With customizable Cuba study tours, it is easy to offer North American Universities and Schools the educational experiences they expect out of Cuba travel. Not only is there a Cuba study trip to fit any group size, educational interest and budget, but each one also immerses Canadian and US Professors and students in the authentic Cuba and takes you deep into the heart and soul of the Cuban people.
Day 1. Saturday.
Arrival
Arrival at "Jose Marti" International Airport in Havana.
Group welcomed by the Authentic Cuba Travel® Cuban guide and driver. Transfer to your
Luxury Casa Particular, located in Old Havana, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Private group check-in.
Breakfast and dinner are complimentary.
Day 2. Sunday.
Havana
Morning: volunteer work at
Vivero Organoponico Alamar, 15 kilometers east of Havana. This is a great opportunity to
learn about an agricultural system that supplies 40 percent of the cities fresh fruits and vegetables. Established in the 1990s,
the Alamar cooperative has about 25 members and provides a range of healthy, organic low-cost food to Havana and environs.
Lunch at Vivero Organoponico Alamar. Dine on natural food prepared by the staff of this collective!
Afternoon: guided walking tour of
Old Havana, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit to
Square of Arms, ancient military parade ground for Spanish soldiers and surrounded by impressive buildings such as:
Palacio de los Capitanes Generales was the former seat of colonial government. Today the building houses the Museum of the City.
Palacio del Segundo Cabo. The seat of the second authority of the island. Today it houses important publishing concerns.
Castillo de la Real Fuerza. The second oldest fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies. The castle was recently
renovated and reopened in June 2008 to hold the impressive maritime museum. Well laid out exhibits chart Spain and Cuba's naval
history.
Continue walking tour onto
San Francisco Square, one of the oldest in the historical quarter.
Visit to
Plaza Vieja, the only civic square of colonial times. Notice it doesn't have a church or government building around.
Here we will visit important institutions for visual arts.
Free time in the famous
handicraft market of Old Havana where you can purchase all sorts of crafts and souvenirs by local artisans.
Return to your private rental accomodation.
Evening: tonight we have a
Cuban band playing for us! You'll learn to dance to Salsa, Son, Rumba, and other popular
Cuban rhythms with instruction from bandleaders.
Day 3. Monday.
Havana
Morning: visit to a
Pre-University School. Tour the school, learn about the school curriculum and get
engaged with students in cultural and/or sport activities. Those who complete pre-university education are awarded
the Bachillerato.
Tour the school and meet with students and teachers. Good opportunity to donate educational and school supplies.
Lunch hosted by Jose Fuster, one of the most important Cuban ceramists and painters today.
Afternoon: visit to the
community-based project Cintio Vitier in Nuevo Vedado neighbourhood. This project offers painting,
papier-mache, drama, music, dance, and other skill development workshops to elementary and secondary students. We’ll meet
with director Pedro Pulido for a presentation on his outreach work in the community of Colon.
Followed by coach tour of the most important sites of
Modern Havana such as the Capitol building, the Grand Theatre,
Central Park, Prado promenade, Sevilla Hotel, Revolution Square, Malecón seawall, Monument to the Battleship Maine,
Hotel Nacional, University of Havana, Cristóbal Colón Cemetery, and the Miramar, Central Havana and Vedado neighbourhoods.
Evening: attend baseball game at
Latinoamericano Stadium, popularly known in Cuba as "The Colossus of Cerro” is home of
Ciudad Habana Industriales. The stadium holds 55,000 people. In 1999, it hosted an exhibition series between Cuban National
Team and the Baltimore Orioles.
Day 4. Tuesday.
Havana
Morning: meeting with professors and students of
Escuela Taller in Old Havana. High school
graduates enroll in this institution to learn the arts and crafts necessary to authentically
restore the ancient buildings of Old Havana. The school teaches young people archeological and
restoration work that helps preserving the heritage and cultural wealth of Old Havana.
Lunch at
Casa de La Malta in Old Havana.
Afternoon:
Hands Dirty! Get engaged with Cuban students in the different workshops such as Glass work, Carpentry,
Iron work and Restoration.
Dinner at the hotel.
Evening: enjoy Afrojazz, Cubajazz and Sonjazz at
Club La Zorra y El Cuervo, Havana’s most famous Jazz club.
The club features great performances by island bands and soloists! (optional, not included)
Day 5. Wednesday.
Havana- Las Terrazas- Vinales
Morning: departure to
Las Terrazas, in Sierra del Rosario where we start the morning tour of the rural town
at
Rancho Curujey for explanation of the area.
Enjoy the view of the village that lies above the shores of
San Juan Lake and beneath the mountains.
We also visit the
home/studios of local
artists and
artisans.
Visit to rural
Primary and
Secondary schools.
Visit to the ruins of a
French Coffee Plantation built in 1801.
Continue to
La Moka, an ecological hotel with trees growing up through the balconies and ceiling.
Later we can take a swim at
San Juan River cascades and
pools. Lunch by the river.
Check-in at your
Casa Particular with breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6. Thursday.
Vinales
Exploration of
Viñales Valley, containing the most spectacular scenery in Cuba and some of the most interesting and varied
geological formations on the island. The valley is particularly famous for its great freestanding rock formations called mogotes.
Lunch at
Paladar Casa del Campesino.
After lunch we will visit the
Cueva del Indio, used by the Guanahatabey Amerindians as a burial site in ancient time, and as refuge
from the Spaniards for both Indians and Black slaves alike. We’ll take a short boat ride on the subterranean river running through
the cave.
Meet with
local farmers that have been passing from generation to generation the secrets of growing the best tobacco in the world.
Visit to
Mural de la Prehistoria, a huge painting on the side of a Mogote.
Explore
Viñales Village at your leisure: its open-air craft market, Parque Marti, town church, and other interesting sites of this
charming colonial hamlet.
Visit Carmen and Caridad Miranda’s botanical and herb garden, called the
Viñales Botanical Garden. The two widows maintain a garden
full of fruits, orchids and medicinal plants.
Day 7. Friday.
Cayo Levisa
Early morning departure to Palma Rubia Pier for boat ride to
Cayo Levisa. Enjoy the day
on this islet with snorkeling and catamaran activities.
Delicious fresh
seafood lunch.
Late afternoon: Return to your private rental accomodation.
Day 8. Saturday.
Departure
Early morning departure to Havana City International Airport for departure.