Cuba - an unusual People to People journey

Cuba – People to People

At a recent travel conference I was surprised to learn that the hottest destination right now is Cuba. People are flocking there, and you cannot visit it on your own, you must book thru one of the few companies who have a contract to take a group, either by land or on a cruise on specific dates.

The itineraries have been carefully planned to provide engaging one on one experiences with Cuba’s residents, allowing you to interact with locals and foster a better understanding of what makes Cuba such a fascinating place. Cuba is a developing country, and the standards of service, accommodations and dining available are below those what you might expect. One company we recommend highly is Abercrombie and Kent who are preferred with the Signature Travel Network consortium of which we are a member. Their Connections small group tour gives you great value and allows you an opportunity to understand this enigmatic land and its people.

Cuban culture is very different, and you will explore architecture, agriculture, music and dining during intimate one on one experiences with residents. Discover Cuba’s great passion with baseball, at a game where you meet and engage with the players and even have the opportunity to play a few innings with them. Join a local architect for an educational walk through Havana discussing the historic styles. Meet with local musicians during a private Buena Vista Social Club style concert and cultural discussion.

A ten day tour is from Miami on a charter flight, visiting Havana, Las Terrazas, Ciefuegos and Santa Clara, with 24 guests. This will be a tour like no other you have ever been on. In Havana you will meet a local physician and engage in a talk on Cuba’s well regarded public health care system, followed by an illuminating question and answer session. Visit a day care center where you will meet the teachers and get to know the students. You will visit the former home of Ernest Hemingway, and learn about his life during the more than twenty years he lived there.

Day 4 you will visit Las Terrazas, just 45 minutes outside of Havana. Visit a coffee plantation and meet its staff to learn about the economic role of the industry and its impact on Cuban society. In the town, you will learn how locals use ration books for specific amounts of limited items, enjoy a farmhouse lunch, and visit the studio of a renowned Cuban painter and ceramicist.

Day 5. Today is an introduction to historic Havana, meet with a formal Foreign Services Scholar, discuss Cuba-U.S. relations from the colonial era to the present day. Take part in a question and answer period. Then join a Afro-Cuban religions specialist at Casa de Africa who reveals the country’s religious roots. Enjoy a demonstration of the art of cigar rolling at one of the city’s best cigar shops dedicated to the history of tobacco. Later, meet a local salsa teacher to talk about the history of this native rhythm and the importance of dance in Cuban life, followed by a lesson. Cuba is famous for Salsa, rumba, and jazz.

Day 6. Stroll thru old Havana with a local architect discussing the challenges of city reconstruction projects. After lunch, witness the storied Colon Cemetery, founded in l876, the site of more than 800,000 graves and one million interments. In the evening, take a drive in the iconic “Yank Tanks” (vintage cars) then enjoy a private concert of Cuban music.

Day 7. Visit Cienfuegos, and the Colonial Museum. A beautiful bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 8, Travel to Remedios, one of the oldest settlements in the country. Take a ride by pedicab or rickshaw through the town to the main square. Visit the Sugar Museum in Caibarien, and visit the artist-director of the cultural project in her home.

Day 9. Drive to Santa Clara and stop at the local stadium to see baseball with residents. Attend a concert of locals performing traditional music on antique instruments.

Day 10. Depart from Santa Clara on your charter flight to Miami.

Unlike other Abercrombie and Kent tours, participation in each day’s activities is mandatory. For more on A & K’s People to People exchange programs, visit abercrombiekent.com or our website Allhorizonstvl.com for other options in unusual travel opportunities.

Maureen Jones

All Horizons Travel