The Nature Generation Discovering Cuba: Viñales and Havana February 25 - March 1, 2016 Join Us! We invite you to join us for this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich local culture and rhythms of daily life in Cuba as we meet with local residents, artists, and professionals to see the island through their eyes while exploring local landmarks that are significant to Cuba s heritage. There is particular excitement in the air as the U.S. and Cuba work to normalize relations, bringing much hope to the people of Cuba. There simply could not be a more exciting time to visit this time-capsule nation before its landscape changes forever. We encourage you to join us and make your reservation today! Warmest regards, Amy Marasco Newton President, The Nature Generation
Itinerary February 25, Thursday: Pinar del Rio / Vinales Depart Miami bound for Havana. L,D Upon arrival in Havana, continue by bus to the west part of Cuba. This area is part of the UNESCO Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve, located between Pinar del Rio and Havana s provinces of Cuba. Visit Las Terrazas, an ecotourism center in which a project of sustainable rural economy is being developed, based on the rational use of its natural resources for tourism. At the top of the hill, visit the Buenavista Coffee Plantation ruins, with views across the plain below. After lunch at the vegetarian restaurant, El Romero, stop at the Orchid Farm at Soroa. The hilly grounds contain over 800 species of plants, including 200 endemic to Cuba. Continue on to Viñales and enjoy dinner and drinks at your hotel along with a chance to appreciate the valley s distinctive landscape, with its steep-sided limestone mountains called mogotes rising dramatically from fertile flat-floored valleys where farmers cultivate the red soil for tobacco, fruits and vegetables. The terrain resembles a Chinese brush painting. February 26, Friday: Pinar del Rio / Vinales Spend the day exploring this breathtakingly beautiful region. Begin with an early morning walk along the Coco Solo Palmarito trail through a mistily dreamlike landscape rich in plant and birdlife. Accompanying the group will be biologist Emma Palacios Lemagne, the leading gastropoda biologist and conservationist in Cuba who has spent her life researching species endemic to the area. She has studied different species of snail and slugs for years and most of her work is carried out in the Viñales Valley. The mogotes provide intricate and isolated ecosystems that snails reproduce, grow and thrive in. Enjoy lunch at a fabulous organic farm where there is a chance to talk with the family and learn about their innovative approach to farming in a country where the agricultural practices have been largely directed by the government. Later, visit the Cueva del Indio, following a path through some narrow galleries before boarding a small boat for a trip along the underground river for a fantastic view deep inside the cave. The Guanajatabey Amerindians, aboriginals of the region, cut in the limestone s mojotes to shelter themselves from the wind, rain, sun and inclement weather. With the arrival of the Spanish colonialist, they fled to hide in the caves. Relics and pictograms on the caves walls confirm their existence in this particular place. Moreover, the Cueva del indio is named after their bones remains discovered in the caves.
End the day by visiting a tobacco farm. It was only with the development of the European tobacco market in the early 19th century and the perfection of the Havana cigar that Cubans realized Pinar del Rio guarded a treasure: soil and climate which produced the world s best tobacco. The scenes here are timeless and depict rural Cuba thatched homesteads, and farmers, known as guajiros riding on oxen-driven carts with their faithful dogs trotting at their heels. Dinner at a new private restaurant in Vinales. February 27, Saturday: Havana Morning drive to Havana. Upon arrival in Havana, stop at the Plaza de la Revolucion, the most politically important square in Cuba. Continue on to the Hotel Nacional for a welcome drink in the hotel s hall of fame followed by lunch at La Barraca Restaurant located outside on the beautiful grounds of the Hotel Nacional. After lunch, check in to the Parque Central Hotel, centrally located and considered the best hotel in Havana. Enjoy a late afternoon discussion on US/Cuban Relations led by University of Havana Professor, Raul Rodriquez. Enjoy a private cocktail reception followed by dinner on the hotel rooftop. February 28, Sunday: Havana This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Old Havana which has the reputation of being the finest example of a Spanish colonial city in the Americas. Enjoy lunch at La Moneda Cubana. After lunch, enjoy a city orientation tour by bus, accompanied by an architectural historian and enjoy a visit inside the Riviera Hotel which when it opened was considered a marvel of modern design. Early this evening, view the documentary film La Maestra and visit with Norma Guillard, one of the women featured in the film who went to the mountains and valleys to teach literacy. Enjoy dinner at leisure this evening and an opportunity to explore all that Havana has to offer such as the National Ballet, National Symphony Orchestra, National Contemporary Dance Company, jazz or other music concerts, and salsa clubs. Your guide will be happy to assist you with purchasing tickets to these events and venues.
February 29, Monday: Havana This morning, enjoy a round-table discussion with economist Ricard Torres on the Changing Forces of Cuba s Economic Structure. After the discussion, attend a rehearsal of the extraordinary dance group, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba. Continue on to watch and photograph a ballet rehearsal. Enjoy dinner at the wonderful La Guarida Restaurant. La Guarida is perhaps the most well-known of all paladars in Havana, made famous because it was where Fresa y Chocolate, the 1994 Oscar-nominated film about gays in Cuba, was filmed. March 1, Tuesday: Return Morning flight directly from Havana to Miami B Enjoy lunch at the Havana Botanical Garden and participate in a panel discussion regarding Conservation of Biodiversity in Cuba. This afternoon, accompanied by a contemporary art curator, visit the new Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes: Arte Cubano (Cuban Collection). Before dinner, enjoy a discussion by Dr. Rena Perez on Living in Cuba Today. Distant Horizons is a California Seller of Travel (CST #2046776-40) and a participant in the California Travel Restitution Fund. Information regarding the rights of California residents to make a claim may be found at tcrcinfo.org. California law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. This business has a trust account.
Program Costs and Inclusions Trip Price: $3,900 Single room supplement: $780 (Limited Availability) Trip price includes roundtrip airfare on charter flights from Miami to Cuba, accommodations based on double occupancy as listed in the brochure or best available, all meals listed (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), one drink with lunch and one with dinner, drinks with welcome and farewell reception, bottled water kept on the bus, sightseeing and excursions as listed, transportation in a deluxe, air conditioned bus or van, the services of a Distant Horizons tour manager, the services of a local Cuban guide, a Cuban visa, Cuban departure tax, gratuities, and mandatory health insurance and evacuation required by the Cuban Government which provides $25,000 worth of medical coverage and $7,000 worth of medical transportation. Trip price does not include domestic airfare to and from Miami, any overnights in Miami, luggage charges, additional drinks at meals, trip cancellation, lost baggage and medical insurance (above a mandatory amount required by the Cuban government), items of a purely personal nature, and any items not listed. Please note that participants must be in good physical condition and be able to walk for long distances over uneven cobblestones and up and down stairs without problems. For additional information or more detailed itinerary, contact Melissa Costa at MelissaC@Distant-Horizons.com or 800-333-1240 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - RESERVE YOUR TRIP TO CUBA TODAY! Full Legal Name (exactly as it appears on passport) The Nature Generation: Exploring Cuba February 25 - March 1, 2016 Title First Mid.Intl. Last Title First Mid.Intl. Last Street Address City State ZIP Home: ( ) Office: ( ) E-mail: I/We authorize you to make my/our reservations as follows: I will share accommodations with: I prefer single accommodations (limited availability, single supplement applies). I request assistance in securing a roommate but will accept a single, if one is available at this time, and pay the single supplement. Should a roommate be found, I understand the supplement will no longer apply. Reservations are subject to availability and processed on a first come, first served basis. Reservations to be paid in full 60 days prior to departure. Reservations received after this date must be accompanied by payment in full. Final payment may be made by personal check, payable to Distant Horizons. Please sign and return this form with a $600 deposit* check (per person) payable to Distant Horizons to: Distant Horizons, 350 Elm Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 *Your deposit is refundable up to 60 days prior to departure less a $300 administration fee.