Art Tours to Cuba for USA Art Educators, Museum Curators and Staff, Art Critics and Professionals, Artists, Art Collectors and Enthusiasts
From November 18, 2023 to November 25, 2023
Choose to stay at the Riviera Hotel (Economy Package) or at the Melia Cohiba Hotel (Premium Package) for as Little as $2,799! (all taxes incl.)
Referral Discount: $100
Invite 1 Friend and Pay $2,699 only
Invite 2 Friends and Pay $2,599 only
Invite 3 Friends and Pay $2,499 only
Invite 4 Friends and Pay $2,399 only
Invite 10 Friends and Pay $0
And remember every person you invite
will also receive a $100 discount!
Look, learn and enjoy during this unique opportunity to simultaneously experience both a Cuba cultural tour and an immersion into one of the most interesting art festivals in the western hemisphere. A thematically-based, Cuban arts festival, the Havana Biennial is an exciting celebration featuring not only the best of Cuban visual artists, but also artists from other countries in what has become collectively known as the “South:” Latin America, the Caribbean, and from developing countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
North American professional and student artists, art teachers, researchers, and collectors, and arts organization professionals will particularly benefit from this Cuba cultural tour. However, anyone who simply enjoys viewing and learning more about art will also enjoy the extensive program made possible by Authentic Cuba Travel®’s long term association with some of the most innovative and influential artists working in Cuba, and well as key Cuba art institutions.
The Biennial was founded in 1984 and since then has grown into a huge, multi-venue forum for artists to showcase work that can be beautiful, provocative, intriguing, humorous, or sometimes, all of the above! With art exhibitions and installations taking over virtually every nook and cranny of Cuba cultural institutions, even the walls of buildings and the streets of Havana become lively galleries stimulating both discussion and contemplation. And in addition to all the work on view, the Havana Biennial also features film and video screenings, practical workshops led by master artists, and academic panels and presentations.
In addition to roaming the exhibitions, one of the most exhilarating aspects of the Authentic Cuba Travel® itinerary is the chance to spend time one-on-one with some of the most well respected artists working in Cuba today. With our informative studio visits, Authentic Cuba Tours participants have the opportunity to converse intimately with internationally recognized artists about their own work, as well as trends in contemporary Cuba art.
With Authentic Cuba Travel®, you’ll feel like a Havana Biennial VIP! Private tours, exclusive access, and fascinating artist encounters are just a few of the special features of this Cuba art tour. On top of all the art, you’ll also have other Cuba cultural opportunities like learning about the history of Old Havana through an amazing walking tour of its plazas—and who would want to miss experiencing the food, music, and natural beauty of authentic Cuba?
Seats at the published international airfare rates are limited, so make sure to book your Cuba Art Tour immediately! Our day-to-day itinerary will give you all the detail you need.
Authentic Cuba Travel® ANNOUNCES:
The XV Havana Art Biennial Cuba Tour
(November 18, 2023 to November 25, 2023)
Cuba Art Travel for Anyone Who Loves Art, Artists, and Festivals!
Official Havana Biennial Cuba Art Travel for as little as $2,799!
The 15th Havana Art Biennial, an Interactive “Cultural Corridor” between Visual Artists and the Audience.
The 15th Havana Art Biennial, the biggest visual art festival in Cuba and one of the most famed art events in Latin America, will take place in between March 25 and November 30, 2023 in Havana City, Cuba’s largest city and capital of the Caribbean island nation. According to the Wifredo Lam Art Center, the organization in charge of putting it all together, this Cuban art festival will attempt to turn the city into an interactive cultural corridor between the creators and public.
At the official announcement of the Cuban Art Biennial 2023, representatives of the Cuba’s National Council of Visual Arts and the Wifedo Lam Art Center, under the auspices of Cuba’s Ministry of Culture, stated that the objective of the 15th edition of the international art gathering is the complete “artistic invasion” of Havana, a city that celebrates the 502nd anniversary of its foundation in 2023.
Under the slogan “the Construction of the Possible”, the 2023 Art Biennial of Havana will be a hub for contemporary art trends that encompass art creation as an “active event or experience”. Although the rooster of international and national visual artists in attendance was not disclosed during the official announcement, the Havana Art Biennial curators made it clear that more than 200 creators from about 20 countries-including Spain, France, Portugal, Brazil, Columbia, Argentina, Mexico, Peru and others- will be present at the international art fair of Havana.
Margarita Gonzalez, deputy director of the Wifedo Lam Art Center, and Nelson Herrera, head curator of the Havana Art Biennial, also mentioned than more than 20 Cuban artists will be exhibiting in the event to showcase the strength of Cuban contemporary art. They also announced that the Art Biennial of Havana 2023 will spread outside Havana city for the first time in its history since 1984. Cities like Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Camaguey will host the international visual arts event as well.
GENERAL LICENSE FOR PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH CUBA TRAVEL
US Arts Professionals, US Art Educators, US Art Consultants, US Art Critics, US Museum of Art Directors, Curators and Staff, US Visual Artists; and other Art Professionals from USA interested in conducting professional research on Cuba's Art Scene can travel to Cuba under the provisions of the General License for Professional Research.
CATEGORY: General license for Professional Research and Professional Meetings- 31 C.F.R. § 515.564(a)(1) of the current Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations.
The travel- related transactions set forth in § 515.560(c) and such additional transactions as are directly incident to professional research are authorized, provided that:
(i) The purpose of the research directly relates to the traveler’s profession, professional background, or area of expertise, including area of graduate-level full-time study;
(ii) The traveler does not engage in recreational travel, tourist travel, travel in pursuit of a hobby, or research for personal satisfaction only; and
(iii) The traveler’s schedule of activities does not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule of professional research.
We provide our US travelers with all the required
documentation to ensure they are in compliance with 2022 Biden administration’s rules on Cuba travel under the US Cuba Travel category: Professional Research and Professional Meetings. US travelers can choose to depart to Cuba from any US port of their choosing.
GENERAL LICENSE FOR SUPPORT FOR THE CUBAN PEOPLE CUBA TRAVEL
US citizens or permanent residents genuinely interested in supporting the Cuban people can travel to Cuba from USA legally as part of this Cuba tour. Even though Cuba tourism is not possible for US citizens, this tour is a legal option to visit Cuba under the General License for the Support for the Cuban People.
CATEGORY: General License for Support for the Cuban People- 31 C.F.R. § 515.564(a) of the current Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations.
The travel-related transactions set forth in § 515.560(c) and other transactions that are intended to provide support for the Cuban people are authorized, provided that:
(1) The activities are of:
(i) Recognized human rights organizations; (ii) Independent organizations designed to promote a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy; or
(iii) Individuals and nongovernmental organizations that promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba; and
2) Each traveler engages in a full-time schedule of activities that: (i) Enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities; and
(ii) Result in meaningful interaction with individuals in Cuba.
Each person relying on the general authorization in this paragraph must retain specific records related to the authorized travel transactions. See §§ 501.601 and 501.602 of this chapter for applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
We provide our US travelers with all the required
documentation to ensure they are in compliance with 2022 Biden administration’s rules on Cuba travel under the US Cuba Travel category: Support for the Cuban People. US travelers can choose to depart to Cuba from any US port of their choosing.
Notice to US Universities of the Arts, US Schools of the Arts, US University Schools of the Arts, US Colleges of Art & Design, US Art Academies, US Art Institutes and other Academic Institutions from USA:
In January 2016, the US Government announced further enhancements to the 12 categories of authorized travel to Cuba that previously required a specific license (this is, lengthy applications to OFAC). Now travel to the Caribbean island is allowed under a general license (this is, self-completed paperwork with no application to OFAC needed).
After President
Biden’s policy change on USA Cuba travel on June 9, 2022, the General License for Educational Activities remains in place. Accredited U.S. graduate or under graduate degree-granting institutions; U.S. Academic Institutions; and U.S. Schools can organize and sponsor an educational trip to Cuba for their students, faculty and staff under the General License for Educational Activities, provided that the trip meets OFAC guidelines; and that an employee or other representative of the organization escorts the trip to make sure such guidelines are followed by all participants.
US Universities of the Arts, US Schools of the Arts, US University Schools of the Arts, US Colleges of Art & Design, US Art Academies, US Art Institutes and other Academic Institutions from USA can organize and sponsor a trip to Cuba for educational activities. The purpose of the Cuba travel should be for:
_ the participation in a structured educational program offered for credit as part of a course of the sponsoring institution;
_ educational exchanges sponsored by Cuban or U.S. secondary schools involving secondary school students’ participation in a formal course of study or in a structured educational program offered by a secondary school or other academic institution, and led by a teacher or other secondary school official are authorized. This authorization allows for participation of a reasonable number of adult chaperones to accompany the secondary school students to Cuba.
_ attendance at non-commercial academic seminars, conferences and workshops related to Cuba sponsored or co-sponsored by U.S. academic institution.
_ non- commercial academic research related to Cuba for the purpose of obtaining a graduate or undergraduate degree;
_ the participation in a formal course of study at a Cuban academic institution provided that credits will be accepted toward the student’s graduate or undergraduate degree;
_ participation in a 10-week structured educational program in Cuba as part of a course offered at the U.S. institution;
_ participation in a formal 10-week course of study at a Cuban academic institution, provided the formal course of study in Cuba will be accepted for credit toward the student’s undergraduate or graduate degree at the U.S. institution;
We take care of all details both in North America and in Cuba, including VISA and flight arrangements to Cuba's main destinations via USA ports (Miami, Tampa, New York, Los Angeles, or other) or through third countries like Canada and Mexico. Authorized US organizations can travel through a third country subject to the same restrictions and requirements as those flying directly from USA.
At Authentic Cuba Travel®, we have been organizing such educational and cultural travel experiences from the United States of America for years with great success.
Rene Pena, a highly– recognized Cuban photographer, is known for creating provocative imagistic explorations of the connections between institutions and racial, religious and sexual identity. While he has primarily worked in black and white photography, Pena has more recently been experimenting with both color and digital photography. In this photo, he looks over work for the XII Havana Biennial with Authentic Cuba Travel®'s Luis D’Aguiar.
The theme of the XI Havana Biennial was “artistic practices and the social imaginary.” This continued a long tradition of themes that look at the intersection between art and culture, and the role of the artist in the construction of meaning both within the artwork itself and within the society through the use of historical and cultural references. The Biennial serves as important bridge between Cuban artists, their own society and an international audience. Our Cuba Tours exposes complex aspect of the authentic Cuba to tour participants.
The exhibitions at Cuba’s National School of Fine Arts, the ISA, during the 2012 Havana Biennial attracted international attention. One of the most provocative works was by Manolo Castro and Alberto and Julio Lorente. A hyper-realistic figure of Osama Bin Laden lay blissfully recumbent upon an oriental carpet in a darkened room. Simply called “He,” it was widely reported by the international press. Cuba Art Tours participants will get to see the latest work at the ISA during the 2023 Havana Biennial.
One performance which attracted a multitude of interested people at the last Havana Art Biennial was Mendive’s “Spirit, Nature & Heads”: dancers from dance companies such as the National Folkloric Group walked down Prado Street, from the Saratoga Hotel to the Orígenes Art Gallery, located at the Great Theatre of Havana, where the artist waited for them to paint on their nude bodies, while the pianist Pura Ortiz played Baroque music.
More and more Americans are discovering the Havana Biennial. In 2012, 1300 Americans attended with most being international collectors, museum curators, and gallery dealers. The work of contemporary Cuban artists has caught the eye of illustrious organizations like London’s Tate Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and MOMA. With Authentic Cuba Travel®, you’ll feel like a VIP from the art world, too. Authentic Cuba Travel® is proud to have facilitated USA Cuba travel arrangements for hundreds of art professionals over the years.
During the Havana Art Biennial Cuba tour, we will visit the studio of Juan Carlos Alom who actively works in experimental photography as well as film and video. He is also responsible for founding a studio in Cuba where artists can work and screen their videos. His work often incorporates elements of ritual, magical realism, and Afro-Cuban religion set into tableaux that he then photographs.
The Havana Biennial takes place every two years and is centered at Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, simply known by most as La Cabaña. This Spanish fortress, built in the 1700s, was used by Che Guevara as his headquarters during the Cuban revolution. It is also the site of a popular evening outing for our Cuba Tours participants, the ritual firing of a cannon at 9pm each evening.
More than 180 artists representing 45 countries participated in the XI Havana Art Biennial. The art of Cuba, however, takes center stage and along with the officially curated exhibitions, there are many related programs and gallery exhibits. Artists push the boundaries in contemporary Cuba, giving voice to many different perspectives on Cuba’s history and future.
Day 1: Saturday 18 November 2023.
“Hello Cuba!”
Your
Havana Art Biennial Cuba Tours guide will meet you at Jose Marti International Airport. After welcoming you to Cuba, your guide will introduce you to your driver for this art discovery journey. This important pair will be with your during your entire stay to insure an effortless and interesting experience of authentic Cuba!
After a short bus ride, you’ll check in to your
Casa Particular or
Quinta Avenida Hotel, both centrally located nearby Havana’s entertainment district,
Vedado.
Time permitting; we will also visit the vast array of art exhibits, performances and happenings that sprawl across the city during the
15th Havana International Art Biennial 2023.
A complimentary breakfast is served at the hotel from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Day 2: Sunday 19 November 2023.
Old Havana, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Morning:
Your Cuba travel plans for today begins at the organization responsible for putting together the
Havana Art Biennial. The
Wifredo Lam Center bears the name of one of Cuba’s most renowned painters.
As a modernist, Lam’s word borrowed themes and imagery from an array of cultures. Today, the Lam Center does something similar in the way it advances the contemporary art of Cuba and that of other developing countries.
At the
Wifredo Lam Center, you can find out just how they manage to make Havana over into one giant art gallery every two years— and they can explain the complexities of choosing a theme for the Biennial, as well as the curatorial process.
Printmaking is one of the most genuine art forms in Cuba as we will see in the next visit of our Cuban journey. Cuban artists have developed printmaking into an incredible varied and expressive medium. At the
Taller Experimental de Gráfica, a cooperative workshop, you’ll observe young lithographers plying their art.
It’s time for a little dose of Cuban history with a guided walking tour through the
Plazas (Squares) of
Old Havana, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Before lunch we’ll visit two very old and very impressive plazas, the
Cathedral Square and the
Square of Arms.
During our walking tour, we will also visit the vast array of art exhibits, performances and happenings that sprawl across the city during the
15th Havana International Art Biennial 2023.
Catedral de La Habana loans both its name and presence to
Cathedral Square. Built over a period of thirty years in the mid 1700s, this beautiful baroque architectural masterpiece is dedicated to Christopher Columbus. It is famous for its asymmetrical towers, a design feature hit upon to channel water away from the plaza.
The
Plaza de Armas, or the “Square of Arms” is named for the fact that the Spanish military drilled in the Square. Historically, it’s the center of
Habana Vieja, and still boasts many imposing buildings that have lasted since the Spanish colonialist era.
Perhaps most imposing and poignant is the moated
Castillo de La Real Fuerza. Look for one of the city’s most loved images:
La Giraldilla, a bronze statue of Hernado de Soto wife, Dona Isabel, who is said to have died of a broken heart after learning that her husband expired after discovering the Mississippi River.
Over the last years, one of the most evident signs of free-market reform programme has been the booming of private restaurants (known as
paladares in Cuba). A wave of slick restaurants such as
San Cristobal_where we will have lunch next, is dramatically improving the basic beans-and-rice traditional food with exciting cuisine.
After lunch we’ll traverse by the hand of our Authentic Cuba Travel® guide two more beautiful plazas,
Plaza Vieja and
Plaza de San Francisco.
During our stroll through
Plaza Vieja or “Old Square,” your Authentic Cuba guide will show you to some important art institutions such as
The Center for the Development of Visual Arts, the
Fototeca de Cuba, and
La Casona Gallery, you’ll learn about current movements in the visual arts in Cuba and what has given rise to new developments. Whether your personal tastes incline to painting, sculpture, photography or other media, you’re sure to gain important insights.
In addition to its famous fountain with four marble dolphins,
Old Square has several beautifully restored buildings worth noting such as
Palacio Viena Hotel and
Colegio del Santo Angel. Part of Habana Vieja since the 1500s, Old Square is still a vibrant spot.
Another fountain graces the
Square of San Francisco of Assisi, this one with lions. Almost as old as Old Square, the Square of San Francisco was given a baroque facelift in the 1700s, and this is the architectural style that remains. The dominant building on the plaza is the
Convent of St. Francis. At present a concert hall and museum space, the convent serves as one of the major venues of the
2023 Havana Art Biennial.
Return to your private rental accomodation.
Evening: Visit the trendiness industrial-scale art galleries and performance venues of
Fabrica de Arte Cubano (
Cuban Art Factory), all housed in a former food processing plant located around Havana’s Green Belt Area. Pushing Cuba’s political boundaries and the incipient free-market entrepreneurial ship, X Alfonso, one of Cuba’s most popular rockers, manages this “community venture” which seems more like a hybrid of a capitalistic business and a state-run facility.
Day 3: Monday 20 November 2023.
“Getting to Know Havana's Art Scene”
Morning:
The
Official Cuba Tour to the Havana Art Biennial gets off to another great start today with a full day of art that is sure to capture your imagination. We’ll begin the morning at
Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, referred to locally as La Cabaña. This fortress, completed in the 1740s, is the main venue of the
15th Havana Art Biennial 2023. It’s ancient walls and grounds make for an amazing space in which to view art. Enjoy some time to roam the venue and get acquainted.
Callejon de Hamel, a community grounded art installation, was created by
Salvador Gonzales. In this central Havana alley, you’ll experience the vibrancy of Mr. Gonzalez’s fanciful creations, and get the chance to speak directly with the artist about the role of Cuba’s African heritage and why he chose this particular location.
Lunch:
The evocative world of
Fusterlandia is a highpoint of the Cuba Travel experience. Your luncheon host,
Jose Fuster, has been called the “Picasso of the Caribbean.” More than 80 of Mr. Fuster’s neighbors have offered their homes as sites for him to weave his artistic magic.
Afternoon:
Visiting an artist’s studio is like a small window into the artist’s mind and heart. This afternoon you’ll get to explore those spaces with visits to the workplaces of some notable contemporary artists like
Alicia Leal and her husband
Juan Moreira as well as younger artists like
Juan Carlos Alom and the
Britos’ Sisters making their mark on the Cuban art scene.
Private visit to the studio of artist
Karlos Perez. Since 2006, Perez's work has been exhibited in several solo and group exhibitions, including the 11th Havana Biennale. Perez is a good example of how recent contemporary Cuban painting has been shaping its own space. With a background in photography, video, and installation, Perez’s paintings have blurred the order of the traditional discourse of art. His works are not “portraits” in the traditional sense, but rather the power of the images comes from their existential character.
Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to share directly with the artists, ask them questions about their work and methods, and see the diverse influences, heritages, and imaginations at play. Meeting with Cuban artists up close and personal is an exclusive experience of our Cuba Tours.
Return to your private rental accomodation.
Evening:
We’ll return to
La Cabaña for a gorgeous evening view of Havana and some costumed splendor as one of Havana’s oldest traditions is carried out,
Fire of the Cannon of 9 O'Clock.
Day 4: Tuesday 21 November 2023.
Vinales Valley, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Morning:
Prepare to feast your eyes on a variety of sights today ranging from striking geological features to perhaps the biggest painting in Cuba. We’ll take a break from the city and tour one of the most magnificent natural areas of authentic Cuba, the
Vinales Valley.
En route to Vinales Valley, we will make a stop in Consolacion del Sur, a town in Pinar del Rio province to visit the outreach-community project
El Patio de Peregrin. The brainchild of Cuban painter
Mario Pelegrin, this humble art gallery and pottery workshop has become a power horse to promote diverse cultural and artistic initiatives in the area.
Over arrival in Vinales Valley, one thing you’ll notice right away is the prehistoric looking hills with rounded tops and precipitous sides. Called
mogotes, these formations combine with the alleuvial plains separating them to create a jaw-dropping landscape.
Here we’ll find
tobacco farmers cultivating their crops. Cuban tobacco, best known in the form of the coveted Cuban cigar, is still farmed using traditional techniques.
On the way to
Cueva del Indio, your Cuba art tour will also visit
Mural de la Prehistoria. The artist, Leovigildo Morillos, emulated ancient cave-painting technique in his massive mural depicting the evolution of the world from a local viewpoint.
Lunch: The restaurant at
Paladar Casa del Campesino will be the site for lunch today.
Cueva del Indio is a series of caves containing underground stream. We’ll explore this natural feature and learn about its history while taking a boat ride through the caverns. A famous retreat for slaves evading their Spanish masters, the caverns were first used as burial sites and hiding places by early Amerindians.
After our tour of Cueva del Indio, there will be time to visit
Viñales town at a leiasurely pace. Stop in the cigar shop for an authentic Cuban cigar, enjoy the handicrafts at the
Viñales artisans’ market, or just enjoy the sights of this quaint town.
Before we head back to Havana city, we will stop in the provincial capital city, Pinar del Rio to visit the studio and art gallery of
Pedro Pablo Oliva, one of the most internationally recognized Cuban painters today. With works in the permanent collection of the Cuba’s National Museum of Fine Arts as well as in array of collections worldwide, the artist decided to fund
The Studio of Oliva not only as an art gallery and exhibit space but as a cultural institution promoting the arts in Pinar del Rio.
Day 5: Wednesday 22 November 2023.
"Artistic Education in Cuba"
Today we’ll return to
Habana Vieja and visit a number of Cuban art institutions serving as venues for the Havana Art Biennial 2023. Along with viewing artwork, you’ll also learn from the staffs at these celebrated institutions, a highlight of your Cuba Travel experience.
First up is the
Museum of Fine Arts. The Cuban collection of the museum is located in
The Palace of Fine Arts building of the museum. Housing the work of notable Cuban artists like
Wifredo Lam,
Rene Portocarrero and
Rita Lonja, the museum also has a notable collection of religious art and Costumbrismo from the 1600-1800s.
Paladar is a Cuban term that refers to private family-run businesses. The Cuban term has its origin in a Brazilian soap opera played in Cuba in the early 1990s. Today we’ll have lunch at the stylish paladar
Cafe Laurent, offering excellent food and fabulous views of the city.
Afternoon: The art students of
Cuba's National Art Schools (ISA), a competitive conservatory-like program, represent the best of Cuba’s artistic future. They also participate significantly in the Havana Art Biennial 2023 with their own sophisticated installations, conceptual pieces, and works based in traditional mediums like painting, printmaking and sculpture.
During our Cuba Tours, we usually include a tour of the ISA, so that tour participants are able to engage in dialogue with both faculty and students about the work on display.
The second part of our tour of artist studios includes some dynamic artists working in varied media.
Lazaro Saavedra, a graduate of the ISA, is a conceptual artist.
Rene Pena is known for his exploration of the connection between individuals and institutions and how racial, religious and sexual identity comes in to play.
Jose Angel Toirac is an internationally awarded installation artist as well as painter.
During our bus tour, we will also visit the vast array of art exhibits, performances and happenings that sprawl across the city during the
15th Havana International Art Biennial 2023.
Habana Art Gallery is another important site for the XIII Havana Art Biennial that will compliment the Cuba Travel experience. One of the oldest art institutions in La Habana, you are sure to find cutting edge work on display along with a knowledgeable staff and talented, rising artists.
Return to your private rental accomodation.
Evening:
Tonight, experience the art of
authentic Cuban Jazz with a trip to
Club La Zorra y El Cuervo, one of Havana’s premiere jazz venues. (optional, not included)
Day 6: Thursday 23 November 2023.
Matanzas City, Cultural Heritage Site of Cuba
Morning: Day trip to
Matanzas City, also known as the "Athens of Cuba" for its wealth of poets. The city is also famous for its strong African heritage.
Rest stop in
Bacunayagua Bridge for a Piña Colada and enjoy the view over the highest bridge (110 mts) in Cuba, one of the marvels of Cuban post- revolutionary architecture.
Visit to various exhibits of the
15th Havana International Art Biennial in Matanzas city. You’ll have more opportunities to interact with artists, curators, and other arts professionals working to promote the visual arts outside Havana city.
Next we visit
Ediciones Vigia, a unique publishing house founded in 1985. It produces handmade paper and first edition copies of books. Only 200 copies of each book are made so each is a collector’s item. Meet with Director Agustina Ponce, publishers and artists.
Lunch on your own.
Afternoon: Visit the
Varadero Ceramic Workshop showcasing great artworks from local artists. Exchange with artists and staff.
Followed by a panoramic motor coach tour of the
Peninsula de Hicacos,
Varadero, to witness tourism development in the area.
Return to Havana.
Evening: We always recommend enriching our Cuba cultural tours with a trip to experience the
National Ballet of Cuba. (optional)
Day 7: Friday 24 November 2023.
"Havana- Cuba Adventurer"
Morning: visit to the photography gallery
AMOS and get up close and personal with
Ramses Batista, one of Cuba’s most well-established photographers today. Revisit Mr.Batista’s 20-plus-year career featuring portraiture, social documentary, religion, landscapes, and nudes.
During the morning, we will also visit the vast array of art exhibits, performances and happenings that sprawl across the city during the
15th Havana International Art Biennial 2023.
Enjoy complimentary lunch at
L’Atelier paladar. With an ever-changing and exciting menu every day, paladar owner, Niuris Higueras and her chef create an unpredictable variety of dishes with consistent quality.
Private visit to
331 Art Space Gallery, a successful mix of cutting edge art and entrepreneurship in the new Cuba where the boundaries of artistic freedom of expression and restrictions are constantly challenged in the most ingenious ways. Housed in this 1941 mansion- that has been fully refurbished to modern chic style- is the studio of up-and-coming artists,
Frank Mujica,
Alex Hernandez and
Adrian Fernandez whose drawings, prints, and mixed media artworks can command prices in the thousands of dollars.
Now that you’ve had a taste of all that Havana offers during the remarkable days of the
Havana Art Biennial 2023, you get the rest of the afternoon to explore and experience at your favorite spots and at your own pace.
Whether you want to revisit one of the studios to contemplate the work, you’ve decided to purchase art for your collection, or you just want to wander, enjoy your day.
If you need any assistance with the paperwork to clear any original works you’ve purchased, please see your Authentic Cuba Travel® tour guide.
Return to your private rental accomodation.
Dinner time! Our Cuba tour participants will be again treated to a farewell dinner at the chic paladar,
Le Chansonier, offering quality new Cuban recipes crafted by one of the most gifted chef in Havana, Enrique.
Day 8: Saturday 25 November 2023.
“Good-bye Cuba”
Buen viaje! Your Authentic Cuba Tours team will facilitate your early morning departure to Jose Marti International Airport.
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!
Authentic Cuba Travel®'s festival tours are sanctioned, hosted and fully sponsored by Cuba’s key Culture Ministries, Organizing Committees and Cuban personalities. Travel with the peace of mind of knowing you are in the best hands!
