CENTRAL HOLIDAYS - LATIN AMERICA & CUBA

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Enjoy your first taste of authentic Cuban cuisine for lunch at the finca’s
privately owned restaurant, or “paladar,” Il Divino. Next, visit the
community art project, Muraleando “muraling” or mural-making. The
goal of Muraleando is to get children off the streets of Havana and
inspire them to collaborate in a community project. Transfer to your
Casa Particular for check-in. This evening we will share in a flavorful
Cuban dinner at a local paladar where you will have the opportunity to
meet the chef. Tonight, you can join in a variety of optional activities
such as the nightly Cannon Blast Ceremony held in La Cabaña fort at
9pm, showcasing a theatrical demonstration where actors dressed in
full 18th-century military regalia reenact the firing of a cannon over
Havana harbor – a ritual that used to signify the closing of the city gates.
(L,D)
DAY 2I HAVANA After breakfast join in an enlightening walking tour of
Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while participating in open
dialogue with locals, artists, and musicians. Learn about the challenges
of renovating the city’s exquisite historic buildings and see some of the
area’s elegant restorations as you stroll the charming cobblestone
streets. Tour the Museum of the Revolution that displays documents
and artifacts, weapons, and planes from the 1950s’ revolution. The
museum is housed in the former presidential palace that was the home
to Cuba’s leaders from the 1920s until 1959. Enjoy lunch in Old
Havana at a paladar. After lunch, you will have a special opportunity to
experience a performance by the Habana Compás dance troupe,
featuring an exhilarating mix of percussion and dance rooted in
flamenco and Afro-Cuban rhythms and moves that is sure to thrill you.
The evening is yours to explore this great city at your leisure. (B,L)
DAY 3 I HAVANA Head out after breakfast to explore an authentic
Cuban Cigar Factory where you will learn about the “readers” and meet
the “rollers.” Visit one of the area’s museums such as el Museo
National de Bellas Artes -- the Museum of Fine Arts, comprised of two
buildings exhibiting inspired collections from the colonial times up to
contemporary works. Have lunch at Mediteráneo, an artisanal paladar
in the Vedado neighborhood for a fresh farm-to-table meal created by
the privately-owned restaurant’s Italian chef. Afternoon at leisure – why
not shop at the “Almacenes de San Jose” artisans’ market. This evening
the options for discovery abound with free time to venture out for dinner
on your own. Consider joining in an optional excursion such as a visit to
Havana’s Fabrica de Arte Cubano, an independent project and meeting
place where the island’s avant-garde arts can be enjoyed, with all kinds
of arts – music, painting, dance, and more. (B,L)
DAY 4 I HAVANA Today greets you with exciting new experiences to live
authentically. Join in an all-day excursion to Matanzas and Varadero.
The day’s adventures take you to discover the stately Dupont Mansion,
a circa-1930 beachfront mansion overlooking the Gulf of Mexico that
serves as the clubhouse for Varadero Golf Club, and on from there you
will visit Casa de la Cultura that seeks to promote art and literature. This
unique venue is also home to Guaracheros de Regla, one of the Cuba’s
most famous “comparsas,” or carnival dance troupes. Later, take in the
awe-inspiring beauty of the famed beach at Varadero. Share in a
delicious meal at a paladar and then return to Havana for an evening at
leisure. (B,L)
Overview of the City in Havana
El Morro Spanish fortress in Havana
INCLUDED FEATURES
•U.S. Department of the Treasury authorization under a “General
Support for the Cuban People License”
•Accommodations in Cuba in a Casa Particular (Upscale Private
Homes-see images on our website)
•Round trip transfers from the airport to your Casa Particular
•Full support for the Cuban People Cultural Exchange Program
•Fresh Bottled Water while touring
•All entrance fees for scheduled activities and events
•11 included meals consisting of: Breakfast daily, 4 lunches and 2
dinners with a cocktail and wine
•Professional English-speaking Cuban Guide
Not Included: Round trip airfare to Cuba, Visa for Cuba ($55 per
person), meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary, porterage,
tips and other items of a purely personal nature
*From Price is per person based on double occupancy in a Casa
Particular (Upscale Private Home)
For 5 to 7 people traveling together Prices from $1,479
DAY 5 I HAVANA This morning is at leisure so take some time to tour
the city at your own pace, participating in activities in support of the
Cuban people. This afternoon, get ready to have the experience of a
lifetime as you share time with the members of a private car club and
enjoy riding in Classic cars to explore the art at Fusterlandia, home and
studios of acclaimed artist José Fuster who specializes in ceramics,
painting, drawing, engraving and graphic design. This evening we will
enjoy a farewell dinner at Fuster's Art Studio and community project,
sharing in the delightful sounds of live music following dinner and the
opportunity to meet these Cuban performers. (B,D)
DAY 6 I HAVANA TO USA Time permitting before your transfer to the
airport, visit Finca Vigia, Ernest Hemmingway's winter home from 1939
to 1960. It was built in 1886 and now serves as a museum where
visitors can see his 9,000-volume library, living quarters, yacht “Pilar”,
as well as the actual typewriter on which he wrote some of his greatest
works. (B)
(B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner