Day notes
Bienvenido! Welcome to Cuba!
Your guide will greet you at the airport and accompany you to your hotel for check-in.
Your discovery of Cuban life and culture begins with a discussion of, "The Way Things Work." Your host for this lively discussion will be "Explainer-in-Chief," Miguel Coyula, an urban planner and professor who will unspool the mysteries of life in Cuba through a sweeping account of the last five hundred years on the island. Some of the fun and engaging topics you will cover are "Why are there two currencies?" and "Why are there so many Ladas and Moskvitchs on the road?"
This evening, dinner will be at La Guardia. The winding staircase ushers you into a mansion that showcases Cuba's love affair between antiquity and modernity. The backdrop for the classic film Strawberry and Chocolate and Madonna's 50th birthday, La Guarida is the perfect setting for your first dinner in Havana.
After dinner, you will enjoy time exploring the streets of Old Havana where musicians spill out onto the street for impromptu public concerts.
Scheduled Flight from Miami International Airport [MIA] to Jose Marti International Airport [HAV]
Scheduled Flight
Miami International Airport [MIA]
Jose Marti International Airport [HAV]
Transfer from Jose Marti International Airport [HAV] to Paseo 206
Transfer
Jose Marti International Airport [HAV]
Paseo 206
Check-in to Paseo 206
Included:
Dinner
Excluded:
Breakfast and Lunch
Day notes
Your day begins with a walking Tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. Admire the regal constructions of the last 500 years, while peeking into the micro-realities of daily Habanero life.
This afternoon, lunch at Lamparilla 361 brings what is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip, while enjoying street-side tapas and cervazas, your companion will be Cuba’s former ambassador to the E.U., who will share fascinating and insightful stories from the Cold War and his take on today's US-Cuba relations.
Now it's time for a joy ride in one of the colorful American classics that line Havana's streets. You will also visit the repair shop of entrepreneurs Nidialys and Julio who maintain a fleet of 20 "clasicos." Learn about their challenging journey as entrepreneurs in a market without access to capital, spare parts, and a host of regulatory restrictions. After learning about their personal journey and sharing ideas about ways to overcome these challenges, you will experience the fruit of their labor first hand by jumping into the cars for a scenic driving tour.
The evening, we invite you to engage with the local community in a truly authentic way with an Evolved Experience. The Evolved Traveler believes travel is “evolving” into something more than we have previously experienced or knew it to be. There is a desire for it to be more meaningful, more impactful, more enriching, and certainly more engaging. We understand our guests wish to travel with a purpose and to truly engage with the cultures they visit, and that is why we have created the Evolved Experience.
Evolved Experiences are a core and unique component to all our journeys that provide you, our Evolved Traveler, with experiences that far exceed the par-for-the-course of luxury travel. Evolved Experiences allow our guests the opportunity to make a lasting impression on the communities they visit, extend their hand in a gesture of global community, and create memories that can be cherished for years to come, not only for themselves but for those they visit.
Get a glimpse into Cuban life by spending the evening and having dinner with a family of artists. After converting part of their apartment into a gallery space, they spearheaded a community art project with the other residents of their building that now serves as a model for the city. Enter their home and enjoy a home-cooked meal while discussing the realities of life in Cuba for average citizens. After dinner, move to the balcony for a cigar and a nightcap while discussing their experience as community organizers in Havana.
Finally, explore Havana’s vibrant live music scene by visiting privately run music venues. As you take in the incredible atmosphere you will also be supporting local musicians.
Included:
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day notes
After breakfast, the day begins with visits to leading Havana boutiques, all founded by female entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship is a new concept in Cuba and many of the country’s leading entrepreneurs never had the opportunity to learn about basic business concepts (accounting, marketing, etc.). By meeting with entrepreneurs and sharing your experiences you can make a significant impact on the trajectory of their business and the livelihood of their employees. Here are a few of the boutiques you will have the opportunity of visiting:
Clandestina: Clandestina is a design label started by two dynamic, female entrepreneurs, who have grown a successful brick & mortar shop in Old Havana, as well as an online business. In many ways, after the Cuban State, they are the first Cuban-bred brand, and they are the first Cuban retailers on Amazon.
Dador: The newest addition to Havana’s made-in-Cuba retail scene. Founded by Lauren Fajardo, Ilse Anton, and Raquel Janero, Dadorsources high-quality linen to create their designs, and sews them in the upstairs of their shop.
Zulu: A leather-works business, started by female entrepreneur Hilda during the Special Period of the early 90s. Today, Zulu is still run by a group of Afro-Cuban women.
Lunch this afternoon will be with entrepreneur Niuris Hiquera at Atelier, one of your Evolved Experiences, where you will learn about Cuba’s vibrant yet complicated private sector. Niuris Higuera is a leading restaurateur and champion of female entrepreneurship in Cuba will join you for lunch at her restaurant to discuss the experience of running a business and advocating for change in Cuba.
Your afternoon continues with an architectural tour with Pedro Vasquez, one of Cuba’s most renowned architects, who will lead you on a journey through Havana’s most important architectural sites.
In what is sure to be one of your most memorable meetings, take time this afternoon for, "Cafecitos with Josie." Step inside Josie's stately residence to discover what lies behind the crumbling facades of Havana's impressive mansions and learn the history of Cuba through her 88 years of personal experience.
You will have some time to relax before dinner which will be a Vistamar, one of the first paladares, this restaurant's flavors have aged well, like a Santiago 12. Start your meal with a sundowner drink, while watching an electric sunset in an untouched bay.
Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day notes
This morning you will depart to the 'Pearl of the South,' Cienfuegos. French settlers laid the
architectural roots of this city in the early 19th century. Today, with its wide boulevards and open squares, the city displays its French heritage with a calm pride.
Lunch will be at El Lagarto. The water laps at the restaurant's edge, while the breeze cools you down from the mid-day blaze. Enjoy Lagarto's specialty bbq.
This afternoon, explore historical Cienfuegos and learn of the legacy of the early visionaries who settled the city. Visits this afternoon include the Teatro Tomas Terry, the Palacio de Valle, the Cementerio la Reina.
After your tour and some time for independent exploration, it will be time to depart for Trinidad. Trinidad feels like a postcard come-to-life. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its bright pastel houses and cobblestone streets.
Dinner this evening will be at Paladar San José - authentic Cuban food with the flavors of your mother's
kitchen!
Check-out from Paseo 206
Transfer from Paseo 206 to Balcón del Ermitaño
Transfer
Paseo 206
Balcón del Ermitaño
Check-in to Balcón del Ermitaño
Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day notes
Begin the day with a special guided tour of Trinidad with Nancy Benítez, a local architect, historian, and restoration specialist. Ms. Benitez 's expertise will add multiple the layers to your tour and the city's history through its architecture, economy, and infrastructure.
Continue with a visit to the gallery of artist Yami Martínez, who has achieved international recognition for her art depicting the strains of life on Cuban women. Then, visit the home of Carlos Mata, “the painter of the night,” who collects and restores antiques to discuss his passion for antiques.
The afternoon will be at leisure for independent exploration of the side streets and galleries of Trinidad, listen to live music, or relax at the hotel.
This evening, enjoy a private performance by a local folkloric dance group at Palenque de los Congos Reales followed by dinner at Los Conspiradores paladar. The restaurant is Trinidad's top paladar located at the foot of the main plaza and the lively Casa de la Musica. After dinner, move next door to mingle with the locals to enjoy live music and dancing.
Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day notes
Before returning to Havana later, enjoy a choice of leisurely activities this morning including:
A visit to Topes de Collantes in the SierraEscambray rainforest for an invigorating hike, culminating with a swim in the waterfall-fed lagoon. On the way out, visit a local coffee plantation and museum.
OR, Visit Playa Ancon. A ribbon of white beach on Sancti Spíritus' iridescent Caribbean shoreline, Playa Ancón is often considered the finest arc of sand on Cuba's south coast.
After lunch, you will return to Havana with a scenic drive through the center of the island.
The evening will be at leisure to explore Havana on your own. You guide will be happy to assist with restaurant and nightclub recommendations and reservations.
Check-out from Balcón del Ermitaño
Transfer from Balcón del Ermitaño to Hotel La Union Affiliated by Meliá
Transfer
Balcón del Ermitaño
Hotel La Union Affiliated by Meliá
Check-in to Hotel La Union Affiliated by Meliá
Included:
Breakfast and Lunch
Day notes
The morning begins at with another of our exclusive Evolved Experiences as you join the local dance group, Underground Movements, for an authentic and moving cultural experience.
"People told me I would never make it. 'You're too fat, you're too black, you're a woman.' But I'm making it." The hip hop-jazz duo La Reyna y La Real defy obstacles with a sound that empowers and uplifts their fans. Enter their home for a conversation about race and gender in Cuba and their difficult path to success. Then experience the music first hand with an intimate performance. After the show, share ideas about how to best leverage their international fanbase to support their work in the community.
Today's artistic and cultural immersion continues when you visit the home and studio of the plastic artist, Fuster, also known as "the Gaudi of Cuba." Fuster has converted his neighborhood into an art project featuring murals, plastic art, and other designs - aptly named, "Fustlandia." Fuster has transformed his poor neighborhood into a thriving ecosystem of small businesses by reinvesting 90% of the proceeds from his work into community development. This fun and whimsical property is sure to be something you won't forget!
Enjoy some time at leisure this afternoon.
This evening, it is time to "unravel the Cubano!" A cigar sommelier will unravel the intrigue of Cuban cigars, sharing the production process and attributes of this famed Cuban export. Learn from a pro how to fully appreciate the world’s finest cigar.
Continue to Cuba’s Cultural Epicenter, Fabrica de Arte Cubano, for an evening with Havana's cultural "A-List." The brainchild of Afro-Cuban musician, X-Alfonso, this is one of Havana’s finest cultural projects; an intellectual and artistic creation, it's the meeting spot for a cutting-edge crowd of Cubans and foreigners. Start with a private tour by one of the curators, then dine at Tierra—an industrial-chic setting with global cuisine. After dinner, move to the Salon de Artistas (Cuba’s equivalent of a VIP room) for a nightcap among Cuban artists and musicians.
Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day notes
Begin your day with one of the most meaningful of our Evolved Experience s when you engage with the social service project, Bario Habana, a community initiative that organizes a range of services from elderly care and entertainment to youth sports and education programs. Meet with the director and participate in one of the ongoing projects.
Lunch this afternoon will be at TocaMadera, Chef Enrique Suarez's gastropub, with a daily menu based on what Enrique finds fresh in the market.
After lunch, it is time for a studio session with Cuba’s "Miles Davis," trumpet prodigy, Yasek Manzano. You will join Yasek for a discussion and private concert in his home.
Our final exclusive Evolved Experience will truly be unforgettable when you attend a private recital of the Lizt Alfonso Dance Performance. This women-led dance company and school for youth have received global recognition from the music video “Bailando” and their performance at the 2016 Latin Grammy Awards. After the performance, Lizt, who received an International Spotlight award, will discuss her inspiration for starting the academy and answer questions about the work they do in the community.
Your final dinner in Havana will be a memorable one. Enjoy inspired seafood with an Italian touch overlooking the Malecon at Rio Mar.
Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Check-out from Hotel La Union Affiliated by Meliá
Self Drive from Hotel La Union Affiliated by Meliá to Boutique Hotel 5tay8 Vedado
Self Drive
Hotel La Union Affiliated by Meliá
Boutique Hotel 5tay8 Vedado
Check-in to Boutique Hotel 5tay8 Vedado
Day notes
Give Havana a farewell abrazo.
Take your last morning at leisure before your private transfer to the airport where you will be assisted with check-in for your return flight to the U.S.
Check-out from Boutique Hotel 5tay8 Vedado
Included:
Breakfast
Excluded:
Lunch and Dinner
