Join us as we celebrate New Year’s in Cuba and commemorate the Anniversary of the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution!
Embark on an unforgettable journey as we delve into the charm and vibrancy of Havana and Trinidad. Our days will be filled with enriching people-to-people experiences, including engaging with local Cubans through community projects, meeting small business owners, conversing with an economist, biking around the city, exploring urban gardens, and learning about Afro-Cuban culture and traditions. We’ll ring in the New Year and honor the Cuban Revolution’s 66th anniversary with a delightful dinner accompanied by music!
On New Year’s Day, we’ll venture to Trinidad, a UNESCO Heritage Site known for its Spanish Colonial architecture. Here, we’ll wander the cobblestone streets, delve into the arts, culture, and history of the town. A highlight of this trip will be our visit to a local community gathering, where we will visit with Cuban’s in their neighborhood providing insight into grassroots organization.
Returning to Havana, we’ll stop at Santa Clara to explore Che Guevara’s legacy before concluding our trip with additional cultural visits and an exchange with an esteemed educator involved in Cuba’s historic Literacy Brigades.
For further details, please contact drea@globalexchange.org to request a draft itinerary.
What’s Included
Accommodation
Five Star Accommodations
Single Supplement
Available for an additional $300
Airport Transfers
On designated arrival and departure dates
Private bus
Or cars depending on group size
Meals
As listed on the itinerary. Generally 2 meals a day
Private events
And speakers as listed
Translator
Trip leader
A local guide who will travel with the group through the program
Admission fees
To all program activities
Donations
To organizations, speakers, communities we visit
What’s excluded
Airfare
Visa and passport fees
Tips to guides, drivers, hotel staff, wait staff
Items of personal nature
Travel Insurance
- Midday flight arrives in Havana, welcome by AMISTUR guide
- Panoramic visit to the historic Plaza de la Revolucion.
- Check in at Hotel Gran Aston, Havana
- 8.30pm Welcome dinner at Jardin de los Milagros
- Evening on your own
- Breakfast at hotel
- 9.00am Early morning visit to Alamar Urban Garden to learn more about the role of urban gardens and organic farming in Cuba
- 11.30pm Lunch at Marazul Restaurant
- 1.30pm. Visit to the municipality of Regla located across the bay of Havana. Regla has a long tradition of practicing the religion of Santeria and so we will visit the Church of the Virgin of Regla, the Black Madonna, and who is syncretized with the deity of Yemaya. Here will will also learn a bit more about AfroCuban religions
- 4pm Visit with Gisela Arandia, Afro Cuban expert on race and gender
- Return to the hotel
- Dinner on your own
- After dinner we’ll reconvene to enjoy an evening of Cuban Jazz.
- Breakfast at the hotel
- 9.00am Today, we will spend the morning in Habana Vieja, a designated UNESCO Heritage site. We will begin with a walking tour of the three main plazas; Plaza de las Armas, Plaza Vieja, Plaza del Catedral, Plaza San Francisco de Asís.
- 10.30am We will see the museum of the Revolution located in the beautiful former presidential palace and now closed for renovations (if open by the time the group visits, we will arrange a tour). Nearby, we will also visit the Granma yacht, the historic boat used to transport Fidel Castro, Che Guevarra and other fighters for the Cuban Revolution from Mexico to Cuba.
- Last, we will make a quick stop to La Esquina Caliente in Havana’s Central park where Cubans go to debate their national pastime, Baseball.
- 12.00 pm Visit to Corral Falso 259 Community Art Project enjoy lunch prepared by members of the community. After lunch we will tour the project to learn about this thriving community space.
- 3:00 pm Visit to Velo Cuba, a small business enterprise in Cuba, enjoy a short bike ride of the area.
- Return to the hotel.
- Enjoy dinner and evening on your own.
- Breakfast at the hotel
- 9:00 am Visit to the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) an NGO responsible for fostering people to people diplomacy through solidarity with groups worldwide. They are your host institution while in Cuba. Here we will discuss US and Cuba relations, politics, etc.
- 11:00am Have an exchange with the Union of Cuban Jurists to learn about the historic more inclusive changes to the new Cuban family code and the rights of religious people.
- 12:30 pm Lunch at La Bodeguita del Medio
- 2:30 pm Visit to the Literacy Museum and with the director there to learn of one of Cuba’s most important pillars of the Revolution.
- Return to the hotel making a stop at the historic Plaza de la Revolución where leader Fidel Castro addressed millions of Cubans on special occasions.
- Return to the hotel to rest up.
- 7:00 pm Travel across the bay of Havana to enjoy dinner (not included and location tba) with a great view of the Bay of Havana followed by the historic “Cañonazo”; a cannon firing ceremony dating back to colonial times, held at the Morro Castle.
- Breakfast at the hotel
- 9:00 am Visit with an Architect to learn about Cuba’s restoration efforts, housing and development.
- 11:00 pm Visit with an Economist to learn about the impacts of the blockade, Cuba’s development and more.
- 12:30 pm Lunch
- 3:00 pm Enjoy a beginner level dance class to learn some basic Cuban dance steps in time for New Year’s celebrations.
- Return to hotel for afternoon on your own and to prepare for New Year’s
- New Year’s eve dinner and celebratory activities TBA
- New Year’s Day & National Holiday marking the completion of 66th Year Anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution
- Breakfast at your hotel
- 9.00am Depart for Varadero
- 12.00pm Arrive in Varadero, enjoy free time and lunch at Arenas Doradas
- 4.00pm Continue on to Trinidad, accommodation at Hotel Melia.
- Dinner at the hotel
- Evening on your own
- Breakfast at the hotel
- 9.30am Walking tour of the UNESCO Designated Spanish Colonial town of Trinidad
- Visit to local artists market to learn of the rich arts of Trinidad
- 12.00pm Lunch at Plaza Mayor
- 2.00pm Visit to casa de Yemaya or other Cultural space such as Casa Cultura, etc.
- Dinner on your own
- 8/9pm After dinner we will reconvene to participate in a CDR Visit. The CDR’s or Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, are essentially a block organization that can be found in every Cuban neighborhood since the time of the revolution. During this visit you will learn how the committees serve the community now. This is also the best time to bring donations to the community as well as enjoy snacks and beverages together and more importantly to exchange with Cuban’s in their neighborhood and learn about the realities of their day to day life.
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out
- 8.30am Depart for Havana via Santa Clara
- Upon arrival in Santa Clara, visit the Che Guevara Monument
- 12.30pm Lunch at los Caneyes
- 2.30pm Return to Havana
- Check in at Hotel
- Dinner and evening on your own. We encourage you to visit the Fabrica del Arte Cubano; a dynamic art and music space located in an old cooking oil factory.
- For Ages 18+.
- Breakfast at hotel
- 9.30am Visit to the newly opened Fidel Castro Center of Studies to learn about their programs to carry out the study of the former leader’s life-work and thoughts.
- 11.00am Head to the Almacenes San José 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.
- 12.30 Enjoy Lunch at San Cristobal paladar; the same paladar that President Obama dined at whilst visiting Cuba.
- Return to the hotel and afternoon on your own to prepare for your return.
- 7.00pm Enjoy a classic car ride to our farewell dinner at La Torre
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Depart for the airport to return to US
