CUBAN ITINERARY* May and June, 2016 Departures are normally booked for a 1:00 p.m. flight from Miami to Havana. This is done to give you the option of arriving in Miami the day before departure or arriving the day of departure. If you arrive the day of departure, you should book your flight so that you arrive in Miami no later than 10:00 a.m. If you decide to arrive the day before departure, we will secure special rates for you to stay at the Marriott Courtyard Miami Airport on NW Le Jeune Road. The hotel has shuttle service that goes to and from the airport every 20 minutes. All of our flights to Havana are by charter airlines. We make every effort to schedule the 1:00 p.m. flight to Havana. However, in the unlikely event we are unable to book the 1:00 p.m. flight we will inform you ahead of time so that you can book your flight to Miami the day before departure. If this is your first trip to Cuba then Havana is the place to be! All nights are in Havana. Havana is the largest city in Cuba with many things to see and do.
DAY ONE MIAMI/ HAVANA 2:15 P.M. Scheduled to arrive at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana. Once you clear customs, you will meet your English speaking guide outside the arrival terminal. You will board your air-conditioned coach and head directly to the hotel. 4:00 P.M. Check into hotel. 5:30 P.M. After checking in and freshening up, you will take a bus tour of the area surrounding the hotel, including the Malecon- the broad sidewalk and seawall that borders Avenida de Maceo.The tour will include a view of the new United States Embassy and will continue to Hotel Nacional where you will have mojitos in the breath-taking garden of the hotel. Bienvenido a Havana! 7:30 P.M. Dinner- You will have dinner at the San Cristobal Paladar, rated one of the best restaurants in Havana. San Cristobal is named after its owner and chef, Carlos Cristobal Marquez Valdes, pictured in the red jacket standing in the door of his restaurant. DAY TWO Dinner After dinner you may want to return to the hotel and rest up for the week s activities. You will have a full day ahead of you on Day Two. Breakfast at the hotel. HAVANA
9:30 A.M Walking tour of Old Havana. Leisurely stroll through the cobblestone streets of the center of the city. Visit the four main squares in Old Havana- Plaza De Armas, Plaza de San Francisco de Asis, Plaza Vieja and Plaza de Cathedral as well as the Capitol Building, Grand Theatre of Havana, Central Park and Obispo Street. Take your time. Peek into the little shops that line the streets. Interact with the locals and just wrap yourself in the smells, sounds and colors of Cuba. 12:30 P.M. Lunch- 2:00 P. M. Visit- Revolution Museum. This former Presidential Palace houses the museum that contains the history of Cuba, including the history of the Cuban revolution. 3:30 P.M. Visit- Church of the Black Madonna in Regla. The church houses a statue of Our Lady of Regla. The statue was placed in the church by mariners to protect them while at sea. The Black Madonna is associated with the Santeria religion and every year the faithful make a pilgrimage to the church to pay homage to Our Lady of Regla. After visiting the church, you will ride through the municipality of Guanabacoa, a Historic Urban Center located about 3 miles from the city of Havana.
4:30 P.M. 5:30 P.M. Return to hotel Visit- Casa de Los Bailadores de Santa Amalia. In the 1940s a group of Afro-Cubans were so impressed with the dancing of African-Americans such as Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers that they gathered every week just to dance to the music of Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Coltrane, Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald. Their dancing was interrupted after the Bay of Pigs invasion when the Cuban government banned jazz from the island. They started dancing again in the sixties and continued dancing until today. You will meet and interact with them at The Jazz Corner, the home of William Torres. You won t get a better chance than this to learn how African- American jazz and dance influenced Afro-Cuban culture. You may bring old jazz albums or jazz paraphernalia that you don t mind donating to the group. Dinner on own Take in some great Cuban jazz at La Zorra y la Cuerva ( the fox and the hound ) club or the Jazz Club. (Cover is normally 10 CUC which also entitles you to a couple of drinks). DAY THREE Breakfast at the hotel. HAVANA 9:00 A.M. Visit- Museum of Fine Arts (Museo Nacional De Bellas Artes). This museum is dedicated exclusively to housing Cuba Art collections spanning the 17th and 19th centuries and the latest generation of Cuban artists.
11:00 P.M. Visit- Art studio of Eduardo Roca Salazar ( Choco ), considered one of Cuba s greatest printmakers. Bring money because you may find yourself wanting to purchase one of Choco s paintings. 1:00 P.M. Lunch- La Barraca Restaurant- Hotel Nacional 3:00 P.M. Visit- Art studio of Erik Olivera Rubio. Erik Rubio is a contemporary Afro-Cuban painter known for his unique style of portraiture. 5:00 P.M. Visit- The home and studio of Jose Fuster. Jose Fuster has turned his entire house and the surrounding neighborhood into a mosaic art piece. You will have a Cuban home style dinner at the studio after exploring this very interesting house. Dinner- Studio of Jose Fuster (dinner not included in price). Fabrica de Arte Cubano (Cuban Art Factory) was originally the headquarters for Havana s electricity company. It was then converted to an olive oil factory and then to the Cuban Art Factory. There is always something new to see and do- theatre, jazz, contemporary dance, live music performances, fashion shows, and art exhibitions. Join in and become a part of the Cuban experience. Casa Del Son. Learn to dance Salsa, Rumba, Kizomba, Son, Tango or Bachata, Cuban style, at the studio of Casa Del Son located in Old Havana. Price for group of 5 or more is 10 CUC per person. 15 CUC for individuals. DAY FOUR Day trip to MATANZAS and VARADERO
Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch in Matanzas or Varadero. 8:30 A.M. Day trip to Matanzas and Varadero- Matanzas, a town of about 145,000 people, is known as The Venice of Cuba because of the seventeen bridges that cross the three rivers that flow through the city. On the way you will stop at the Bacunayagua Bridge, the highest in Cuba, with panoramic views of the nearby valley. 11:00 A.M. City tour of Matanzas. You will see the sights of Matanzas, including a visit to the Bay of Pigs Museum. 12:00 P.M. Visit El Callejon de las Tradiciones. Dancers perform as you explore this alleyway dedicated to the African Cuban religion of Santeria. Enjoy the artwork on the mural that extends the length of the street and talk with the owner of the small art gallery located there. 1:00 P.M. Lunch- 2:30 P.M. Tour of the town of Varadero Located on the northernmost part of the island, Varadero is known for its beautiful beaches. The tour of the town will include the market and the Casa de la Cultura where you will have the opportunity to interact with vendors, artists and musicians. 5:00 P.M. Return to Havana Dinner on own
Buena Vista Social Club show- Café Taberna Benny More (30 CUC cover charge) DAY FIVE Breakfast at the hotel. HAVANA and ARTEMISA PROVINCE 8:30 A.M. Visit Las Terrazas. Las Terrazas is known for its scenic beauty. After the Cuban Revolution, this community built terraces to replenish the surrounding forest that had been deforested by centuries of charcoal and coffee production. At Las Terrazas, which means terraces in Spanish, you will meet with local artists, farmers, shop owners and craft workers to learn about this unique community s success in preserving the environment and developing a communal way of life. 12:00 P.M. Lunch- 2:30 P.M. Return to Havana 3:30 P.M. Visit Casa de Africa. See many of the gifts given to Fidel Castro by African leaders. You will gather in one of the rooms at Casa de Africa to engage in a discussion with a leading Afro-Cuban authority or documentarian on race relations in Cuba. Afterwards, you will be treated to a dance and drumming presentation by one of the local dance troupes. 5:00 P.M. Return to hotel Dinner on own Casa de la Musica or Club 1830 for Salsa dancing. DAY SIX HAVANA and COJIMAR
Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch in Cojimar. 9:30 A.M. Visit Corona Cigar Factory- Learn how the famous Cuban cigars are made. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to purchase Cuban cigars and rum at one of the factory stores. 10:30 A.M. Visit Hemingway Museum. The museum is located in La Finca Vigia ( lookout house ), the former home of Ernest Hemingway. This is where Hemingway wrote the book, For Whom the Bell Tolls. You will also visit Cojimar, a small fishing village that was the setting for Hemingway s book, The Old Man and the Sea. 12:30 P.M. Lunch- 2:30 P.M. Visit San Jose Warehouse. This is your opportunity to purchase souvenirs to take home. The entire warehouse is devoted to art and crafts, including tee-shirts, paintings, wood carvings, jewelry and other clothing items. Interact with the vendors. Negotiate a little. Here you can shop until you drop. 4:30 P.M. Return to hotel 8:00 P.M. Farewell dinner- L Atelier Restaurant with live Cuban music. L Atelier is consistently rated as one of the best restaurants in Havana. You will be treated to an excellent meal prepared by the experienced Afro- Cuban chef, Enrique. Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for airport You will leave Cuba with more questions than when you arrived. A return trip will be a must! Hasta luego. *This is a tentative itinerary. Days, times, locations and persons may change based on availability.