Music, Dance, Arts, and Culture Trip to Cuba March 2-10, 2019

Program Highlights 

All inclusive experience covering flights, meals, entertainment, and more | Lodging at seaside casa | Private visits with renowned artists in their home studios | Walking tour through Old Havana | Salsa lesson with professional dancers | Live music and dance shows | Horseback riding through the lush region of Viñales | Caribbean cuisine from renowned chefs | Interaction with Cuban creative artists, musicians, and others

Itinerary Summary

Day One 

Day one will be spent journeying from Miami International to Havana’s International airport. Take in the city lights as you head to your casa and settle in and rest up for the week of adventures to come. 

Day Two 

Learn about the city’s rich history from a local expert and historian, then head off to explore Old Havana’s world heritage sites with Cuban guide Jesus. Along the way, see the historic architecture and visit with Cubans who make their home in this living museum. Take a dance lesson at a classic dance studio with a pair of Havana pros, and end the day at Rio Mar, one of Havana’s best restaurants, or continue on to one of the nearby open-air dance venues. 

Day Three 

Experience an open dance rehearsal of one of the world’s leading dance companies, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, at Teatro Nacional. Walk to the soulful neighborhood of Centro and receive a music demonstration by Rumba Morena, enjoy a traditional Creole lunch, and visit with well-known Cuban visual artists such as Salvador Gonzalez in their home studios. Visit one of the world’s oldest and most well-known recording studios, EGREM Areito Estudios. Enjoy a unique dinner at “El Ruso” and watch the sunset while attending the historic ‘closing of the gates’ ceremony at Havana’s harbor. 

Day Four 

Learn about the melodies and rhythms that form the mosaic of Cuban music with a renowned musicologist. Visit the home studio of printmaker Eduardo Guerra Hernandez. Visit the famous Hotel Nacional de Cuba with its sea vistas. Sway your hips at a local hidden gem matinee with live music and dancing, followed by an unforgettable meal at La Guardia. 

Day Five 

Today we embark on an overnight trip into Western Cuba. See the rich tobacco fields of Viñales and visit with Cuban farmers. Enjoy optional horseback riding through the breathtaking geography or hike through the valleys. Take in the stunning views with a sunset dinner at El Balcón del Valle then head to our lodging or continue to the town to enjoy Cuban cocktails and rustic nightlife. 

Day Six 

Sip coffee on your terrace before journeying back to Havana. There will be stops along the way, including Gaudi-inspired wonderland ‘Fusterlandia’ and the San José Artisan Market. Once back at your Havana casa, take a siesta or further explore the surrounding neighborhoods. Regroup in the early evening at an outdoor venue where music groups play under the stars while Cubans of all ages smile, spin, and salsa the night away. 

Day Seven 

Visit Ernest Hemingway’s home in Havana, then head to the National Museum of Art, where an expert guide leads us through Cuba's finest art collection. Next, see the beautiful neighborhood Jesús María and meet Cuban entrepreneurs who are transforming this part of the city. Spend the evening at Fábrica de Arte, a cutting-edge gallery and performance center. Enjoy contemporary Cuban cuisine before experiencing the music, dance, and art of this incredible space. 

Day Eight 

Meet the next generation of Cuban artists at Muraleando, then reunite with all of our Cuban friends and connections from the week at a farewell fiesta at the casa. Music, friends, and food: as they say in Cuba, ¡Ahi-nama! (It doesn't get any better than this!) Dine on the rooftop of La Moneda and experience the local talent at a Latin jazz music venue. 

Day Nine 

An early afternoon departure affords a much-deserved lie in and leisurely brunch before departing the casa in the late morning for the airport and journey back to the United States.

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