Travel

Item Description

Item 5247
Eight Day "Introduction to Cuba Tour" for 2 with Airfare
Cuba Explorer
www.cubaexplorer.com

Introduction to Cuba is an eight-day, seven-night tour in and around Havana. The tour includes round-trip airfare from San Francisco to Tampa or Miami, and round trip airfare from Tampa or Miami to Havana. All breakfast and lunches are included, and most dinners.

Witness Cuba on routes less traveled. Meet the people and experience their incredible culture with Cuba Explorer. Established in 1997, Cuba Explorer makes Cuba travel easy and islanders treat you as an honored guest.

This tour provides a broad overview of Cuba together with an intimate taste of island life. It's geared to first-time visitors keen on learning about Cuban culture and how islanders live and view the world.

You'll examine Cuba's renowned social services, and much more. Tour participants will glean insights into Cuba's remarkable social and natural history, and explore island society one-on-one with locals eager to engage with their U.S cousins.

Arriving at Havana's José Martí International airport, you will have expedited immigration and custom service. You'll meet your tour leader, guide and bus driver before being transferred to your hotel in Havana. After check-in, there will be a private welcome cocktail with the hotel staff followed by an arrival dinner at the hotel.

On Sunday, you'll get to know Old Havana, its architecture, history and education. You'll visit La Maqueta, a scale model of Old Havana, and have a guided walking tour of Old Havana. You'll enjoy lunch and visit "House of the Boy and Girl" before returning to the hotel to freshen up. After dinner, you'll attend El Canonazo, the 9pm Cannon Firing Ceremony.

Monday brings urban agriculture, the Hemingway House and a Cuban welcome party. You'll visit Organopónico Vivero Alamar and following lunch visit Hemingway's Finca Vigía museum. After dinner, it's Noche de Fiesta Cubana, a welcome party with live music.

The following day you'll go to Convento Belen community center, visit Escuela Taller Workshop School, and the Yoruba center to learn about the influence of African religions on Cuban culture. Dinner is at Russian Paladar Nazdarovie.

Wednesday brings history, arts and a look at Cuban society today. You'll have a workshop with Dr. Marta Núñez on "Education and Cuban Society Today" followed by a seafood lunch at the private studio of acclaimed Cuban artist José Fúster. Then, tour Bellas Artes, the museum of Cuban art. After dinner, there will be a tour of a beer making facility.

The next day, you'll travel to amazing Las Terrazas eco-community, visit an ancient coffee plantation and meet with local artists and discuss their work.

Friday is Cuban music and arts day. You'll visit the Colibri recording company and Abdala studio. Following lunch, you'll visit the stupendous Museum of the Revolution.

There will be a farewell dinner at Conde del Castillo.
After breakfast on Saturday, you'll transfer to the airport for your trip back to the States.

Things happen: Cuba Explorers' Cuban partners work very hard to make your tour unfold seamlessly. Unlike in the States, however, they lack easy access to communications, transportation and supplies. Once in a while, itinerary changes are necessary to accommodate island realities. If anything promised is missed, Cuba Explorer will replace it with an activity or service of equal interest and value.

Included:

• US Department of the Treasury authorized people-to-people Cuba travel
• Quality Cuban hotels
• Twenty-five meals, seven nights in hotels and twelve-plus special cultural activities
• An expert English speaking guide and tour leader throughout the program
• Luxury air-conditioned bus and professional driver (bottled water on the tour bus)
• All activities, entrance fees, services, speakers and meetings in tour itinerary
• Cuban emergency medical insurance
• Emergency telephone and internet access to America from Cuba
• Participants become Club Cubano alumni and receive future tour discounts
• Ongoing support from Cuba Explorer's U.S and Cuban staff

Not included:

• If arriving from cities other than Tampa or Miami, Cuban airport transfers (cost is $35 each way for up to two people)
• Any necessary VISA
• Gratuities for tour guide, bus driver, chambermaids, restaurant staff, porters
• Cuban airport departure tax of 25.00 Cuban convertible pesos (CUC)

Valid until May 1, 2017.