zScenic Cuba

Welcome to Havana! After clearing immigrations and customs, your Cuban guide accompanies you to your hotel in the heart of the country’s capital. Get your feet wet with an afternoon program orientation. Later that evening, celebrate your arrival with a welcome dinner at the hotel. Meals D

After breakfast, participate in an exchange with musicians and artists at Callejón de Hamel, a Havana street featuring hundreds of art displays and public music performances. Mid-morning, gather with Cuban farmers and administrators at Vivero Organopónico in Alamar to learn about organic farming and its role in providing food in urban areas. After lunch we’ll make a visit to Casa Taller Antonia Eiriz before wrapping up our day alongside artists from the Muraleando Community Project, discussing the effects that art can have on the aesthetic nature of a community. Meals B, L, D

This morning we gather with students and professors from La Escuela Taller Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos to learn about the school’s effort to preserve Cuba’s cultural and architectural heritage by training local youth in arts, crafts and theoretical knowledge. Next it’s on to the Compañía de Baile Español ballet dance company to meet the company director and discuss the role of dance in Cuban culture. Your day is complete with a visit to the Alas de Mariposa, where crafts are created by the community’s elderly women. Meals B, L, D

After a morning lecture at the Casa de Las Americas, we’re off to meet the Cuban students and chefs at the Culinary School of Havana, where we’ll sit down to a lunch to discuss the challenges Cuban chefs face in procuring fresh foods and the influence of international cooking methods on their business. After lunch, meet with members of the congregation of a local Synagogue to discuss the history of Judaism in Cuba and the history of religious freedoms in the U.S. Finally, make your way to La Casa del Niño y la Niña in Centro Habana, an academic after-school outreach program for kids in troubled neighborhoods. Meals B, L, D

Our first stop today is to meet with children and parents at the With Love and Hope Project for Down Syndrome to discuss caring for a child with Down Syndrome and the role the state plays in helping in that effort. Next, meet with residents and a family doctor in the La Guabina community to learn about socialized medicine and healthcare. Finally, visit with a prominent artist in his private studio to discuss how artists make a living in Cuba and the role of national and international organizations in supporting the arts in both the U.S. and Cuba. Meals B, L, D

It’s time to hit the town of Pinar del Río. Participate in an exchange with local residents and tobacco farmers and come away with an understanding of the history of tobacco in the region, how the plants are cultivated and how the system is monetized today. After getting to know the students at a local primary school, we’ll sit down with Cuban farmers, growers and organizers at the Jardin de Caridad, a privately owned garden, where we’ll learn about Cuba’s native plants, flowers and other agriculture. Meals B, L, D

Before heading back to bustling Havana, meet residents and leaders from Las Terrazas, a small community and nature reserve situated in Sierra del Rosario. Next, knock at the doors of a distinguished Cuban artist in the fishing village of Jaimanitas. “Fusterlandia,” as it’s called, is a community project dedicated to beautifying the neighborhood; discuss its impact during an intimate chat. Meals B, L, D

After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. Meals B

Unlike our other programs, groups to Cuba are never more than 24 guests. A significant portion of your in-country programming is customized for each group to maximize your cultural experience. Many of the places we visit are not tourist destinations and are thus not always available. Therefore, this program should be considered as a sample only – please keep in mind that your particular tour may vary. Final itineraries are sent to guests one to two weeks prior to departure.