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Sorry! Registration for this tour is now closed. Please consider joining one of our other Cuba Education Tours. |
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THIS TOUR IS for the young at heart, and their friends and families. It's for those who were youth just before and after the 1959 Revolution, and for explorers to witness a healthy, green alternative to North American consumerism. It's for voyagers seeking new friends in foreign lands, and for those who just want to have fun. Come down to safe, beautiful, amicable Cuba on our annual island-wide expedition. You deserve it. |
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| PROGRAM OVERVIEW |
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| CITIES AND SITES VISITS |
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Ancient and modern Havana |
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Viñales Valley and Pinar del Río |
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Santiago de Cuba and environs |
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Guantánamo Bay, home of the notorious US military base Gitmo |
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| TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS |
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Hotel Habana Libre An upscale luxurious respite during an action packed itinerary at this historic five-star facility. |
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Hotel Santiago de Cuba Eastern Cuba's most exquisite lodgings, best dining, services and recreation on the island. |
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| TOUR HIGHLIGHTS |
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Portions of this tour are led by esteemed Cuban writer and former diplomat Dr Manuel Yepe |
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Visit an incredible scale model of Havana detailing every building |
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Attend a regal cannon firing ceremony dating from 1519 |
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Dance and music lessons with Grupo Dulce María |
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Enjoy traditional music at Casa de la Trova in Santiago and Havana's best jazz at La Zorra y el Cuervo |
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Day excursion to Viñales Valley in the province of Pinar del Río where we'll explore caves, nature and tobacco farms |
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Guided tour of the University of Havana, the oldest in Latin America |
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Home studio visit and lunch with famed artist José Fúster |
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Tour of the Che Guevara Foundation and meeting with his family |
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Visit San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress where Che established his headquarters after the Revolution |
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Panoramic luxury coach tours of Havana and Santiago de Cuba |
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Guided walking tours of the historic centers of Santiago de Cuba and Havana |
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Tour the oldest colonial dwelling in Cuba, if not the Americas |
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Visit Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Cobre, sacred pilgrimage site and home of the Virgen de la Caridad |
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Guided of the Museum of Revolution housed in the former Presidential Palace |
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Special presentation on Cuban Society Today by University of Havana professor Marta Núñez Sarmiento |
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Visit the Museum of Fine Arts' Cuban Collection |
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Visit the historic Partagás Cigar Factory |
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Amazing lunches and dinners at Cafe del Oriente, Prado y Neptuno Restaurant, rooftop restaurant of Hotel Casa Granda, El Morro Restaurant, and La Mina Restaurant with live music |
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Check out our travel planning page for what to take, packing tips, gifts, donations, gratuities, local customs, clothing, and free Spanish primers.
Elder tenacity 94-year-old US Doctor Charles Grossman went to Cuba without permission in May 2009 and returned without problems. He challenged his president to normalized relations. He urges Americans to, "To go now."
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| TELL YOUR FRIENDS |
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Announce this website to your friends by email or on social networking sites. |
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In Cuba from Friday 12 to Sunday 21 November 2010 on the 51st Anniversary year of the Cuban Revolution |
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Ten amazing days to explore the island's two major metropolises and surrounding cultural, natural and historical attractions |
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Meet, talk, socialize and make friends with Cubans and your tour mates while learning about island life |
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Euphonium player in Havana. Click photo to enlarge. |
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Visit museums, architectural and historical sites, United Nations biosphere reserves, and enjoy swimming, nature and cave exploration |
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Relish the island's best food, amenities and entertainment in the five-star comfort of Sol Meliá's Hotel Habana Libre and Hotel Santiago de Cuba |
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Four thousand kilometers (2,485 miles) of pristine warm beaches, lush tropical flora and unique fauna engulf Cuba. Click photo to enlarge. |
We warmly invite you to join us on this incredible ten-day odyssey spanning the island from west to east. It only happens once a year and is geared to mature travelers who seek to get to know their island peers – to interact, learn, share and have fun with them. It's also a perfect occasion to travel with your children and grandchildren – an enduring gift of quality time and intimate cultural encounters in the safest, most friendly country in our Americas. Tour participants will learn about a people and culture that cherishes its youth and treats its elder citizens as living treasures. On this program you'll explore architecture, the arts, music, dance and get an incomparable intimate take on island society. Click here to read our extended motivation and invitation for this tour.
As of May 1, 2010, all island visitors are required to have official Cuban health insurance policies in place prior to arrival. Cuba Education Tours provides this coverage for all participants at no additional cost.
This official tour is designed by Cubans for North Americans to candidly examine and enjoy island life as is only possible on Cuba Education Tours. It takes place on the 51st year of the Cuban Revolution.
The program is fully escorted from the minute you touch down in Havana until you return home. While on the island you're in the conscientious care of our expert multilingual Cuban guides together with our professional bus chauffeur. Our Canadian and Cuban staff ensures worry free Cuba travel before, during and after your trip.
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| TIME TO COMMIT |
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This tour is limited in size and fills up fast (see costs). Registration is first-come, first-served – don't miss out. Consider signing up now. Shy, budget-minded or independent? Learn the benefits of group Cuba travel. |
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| TOUR ACTIVITIES LEGEND |
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Boomers Cuba girl icon for activities unique to this tour |
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Shoe icon for music and dance activities |
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Turret icon for history and architecture |
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Face icon for art, museum, and education visits |
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Owl icon for flora and fauna stuff |
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Fork icon for tour meals included |
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Ball icon for beach, sun and swimming |
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Smiling boy icon for free time and leisure |
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Hint BLUE text links across this site offer extensive details and pictures.
USA travelers This program is legal and licensable for professionals whose work is related to this tour's theme. LegalCubaTravel.com provides an easy step-by-step application kit.
Travel for change Cuba Education Tours is a Vancouver Canada based organization dedicated to green, ethical travel that benefits Cubans and our guests.
 Five-star treatment round-the-clock from our Cuban and Canadian staff ensures worry free travel abroad.
Included in costs are all activities listed below unless noted otherwise.
Island transportation You travel in a private fuel-efficient luxury air-conditioned tour coach chauffeured by a fulltime professional driver.
Meals All breakfasts are included. Some lunches and dinners are not. Your guide is glad to suggest eateries for every taste and budget.
Getting to Cuba Call 1-877-687-3817 toll free or email us. We can help.
Memories of Cuba last forever. Discover the island on routes less traveled with Cuba Education Tours.
Cubans start dancing from the time they walk and don't stop until they drop. |
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| CLICK TO REVIEW EACH TOUR DAY :: 01 :: 02 :: 03 :: 04 :: 05 :: 06 :: 07 :: 08 :: 09 :: 10 :: |
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| Day 1 :: FRIDAY |
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HELLO CUBA |
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Rooftops in Old Havana. |
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Cuban girls perform folk dance. |
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One-in-ten cars in Cuba are pre-1959. Click photo to enlarge. |
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Streets are alive with music. |
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The city of Havana as seen from the fortress El Morro, across the harbor from your hotel. |
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Arrival at Havana's José Martí International Airport.
Collect your bags and go through customs. See What to take to Cuba.
You're welcomed at the airport by your Cuba Education Tours guide and professional bus chauffeur.
Your Cuba Education Tours guide will direct you to a bank or exchange bureau (CADECA) to purchase Cuban Convertible Pesos.
Group transfer to the Hotel Habana Libre located in Vedado, the heart of Havana's cultural and entertainment district.
Private check-in with assistance from your guide.
Evening is free for you to settle in, rest up, explore Vedado's vibrant music milieu or stroll the Malecón seawall next to your hotel.
Sumptuous complementary hotel breakfast buffets are served daily from 7:00am to 10:00am throughout. Lunch is included on Days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, and dinners on Days 5, 6, 7 and 9. Your guide is available to suggest eateries for every taste and budget for meals not included in tour package.
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José Martí International Airport in Havana – a colorful welcome. |
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Havana's Malecón seawall near your hotel – a place for relaxation and new friendships. |
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| Most common questions 1 Is Cuban food good? It's healthy and simple but not spicy. 2 Am I free to ask any question? You'll insult your island hosts by being less than candid. 3 Is the water safe? Yes, but we suggest bottled water for peace of mind. 4 Are vaccinations needed? No. 5 Can Americans join? They are especially welcome to do so! 6 Can I stay in Cuba after the tour? Absolutely and we are glad to help. 7 Do Cubans like tips? Yes, please see our Gratuities Guidelines. |
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Colorful indigenous Cuban Tody. |
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CUBA IS THE LARGEST and least commercialized island in the Caribbean. It hosts 6000 plant species, half of which are endemic. There are 20 million palms in Cuba comprised of 30 species. Other flora includes the rare cork palm, a holdout from the cretaceous period; the jagüey, a fig with aerial roots; the palma barrigona (pot belly palm); the ceiba (sacred silk-cotton tree); and the mariposa (butterfly jasmine, Cuba's national flower). The most abundant land fauna is reptilian: crocodiles, iguanas, lizards, salamanders, turtles and 15 species of nonpoisonous snakes. The biggest land mammal is the jutía, a tree dwelling rodent the size of a cocker spaniel. The native bee hummingbird or zunzún is the world's smallest warm-blooded vertebrate weighing between 1.6 and 1.8 grams. The Cuban trogon or tocororo is the national bird – its red, blue and white plumage reflecting the colors of the Cuban flag. |
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| Day 2 :: SATURDAY |
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URBAN PLANNING, ARCHITECTURE AND DANCE |
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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. |
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Example of restoration in Old Havana. |
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Street pantomime in Old Havana. |
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View of the Capitolio from the Malecón seawall. |
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Inside view of the dome of El Capitolio. |
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| Exterior and interior of the Cathedral of Havana initiated by Jesuits in 1748 and completed in 1777. Click photos for larger view. |
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Cuatro Caminos merchant offers pineapple and papaya. |
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Havana's former capitol building is today home to the Academy of Science, and an internet cafe. |
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Interior of former capitol building. |
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Ornate filigree and statuary adorn Havana's Gran Teatro where the National Ballet performs. Click photo for view of interior. |
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We'll meet with renowned architect and urban planner Dr Miguel Coyula, director of the advisory agency "Group for the Comprehensive Development of Havana." Coyula is a dynamic speaker well known in Cuba and abroad. He has lectured widely in the US and Europe on Cuban Architecture and sustainable and integrated urban development. |
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Morning visit to the Maqueta de la Habana [scale model of Havana] and a private meeting with distinguished architect and urban planner Dr Miguel Coyula, director of the Group for the Comprehensive Development of Havana. His organization hosts a scale model – every building, street and tree – of Cuba's largest city. It took nine years to build and is the second largest in the world after one of New York City. Havana's 727 square kilometers (280 square miles) are represented in an area of 22 by 10 meters (26 by 12 yards). City planners needed to see and have a tactile sense of the impressive physical and cultural patrimony of Havana, spanning five centuries as a port city, island and Caribbean , and launching pad for the conquest of the Americas.
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Small section of the incredible scale model (second largest in the world after New York) of the city of Havana used for integrated urban planning. |
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Historical periods of construction are displayed through the use of different colors. Brown represents the colonial period, ochre the republican period, ivory the revolutionary period, and white represents new projects, sculptural monuments and cemeteries. With the use of textures and colors similar to the natural ones, the vegetation, parks, beaches and plazas are distinguished. This virtual tool enables city planners practical and realistic planning. They experiment by placing miniature buildings in the peewee metropolis to see how they fit within a specific area and architectural context. If planners don't like a proposal, they can move it somewhere else, demand a design change, or nix it. You'll learn how each part of the city has developed historically, and the tough challenges each district faces today.
Get ready for an air-conditioned luxury coach tour of the most important sites of Modern Havana such as the Capitol building, the Grand Theatre, Central Park, Prado promenade, Plaza de la Revolución, Coppelia Ice Cream Park, Plaza José Martí (in front of US 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.
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Musicians perform at your restaurant. |
Group welcome lunch at La Mina Restaurant where you'll enjoy traditional Cuban dishes and live music!
Followed by 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. It contains the largest collection of remaining colonial-era architecture. This is a private tour led by your Cuba Education Tours guide.
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.
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Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, former seat of colonial government. Today the building houses the Museum of the City. |
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Palacio del Segundo Cabo, seat of the second authority of the island. Today it houses important publishing concerns. |
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Museo de Artesania at Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the second oldest fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies. Today it displays treasures of artistic ceramics by the most prestigious Cuban artists from the middle of the last century to present. The institution is host to the Ceramic Biennial. |
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We continue onto San Francisco Square, one of the oldest plazas in the historical quarter. The square is named after magnificent Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco de Asís dating from the 16th century. The basilica is a striking example of Cuba baroque architecture.
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Plaza Vieja in Old Havana. |
And later to Plaza Vieja, the only civic square of colonial times. Absent are churches and government buildings, and is in contrast surrounded by opulent aristocratic 17th century residences. We'll visit an important center for the visual arts.
Free time in the famous open-air arts and craft market of Old Havana where you can purchase all sorts of souvenirs by local artisans.
Tour highlight Tonight we have a Cuban band playing for us. You'll learn how to play and dance to Salsa, Son, Rumba, Mambo and other popular Cuban rhythms from the band members of Grupo Dulce María. |
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| Day 3 :: SUNDAY |
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GREEN EXPLORATION DAY IN VINALES VALLEY |
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Background A mogote is a freestanding rock formation unique to Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Foreground World famous tobacco is raised here. |
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Downtown Viñales. The village is an historic 19th century agricultural settlement. Its main street is flanked by colonnaded red-tiled houses in the neo-colonial style. |
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| Left Cork palm flower, right cork palm tree. It is not a real palm, instead a member of cycads family. Viñales Valley's flora is closely linked to its ancient past, and holds 17 endemic varieties found nowhere else on earth, including the cork palm (Microcycas calocoma), a living fossil from the cretaceous period. |
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| 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. |
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The jutía, native to Cuba, is a large rodent the size of a cocker spaniel. They dwell in trees and are vegetarians. Jutías are the preferred breakfast of crocodiles and the largest endemic island mammal. |
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Exploration of Viñales Valley, containing the most spectacular scenery in Cuba and some of the most interesting and varied geological formations in the Caribbean. The valley is particularly famous for its great freestanding rock formations called mogotes.
Our group is honored to be escorted on this excursion by Dr Manuel Eugenio Yepe Menéndez, a preeminent Cuban author and historian. His presence promises the opportunity to learn about the Cuba Revolution directly from a participant. We'll also view the award winning documentary Fidel: The Untold Story by Estela Bravo.
Followed by a magical walking and boat tour through the Cueva del Indio used by Guanahatabey Amerindians as a burial site, and later as a refuge from Spanish slavers. Within you'll witness earth's natural and social history from the Jurassic to the Paleolithic era and beyond.
Four kilometers from Viñales village, on one side of the Dos Hermanas (Two Sisters) mogote, stands the Mural de la Prehistoria [Mural of Prehistory], an impressive 120-meter high fresco painted in 1961 by Cuban artist Leovigildo González, a student of the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. Depicted are the animals and other creatures that lived in the valley in prehistoric times. The mural pays tribute to the Darwinian perspective of evolution. We'll dine on traditional cuisine and the mural.
Meet with local farmers on their small tobacco plantations. Learn first hand the complexities of growing and harvesting the best quality tobacco leaves in the world.
Free time in Viñales village to explore at your leisure the open-air craft market, the Parque Martí, the Church, and other interesting sites of this charming colonial town.
Early evening return to your Havana hotel. Tonight is free for you to explore the sites and sounds of the city. Your guide will keep you posted of local events. |
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Dr Manuel Yepe: lawyer, economist, former ambassador, prolific writer and lecturer. As a youth he was an assistant to Che Guevara. |
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Mural de la Prehistoria [Mural of Prehistory] commissioned by Fidel Castro in 1961. Artist Leovigildo González was a student of Mexican great Diego Rivera. |
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We'll learn about the cultivation and processing of tobacco from seed to leaf culminating in the world's most famous cigars. |
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A river runs through the Cueva del Indio used by the Guanahatabey Amerindians as a burial site and a refuge from the Spaniards. |
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In the countryside many youth are engaged in organic agriculture combined with rigorous academics. |
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| VINALES VALLEY is a picturesque town in the heart of Cuba's prime tobacco-growing region. The town itself sits in the center of a flat valley surrounded by stunning karst hill formations known locally as mogotes. The mogotes are irregularly shaped steep-sided hills that can rise as high as 300m (985 ft) and have bases ranging from just a few hundred yards in diameter to as much as a couple of kilometers in length. The mogotes comprise part of the Sierra de los Organos mountain chain, and were formed by eons of erosion. Many consider this the most naturally beautiful spot in Cuba. |
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| Some among hundreds of orchids and flowers found in the province of Pinar del Río. |
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| Day 4 :: MONDAY |
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EDUCATION, HISTORY AND THE ARTS IN HAVANA |
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University of Havana Alma Mater. The institution was founded in 1728 and is considered worldwide as an esteemed institution of higher learning. Click photo to enlarge. |
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"Che died defending no other interest, no other cause than the cause of the exploited and the oppressed of this continent… the poor and the humble of this earth." – Fidel Castro, 18 October 1967.
View a wonderful new photo of Che just released on the 40th anniversary of his execution (9 October 1967). |
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Che's son, Camilo Guevara operates the Studies Center. His mother Aleida March is its director. |
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Soldiers fire the 9PM Cannon. |
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Students watch the blast of the 9PM Cannon. |
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Morning visit to the University of Havana, led by its distinguished official historian and professor of law Dr Delio J. Carreras Cuevas, we'll tour the campus, the beautiful Aula Magna where opening ceremonies for conferences and other important functions are held, the law library and meet students from that faculty. Dr Carreras has hosted world leaders such as Hugo Chavez, Pope John Paul II and Jimmy Carter, among other luminaries. The University of Havana, founded in 1728, is an esteemed institute of higher learning with academic ties to venerable universities in Canada, Europe and Latin America.
This afternoon we'll feast on a delicious lunch hosted by José Fúster, one of Cuba's most important contemporary ceramists and artists at his whimsical studio in Jaimanita, just outside of Havana.
Followed by a visit to Ernesto Che Guevara Studies Center located in the house where Che lived with his family from 1962 until his final departure from Cuba to foment rebelliousness in Bolivia. The director of the Center is Aleida March (Che's wife) and is operated by their son Camilo Guevara.
Evening visit to the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña where Che established his headquarters after the Revolution came to power. We're honored again by the presence of Dr Manuel Yepe. As a young man Dr Yepe served as an assistant to Comandante Che Guevara in Havana. Dr Yepe will recount the work of Guevara in this period.
Evening highlight We witness a most dramatic ceremony – El Cañonazo – the Firing of the 9PM Cannon at Fortress 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. |
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Dr Delio Carreras' sense of humor is infectious. |
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Fantasy garden and studio of acclaimed artist José Fúster. |
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Moviemaker Michael Moore visits the home of Cuban artist José Fúster while filming SiCKO in March 2007. |
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Did you know Che Guevara was a doctor? His daughter, Aleida, is too. She practices pediatrics in Havana and consults on health across Latin America. |
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Morro Castle and Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña guard entrance to Havana Harbor. |
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| Many staples are grown organically in Havana: From left Bananas, coffee beans, cucumbers, pineapple, sweet potatoes, eggplant, and avocados. |
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| Day 5 :: TUESDAY |
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DISCOVERING SANTIAGO DE CUBA |
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FIRST HERO OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE
Taíno Indian Chief Hatuey from the island of Hispanolia traveled to and warned his Cuban counterparts of the horrific dangers they faced from 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. |
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Santiago woman on way to work. |
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Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, an ancient military fortress protects the entrance to the Bay of Santiago. Click photo to enlarge. |
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Girls enjoy after school snack. |
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Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) was born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III in Santiago de Cuba. His father was Santiago's youngest mayor and then served in the Cuban legislature. His mother, Dolores Acha y de Socias, was one of the most beautiful and prominent women in Latin America, and her father, Alberto, was one of the three original founders of the Bacardi Rum Company. The 1933 coup, led by Fulgencio Batista, that overthrew president Gerardo Machado, landed Arnaz's father in jail for six months, and stripped him of his wealth and power. Upon his release the family fled to Miami. In 1951, Arnaz produced the premiere of I Love Lucy. He played Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo. His co-star wife, Lucille Ball, was Lucy. Two generations of Americans found heartfelt attraction to Cubans while transfixed on comedic episodes of I Love Lucy. |
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Late 1950s Cuban Coca-Cola advertisement. |
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Early departure from José Martí International Airport to catch a domestic airplane to Santiago de Cuba's Antonio Maceo International Airport. Flight time approximately two hours.
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Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar. |
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Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar founded Santiago de Cuba on June 28, 1514. In 1516 the settlement was destroyed by fire, and was immediately rebuilt. It was the starting point of the expeditions led by Juan de Grijalba and Hernán Cortés to the coasts of Mexico in 1518, and in 1538 by Hernando de Soto's expedition to Florida. Its first cathedral was built in 1522. From 1522 until 1589 Santiago was the of the Spanish colony of Cuba. French forces plundered the city in 1553, and by British forces under Christopher Myngs in 1662. Pirates were a constant menace.
Santiago experienced an influx of French immigrants in the late 18th century and early 19th century, many coming from Haiti after the Haitian slave revolt of 1791. This added to the city's eclectic cultural mix, already rich with Spanish, African and indigenous culture. It was also the location where Spanish troops faced their main defeat at San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. Spain later surrendered to the United States after the destruction of its Atlantic armada just outside Santiago's harbor and Cuba became a US colony. Cuban poet, writer, and national hero, José Martí, is buried in Cementerio Santa Efigenia. The city is considered the birthplace of the Cuban Revolution.
After arrival we'll visit the Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, a military fortress atop the cliffs at the narrow entrance to the Bay of Santiago. The origins of the fortress date back to 1590 when the Spanish King Philip II ordered its construction. The fortress was part of the defensive system to ward off pirates and European nations coveting Cuba's wealth. In 1638 town governor Pedro de la Roca ordered it enlarged and awarded the design to Italian military engineer Juan Bautista Antonelli. It was reconstructed and expanded several times until the end of the 19th century. The fortress was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, and cited it as the best preserved and most complete example of Spanish colonial military architecture.
Lunch at El Morro Restaurant. This eatery near the Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca gets high marks by critics and diners alike.
Followed by a panoramic luxury coach tour of Santiago de Cuba and environs. We'll visit the Teatro Heredia, San Juan Hill, Plaza de La Revolución Antonio Maceo, Saturnino Lora baseball stadium, Moncada Barracks, Palacio de Justicia, the tomb of José Martí, and other key sights.
Afterwards we'll check-in to the Sol Meliá Hotel Santiago de Cuba with assistance from your guide. Your group is greeted by hotel staff and a welcome cocktail. This five-star facility is tops in eastern Cuba. Breakfasts and dinners are included throughout your stay.
Free evening Your guide will gladly suggest current happenings and events in the city center twenty minutes on foot and quicker by cab. Or you can stay at the hotel and enjoy its many entertainment options. How about lounging poolside? Don't forget you swimsuit! |
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| Above Panoramic view of Santiago Bay. |
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Revered General Antonio Maceo Grajales (1845-1896) was second-in-command of the Cuban Army of Independence [mambises]. Known as the Bronze Titan for his color, stature and strength, he was born in Santiago to an Afrocuban mother and Venezuelan father. |
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A 24-hour honor guard protects tomb of Cuban hero José Martí in Santiago's Cementerio Santa Efigenia. Click photo to enlarge. |
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"To know how to read is to know how to walk. To know how to write is to know how to climb." – José Martí, hero of Cuban independence. Click here to learn more about the life of José Martí. |
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Museo Municipal Emilio Bacardí Moreau. The second oldest museum on the island was established by Emilio Bacardí over a 100 years ago. Its exhibits span the period between the Spanish conquest and the Wars of Independence (from Spain), and feature impressive Cuban and European paintings and as well as archaeological displays. Click photo to enlarge. |
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The Moncada Barracks in Santiago was the site of an armed attack by a small group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro on July 26, 1953. The action sparked the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. Embracing the name July 26 Movement, the Castro brothers, Che Guevara and others successfully ousted dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959, winning freedom for their people. Note bullet holes on building surface. |
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| Afrocuban dance in Cuba. African and Spanish heritages have combines to create a rich unique culture. Photos Barbara Fudge |
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| Day 6 :: WEDNESDAY |
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JOURNEY INTO THE HEART AND SOUL OF SANTIAGO |
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Carlos Manuel de Céspedes del Castillo (1819-1874) was a Cuban plantation owner who freed his slaves in 1868 and made a declaration of Cuban independence. Click here to learn more about this fascinating Santiago personality. |
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Santiago de Cuba's Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción gracing Parque Céspedes's perimeter is the oldest extant Christian shrine in our Americas. Click photo to enlarge. |
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Young person staffs farmers market in Santiago. |
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Cuban Gundlach butterfly. Cuba hosts 177 species of butterflies, although only 18 are exclusive to the island. |
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Sugar still plays an important but diminished role in the economy. Click photo to enlarge. |
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Revelers at Santiago's famed Carnival, which takes place every July. |
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"Bicitaxis" or pedicabs are popular in cities across the island. |
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![Santiago's city hall [Ayuntamiento].](images/320stgo_cityhall.jpg)
We'll visit Santiago's city hall. Click photo to enlarge. |
Our morning begins with a private guided walking tour of Santiago's Parque Céspedes, located at the heart of the city's historical district. We'll examine several of the most important buildings and museums on the plaza's periphery. They include:
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The Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. This grand church has been rebuilt several times since 1522 as a result of pirate attacks and earthquakes. The primary façade reflects its 1922 reconstruction. Within its depths lie the remains of conquistador and city founder Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar. The Cathedral also hosts the significant Museo Eclesiastico displaying key religious art and sacred musical scores unique in the world. |
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Onward to the Ayuntamiento [city hall] erected in 1950s based on 1783 blueprints. The site was originally Hernán Cortés' (conqueror of Mexico) mayoral office. From the balcony of this edifice Fidel Castro proclaimed the victory of the people's overthrow of US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista's regime of terror. The day was January 2, 1959. Fidel's announcement sent tremors around the world and ushered in of a new era of freedom and equality for island inhabitants. |
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Next we explore the oldest colonial house in Cuba, and perhaps in all of the Americas. It was the home of Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, a gold-seeking, mean-spirited conquistador and the city's founder. Today this cherished casa hosts the Museo de Ambiente Histórico Cubano exhibiting rare 16th century furnishings and artifacts. |
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Now we devour a delicious lunch. We ascend to the rooftop of the Hotel Casa Granda to imbibe what reviewers and diners describe as one of the most sumptuous afternoon meals in the city.
Afterwards we jaunt 19 kilometers (12 miles) by coach beyond Santiago to witness the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre [Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre]. We explore the village of Cobre hallmarked as the oldest open pit copper [cobre] mine in the western hemisphere. The highlight of this journey is the viewing of the most sacred religious spot on the island. The church is unique as it reveres a Black female saint. At the alter you'll see the Virgen del Cobre, an African Madonna decked out in lavish yellow silk and adorned with precious jewels. Each year on the eighth day of September the statue of the Virgen del Cobre is paraded on the main street for tens of thousands of pilgrims to bow before. Pope Benedict XV proclaimed her protectress of Cuba in 1916; she was raised to sanctuary status in 1936 by Pope Paul VI, and beautified by John Paul II in 1998. See right sidebar.
Evening highlight Dance with Cubans and your tour mates to traditional music at Casa de la Trova in the heart of the city (entrance fee and transportation included). |
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Left We'll visit Santiago's city hall [Ayuntamiento]. Fidel announced the Revolution's victory from its balcony on January 2, 1959. Millions globally were uplifted. |
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Today we visit Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre. See below. Click photo to enlarge. |
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Background In the early 1600s, two Indian kids, Rodrigo and Juan de Hoyas, together with their ten-year-old African slave companion, Juan Moreno, journeyed well beyond their village seeking salt necessary to preserve meat for the town abattoir [slaughter house] that supplied villagers with sustenance. En route they suffered the forces of a tremendous hurricane. As they were nearly swept into its vortex an apparition appeared before them whispering, "I am the Virgin of Charity. I save you sons of Cuba." The three boys survived. They returned with precious salt, and their epic tale. Their Black savior, Our Lady of Charity, also figures prominently in the Afrocuban religion of Santería. She's associated with Ochun, the Yoruba goddess of love and compassion. |
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Rooftop of the Hotel Casa Granda where we'll lunch to a panoramic view of the island's first and most historic . |
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Santiago mom gently introduces her tot water sports. |
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| Day 7 :: THURSDAY |
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ON THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO BAY |
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Some ponder if US fast food chain icon Ronald McDonald at Gitmo is a harbinger of an impending Big Mac Attack. |
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This successful Cuban cow is a cross between the African Zebu and a Holstein. It's well-adapted to island climes and its progeny produces an abundance of milk, meat, hide and farm help. You'll see it on the road to Guantánamo. |
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Local farmer. |
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Guantánamo youth practices marbles in village beyond US outpost. |
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This morning we embark on a most unlikely excursion. We journey to the Bahía de Guantánamo Mirador de Malones [lookout] offering an expansive view of the Guantánamo Naval Base held in the unrelenting grip of the US since 1903.
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The US base occupies 116 square kilometers (45 square miles) and is entirely fenced off with razor wire, with sentry posts at regular intervals. |
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The outpost is among the oldest in the US portfolio of 731 such bases abroad. Naturally, Cubans considers this uninvited occupation a sore point.
At the height of the Roman Empire, it had an estimated 37 major military outposts scattered across its vast dominions. At the apex of the British Empire, upon which the sun never set, imperious London only sustained 36. How will history explain the need for 731 bases?
Guantánamo is an indigenous Taíno word meaning Fishers Point. Christopher Columbus landed at the bay in 1494 and promptly renamed it Puerto Grande. At the time his crew found Taíno fishers preparing a feast in honor of their local chieftain. They were generously, perhaps incautiously, invited to participate. When Spanish settlers took control of the island, the bay became a vital military and trading post.
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Many North Americans hold the conviction that Guantánamo should be closed down and returned the Cuban people. Here two concerned Torontonians express this sentiment. |
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We'll inspect the infamous installation via high powered telescopes from US and Soviet sources. We'll see what appears to be an idealized US town: late-model cars cruise past split-level suburban homes surrounding a golf course – there's even a McDonald's (the only one in all of Cuba, Praise be the Gods). Many find the encounter quite surreal. You might glean a flash of the florescent orange jumpsuits worn by US captives. Our group will eat lunch at the lookout, and survey Cuban dioramas and maps of the American military base. You'll have a chance to return with Cuban military souvenirs to mark this rare jaunt. Since we'll remain on peaceful Cuban soil the entire time, there is little chance of being nabbed by US forces for a more protracted stay on the island.
Sensitive travelers might consider the whole affair in bad taste. However they quickly find a favorite aspect of the excursion is tableauxs of tranquil farms, villages and unspoiled countryside en route to Guantánamo Bay and back to our hotel. Those who participate will be among a select alumnus who can say they've been to Gitmo!
Free afternoon and evening After lunch we will return to Santiago de Cuba Hotel. Your guide is ready to suggest today's events in the city center, twenty minutes on foot and quicker by cab. Or you can stay at the hotel and relish its many entertainment options or simply lounge poolside. |
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| Day 8 :: FRIDAY |
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HAVANA: HISTORY, WOMEN, SOCIETY AND CULTURE |
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A view of Paseo del Prado where our Restaurant Prado y Neptuno lunch spot is located. The eatery's interior was designed by Roberto Gottardi of National Art School fame and its Italian cuisine is considered tops. |
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This inspired mural was painted on a garage door of the Havana headquarters of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) thirty-five years ago. Click mural to enlarge. And, here to learn about the FMC. |
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Havana youth sells organic onions from urban gardens on Havana street. |
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Early morning flight to José Martí International Airport. Upon arrival we'll head to Havana for an Italian style lunch at the acclaimed Restaurant Prado y Neptuno.
Private guided tour of the Museum of the Revolution by Dr Manuel Eugenio Yepe Menéndez. He'll lead us through the vast structure that was the former Presidential Palace. Today it exhibits the history of the Cuban Revolution through documents and objects, among which we find the famous Yacht Granma that returned Fidel and his 82 guerilla fighters from Mexico to Cuba to launch the struggle for liberation from the Batista dictatorship.
Afterwards we return to our Hotel Habana Libre.
Special presentation on Cuban Society Today by University of Havana professor of note Marta Núñez Sarmiento followed by a round table forum. Ms Núñez holds a Master's in Sociology from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Santiago de Chile, a PhD in Economics from the Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia, and has served as a visiting professor at universities in the Dominican Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Canada, Spain and Argentina. Núñez is a fascinating lecturer who will explore many interesting and unique aspects of Cuban society including family rights, property laws and women's issues.
Evening 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 and soloists! It's a popular haunt for Cubans and foreign guests (entrance fee is 10 CUC and is not included in tour cost).
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Magnificent domed ceiling at the Museum of the Revolution. Click photo to enlarge. |
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Marta Núñez center rear lectures at the University of Havana. Núñez has penned many key theses on gender in modern Cuba. |
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Restored houses on Havana's Paseo del Prado between Parque Central and the Malecón. Click photo to enlarge. |
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| Day 9 :: SATURDAY |
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ARTS AND HISTORY IN THE OF HAVANA |
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Entrance to the Palacio de Bellas Artes. |
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Modernist sculpture by noted Cuban artist Rita Lonja stands outside the entrance to Palacio de Bellas Artes. |
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Interior courtyard of the Palacio de Bellas Artes. |
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Island artist Víctor Manuel's Gitana Tropical, known as the Cuban Mona Lisa, was painted in Paris in 1929. |
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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.
This afternoon we'll visit the Partagás Cigar Factory [Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás] founded in the middle of the 19th century. Here some of Cuba's most famed cigars are produced including Romeo y Julietas and Cohibas among other big names. You'll witness the secrets of the craft, and have a chance to take some home.
Program highlight Farewell group dinner at Café del Oriente! This elegant eatery with its beautiful patterned marble floor, high ceilings, and dark wainscoted walls is considered tops in the city. The menu is one of the more extravagant in Havana, offering exotic entrees available nowhere else.
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Troubadour heads home at day's end. |
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Partagás makes the world's most famous cigars. |
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Highly skilled cigar roller at Partagás. You'll meet her and her coworkers at this famed collective enterprise. |
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The stunning art deco Edificio Bacardi [Bacardi Building] in Havana. Click photo to enlarge. |
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| Day 10 :: SUNDAY |
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GOODBYE CUBA, HELLO NORTH AMERICA |
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![Mural de la Prehistoria [Mural of Prehistory] in Viñales.](images/204prehistory_mural333.jpg)
