Global Exchange invites you to join Santa Rosa Junior College Professor Gino Muzzatti on his eighth Global Exchange people-to-people tour to the island nation of Cuba from January 23 to 31, 2026. This dynamic tour includes nine exciting days of locally-guided visits to the historic and cultural Cuban capital of Havana during its exciting annual International Jazz Festival. Explore farms, artisan studios, museums and iconic historical sites in and around the fascinating cities of Santa Clara, Matanzas and Camaguey in Central Cuba.
This tour is designed for travelers of all ages and from every walk of life, including educators, retirees, artists, actors, nurses, musicians and environmentalists; essentially, anyone interested in exploring Cuba with a small group of intrepid travelers led by local experts is welcome.
Finally, the most important benefit of your participation as a delegate on this tour to Cuba is to provide support to the Cuban people, bringing much-needed assistance and supplies to everyday people struggling under harsh economic conditions.
Please review the detailed itinerary below to discover the exciting activities we have planned for you.
What’s Included
Accommodation in 5 star hotel or similar
Single supplement
$170
Transportation
By private air conditioned coach
Meals
As listed on the itinerary. Generally 2 meals a day
Trip leader
A fluent english speaking local guide who will travel with the group thought the program
Admision fees
Includes fees for Guest speakers, community organization visits, and entrance fees as per itinerary
Airport transfer
As a group on designated departure and arrival dates
Special events
Jazz Plaza events will be offered after the regular daily program and will be paid on one's own.
Preparatory Orientation packet and pre-departure ZOOM Orientation Call
(to be held about a month prior to departure.)
What’s excluded
All flights and Cuban Visa
Expenses of a purely personal nature
Jazz Plaza entrance fees - pricing will be provided at a later date and will be optional
Extra beverages at meals
Tips for guide, driver and any meals included in the program. A tipping guide will be provided in the preparatory materials.
Breakfast buffet tips are not included and thus we strongly suggest folks leave a couple of dollars for servers and the omelet station, if utilized, each day.
Room service charges
Transportation of luggage in excess of weight allowance
Travel Insurance
Itinerary
Times and events subject to change
Draft Itinerary – Exploring Culture, History and Nature in Cuba with Prof. Gino Muzzatti
- Arrive in Camaguey, Cuba. Greeted by your guide and driver at the airport.
- Late lunch on the beautiful back patio of Campana de Toledo
- Afternoon visit to some artists’ studios around the city by Pedi-cab
- Check into Hotel San Juan de Dios (no elevators)
- Dinner and evening on your own
- Visit to the Casa de la Trova for traditional Cuban music.
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit Ignacio Agramonte and Carlos Finlay historic homes, learn of their importance in national and local history.
- Walking tour around Plaza San Juan de Dios w/lunch there.
- Visit the Arlequin Community Project to enjoy the artistic work they do with the young people of the community.
- (It’s possible the ICAP Director will join the group here. ICAP is the Friendship Institute of Cuba and is your host institution while in Cuba.)
- Return to the hotel
- Dinner included
- Breakfast at the hotel and then depart for Havana
- Stop in Villa Clara for lunch with ICAP rep and visit to
- Che Mausoleum
- Arrive in Havana and check into Gran Aston Hotel
- Havana welcome dinner included
- Evening on your own
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Visit with ICAP, your host institution while in Havana, to discuss Cuba/US Relations and solidarity.
- Visit Alamar Urban Garden to learn about the importance of Urban Gardens in Cuba. Lunch at Jardin de los Milagros where you’ll also enjoy a cooking demonstration. Visit to Callejon de Hamel to learn about their community programs featuring different African cultural traditions and performances.
- Return to the hotel to enjoy dinner and evening on your own for Jazz Plaza events.
- Breakfast at the hotel
- This morning we will view the museum of the Revolution located in the beautiful former presidential palace and now closed for renovations. Nearby, we will also visit the Granma yacht, the historic boat used to transport Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and other fighters for the Cuban Revolution from Mexico to Cuba.
- Following the museum, we will meet with renowned Architect Miguel Coyula to discuss architecture and development of the city.
- Lunch at Corral Falso Community Art Project followed by a tour of the project to learn about their work in the community.
- Enjoy a walking tour of the three main plazas of Habana Vieja; Plaza de las Armas, Plaza Vieja, Plaza del Catedral, Plaza San Francisco de Asís.
- Return to the hotel to enjoy dinner and evening on your own for Jazz Plaza events.
- Breakfast at the hotel and depart for day trip to Las Terrazas and Soroa Ochideria
- Lunch included at El Romero or other restaurant there
- Visit to Soroa Orchidera
- Return to Havana
- Return to the hotel to enjoy dinner and evening on your own for Jazz Plaza events.
- Visit to Cuba Libro, a socially responsible local community development project serving as a coffee house and English-language bookshop. Here we will learn about their work in the community followed by a meeting with Economist Jorge Mario. Jorge will discuss with us the realities of the Cuban economy including challenges and triumphs, the impact of migration, remittances and more while we enjoy a complimentary beverage.
- Lunch at El Biky Restaurant
- Visit to Nostalgia Car Collective where they work to rehabilitate old cars for current day use. At the end of our visit we’ll take a quick spin in the beautiful cars to the Plaza de la Revolucion. Return to the hotel to enjoy dinner and evening on your own for Jazz Plaza events.
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Visit to the Fidel Castro Center to learn of the efforts to further his teachings
- Head to the San Jose Almacenes Artisan Market project, a market located on the bay housing various artisan and artistic objects, as well as food vendors. This market is a great way to see small independent businesses and lively cultural life.
- Return to the hotel to prepare for your return to the US
- Reconvene for our farewell dinner at El Portal de Cojimar
- Remainder of evening on your own
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Depart for airport and return flight to US
*The Jazz Plaza activities will be an optional offering in the evening and downtime, when not fulfilling your legal obligation to the full time itinerary. Pricing will be provided when available by the organizers.
-End of program
