and atmospheres: traditional Italian cuisine at La Piazza; Mediterranean-style cuisine at Med; international cuisine at Plaza Habana, or dine under the stars, poolside at La Brasa. Air-conditioned guestrooms include satellite TV, in-room safe, mini-bar, Internet connection, bathrobes, slippers, and hair dryer. Categories: Select Standard Room with VIP Service Grand Junior Suite with VIP Service Current as of 8/21/

11 TRAVEL PLANNING DETAILS 2015 Departure Dates & Prices Select Grand Intra- Travcoa Travcoa Dates Single Single Tour Select Grand Suppl. Suppl. Air Feb 19-25, 2015 $ 5,395 $ 5, Mar 19-25, 2015 $ 5,395 $ 5, Apr 23-29, 2015 $ 5,395 $ 5, May 07-13, 2015 $ 4,995 $ 5, Day Itinerary: Per person price is based upon two people sharing a room. Airfare is additional. Check with Travcoa for special international airfares. INTRA-TOUR AIR Miami / Havana / Miami Airfare prices are subject to change, and are guaranteed only at time of final payment. Departure taxes are included. JOURNEY PACE: ACTIVE All guests are expected to be in good health. There are experiences on this journey that require physical exertion such as climbing stairs and walking on uneven terrain. There will be steps and stairs without handrails. In addition, guests can expect early mornings and long drives on rough roads. The program is fast-paced, with long days, long periods of walking/standing, walking on cobblestone streets and uneven dirt fields, and long periods of sitting on bus. The city centers can be crowded with traffic, and sometimes it is difficult for the bus to park close to a venue or restaurant, requiring several blocks of walking. Those with limited mobility, or who walk slowly may have trouble keeping up. If you need assistance with walking or other personal needs, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you; we are unable to offer this kind of assistance. Please note this journey travels through some under developed areas, with limited access to modern comforts and facilities. Each Travcoa journey has its own unique and specific examples of physical exertion described more fully in the above itinerary. Contact a Travcoa Journey Consultant for further details. Current as of 8/21/

12 RENDEZVOUS & SCHEDULE POINTS Following are the times and locations where this journey officially begins and ends. Travcoa is pleased to provide arrival and departure transfers between the designated airport city and the rendezvous location when confirmed flight details are provided with final payment. Thursday Day 1 Arrive Miami, Florida Meeting Point - Miami, Hotel Sofitel Miami, after lunch. Mandatory Cuba Briefing begins at 6:00 p.m. Journey accommodations begin with the hotel night on Day 1. Check-in time is approximately 3 pm. Included meal services begin with dinner on Day 1. Wednesday Day 7 Depart Miami, Florida Farewell Point - Miami, Miami International Airport, upon arrival (approximately 11:30 am). Do not book connecting flights departing before 3:00 pm Journey accommodations end with the hotel night on Day 6. Included meal services end with breakfast on Day 7. DOMESTIC AIR FLIGHTS Travcoa is pleased to assist you with your air reservations for this journey from your home city to Miami and back to your home city at the conclusion of your Cuba program. Please check with Travcoa for schedules and rates. If you are arranging your own flights, please take careful note of the Rendezvous Points above. Our office requires flight details 2 months prior to departure to provide your included journey arrival and departure airport transfers. INTERNATIONAL AIR FLIGHTS Flights between Miami and Cuba are included as part of your itinerary. EXTENDING YOUR STAY EXTRA HOTEL NIGHTS Many guests choose to add additional hotel nights before and/or after their journey to help acclimate after long flights, accommodate flight schedules or for independent exploration. Travcoa is happy to secure those hotel reservations for you. Travcoa provides airport assistance and journey hotel transfers should you choose to arrive early or depart later than the itinerary prescribes. Call for pre or post journey rates at Hotel Sofitel Miami in Florida. Extra hotel nights are subject to availability. Current as of 8/21/

13 YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES Best available accommodations as indicated in the itinerary Select and Grand options Three meals per day on an à la carte basis wherever available and practical, including room service. Where time and location permit includes our unique Dine-Around program outside the journey hotel. * A professional Travel Director as your personal concierge Bottled water, soft drinks, coffee and tea included with meals; bottled water during sightseeing excursions All gratuities to hotel and restaurant staff and local guides and drivers Private airport transfers from Miami International Airport to the hotel, and group transfers for the remainder of the itinerary Round-trip charter flights between the U.S. and Cuba (departure taxes are included) One checked suitcase and one small carry-on piece are permitted on the charter flight, the combined weight of which must not to exceed 50 lbs. All transportation by private, late-model vehicle featuring air conditioning and bottled water Full-time program of educational and cultural exchanges with the Cuban people Entrance fees and donations per final scheduled itinerary All gratuities to hotel and restaurant staff and local guides and drivers Local taxes A Cuban national guide A Travcoa Educational Leader Cuba Visa (see exceptions below) Mandatory Cuba travel insurance Emergency Evacuation Insurance and Assistance Plan *Due to remote or undeveloped locations on some journeys, accommodations may not always meet Western standards. Dine-Around opportunities will be limited in remote or unsecured locations. THE COST OF YOUR JOURNEY DOES NOT INCLUDE: Air transportation; airport taxes; passport expenses Inoculations and medications Alcoholic beverages (except as noted in itinerary) and caviar Expenses of guides, buses or cars for sightseeing not included in the itinerary Laundry, expenses of a personal nature and gratuity for any personal services Health, accident, baggage and trip cancellation insurance Excessive baggage charges imposed by airlines Customary end-of-the-trip gratuity to the Travel Director (Depending on your satisfaction with their services, $15-$18 per person, per day is customary.) Current as of 8/21/

14 TRAVEL PRECAUTIONS For your personal safety we recommend the following precautions in all destinations: Leave valuables and highly sentimental items at home. Use hotel in-room safes for documents and other valuables Carry a copy of your passport while sightseeing rather than the actual passport (leave in hotel room safe). Always have a copy of your passport while traveling. Listen to your Travel Director s recommendations in each location and pay attention to any recommendations provided by your hotel. Be aware of your surroundings, most incidents occur on the street or crowded areas Keep a firm hold on purses, backpacks or bags; thieves may be on motorcycles or bicycles. Be wary of people offering or requesting help, they could be a distraction to lower your guard. The destination notes included in this booklet have more destination specific information; please ask your travel director if you have any questions. Current as of 8/21/