Robert McElvaine's Cuban Arts and Culture Tour from Saturday 22 to Saturday 29 June 2013
For costs and more details on this tour, please contact:

Robert S. McElvaine
Professor of Arts and Letters
Millsaps College
1701 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39210
601-974-1291 Office
601-924-1598 Home

Or email Prof McElvaine at: mcelvrs@millsaps.edu

Cuba Education and Explorer Tours guide.
Read about Robert on Wikipedia.

Read about Robert on Millsaps College site.

Cuba Education and Explorer Tours guide.
OMG! This tour includes free round trip air to Havana from Cancún making it nearly all-inclusive!
Cuba Education and Explorer Tours guide.

Professor Robert McElvaine’s
CUBAN ARTS & CULTURE TOUR
Getting to know island people and society

In magical Cuba for eight days from
Saturday 22 to Saturday 29 June 2013
Discover the heart and soul of Havana, Matanzas province, Cienfuegos and Trinidad de Cuba
OTHER 2013 DATES FOR THIS TOUR

AUGUST 31
Che Guevara sculpture in the Plaza de la Revolución.
THE CUBAN PEOPLE warmly welcome you to join them in June 2013 to witness their nation of unmatched creativity in arts, culture, education and social relations.

THIS TOUR IS for people keen on learning about Cuba's stellar achievements in free universal life-long education, its society, culture, natural history and ecology.

JOIN US ON this special introduction and overview tour to our neighbor nation so long forbidden. It's experience of a lifetime and fount of unforgettable memories.
R E G I S T E R  Click
F L I G H T S  Click
L I C E N S I N G  Click
I T I N E R A R Y  Click
G U E S T B O O K  Click
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Your activities in Cuba video.
Your activities in Cuba video.
WATCH six minutes in Cuba!

COMMON CUBA QUESTIONS
Is Cuban food good? Yum. It is organic and tasty, but not spicy. If you like hot, bring Tabasco sauce.
Am I free to ask all questions? You'll insult your island hosts by being less than candid.
Is the water safe to drink? Yes, but we suggest bottled water.
Are vaccinations needed? No.
Can Americans visit Cuba legally? Yes. They should do so now while the island is pristine and before it is overrun. There is no charge for travel licenses.
Can I stay in Cuba after the tour? Absolutely! We encourage this and gladly assist for free.
How much money should I take? We suggest $75 to 125 per day.
Do Cubans like tips? Of course! See our gratuities guidelines.


Rooftops in Old Havana.
Rooftops in Old Havana near your hotel.

Best Cuban food.
We feature the best of island food.

Banana blossom -- spectacular! Bananas grow "up-side-down." Bananas grow upside-down. Spaniards brought them to Cuba in 1516. Click to enlarge.


Clime and time in Havana now



Click here for weekly forecast

Accomplishments of the Cuban education system.
Click logo for more info.
Cuba Tour Overview :: An elaborate day-by-day itinerary is below
Eight days and seven nights of learning, fun and friendship in Cuba. Want to stay longer? We assist! Euphonium musician in Havana
Euphonium player. Click to enlarge.
Five nights in the historic four star boutique Hotel Telégrafo in the heart of Habana Vieja [Old Havana] – the city's arts hub.
Two nights in the all-inclusive beach resort Brisas Trinidad del Mar on the white sand beaches of Caribbean Sea.
Tour elegant art galleries and museums, mingle with Cuban artists, visit rural Cuba and meet farm families, learn about the Afrocuban heritage and the religion of Santería, groove to salsa, jazz and rumba, relish the best Cuban and international cuisine, witness amazing architecture dating back 500 years, and much more.
A glimpse into Cuba's renowned education system, dynamic island culture, evolving social and political realities, natural environment, and healthcare and legal systems.
Be part of the authentic daily life of Cubans mornings, afternoons and evenings.
Experience island history, social and ecological achievements first hand.
Glean insights into dynamic citizen engagement in all aspects of urban development and social policy.
Establish enduring personal and professional relationships with your Cuban counterparts and North American tourmates.
You're in good hands while on the island with Cuba Education Tours
Cuba Education and Explorer Tours guide.
SAFE, FUN, people-to-people cultural travel. Your tour is fully escorted by Cuban experts. From the minute you land in Havana until you go home, you will be in the conscientious care of our fulltime multilingual guide together with a professional bus chauffeur. They're there for you and eager to assist in everyway.
Official Cuban Travel Health Insurance required for foreign guests.
MANDATORY Cuban medical insurance is included in tour cost. This excellent policy covers all health issues that may arise while in Cuba. If you get hurt or take ill, you are not dinged with out-of-pocket expenses.
Legal Cuba Travel for Americans.
WE ENSURE Americans travel to Cuba legally. Find out how you can go to Cuba now. We've sent thousand of Americans to Cuba since 1997; not one has experienced complications. We assist free of charge with all licensing issues so you can go to Cuba legally without fear or concern.
Apple indicates Cuba tour meals included at your hotel and at fine restaurants
 Tour day
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Breakfast
In Air
Lunch
In Air
In Air
Dinner
 
 
 
In Air
Get to know Cuba in comfort and safety
Cuba Education and Explorers Tours bus.
YOU DO CUBA in a modern air-conditioned tour coach with a fulltime professional chauffeur from arrival to departure. Havana is one of the oldest and most architecturally stunning cities in the New World. During your many excursions around the capital, and beyond, your guide provides ongoing historical commentary for all points of interest. We want you to learn everything about our beautiful island.

Several site highlights are Modern Havana, the Capitol building, the Grand Theatre, Central Park, Prado promenade, Plaza de la Revolución, Coppelia Ice Cream Park, Plaza José Martí (in front of U.S. Interests Section), Malecón seawall, Monument to the Battleship Maine, Hotel Nacional, University of Havana, Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, and the Miramar, Central Havana and Vedado neighborhoods.
Your Cuba tour map
Map of Cuba.
Day 1 in Cuba Saturday :: Hello Cuba
Cuban girls perform folk dance.
Cuban girls perform folk dance.

Sunset on the Malecón seawall.
Sunset on the Malecón seawall near your hotel – a place for relaxation and new friendships.

One-in-ten cars in Cuba are pre-1959.
One-in-ten cars in Cuba are pre-1959. Click photo to enlarge.

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Musician in Havana.
Music is pervasive. Musicians perform in every cafe, hotel, town square and street corner.
Mojito
Learn to say: Un mojito por favor!
Arrival at Havana's José Martí International Airport.
Collect your bags and go through customs. You're welcomed at the airport lobby by your Cuba Education Tours guide and professional bus chauffeur.
Private group transfer to your hotel located in the heart of Havana's cultural district.
Check-in to Hotel Telégrafo with assistance from your guide.
This is a good time to exchange some money into Cuban Convertible Pesos.
Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink with tourmates, hotel staff and your guide.
Free time to settle in to your hotel room and freshen up.
Dinner at your hotel is included in tour cost
Highlight  This evening you'll enjoy a group welcome dinner with your guide and tourmates.
Evening activities not included in cost
Your guide will keep you posted on entertainment options around the city.
Day 2 in Cuba Sunday :: Old Havana architecture, history and music
Maqueta de La Habana Vieja
Incredible detail hallmarks the Maqueta de La Habana Vieja. It's a great way to get a sense of the city.

Cuban post box
Decorative mail drop box in Old Havana.		 El Capitolio dome
Inside view of the dome of El Capitolio.

Exterior of the Cathedral of Havana Interior of the Cathedral of Havana.
Exterior and interior of the Cathedral of Havana initiated by Jesuits in 1748 and completed in 1777. Click photos for larger view.

Old building in Havana
Example of restoration in Old Havana.		 Cuban mime
Street pantomime in Old Havana.

La Divina Pastora Restaurante.
Restaurante La Divina Pastora, located in the Parque Histórico Morro y Cabaña overlooks Havana harbor with an incredible view of the city.

Cuban soldier guards Carlos de la Cabaña fortress. Turret at Carlos de la Cabaña fortress.
Left Contemporary Cuban soldier in 18th century British military attire guards the Carlos de la Cabaña fortress (click his photo to enlarge). Right Cabaña turret.

Ancient map of Havana.
British map from 1763 shows plan of the original walled city of La Habana (founded in 1519). The city was occupied by British and Canadian colonial troops from 1762 to 1763. Spain ended the dispute by trading Florida for Havana. Click here for another British occupation map. Try to identify it on this interactive Google Map of Cuba.

Cuban soldiers fire the 9PM cannon.
Soldiers fire the 9PM Cannon at the fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña, the best-preserved Spanish colonial garrison in the world.

Lord Byng faculty Richard Harris and 2009 LB Cuba tour student.
Why is this image of John Lennon here? Click it to find out.

Cuban school kids by Henk van der Leeden.
Cuban students in Havana say, "Welcome. Come down and meet us!" Photo Henk van der Leeden.
Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Visit to the Maqueta de La Habana Vieja [Scale Model of Old Havana] to learn about this community and its development plans. It's a 1:500 scale model of Old Havana complete with an authentic soundtrack meant to replicate a day in the life of the city. It's incredibly detailed and provides an excellent way of geographically acquainting yourself with the city's original core.
Afterwards we'll take a walking tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll visit four of the five historic plazas that make Havana unique in the western hemisphere. These plazas contain the largest collection of Spanish colonial-era architecture in the Americas. This is a private tour led by your Cuba Education Tours guide. You'll witness:
Havana's Cathedral Square.

Cathedral Square, the most beautiful and private 18th century colonial plaza on the island. Named after the masterpiece of Cuban baroque architecture: the Catedral de San Cristóbal de la Habana built by the Jesuit order.
Square of Arms in Havana

Square of Arms, an ancient military parade ground for Spanish soldiers, surrounded by such impressive buildings as:

Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, former seat of colonial government. Today the building houses the Museum of the City.

Palacio del Segundo Cabo [Palace of the Second Lieutenant] dates from 1770. Today it houses the Instituto Cubano del Libro [Cuban Book Institute] and the Galería Raúl Martínez (famed poster artist).

Museo de Artesanía at Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the oldest remaining fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies.
Plaza San Francisco in Old Havana.

We will continue onto San Francisco Square, one of the oldest plazas in the historical quarter. The square is named after the magnificent Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco de Asís dating from the 16th century. The basilica is a striking example of Cuba baroque architecture.
Plaza Vieja in Old Havana.

And, finally we'll visit Plaza Vieja, the only civic square of colonial times. In contrast to the churches and government buildings of the previous squares, Plaza Vieja is surrounded by opulent aristocratic 17th century residences. Here we'll tour an important center for the visual arts.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost
Ernest Hemingway.
Ernest Hemingway called Havana the Paris of the Americas.

Group welcome lunch at Restaurante El Templete. This bayside fish joint is the latest addition to the city's list of upscale eateries. Basque chef Arkaitx Etxarte does delightful things with seafood. It sits near its namesake temple that marks the spot where the city of La Habana was founded in 1519. Overlooking the harbor, it features two dining spaces: an outdoor alfresco area accommodated under a large awning, and a pleasant indoor dining room with starched tablecloths, fine wine glasses and cutlery. The quality of the food lives up to its upscale decor. Seafood specialties are spearheaded by shrimps and lobster. Many tour participants return to this eatery during their free time.
Callejón de Hamel

We'll visit the Callejón de Hamel, an alley where all the buildings display murals inspired by Afrocuban culture and religions. While there we'll take in an incredible rumba performance enjoyed by the community every Sunday.
The city of Havana as seen from the fortress El Morro, across the harbor
The city of Havana as seen from the El Morro castle and San Carlos de la Cabaña fortress, across the harbor from your hotel.
We'll visit the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña where Che Guevara established his headquarters after the Revolution came to power in 1959 – four hundred years after it was built on the backs of African slaves and endentured European laborers. La Divina is noted for its cocktails, good service and live music. You'll eat near the water on the north side of Havana Harbor overlooking Old Havana to the south.
Return to your hotel and freshen up.
Dinner tonight is not included in cost
This evening you are free to explore stellar eateries. Tour participants receive a guide featuring Havana's best restaurants for every taste and budget. It includes both paladares [small private diners] and fabulous state owned locales run by acclaimed Cuban chefs.
Evening activities not included in cost
Evening entertainment suggestion  Behold a most dramatic ceremony – El Cañonazo – the Firing of the 9PM Cannon at the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña. This enchanting colonial reenactment dates back to 1519 when the city of Havana was enclosed by a tall thick rock wall to ward off attacks from pirates and the English. The cannon firing signaled the closing of the city gates for the night. If you were outside at the time, you were in "vedado" or the forbidden zone. Today Vedado is an important cultural hub and beautiful section of modern Havana.
Day 3 in Cuba Monday :: Community center, urban agriculture, Hemingway
Doña Flora, a 102-year-old resident of the Belén Convent. Belén Convent in Havana.
Left Doña Flora, a 103-year-old resident of the Belén Convent. Right Tower and entrance to the Convent of Our Lady of Belén.

Cuban boy and his grandmother.
Boy toasts his grandmother [abuela]. Cuban youth hold elders in high regard. The island is known as the Jewel of the Caribbean for its natural beauty and the unmatched warmth and kindness of its people.

Cuban farm boy
Cubans enjoy lifelong free healthcare and education combined with inexpensive housing, utilities and childcare.
CUBA IS recognized as the global leader in environmental sustainability. It has 300 ecologically protected areas encompassing 30 percent of its territory. Six of these areas are UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves. Over half the island's diverse flora and fauna is indigenous – existing nowhere else – and is guarded from exploitation. In 2006, the World Wildlife Federation named Cuba the only nation to achieve a sustainable planet friendly economy.

Cuban farm boy
Many rural youth are engaged in agriculture and rigorous academics.

Cuban tobacco worker in drying shed.
We'll learn about the cultivation and processing of tobacco from seed to leaf culminating in the world's most famous cigars.

Youth at a Cuban baseball game.Kids gone loco. Youth at a Cuban baseball game, the island's national sport and pastime. Click photo to enlarge.		 Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Restoration of Belén Convent began in 1991.
Restoration of the Convent of Our Lady of Belén began in 1991 and continues today. It serves as a public health facility for the elderly in the neighborhood and a permanent residence for 50 retirees. Eventually a section of the facility will house a small hotel.
Visit to the Convento de Nuestra Señora de Belén [Convent of Our Lady of Belén], a humanitarian health project in Old Havana. Construction on the Convent was begun in 1712. It was expanded and remodeled several times over the centuries. Finally abandoned in 1925, it fell into grave disrepair. In 1991 restoration began and continues with amazing results. Today the Office of the Historian, local Public Health authorities and the Order of the Sisters of Charity jointly manage the Belén Convent. It is home to fifty elderly people and provides physiotherapy and ophthalmological services to many more seniors in the community. Other activities include exercise classes, board games, cognitive rehabilitation, films, crafts workshops, and "love among the elderly" lectures. We'll meet with project Director Nelson Águila and tour the facility.
Logo of the British Broadcasting Corporation  In preparation for this afternoon's activity, watch this riveting British Broadcasting Corporation feature from Around the World in 80 Gardens on urban organic farms in Havana including a walk-through of Vivero Organopónico Alamar by fab host Monty Don.



We'll visit the UBPC Vivero Organopónico Alamar, 15 km (9.3 miles) east of Havana. It's one of the most successful urban organic farms in Cuba raising ornamental plants, medicinal herbs, and millions of seedlings for neighboring residential and collective farms. Established in the early 1990s by a dozen people, the Alamar cooperative now has over 400 members and provides a range of healthy, organic vegetables to nearby communities.

Cuban "eggplant," ha ha ha! Eggshells are affixed to tips of medicinal aloe vera plants to thwart bird attack.
Produce is raised employing the practice of permaculture. No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used. Instead, natural biological methods are used to nourish the soil, frustrate pests and conserve water. The result is an increased rate of yield and reduced costs.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost
La Terraza restaurant and bar in Cojímar.

We'll have lunch at Hemingway's favorite bar and diner La Terraza. Our suggestion is a glass of ice cold "Cristal" cerveza, or lemonade, and camarones al ajillo [garlic shrimp] fried in olive oil, and seasoned with garlic and parsley – delicious! The young boy in the novel "Old Man and the Sea," Manolin, was based on the young son of the original owner of La Terraza, Manolito.
War reporter, activist, man of letters, journalist and titan author Ernest Hemingway. War reporter, activist, man of letters, journalist and literary titan Ernest Hemingway.
Now we're off to visit Finca Vigía [Lookout Farm] where North America's literary giant Ernest Hemingway spent twenty-one of his most important and productive years penning the 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. The house has been preserved just as it was when Hemingway lived there. You'll see his personal objects, thousands of books and photographs, as well as some "trophies" bagged on his frequent safaris.
Return to your hotel and freshen up.
Dinner tonight is not included in cost
This evening you are free to explore stellar eateries. Tour participants receive a guide featuring Havana's best restaurants for every taste and budget. It includes both paladares [small private diners] and fabulous state owned locales run by acclaimed Cuban chefs.
Evening activities are optional and not included in tour cost
Club La Zorra y El Cuervo.
You are free to explore the sights and sounds of the city. Your guide will keep you posted on happening venues and entertainment options. Here's our suggestion: Shake your booty to the best Afrojazz, Cubajazz and Sonjazz at Club La Zorra y El Cuervo [The Fox and the Raven] featuring astonishing performances by island bands. It's a popular haunt for Cubans and foreign guests.
Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower
Some of the hundreds of orchids and flowers found in the province of Pinar del Río.
Day 4 in Cuba Tuesday :: Cuban arts day
Sculpture in front of the Museum of Fine Arts in Havana.
Modernist sculpture by noted Cuban artist Rita Longa stands outside the entrance to Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Giant mosaic of crab by José Fúster.
Giant mosaic of crab by José Fúster. Click photo to enlarge. Photo Richard Harris.

Lunch item at the home of Cuban artist José Fúster.
José Fúster's lunch dishes are as colorful as his sculptures.

Fantasy garden and studio of acclaimed artist José Fúster
Fantasy garden and studio of acclaimed artist José Fúster. Click photo to enlarge. Photo Richard Harris.

Cuban orchid
Exotic and unique plants and animals thrive in Cuba. The island has more protected areas than any other country.		 Cuban farm girl
Young person staffs farmers market.

Life size metal sculptures of elephants in Havana's Plaza Vieja.
Life size metal sculptures of elephants in Havana's Plaza Vieja by island artist Fonseca. Cuba's capital is an effervescent creative art space – a visceral feast for art lovers worldwide.
Mural at the entrance of Museo Bellas Artes.
Striking 15 meter (49 foot) mosaic tile mural at the entrance of Museo Bellas Artes.
Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Victor Manuel's Gitana Tropical Island artist Víctor Manuel's Gitana Tropical, known as the Cuban Mona Lisa, was painted in Paris in 1929.
Private guided tour of the Palacio de Bellas Artes [Palace of Fine Arts] dedicated exclusively to housing Cuban art spanning three centuries. Sections are devoted to landscape, religious subjects and narrative scenes of Cuban life. A gallery devoted to the 1970s displays the latest generation of Cuban artists whose works reflect the strong symbolic imagery prevalent in recent decades. Together the exhibits account for the richness of the island's Spanish, French, Chinese, African and Aboriginal cultural roots. Notable works include those of René Portocarrero and Wilfredo Lam.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost
José Rodríguez Fúster
José Rodríguez Fúster.
Tour highlight  We'll feast on a delicious lunch hosted by José Fúster, one of Cuba's most important ceramists and painters, at his whimsical studio in Jaimanitas, just outside of Havana. Fúster is known as the Picasso of the Caribbean and his art is acclaimed internationally. His artistic mission has been the rehabilitation and decoration of the village of Jaimanitas where he lives. Fúster has decorated over 80 houses with ornate murals and domes to suit the personality of his neighbors. Nowadays, Fúster's art is a cherished part of Cuban culture and joins the rank of other public artworks such as that of Gaudi in Barcelona or that of Brancusi in the Romanian city of Targu Jiu. He supports his community project through the sale of his paintings and ceramics.
Return to your hotel and freshen up. The balance of the afternoon is free for you to explore the city on your own.
Dinner tonight is not included in tour cost
This evening you are free to explore stellar eateries. Tour participants receive a guide featuring Havana's best restaurants for every taste and budget. It includes both paladares [small private diners] and fabulous state owned locales run by acclaimed Cuban chefs.
Evening activities are optional and not included in tour cost
Evening entertainment suggestion  
Jazz Cafe in Havana.
Havana's Jazz Café near your hotel.
How about dinner and evening of music at the Jazz Café? It's a popular modern jazz supper club with chrome-trimmed tables and fairly bright lighting located on the Malecón seawall in the Galerías de Paseo shopping center next to your hotel. At night the venue swings into action with live jazz, timba and, occasionally, straight-up salsa. It attracts plenty of big name acts – and costs and staff are attractive.
Youths and fishers on the Malecón
Youths and fishers on the Malecón at sunset in front of your hotel.
Day 5 in Cuba Wednesday :: Crocodile reserve, romantic Cienfuegos

Approaching Laguna del Tesoro by boat.

Cuban orchid

CUBAN CROCODILE HATCHLING emerges from egg growling. The highly endangered Crocodylus rhombifer is found only in Cuba's Zapata Swamp and the Isle of Youth, though it formerly ranged throughout the Caribbean. It is unique from other species, distinguished by its brighter adult colors, rougher, more pebbled scales, and long strong legs. It jumps to feed by thrusting its powerful tail. It can leap up to four-and-a-half meters (15 feet) from the water to snatch arboreal animals such as jutías from overhanging branches. It is the most terrestrial, aggressive and intelligent of crocodilians. It exhibits pack-hunting behavior. It has blunt rear teeth used to smash turtle shells. It favors freshwater habitats: swamps, marshes, and rivers and rarely swims in saltwater. Today, barely 4,500 Cuban crocodiles remain in the wild.

Cienfuegos' main Plaza José Martí
Cienfuegos, founded by French colonists, has a replica of the Arc de Triomphe in its central plaza.

Cienfuegos' Teatro Tomas Terry was built in 1889
Teatro Tomás Terry was built in 1889 by the sons of Tomás Terry (a Venezuelan immigrant who became wealthy off the slave trade and later as mayor of the city). It is clad in Carrara marble; sports carved wooden seats, ornate ironwork, and an impressive romantic fresco on its arched ceiling. It once hosted the likes of Enrico Caruso and Sarah Bernhardt.


Mansion in Cienfuegos.
Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Early morning departure to the city of Cienfuegos, known as the Pearl of the South.
On the beach in Varadero.
Few dare to get close enough to smell the breath of the Cuban crocodile [cocodrilo cubano].
En route we stop at Boca de Guamá on the Península Zapata. We'll visit a Crocodile breeding farm [Criadero de cocodrilos]. About ten thousand specimens of 16 species of crocodiles are raised here. We'll view the Cuban and American species as they sleep, feed and wrestle in the oozing mud – a shag carpet for Cuban crocs.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost
Official Cuba Education Tours Seal.
Click here to review our guide to endemic, near endemic and endangered birds of Cuba.
We'll enjoy lunch at the Guamá restaurant, which features crocodile on its carte du jour, among other dishes.

Flamingos are found in Guamá's lagoons and swamps. They also serve as a crocodile entrée.
We'll take a boat ride to Laguna del Tesoro [Treasure lagoon]. It measures 92 square kilometers (35.5 square miles) and is the largest natural body of fresh water in Cuba. We'll journey down a narrow canal some two kilometers (1.2 miles) before entering open waters. We'll approach a series of small islands. Set among them is Villa Guamá, a reproduction of a Taíno Indian village, typical of Cuba's original inhabitants. The great Cuban sculptor Rita Longa Aróstegui contributed 26 clay figures to the encampment reflecting the daily life of Aboriginals. The canal, lake and islands are brimming with endemic and migratory birds. Mornings in Guamá explode in a cacophony of avian song.
Onwards to Cienfuegos. Founded by French immigrants at the beginning of the 19th century, the city is renowned for its wealth of stunning neo-classical buildings.
Giant lion statue in Cienfuegos.
Click image to enlarge.
Upon arrival, your guide will recount the story of the origins of this beautiful cosmopolitan city You'll walk its main Plaza Martí where the ceremony of its foundation took place, as do many important events still today. We'll visit such neoclassical buildings as the Cathedral built with donations from wealthy slave owning families – enduring names like Lebranc, Albi, and Terry. Inside the Cathedral a marvelously rendered stained glass mural of the Twelve Apostles imported from Paris will awe you. The original machinery of the Cathedral's tower clock was also crafted in France and keeps on ticking to this day.
Check-in to your all-inclusive resort hotel Brisas Trinidad del Mar.
Dinner, grill, snackbar and beverages are included at your hotel.
The balance of the evening is free for you to relax and enjoy the amenities of your hotel, wander the safe clean boulevards of Cienfuegos, or check out the local entertainment scene. Your guide will keep you posted on local events.
Dinner tonight is included in tour cost
Check-in to your hotel and enjoy a buffet dinner.
Evening activities are optional and not included in the tour cost
Evening entertainment options  Explore the sea and beach. Enjoy your hotel amenities. Or, take a taxi into town and ramble through the lively streets of Trinidad. You can enjoy live Cuban popular music on steps of Casa de la Música or Casa de la Trova – both great sound venues and opportunities to dance with Cubans and your tour companions.
Old car in Havana.
Many pre-1959 cars in Cuba are in top-notch condition, and some are for hire.
Day 6 in Cuba Thursday :: Historic Trinidad de Cuba
Taíno Indian Chief Hatuey

FIRST HERO OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE
Taíno Indian Chief Hatuey from the island of Hispanolia traveled to and warned his Cuban counterparts about the horrific dangers of the impending Spanish invasion in the year 1511. Read about his legendary struggle – that of the premier independence and resistance fighter in our Americas who staked his life for freedom from foreign occupation and thralldom.



Trinidad's Manaca Iznaga tower was built in 1816 to watch over cane-field slaves. Its 45 meters high and was for a century the tallest structure on the island. Trinidad's Iznaga tower

Cuban bongo playerMusicians (and kids) play on the Playa Ancón.

Cuban beach boy		 Ceramicist at Santander workshop
Eighth generation member of the Santander family spins decorative pots at centuries-old workshop.

Fisher returns home with catch from Península de Ancón near your beach resort. Sea life thrives in the clean ocean waters surrounding Trinidad. Fisherman on Trinidad's Playa Ancón

Playa Ancon beach in Trinidad
Sunset on Trinidad's Playa Ancón as viewed from your resort hotel.		 Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Youth on the Malecón at sunset.
We'll explore on foot the historic central plaza of Trinidad de Cuba. Its 16th century edifices are the most pristine and unblemished on the island. Road access to Trinidad happened after 1959. Prior to that it was only accessible by ship and sea.
This morning we will explore one of the oldest cities founded by the Spaniards in the West Indies, Trinidad de Cuba, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. It was established in 1514 on orders of the conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar who traveled to Cuba with Columbus in 1493.

It was from Trinidad de Cuba that conquistador Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro (1485–1547) launched his attack on the Aztec Empire, toppling its capital Tenochtitlan, the world's largest, most opulent and hygienic metropolis of the day.
We will visit its Plaza Mayor, Museum of Architecture, Museum of the Romantic Era, the main town parish and other amazing sites, some dating back centuries.
We will have free time to wander the streets of Trinidad's historical center and examine the oldest architecture in the Americas, and inspect local art and shop for souvenirs.
Trinidad is well known for its pottery makers. We'll meet a family that has been passing on the tradition for generations: the Santanders.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost
We enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Cuban tropical fish
Awesome snorkeling.		 Baby sea turtle in Cuba
Baby sea turtle.
We hop back on to our bus and stop at a mirador (lookout) overlooking the Valle de los Ingenios [Sugar Mill Valley], also an UNESCO World Heritage Site, where sugar slave barons constructed their lavish countryside mansions and huge refineries [ingenios]. They amassed great riches off the backs of thousands of African slaves.
The balance of the day is free for you to enjoy the amenities of your all-inclusive beach resort – and the beach!
Dinner tonight is included in tour cost
Enjoy a buffet dinner at your hotel (included in tour cost).
Evening activities are optional and not included in the tour cost
Evening entertainment options  Explore the sea and beach. Enjoy your hotel amenities. Or, take a taxi into town and ramble through the lively streets of Trinidad. You can enjoy live Cuban popular music on steps of Casa de la Música or Casa de la Trova – both great sound venues and opportunities to dance with Cubans and your tour companions.
Youth on the Malecón at sunset.
The Valle de los Ingenios [Sugar Mill Valley] brought untold riches to select families. You'll see their mansions and monuments. The region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, separate from the city of Trinidad de Cuba. The latter was granted UNESCO status based upon its large inventory of intact Spanish colonial-era structures.
Day 7 in Cuba Friday :: Exploring a jungle mountain top in Soviet Army trucks

Fresh water pool on the way to Topes de Collantes. The Escambray Mountains are located in central Cuba and form the second largest range on the island after the Sierra Maestra in the eastern province of Guantánamo.

Soviet Army truck in Cuba
A Soviet Army truck is deployed to educate about nature. You'll ride in one to the top of the Escambray Mountains.

Cuban peasant hut
Peasant hut in the high altitude jungles of Topes de Collantes.

Two cows on a Cuban farm
Animal partners help out on the farm. Eco-friendly practices result in tasty organic produce and high productivity.

Cuban billboard reads: 200 million kids in the world sleep in the streets, none of them are Cuban.
Island billboard reads: 200 million kids in the world sleep in the streets, none of them are Cuban.
Your resort hotel is located on the beaches of the Caribbean Sea. Marine life thrives in the surrounding warm clean waters. Sugar white sand is a joy for relaxation and reflection.
Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Cuban parakeet Fernandina's flicker in Cuba Cuban parrot Cuban pygmy owl
Cuban Gundlach's hawk
Topes de Collantes National Park in central Cuba's Escambray Mountains is the perfect environment to spot the Cuban parakeet, Fernandina's flicker, the Cuban parrot, the Cuban pygmy owl (about the size of a robin), and the Gundlach's hawk.
This morning we board Soviet Army trucks to climb the peaks of Topes de Collantes in the Escambray Mountains. The Escambrays comprise the island's second highest range, reaching to 3,700 feet atop Pico San Juan. The Escambrays are home to small villages and a true delight for birders and naturalists alike. Dramatic slopes are swathed in Caribbean pines, ancient tree ferns, bamboo and eucalyptus.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost
Upon arrival at Hacienda Codina, an old Spanish coffee plantation, we'll enjoy a traditional Cuban lunch. Next we'll take a walking tour of the area to admire the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the animals and plants it hosts.
After some exploration by foot, we will descend the mountain and return to Havana.
Check-in to your Havana hotel and time to freshen up and relax.
Dinner tonight is included in tour cost
Farewell group dinner with you tour guide, chauffer and tourmates at your hotel.
Evening activities are optional and not included in tour cost
Evening entertainment options  Depending upon performance schedules we'll attend a performance of the Buena Vista Social Club.
Cuba is home to scores of lizard species. They are ubiquitous. You'll see them everywhere – perhaps while in your countryside hotel lounging on the sink, tub or toilet. They don't bite unless grabbed. They are not poisonous or aggressive.
Day 8 in Cuba Saturday :: Goodbye Cuba
KEEP IN TOUCH with your new Cuban friends – exchange email addresses! Bring some business cards to pass out on the island. Take pictures and keep a journal. Upon your return, we'll post them on this website for all to see and enjoy.

Goodbye Cuba girl.
We'll miss you and hope you return soon! In Cuba we say: A true friend remembers the song in your heart when you have forgotten the lyrics.

Old car in Havana.
Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
United colors of Cuba.
United Colors of Cuba.
Check-out of your hotel.
Transfer to Havana's José Martí International Airport for your return home.
Don't forget to save 25.00 CUC for your Cuban airport departure fee and some money for meals on the airplane and while in transit
Want to stay longer in Cuba following your tour? Contact us and we will help make it happen at a price you can afford.
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