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Cuba

The Best of Cuba: From Viñales Valley to Habana Vieja

Program No. 22143RJ
From dominoes to a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, experience all things Cuban on a learning adventure that explores the western regions of this fascinating island nation.
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Country StudiesSmall GroupMost Popular
Length
12 days
Rating (4.97)
Activity Level
Starts at
4,849

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
26 meals ( 11B, 8L, 7D )
2 expert-led lectures
19 expert-led field trips
2 flights during the program
3 performances
An experienced Group Leader
11 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
This daily schedule is a representative guide. Program elements in Cuba are controlled by the Cuban government and are subject to change on short notice, as are flight times. Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Arrive to Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon. Courtesy shuttles are available from the Miami International Airport. Check-in, relax and prepare for your flight the following day to Havana. Remember to bring your name tag (sent previously). Note that these reservations are part of a block booking with Hilton. Hilton does not offer Hilton awards points for these bookings.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like depending on what time you arrive in Miami.
Evening:
At 6:00 pm the Group Leader will hold an Orientation meeting at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the schedule for the Flight to Havana and you will be given your Cuban Tourist Card (Visa).
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach: hotel shuttle to airport approx. 15 min.; flight time 1 hour; driving 20 miles, approx. 1 hour riding time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Miami - Havana Flight Details: American Airlines Flight #2705 Check in: 6:30 am Depart Miami: 9:30 am Arrive Havana: 10:45 am. These flights are part of a group block booking, and American Airlines does not award miles for these flights. The Group Leader will arrange a shuttle transfer from the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon to the Miami Airport. An additional Orientation will be given after you arrive in Havana en route to the hotel. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Our accommodations in Cuba feature clean, comfortable rooms with private baths and standard amenities. Cuban hotel standards may not equal their American or European counterparts. Improvements are ongoing, and we hope that any potential glitch in service or amenities is a minor trade-off for the authentic connections and enrichment we will experience. Meals will be in paladares: privately owned and operated family restaurants. A reminder: The regulations that govern our program and are set by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Program elements in Cuba are controlled by the Cuban government and are subject to change on short notice; therefore, the daily schedule is a representative guide. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Road Scholar programs include activities intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba. Each day's program promotes independence for the Cuban people and results in meaningful interactions with the Cuban People. Road Scholar programs are carefully crafted to comply with these regulations. All itineraries reflect this emphasis. Visits with independent social projects, religious organizations, and members of civil society are included in every program. Thank you for your understanding.
Lunch:
Arrival at Aeropuerto José Martí — José Martí International Airport (HAV), about 14 miles from the hotel. We will make a stop at Revolution Square en route to a private restaurant for lunch. Afternoon arrival in the hotel.
Afternoon:
Dominoes – Cuba’s national game – has its own set of rules, and is played enthusiastically in private and public. More than competition and skill, it is a greatly enjoyed social activity. We’ll meet members of a local dominoes league, learn the Cuban rules, and then play with club members. Teams will rotate and each American will play with one Cuban, presenting an opportunity to practice a few words in Spanish.
Dinner:
On your own at your choice of a small restaurant near the hotel. Your Group Leader will have suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for early morning check-out and transfer to Trinidad with an extended stop in Cienfuegos.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 150 miles to Cienfuegos, approximately 3 hours riding time; driving 70 miles to Trinidad, approximately 1-1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 1 mile on uneven, paved, and cobblestone streets/sidewalks, unpaved ground.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we will check out of the hotel, board our motorcoach, and begin the journey to Cienfuegos on the southern part of the island. The drive through the countryside will be a fascinating experience as we observe the forms of transportation available to Cubans, including an abundance of horse drawn carriages. We will attend a rehearsal of a local music group, with an opportunity to interact with the musicians.
Lunch:
At a local paladar.
Afternoon:
We will continue our drive to Trinidad for a late afternoon check-in at the hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Strenuous walking up to 2.5 miles and standing outdoors; very uneven cobblestone streets; sunny conditions, limited shade. The historic center of Trinidad is not accessible to motorcoaches and can only be reached on foot.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Trinidad is one of the original Spanish Settlements and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 1514, this time capsule of a city is a mix of historic landmarks and majestic natural beauty. We’ll set out walking with our Cuban host to Plaza Mayor where we will see historically and architecturally significant landmarks of this colonial town. We will visit the workshops of several local artisans including basket makers, embroiderers, and toymakers. We’ll also have a visit with a local artisan who uses abandoned wood from houses to create one-of-a-kind sculptured portraits.
Lunch:
Lunch is on your own today. Your Group Leader will have some wonderful recommendations for local paladars.
Afternoon:
We will board the motorcoach and drive into the Valle de los Ingenios (Sugar Mill Valley). Along with Trinidad, the Valley was home to a flourishing sugar industry between the late 18th and late 19th centuries. We’ll then visit San Isidro de los Destiladeros, a former sugar mill that now serves as an archeological site and stop for an artisans pottery demonstration before we return to Trinidad in time for dinner.
Dinner:
Dinner at hotel this evening.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer to Matanzas in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 180 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time. Walking up to 1 mile and standing indoors and out for up to two hours. Cobblestones, high curbs, sunny conditions with limited shade.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will set off by motorcoach for Matanzas. Founded in 1693, Matanzas has been called a hidden gem and even the “Athens of Cuba” for its architectural, historical, and cultural heritage. En route, we will stop at a local organic farm. We will take a walk around the farm with the owner to learn about what is grown and produced there and to see unique artwork dotted throughout the property.
Lunch:
At the farm.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we'll enjoy a performance by a local independent Afro-Cuban dance company at their rehearsal space, and engage in discussions with the dancers about their work. Afterwards, we'll check into our hotel.
Dinner:
Dinner is included at your hotel this evening.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 180 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time with stops. Walking up to one mile and standing indoors and out for up to two hours. Cobblestones, high curbs, sunny conditions with limited shade.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
With our Cuban host and Group Leader, we will set out on a walking field trip through city plazas. We’ll also visit a local community project to learn about the services they provide to the people of Matanzas. We will ride on the motorcoach to a nearby community project where we will interact with and support local weavers at the Seminario Evangelico de Matanzas. Also, by motorcoach, we'll visit a project run by independent artists and discuss their work in the community.
Lunch:
At a Paladar.
Afternoon:
We'll return to the hotel in the mid-afternoon and break for the remainder of the day.
Dinner:
At a Paladar
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for transfer to Viñales in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 115 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time with stop en route. Walking up to 1 mile and standing indoors and out up to 2 hours. Cobblestones, high curbs, sunny conditions, limited shade.
Breakfast:
In the Hotel.
Morning:
We will begin our journey to Viñales, a beautiful valley in the Pinar del Rio province of Cuba in the Sierra de Los Organos. This area – designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 – is rich with lush landscapes, tobacco farms, and limestone karst hills, called mogotes in Cuba. On the way, we will stop at Las Terrazas, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that began as a reforestation project in the 1960s. Here, we will meet with local business owners and explore the reserve.
Lunch:
At the restaurant at Las Terrazas.
Afternoon:
Next, we'll continue our drive to Viñales. After checking into the Casas, we'll explore Viñales on foot with our Cuban host before returning to our Casas in the early evening.
Dinner:
At a paladar with many fresh ingredients from nearby farms.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile and standing indoors and out up to 2 hours. Cobblestones, high curbs, sunny conditions, limited shade.
Breakfast:
In the Casa.
Morning:
We will transfer by motorcoach to the Casa de Caridad Botanical Garden, where we'll discuss the impact of climate change on the 190 species of plants grown here, and the steps which must be taken by all of us to reverse the trend. Next, we will drive to a local tobacco farm. Here, we will hear a presentation by the proprietor about the farm and the interesting process of growing and treating tobacco.
Lunch:
At the farm's restaurant.
Afternoon:
Following lunch, we will have a private visit to the Cuevo del Indio, where we will take a short canoe ride through the mysterious underground cave and then be led on a careful walk to find our way out. We'll return to the Casa in the late-afternoon and adjourn for the day.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. You might like to try one of the many paladares in Viñales. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 110 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time with a stop en route. Walking up to 1 mile and standing indoors and out for up to 2 hours; sunny conditions, limited shade. Paved and unpaved roads, high curbs.
Breakfast:
In the Casa.
Morning:
Aboard our motorcoach, we'll head out to see the Mural de la Prehistoria, a modern mural depicting world history and evolution. Painted onto a rock wall in 1961 by the former Director of Mapping at the Cuban Academy of Sciences, Leovigildo González Morillo, we'll learn about the efforts of the local community to maintain the mural. Next, we'll board our motorcoach to visit an organic farm. Here, we'll go on a walking exploration of the farm to learn about what they grow and organic farming methods.
Lunch:
At the farm's restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will visit a local community project run by the artist Mario Pelegrin, which includes a library of children’s books, a private art gallery, and a pottery studio. Next, we'll board our motorcoach to transfer to Havana and check in at our hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking and standing approximately 2 hours through old Havana. Cobblestone streets, uneven terrain. Walking and standing for up to 2 hours in the museum. Some steps and no elevator.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we’ll have a presentation by a Cuban academic on the new Cuban Constitution, which was adopted in 2019. We’ll learn about the role of private enterprise in Cuba’s evolving society, followed by open discussion. Next, we’ll attend a performance by one of Cuba's preeminent dance companies, then engage in one-on-one discussions with members of the company about their lives and profession. Our last stop before lunch is a visit to the Museum Nacional de Bellas Arts — the Fine Arts Museum of Havana — where a private curator will lead our exploration. Cuban art is renowned worldwide. We’ll delve into the stories of how various works of art relate and what they say about politics, culture, and society.
Lunch:
At a paladar.
Afternoon:
We’ll stop at an Artist Studio before returning to the hotel by motorcoach and break for the day.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. You might like to try one of the many paladares in Havana. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking and standing for approximately 2 hours in old Havana; cobblestone streets, uneven terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we’ll be joined by an expert in gender studies and sociology for a presentation on women in Cuba that will provide perspectives on women in today’s Cuban society. Next, we'll head to Old Havana by motorcoach and discover two of the four historic plazas of Old Havana on foot. Each square has its own unique features. . We will also visit the private shops of artisans, jewelry makers, and weavers and a Guayaberas clothing design project.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. You might like to try one of the many paladares in Havana. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we will be met at the hotel by a fleet of antique cars that will drive us around the Havana neighborhoods and we will have the opportunity to interact with the drivers about how solutions are always found to maintain these antique cars.
Dinner:
At a paladar. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning. The Group Leader will announce check-out time and the time of our transfer to the airport in the morning.
Activity Note
The Group Leader will announce airport transfer time based on flight schedule.
Breakfast:
At the hotel or boxed breakfast depending on flight times.
Morning:
Havana - Miami Flight Details: American Airlines Flight #2706 Check in: 8:45 am Depart Havana: 11:45 am Arrive Miami: 12:45 pm.Group transfer to the Havana airport. Flight times are always subject to changes made by the airline. Please do not schedule connecting flights within 3 - 4 hours of arrival in Miami due to possible delays, schedule changes and airport security (PLEASE NOTE: The flight time is subject to change.) This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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