Full-Time Schedule of Activities: Our organization leads educational groups to participate in a humanitarian-environmental project with meaningful contact through citizen science marine discoveries and cultural activities. Your group led, full time schedule of educational exchange focuses on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula and Havana to develop publishable data for our 2nd ecological book. You ll meet with & directly provide support to benefit local Cuban marine professionals, private business owners, chefs, teachers, pastors & church members. Itineraries are subject to change. Your Sample itinerary includes: Tue Apr 10: Transfer to Guanahacabibes National Marine Park After you land in Jose Marti, Havana Airport you ll be escorted directly through the remote jungle to the western most point of Cuba. Welcome to the UNESCO Biosphere reserve where you ll be guided to monitor the remote coral walls that inspired the ground-breaking conservation agreement between the Tampa Bay Florida Aquarium and Cuba s National Aquarium in Havana. By studying Cuba s healthy reefs, the Florida Aquarium hopes to learn ways of bringing back the Sunshine State s coral. Their partnership has established a new coral nursery in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Guanahacabibes Peninsula National Park. The Florida Aquarium provided the structures
and know-how and taught the entire process to Havana aquarium. That s why they also partnered with American-based Nature Conservancy and the Cuban National Center for Protected Areas to host a coral restoration workshop to provide technical assistance as Cuba establishes its first coral nurseries in the Guanahacabibes Park. With all these marine science studies behind your exploration of Guanahacabibes biodiversity, it s not surprising to see why it s the focal point for the international underwater photography competition each year and home to at least 4 of the 7 species of marine turtles in the world. Arrive Havana Jose Marti Airport Transfer to Guanahcabibes Peninsula directly from Havana During your ride, your leader will provide orientation and you ll receive instruction about Cuban culture, the Jurassic, and rural farming environment as well as preparation for your guided marine monitoring project over the next few days. (included) about 5-6 hours Upon arrival, attend marine conservation briefing with local Cuban Marine Professionals & Instructors: (1 hour meeting) o o Giamnys Borrego Pequero (Aquatic Center Manager) Joel Gonzalez Negueina (Safety guide & instructor) Martin Mirando Hernandez (Safety guide & instructor) Dinner (included) 1 hour Native wood cabin amid the jungle of the National Biosphere Reserve, double occupancy, air conditioned (included)
Wed Apr 11: Environmental Orientation & Marine Observation Engage with your Cuban marine professionals to learn about the environment, conservation and safety procedures of this national marine park as you acclimate, fine tune your equipment, and adjust to the excellent visibility (usually more than 100 feet). Observe and monitor your surroundings. Using your REEF underwater survey slates, (supplied by our organization) you ll document a number of marine species on your collection sheets. Pay particular attention to the number of nonindigenous lion fish invading this area. Learn about the most common marine animals and corals in this region. Your group will be divided into sub teams of 8 or smaller- each with a local marine professional. Prepare for your marine site diagramming projects that will take place over the next few days. Breakfast (included) 1 hour One tank guided immersion & marine ecosystems discovery with Cuban Marine One tank guided immersion & marine topography discovery with Cuban Marine Lunch (included) 1 hour One tank guided immersion & marine topography discovery with Cuban Marine Dinner (included) 1 hour Prep with local marine professionals for next morning s immersions 1 hour Native wood cabin amid the jungle of the National Biosphere Reserve, double occupancy, air conditioned (included)
Thu Apr 12: Marine Site Diagramming Discovery Engage with local marine professionals of your sub team to record the location, topography, depth and formation of the site. Develop detailed, accurate hand drawn maps of the area observed. Some of you will collaborate on mapping the marine site, others will record abundance of species observed. Breakfast (included) 1 hour One tank guided immersion & coral discoveries discussion with Cuban Marine One tank guided immersion & marine animals discoveries discussion with Cuban Marine Lunch (included) 1 hour One tank guided immersion & Caribbean fish discoveries with Cuban Marine One tank guided immersion & marine topography discovery with Cuban Marine Marine park coral & fish identification lecture & photography review with Cuban marine professionals to discuss marine ecology discoveries of the day 1 hours Dinner (included) 1 hour Preparation with local marine professionals for next morning s immersions (included) 1 hour Native wood cabin set amid the jungle of the National Biosphere Reserve, double occupancy, air conditioned (included)
Fri Apr 13: Private Tobacco Entrepreneurship Experience Your educational exchange continues as you transition through the lush UNESCO BIOSPHERE to the valley of Pinar del Rio where you ll find the only Jurassic outcroppings in this hemisphere. You ll spend the afternoon & directly benefit the privately owned, world renowned tobacco farm of HECTOR LUIS HOMBRE HABANERO. Meet with Hector & his partner Osvaldo while you enjoy the farming lecture to learn why cigar aficionado experts have awarded this farm top recognition in the cigar industry for its tobacco which is sold to Cohiba and Montecristo brands. Learn how many leaves are maintained PER plant, see how they are dried, rotated and aged. Watch them hand-roll the cigars by private locals who ve mastered and passed down this art through the generations. Understand this peculiar blend of entrepreneurship meets socialism as the manager explains their supply chain, business practices and operations. Enjoy your traditional Cuban lunch at this privatelyowned paladar set amidst the views of rolling tobacco hills and the occasional farm-grazing animal, all while live music serenades you with local musicians. Make it back to Havana in time to observe a private children s dance demonstration and benefit this private cultural art co-op while dining in their local private restaurant, Cimmaron. Owner & Cuban Cultural Project Founder, Teresa Hernandez, explains this unique partnership with the private Cuban community. This is the stuff dreams are made of! Breakfast (included) 1 hour TRANSFER to Pinar del Rio (included) 2 hours Paladar Private Lunch & Tobacco Farming lecture with Hector Luis Prieto &/ Osvaldo (included) 2.5 hours TRANSFER to Havana- your program guide will discuss Havana Culture and photography goals & prep for the next three days (included) 3-4 hours
Meeting with Cuban Cultural Project Founders Teresa & Alexis Hernandez with their local children s dance company; Paladar Dinner in Havana (Included) 3 hours Privately owned B&B, Casa Particular (home stay) double occupancy (air conditioned) (included) Sat Apr 14: Havana Support to Directly Benefit the Cuban People Engage in heart-warming meaningful educational exchanges as you wake up to your Authentic Cuban coffee & traditional breakfast in your Casa Particular with local owners Jorge, Orlando, Myrna, Javier, Pepe & Martha. Taste the sumptuous indigenous fruits while you discover the heritage of the home you re staying in. It feels great to support and encourage these private entrepreneurs while you experience first-hand their authentic lifestyle unfolding in front of you. Then meet up with our English-speaking guides, certified in Cuban history and architecture as you stroll through this antique city. You ll learn about Spanish, Russian, African and American influences that mingle together in mishmashed, architectural styles. See the influence of the Catholic church, the San Cristobal. Stroll through Plaza de las Armas second-hand book market where you can pick up a copy of The Old Man and the Sea, by the Nobel Prize winning American author, Ernest Hemmingway. He wrote it while living on the outskirts of Havana. Enjoy the diversity of culinary experiences in the private paladar, el Mediterraneo, where you ll talk with Chef Luigi about their organic farm and sustainable seafood sourcing. See why no pesticides = no runoff to deteriorate the pristine marine reef ecosystems around the island.
Cap off the evening mingling with local Cuban afficionados at la Fabrica del Arte an old warehouse in Vedado transformed every two months by local artists, musicians and cinematographers depicting art with various current social situations and ideals on the island. You ll marvel about the people, the culture and the heritage! Breakfast meeting with local Cuban entrepreneur (included) 1 hour Walking tour of Old Havana & discussions with certified guides on the architecture and history of the city (included) 3 hours Paladar private restaurant lunch in Old Havana. Meet the owner to learn about how he started this new private business in tightly regulated Habana Vieja (included) 2 hours Meeting with Chef Luigi Fiori to discuss sustainable seafood & organic farm sourcing & Paladar private restaurant dinner at El Mediterraneo in Vedado, Havana (included) 2 hours Evening Meeting: Local Cuban Artists & Musicians co-op, Fabrica del Arte (included) 1 hour Privately owned B&B, Casa Particular (home stay) double occupancy (air conditioned) (included) Sun Apr 15: Explore Havana Living & Markets Take a tour of Havana Living as your local private guide teaches you about the food & flower market. Interact with locals and experience the daily fabric of Cuban life. Next visit the Hemmingway house to learn how this Literary icon lived and where he wrote many winning novels. After lunch, enjoy the afternoon in the downtown artist village Callejon de Hammel with local artists and musicians as you stroll through living art & poetry woven in this barrio s streets. Learn first hand from your local guide how the artists revived and uplifted this neighborhood. Dinner included. Breakfast meeting with local Cuban entrepreneur (included) 1 hour
Visit to private local food & flower market with local guide (included ) 1 hour Visit to HemmingWay House museum (included) 1 hour Lunch in privately owned restaurant paladar (included) 2 hours Afternoon visit to Callejon de Hammel Artist village (included) 1.5 hours Dinner in privately owned restaurant paladar (included) 2 hours Privately owned B&B, Casa Particular (home stay) double occupancy (air conditioned) (included) Mon Apr 16: Soroa -UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Visit 50 miles west of Havana to the UNESCO Biosphere reserve of Soroa & Las Terrazas. When sugarcane fields and quaint villages come to an end, you ll reach the picturesque area located in the center of a Tropical forest known as The Rainbow of Cuba, hidden high in the mountains. Thousands of ornamental plants, trees and flowers along with 700 orchid species thrive throughout this 86,500 acre wonderland. Eco-friendly Soroa s orchid garden has won national and foreign championships for Orchid gardens due to its winding paths, pavilions covered with thin blankets and amazing waterfalls. From here we head 25 miles to lunch and explore in Las Terrazas. This area is a natural reserve declared in 1985 by UNESCO Biosphere in which a project of sustainable rural economy is being developed, based on the rational use of its natural resources for tourism. The buildings of Las Terrazas Community have been designed to blend with their surroundings. Visit the Ecological Research Center where you ll see the ruins of 18 th century coffee plantations, bird watch and try your hand at a canopy tour through the jungle. Breakfast (included) Transfer (all day) from Hav-Soroa Visit to Soroa Orchid Botanical Gardens (1hr outside Havana)
Visit to Las Terazzas Waterfalls (20 mins from Soroa) Lunch (included) Swim/snorkel in freshwater lake at Las Terrazas Optional zip lining Dinner in Havana included Private Bed & Breakfast, double occupancy, air conditioned (included) Havana Tue Apr 17: Havana Support to Directly Benefit the Cuban People Explore the rustic neighborhood of Jaimanitas that s been transformed by local private artist, Jose Fuster. Meander through his uplifting style tile mosaics and see how his determination improved the economic situation of all his neighbors. Enjoy a private lunch in his family s home. The culmination of your humanitarian-environmental project includes a private antique car ride throughout old Havana with your own cuentapropista (entrepreneur /owner). Discuss how his privately-run business thrives amidst socialism as you reflect on all those meaningful exchanges that will transform your heart and renew your soul. Celebrate with local pastor Adreano Fuentes and private Cuban church members with a discussion on religion & philosophy over their home-cooked, catered dinner in your honor. Congratulations on your contribution to the Cuban people and your fresh knowledge of the scientific study of the reefs to be published in our Cuba Ecology book! Authentic coffee & traditional breakfast meeting with local Cuban entrepreneur (included) 1 hour Meet with local artist Jose Fuster (and/or his family members) Fusterlandia -Picasso of the Caribbean (included) 1 hour Private Lunch in Artist s Family Home (included) 1.5 hours
Meet with local cuentapropista (entrepreneur) with private Antique Car ride and explanation of architectural landmarks of Havana including el morro historic fort (included) 1 hour Meeting with Pastor Adreano Fuentes & church members over homecooked, catered meal Farewell Ceremony at local christian Episcopal church in Vedado with Cuban neighborhood church members Meeting, dinner & discussion with Pastor Adreano Fuentes about religion & philosophy in Cuba with Private Traditional Music concert by Episcopal church members (included) Privately owned B&B, Casa Particular (home stay) double occupancy (air conditioned) (included) Wed Apr 18: Depart Havana All recorded information submitted by travelers to our guide before departure. Authentic Cuban coffee & traditional breakfast meeting with local Cuban entrepreneur (included) 1 hour Ground transfer to the Havana Jose Marti airport (included) 30 mins Depart!
31 C.F.R. 515.575 Humanitarian Environmental Project Privately owned & operated, AW Futures, LLC is an organization that offers group educational exchanges to understand the setting in which Cubans experience their own marine environment and efforts to protect/conserve it, while engaging in meaningful interactions for humanitarian support to the civil society to strengthen Cuba s cuentapropistas (private local entrepreneurs). The purpose of this meaningful exchange is to participate in our humanitarian-environmental project that produces publishable results of marine and cultural research for our 2 nd book: Cuba Ecology. This environmental project directly supports the Cuban people by predominantly contracting and developing small scale private enterprise for accommodations, meals and transportation while providing shareable data for both American & Cuban organizations. Our environmental project discoveries and information are collected using 4 methods: Marine Site Diagraming Project: Participants team up with local environmental ecology experts / Cuban marine professionals to accurately diagram each marine site starting with the Guanahacabibes National Park s marine protected area of more than 35 distinct sites spanning over 150 square miles. Hand drawn maps record topography, depth, landmarks and GPS coordinates. Maps by travelers will be used as the basis to digitally re-create these aquatic environmental maps for use in the Cuba Ecology book (section 7) and to be shared with American & Cuban organizations. Photographic & quantitative information of the coral formations and marine animals will be measured via the roving diver survey method to be used in section 5 of the Cuba Ecology book. This method was designed in conjunction with marine scientists from NOAA, the University of Miami, The Nature Conservancy and Reef.Org. Species and approximate abundance scores are recorded on an underwater slate (provided by our organization). Each recorded species is assigned one of four abundance categories based on how many were seen throughout a single research immersion [single (1); few (2-10), many (11-100), and abundant (>100)]. 2 nd Environmental Project (Cuba Ecology Book) Our first book, Cuba Scuba was a 236-page Comprehensive Marine Guide, published in 2003 Sample of hand-dawn maps which will then be converted to graphically designed maps Example of underwater slate kit used to record species abundance Informal interviews and discussions with locals on current conservation, environmental efforts with the Marine Protected Areas and the balance sought for sustainable seafood efforts with local private restaurant owners (paladares). Cultural and historical photography & informal feedback to update the background in the book on the current situation in Cuba since the first publication in 2003.