Discover Cuba

Join Kimberly Adams and a lively group of fellow music and art lovers, on a diverse and culturally-rich adventure to Havana, Cuba. Take part in the “Support for the Cuban People” travel category courtesy of Earthbound Expeditions. We’ll enjoy performances in venues scattered throughout Havana and also attend private concerts where we’ll meet the musicians.

Visit social projects aimed at helping disadvantaged youth, take salsa dance lessons from private, professional instructors, eat in private paladar restaurants to support local families and attend a special jazz workshop with Cuban musicians. Stroll the famous Malecón, wander in the picturesque historic center of Havana and ride in a classic convertible, all to the sultry sounds of Cuban jazz. Celebrate music and a diverse culture and support the Cuban people at the same time!

Itinerary

Day 1: Saturday Arrive in Historic Havana

After clearing Cuban immigrations and customs, you are welcomed by your Cuban National guide outside the terminal, who will assist with a private transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a stroll on the waterfront or relax by the pool with a mojito before meeting your guide and host at 6:00 pm for a welcome dinner at one of Havana’s best known, privately owned paladars. Sleep in Havana (D)

Day 2: Sunday, January 26 - Discover Historic Old Havana and Hemingway

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel (served daily from 7:00am to 10:30am). This morning we set out to explore and discover the oldest neighborhood in Havana. The old Spanish quarter which is now a UNESCO site. Our in-depth walking tour will include a visit to a pharmacy and the historic Ambros Mundos hotel where Hemingway stayed while in Havana from 1928 - 39. It was here that Hemingway wrote and finished, The Green Hills of Africa, Death in the Afternoon, and To Have and Have Not. We will enjoy lunch in a private restaurant in the old town before setting off to explore the architecture of this great city. In the late afternoon we’ll stop by the celebrated Nacional Hotel, built in 1930 and designed by the famed New York architecture firm of McKim, Mead and White. Among their works are the original Pennsylvania Station, Columbia University’s library, the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, the Boston Public Library, several grand private homes in Newport, Rhode Island and a renovation of the White House in Washington, D.C. in 1915! In its 90+ years of existence, the Hotel Nacional has had many important guests, including artists, actors, athletes and writers such as Winston Churchill, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Jimmy Carter, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Keaton, Jorge Negrete and many, many others. This evening we will dine in another one of Havana’s great private restaurants. Sleep in Havana (B, L, D)

Day 3: Monday, January 27 - The History of Dance and Conservatorio Guillermo Tomas, Hemingway and old classic cars!

This morning we’ll visit the Conservatorio Guillermo Tomas. This music school has 500 students ranging in age from 8 to 19. The 40 annual graduates go on to join the best symphony, chamber and popular orchestras, or become music professors for new students. After, we're off to visit Hemingway’s Finca Vigía (Lookout Farm) where North America's literary giant, Ernest Hemingway, spent twenty-one of his most important and productive years penning building blocks of English literature. Claimed by both the United States and Cuba as their son, it was Hemingway himself who declared the island his true home. Lunch is included in a fabulous private restaurant today. In the afternoon, we head to visit the Nostalgic Car garage and club. This private enterprise specializes in restoring old classic 1950 American cars and the owner has one great story to share with you! After our visit, we will be treated to a ride and cruise Havana in a perfectly restored classic car! Dinner is included this evening in one of Havana’s best privately owned paladars. For those wishing to hear some jazz, we’ll head out to a private club to check out the local nightlife. Sleep in Havana (B, L, D)

Day 4: Tuesday, January 28 - An excursion west to Las Terrazas & Vocal Clave de Sol

This morning we leave for Las Terrazas. En-route we’ll travel through the lush countryside planted with sugar cane, corn, rice, and taro. With few vestiges of modernization, the region seems set back in time with farming communities still harvesting by hand and using horse and carts to transport goods to free markets. Las Terrazas is located in the Pinar del Rio province and is now part of UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserve, much of it reforested coffee plantation. We’ll visit with the local farmers who will serve a delicious traditional lunch and also visit a medical center where you can bring medical-related gifts. Upon our return to Havana, we stop for performance by Vocal Clave de Sol, a local group of young guitarists. This non-profit group has an important role in helping children learn through art and music. Note: You may consider bringing acoustic guitar strings with you today for a gift. This evening is yours to relax or, dine near or in the hotel. Sleep in Havana (B, L)

Day 5: Day 5: Wednesday, January 29 - In Support of Woman in Cuba and Music

This morning we’ll head off to visit the Beyond Roots project – a platform to promote Afro-Cuban culture. We’ll learn about a few amazing small businesses driven by Cuban women including: Ciclo Papel, an ecological project that transforms recycled paper; Zulu, and a leather bag line craft shop. Enjoy a bit of time visiting private artists at the local market before making our way to lunch. After lunch, visit a private Santeria house where we’ll converse with local believers about the religion, which is a system of beliefs that merges the Yoruba religion (brought to the New World by enslaved West Africans sent to the Caribbean to work on sugar plantations) with Roman Catholicism and Native American traditions. This evening we visit famed F.A.C., Cuban Art Factory. This is the best night cultural venue in all of Havana. There is always something new to do here - theater, jazz, contemporary dance, concerts, DJs, exhibitions or intranet chatting. Sleep in Havana (B, L, D)

Day 6: Thursday, January 30 - Rhythms of Cuba!

We kick off today with a visit to Casa Miglis for salsa lessons with one or more of the dancers of Havana Queens, directed by Rosario García Rodríguez (graduated from Escuela Nacional Del Arte and Universidad de las Artes) and stage director Balbina Aspron Chávez (Cuban TV Ballet). Lunch is included today. After lunch we’ll visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. This imposing building treasures the largest collection of paintings and other works of arts brought to Cuba from overseas. Dinner is included tonight followed by an evening out at a jazz club! Sleep in Havana (B, L, D)

Day 7: Friday, January 31- Percussion Lessons at Havana Music School

This morning we’ll visit Havana Music School for percussion lessons! With professional teachers, you will learn the most important dance steps to some of Cuba's traditional dances, including danzón, salsa, rumba, son, cha cha cha and mambo. Afterwards, you can play the Cuban rhythms yourself on one of the percussion instruments. The workshop is accompanied by live musicians. Enjoy another wonderful lunch together. After lunch we’ll have a rumba demonstration and lesson in Santeria. Callejón de Hamel is much more than just a nicely designed street section, it is a cultural project located in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood, in the heart of Centro Habana. During this short tour, you will learn all about the project and its headquarters, as well as Afro-Cuban religions and their impact on Cuban society. You have the opportunity to visit the house of the painter Salvador González, to see his creative work and religious altars. We’ll also enjoy a rumba dance demonstration of different orishas (typical Cuban dances). Tonight, let’s gather for a gala farewell dinner and toast to our grand Cuban adventures! Sleep in Havana (B, L, D)

Day 8: Saturday, February 1 - Your tailor-made MPR adventure concludes

Transfer to Havana’s Jose Marti Airport and check in for your return flight to the States. Buen Viaje! (B)

WHERE WILL YOU STAY

The NEW Hotel Grand Aston La Habana! Set one block from the famous Malecón, this upscale, four-star hotel is in the Vedado district. The new modern rooms have spectacular views of the ocean, the city and the majestic Malecón ocean drive. There are four restaurants and several bars including a Cuban cigar and rum sampling bar for connoisseurs. Hotel amenities include an outdoor pool, as well as a fitness room, a sauna and a beauty salon. The Hotel Grand Aston La Habana is an OFAC - US Treasury Department Authorized hotel.

Pricing and Terms

$4,995 per person based on double occupancy land, $995 single supplement (waived if you are willing to share and a roommate is found)

NOT INCLUDED
Cuban Tourist Card (aka visa) fee of $100 * Travel Insurance (in addition to included $1,000 mandatory
medical coverage which is offered through Delta and American Airlines when purchasing your ticket)
*International Airline tickets and luggage fees *Specialty beverages with meals (other than those
mentioned in itinerary) *Meals not mentioned * Laundry/room/mini-bar service * Gratuities for
housekeeping staff *Items of a personal nature and anything not listed in the “It’s Included” section
above

WHERE YOU WILL STAY: The NEW Hotel Grand Aston La Habana! Set one block from the
famous Malecón, this upscale, four-star hotel is in the Vedado district. The new modern rooms have
spectacular views of the ocean, the city and the majestic Malecón ocean drive. There are four restaurants
and several bars including a Cuban cigar and rum sampling bar for connoisseurs. Hotel amenities
include an outdoor pool, as well as a fitness room, a sauna and a beauty salon. The Hotel Grand Aston La
Habana is an OFAC - US Treasury Department Authorized hotel.

Know Before You Go
This legal Cuba tour is operated under the OFAC (The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset
Control) general license, section 31 CFR § 515.572(a)(1) which allows us to provide travel services to U.S.
travelers to Cuba, in the category of “Support for the Cuban People.” It requires that each traveler utilizing
this authorization engage in a full-time schedule of activities that enhance contact with the Cuban people,
support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities and that
result in meaningful interactions with individuals in Cuba. The traveler’s schedule of activities must not
include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule in Cuba. For a complete description of what this general license authorizes and the restrictions that apply, see 31 CFR § 515.574.

Cuba is a developing country and still lacks many modern conveniences. It’s not unusual to experience short
power black-outs or to find that your hot water, internet, TV or phone in your hotel room does not work
properly (or at all). Further, the Cuban government and incoming Havana agency has the right to change the itinerary without notice (and often does). We’ll be travelling under a “Support of the Cuban People” license, which means that our days will be filled with independent activities intended to strengthen civil society inCuba. Your day will begin around 8:30am and end around 5:00pm. This is not a trip for those looking for a leisurely, five-star beach holiday or a deluxe resort experience. Travelers who arrive in Havana with a sense of humor, an open mind, and are ready to be flexible, will absolutely fall in love with the people and culture of Cuba.

Reservations and Deposits: A $500 per person deposit is needed to confirm your space on this journey. You
can make a credit card deposit online or by phone. Once the deposit is processed, a deposit packet is emailed with pertinent journey details. Deposits are refundable, minus a $150 per person cancellation fee, for 60 days from the processing date or 90 days prior to departure, whichever comes first. Deposits made 90 days prior to a trip departing are not refundable. Final payment is also non-refundable which is why we
strongly urge guests to purchase travel insurance.

Not Included: Cuban Tourist Card (aka visa) fee of $100 * Travel Insurance (in addition to included
$1,000 mandatory medical coverage which is offered through Delta and American Airlines when
purchasing your ticket) *International Airline tickets and luggage fees *Specialty beverages with meals
(other than those mentioned in itinerary) *Meals not mentioned*Laundry/room/mini-bar service *
Gratuities for housekeeping staff *Items of a personal nature and anything not listed in the “It’s
Included” section on page two.

Physical Requirements: It is the responsibility of each guest to be aware of their physical abilities or limitations and to be in sufficient good health to undertake the trip. Click here to read “Is an Earthbound trip right for you?” or call the Earthbound office for more details.

Travel Insurance: Earthbound Expeditions strongly encourages the purchase of travel insurance
coverage. We include information on trip insurance in your deposit information.

Events and Hosted Journeys: If a planned event is cancelled for any reason, another event will be
included in its place. This is not cause for refund. Events are subject to change. Also, if a host or
special guest is unable to attend as planned, Earthbound Expeditions will do its utmost to find
another host who has similar interests, talents, and expertise. The inability of a host to
participate in a tour is not grounds for a full or partial refund.

Read full terms and conditions at: https://earthboundexpeditions.com/termsconditions