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Expert's Corner

Hola! My name is Yane Marquez and I was born and raised in Cuba. After graduating from the University of Havana and the Tourism School of Cuba, I worked for over 10 years as a tour guide, translator and event organizer for Cuba's travel companies and organizations. I guided many groups attending Cuba's main international festivals, fairs and events. A few years ago, I moved to Canada where I have continued promoting Cuba’s tourism industry. I would be more than happy to answer any question you have about festival Cuba travel. Do not miss out!
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About this Cuban Festival

The Habano Cigar Festival is the most eagerly-awaited event for all famous cigar lovers who are fond of the Cuban premium brands. For every eminent cigar smoker like Jack Nicholson, Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jeremy Irons, who share the passion for the Habanos, the Festival has several wonderful treats.

Even the British actor Jeremy Irons has been awarded with the Prize Habanos 2005 in the category of Communication for his contribution to the diffusion of the culture of the Habanos around the world.

The Habano Cigar Festival regularly attracts some 1500 producers, distributors and businessmen, as well as large numbers of Cigar aficionados and tourists. A venue for announcing new Cigar brands, the Habano Cigar Festival also unveils new vitolas.

Habano Cigar Festival's attendees have the chance to taste new cigars, visit plantations and factories, roll their own leaves and experience first-hand the secrets of a deep-rooted centuries-old tradition.

Overview



The Habano Cigar Festival is considered by experts as the biggest world party to promote the Premium type cigar. It only competes with this one, without surpassing its quality, the Big Smoke of Las Vegas in the United States.

And it is said that it does not surpass its quality due to the Washington's commercial restrictions against Havana since last century's 60s, this party in Las Vegas is deprived of showing the novelties of the Cuban cigar.

The Habano is considered the best of the world due to its triple condition of best soils, weather and producers' experience and knowledge.

The meeting gathers up thousands of people from the entire world, with commercial showcase, tasting, masterly lectures, tours to cigar plantations and cigar factories, where ideas and experiences are exchanged as well as the Habanos' novelties are presented.

It’s become the Woodstock or Cochella Music Festival for Cuban cigars. If you are into Habanos, you have got to go. And it’s in Havana no less.

Nevertheless, the most important event within the Festival is the "Premio Habano del Año", award given in the area of communication, production and business, and the auction that closes this Cuban gathering where truly works of arts are presented, humidors keeping the best Habanos.

The event ends with the gala dinner, which is always an entertaining formal affair full of great smokes. It includes the auction of rare humidors to raise money for the Cuban Public Health System. Last year more than $1.3 million was raised from the sale of a dozen or so humidors, which usually appear more like pieces of furniture than anything else.

Habano Cigar Festival Cuba Tour Highlights:

  • Explore Havana Historical Centre, a UNESCO Heritage Site.
  • Travel to Viñales Valley, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
  • Premium seat at the opening ceremony of Habano Cigar Festival.
  • Guided tour of Partagas Cigar Factory, founded in 1845.
  • Complete access to the Habano Cigar Festival's Exhibit Fair.
  • Meet international & local dealers, exhibitors, Cigar aficionados.
  • Tour farms in Pinar del Rio, best lands for tobacco growing.
  • Meet with tobacco growing farmers, in Eastern Cuba.
  • Party at Club Habana, enjoy a smoke in a relaxed atmosphere.
  • Visit to Tropicana, spectacular cabarets to open sky.
  • Premium seat at the Gala Dinner of Habano Cigar Festival.
  • Guided tour of Havana's Capitol building.
  • Guided tour fo Bocoy Rhum factory.
  • Cuba's popular ceremony, the Fire of the Cannon of 9 O’Clock.

Habano Cigars:

Quality cigars are still hand-made. An experienced cigar-roller can produce hundreds of very good, nearly identical, cigars per day.

Some cigars, especially premium brands, use different varieties of tobacco for the filler and the wrapper. Long filler cigars are a far higher quality of cigar, using long leaves throughout. These cigars also use a third variety of tobacco leaf, called a "binder," between the filler and the outer wrapper. This permits the makers to use more delicate and attractive leaves as a wrapper. These high-quality cigars almost always blend varieties of tobacco. Even Cuban long-filler cigars will combine tobaccos from different parts of the island to incorporate several different flavours.
Opening Ceremony of the Habanos Cigar Festival 2012, where Habanos S.A. will introduce new vitolas. During the ceremony, the nominations for the “Premio Habano” awards will take place.
Cuba Festival Travel, Habano Cigar Producer.
Cuba's Habano Cigar Festival regularly attracts some 1500 producers, distributors and businessmen, as well as large numbers of Cigar aficionados and tourists. A venue for announcing new Cigar brands, the Habano Cigar Festival also unveils new vitolas.
Habanos Cigar Festival Tour 2012.
Habano Cigar Festival's attendees have the chance to taste new cigars, visit plantations and factories, roll their own leaves and experience first-hand the secrets of a deep-rooted centuries-old tradition.
Habanos Cigar Festival's Exhibit Fair at Palacio de Las Convenciones. Our tour participants will have the chance to taste the new vitolas that Habanos S.A. will launch to the markets throughout 2012, and to discover first hand the secrets of a deep-rooted centuries old tradition.
Cigar roller, Cuba Habano Festival Tour!
Partagas Cigar Factory, founded in 1845 by Spaniard Don Jaime Partagas. Don Jaime owned many of the best plantations in the Vuelta Abajo tobacco-growing region of Cuba and being able to choose from among the finest tobaccos on the island made the brand Paratagas incredibly successful.
Tobacco growing farmer, Habano Cigar Festival 2012.
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. Local tobacco growing farmers have been passing from generation to generation the secrets of growing the best tobacco in the world.

Day 1. Sunday 24 February. Hello Cuba

Arrival at "Jose Marti" International Airport in Havana.

Group welcomed by the Authentic Cuba Travel Cuban Guide. Transfer to Hotel Habana Libre, located at the cultural center of Havana City. Private group check-in.

Breakfast is complimentary from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Day 2. Monday 25 February. Havana

Morning: 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.

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.

Visit to 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 institution for visual arts.

Visit to the Cathedral Square, the most beautiful and private 18th century colonial plaza of Cuba, named after the masterpiece of Cuban baroque architecture: the Cathedral of Havana built by the Jesuit order.

Free time in the famous handicraft market of Old Havana where you can purchase all sorts of crafts and souvenirs by local artisans.

Lunch at 1830 Restaurant.

Afternoon: attend the opening of the Habanos Cigar Festival's Exhibit Fair at Palacio de Las Convenciones. Our tour participants will have the chance to taste the new vitolas that Habanos S.A. will launch to the markets throughout 2012, and to discover first hand the secrets of a deep-rooted centuries old tradition.

Evening: the event begins with the Opening Ceremony of the Habanos Cigar Festival 2012, where Habanos S.A. will introduce new vitolas. During the ceremony, the nominations for the “Premio Habano” awards will take place. Followed by a private concert by well-known Cuban Musician (to be announced).

Day 3. Tuesday 26 February. Havana

Morning: visit to Partagas Cigar Factory, founded in 1845 by Spaniard Don Jaime Partagas. Don Jaime owned many of the best plantations in the Vuelta Abajo tobacco-growing region of Cuba and being able to choose from among the finest tobaccos on the island made the brand Paratagas incredibly successful.

Don Jaime is also believed to have experimented with various methods of fermenting and aging tobacco and is legendarily credited with hiring the first lector to read to and entertain the cigar rollers as they worked. Before and after the Revolution, the Cuban-produced Partagás has been one of the most revered and highest-selling brands of cigars in the world.

Visit to the Capitolio Nacional, designed by Cuban Architects and built by the American construction company of Purdy & Henderson. This monumental building is one of Cuba’s most outstanding architectural patrimony packed with artwork from Cuban and foreign artists.

Followed by panoramic air conditioned coach tour of the most important historical sites in the Modern Havana neighbourhoods of Vedado and Miramar including the Plaza de La Revolución, University of Havana, Habana Libre Hotel, Coppelia Ice Cream Park, Plaza José Martí (in front of U.S. Interests Section), Monument to the Battleship Maine, Malecón seawall, Prado promenade, Central Park, The Great Theatre and the Capitol building.

Lunch at El Aljibe restaurant.

Afternoon: attend the opening of the Habanos Cigar Festival's Exhibit Fair at Palacio de Las Convenciones. Our tour participants will have the chance to taste the new vitolas that Habanos S.A. will launch to the markets throughout 2012, and to discover first hand the secrets of a deep-rooted centuries old tradition.

Evening: visit to Tropicana, spectacular cabarets to open sky. A unique place in the world to enjoy the music and the Cuban and Caribbean folklore in all their color, musicality and rhythm. An art extravaganza to multiply the Cuban happiness of a true tropical night.

Day 4. Wednesday 27 February. Havana

Morning: exploration of the Habano Cigar Festival's Exhibit Fair at Palacio de Las Convenciones and related venues across the city. Exchange with international and local dealers, exhibitors, and Cigar aficionados and participate in programmed activities.

Followed by visit to Bocoy Rhum factory.

Lunch at La Mina restaurant.

Afternoon: visit to the Havana Club Museum of Rhum. From freshly cut stalks of sugar cane to a reconstitution of a distillery and ageing cellars, the museum offers a real-time experience of the rum-making process, as well as a taste of true Cuban culture.

Late afternoon: cocktail party at Club Habana. Opportunity to exchange with some of our Cuban counterparts in a relaxed atmosphere.

Evening: attend one of the most traditional and popular ceremonies in Cuba, the Fire of the Cannon of 9 O’Clock at the Fortress of San Carlos de La Cabana. Followed by visit to Casa del Habano “La Triada”.

Day 5. Thursday 28 February. Havana

Morning: attend private lecture “The Spirit of Smoke. A Taino Ritual for Cohiba” by historian José Antonio García, researcher from the “José Martí” National Library of Cuba.

Lunch on your own (not included).

Afternoon: exploration of the Habano Cigar Festival's Exhibit Fair at Palacio de Las Convenciones and related venues across the city. Exchange with international and local dealers, exhibitors, and Cigar aficionados and participate in programmed activities.

Evening: enjoy Afrojazz, Cubajazz and Sonjazz at Club La Zorra y El Cuervo, Havana’s most famous Jazz club, located just around the corner from the National Hotel of Cuba. The club features astonishing performances by island bands and soloists! (optional, not included).

Day 6. Friday 1 March. Vinales

Day tour to 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.

Visit local tobacco growing farms and 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.

Lunch at Cueva del Indio restaurant.

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.

Explore Viñales town 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 garden, called the Viñales Botanical Garden. The two widows maintain a garden full of fruits, orchids and medicinal plants.

Return to Havana city.

Evening: attend the Closing Ceremony and Gala Dinner of Habano Cigar Festival.

Day 7. Saturday 2 March. Free Day

Free day in Havana.

Farewell dinner at La Cocina de Liliam where ex- president James Carter dinned in his visit to Cuba.

Day 8. Sunday 3 March. Departure

Early morning departure to Havana City International Airport for departure.
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