Cultural Cuba Experience

Depart the USA on your flight to Havana, Cuba. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport by a local representative of Mayflower, assisted with arrival procedures, then transferred to the hotel. Your Tour Guide will be available at the hotel for any information you may need as you settle in for your visit to Havana.

The day is spent getting a taste of local life in Havana. During a walking tour, discover the four main squares of the city: San Francisco, Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja, and Cathedral Square, each well-known for historic importance, architectural beauty and / or social atmospheres. Your local guide will provide details of their significance to the city, and you’ll have the chance to meet the local people when stopping at the various sites. While visiting the San José Craft Market, mix and mingle with the artisans and vendors, learn about their art and shop for indigenous handicrafts. A truly local experience awaits as you witness the process of making an authentic cigar with local entrepreneurs. Visit a private cigar shop to see how this ancient art is kept alive and is a major contributor to the local economy. Lunch is included at a paladar during today’s excursion. This evening, you’re in for a special treat as vintage American cars meet you at the hotel. Travel in style in these restored antique cars while enjoying a panoramic drive along the Malecón (coastal road and seawall), see the 18th-century University (oldest in the Caribbean), the Paseo del Prado and the Capitol building. Chat with the driver and find out how they manage to keep their cars running without replacement parts available to them! Arrive at the paladar for dinner where you can relax as you enjoy the warm hospitality provided by the staff and get to know them a bit as you dine. Meals: B, L, D

A visit to the Fine Arts Museum in Havana begins the day. See some of its exhibits and meet with the staff to learn about Cuban art projects and their importance to society. Depart for the village of San Francisco de Paula on an excursion to the Hemingway Museum. Learn about his life, work, love of Cuba and contributions to the country as you explore the grounds of his house, Finca Vigia. Continue to Cójimar where lunch is provided at a local paladar in the town that inspired him to write his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Old Man and the Sea. Returning to Havana, a guided visit to the Hotel Nacional awaits. Stroll through this famous hotel where so many of Hollywood’s elite actors and actresses previously visited. Viewing the ‘wall of fame’ in the hotel’s bar will surely bring back memories of Hollywood’s golden age. This evening, dinner is included at a paladar. Meals: B, L, D

More sites in this historic city are seen today, starting with Morro Castle, a spectacular, strategically built monument with an amazing history. Your local guide will teach you about the architecture, design, and its importance in protecting the city from pirates. Magnificent views of the city and harbor also await. Visit a neighborhood community project that focuses on teaching skills to the younger generation – anything from dance to sports to music. Learn how these activities play such an important role in changing the lives of the children. After lunch at a paladar, attend an interactive and cultural exchange with dancers when visiting a dance studio. Talk with the teacher and students, see how the Cuban Salsa is done, and learn how to do this dance yourself! This evening, dinner is held at a local paladar for your immersion into local culture, dining on local cuisine and mingling with the staff. Meals: B, L, D

It’s time to depart Havana and journey by coach to the colonial city of Trinidad. En route, visit the town of Cienfuegos. A walking tour around the center of the town showcases its historic and architectural sites as well as affording the opportunity to interact with residents and vendors who are happy to share their stories of a quiet lifestyle. While visiting the Tomás Terry Theatre, declared a national monument, see its ornate interior with Carrara marble, hand-carved wooden flooring, gold-leaf mosaics, and ceiling frescos. After lunch at a paladar, continue to Trinidad for dinner at the hotel and the final two nights of the program. Meals: B, L, D

The final day in Cuba begins with a guided walking tour to explore Trinidad. Stroll along the cobblestone streets of the well-preserved historic center and witness the grand buildings in the Plaza Mayor, the main square of the city. Stop in and visit the locals in their shops, and see the bell tower of the Convento de San Francisco, which overlooks the square. Sip on a local drink at La Canchánchara Bar while listening to and learning about Cuban music and traditional rhythms. At the ceramic studio of Chichi Santander, you will be taught about the art of pottery-making and the traditional methods used to create their ceramic pieces of art. Return to the hotel for an included lunch and some free time. Your Tour Guide will be available to offer suggestions on independent afternoon activities, like visiting the nearby village to meet the local fishermen and hear their ‘tall tales’! This evening, the farewell dinner is held in one of the city’s most popular paladars. Meals: B, L, D

Bid ‘adiós’ to Cuba as you depart for the airport in Santa Clara for your flight home. Memories of a unique journey to Cuba and the warm hospitality of its people will be cherished for years to come. Meal: B