Center for Responsible Travel Transforming the Way the World Travels

www.responsibletravel.org

CREST Charter Club:

Responsible Travel in Cuba

January 27 – February 3, 2017

1225 I St. NW ■ Suite 600 ■ Washington, DC 20005 ■ P: 202-347-9203 ■ F: 202-775-0819

www.responsibletravel.org ■ staff@responsibletravel.org

WELCOME TO CUBA

The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) is hosting a unique

responsible-travel oriented trip to Cuba. Once considered the

forbidden fruit of the West, our neighbor to the south is now

closer than ever. Its fascinating history, stunning terrestrial

and marine environment, breathtaking architecture, warm

people and rich music and art, make it the perfect place to

learn about the Cuba of today, and have the time of your life

while doing so. Though travel has opened up considerably

with the warming of relations between the U.S. and Cuba,

travel to Cuba remains tightly regulated. Cuba Educational

Travel, our partner tour operator, holds a license from the

U.S. Treasury Department (CT-2013-300203-1) to arrange

educational trips, meaning your memorable visit is fully

sanctioned by the U.S. government.

Cuba is undergoing a series of interesting and important

changes. Fidel Castro has disappeared from the policy-making

scene and his brother Raul has instituted a number of

economic reforms. As the “historicos” attempt to pass the

torch to the younger generation of leaders, many factors such

as relations with the U.S., the success of market-oriented

reforms, emigration and the aspirations of young Cubans will

determine the country’s future.

Photo Courtesy of Juliet Barclay

WELCOME TO CUBA

There is no better time to visit. Cubans, who strongly

value family and friendships, are ready to welcome you.

A tropical paradise with a storied past, Cuba offers us a

unique view of a world from a place few Americans

have been able to see.

This trip is particularly geared towards small groups of

family and friends. You will spend an intellectually

stimulating, but fun and interesting, week of speaking

with Cubans from many walks of life, exploring the

natural environment and cultural heritage, and learning

about the country’s unique political and economic

system. Some activities will be done in a larger group,

but many will be done with your immediate group of

family and friends, including many meals, and there will

be plenty of time to go off on your own.

Itinerary

Friday, January 27

TBD Arrive to Havana (pending flight information).

2 pm Enjoy a traditional Cuban meal overlooking the Straits of Florida at

the Hotel Nacional. Tasty Cuban food served family style with a

great view of the Havana sea wall and the old Spanish fortress. The

setting brings many back to the 1950s, when the mafia held its

annual meetings at this historic hotel.

3:30 pm Check-in at the historic Hotel Capri, which was one of the first hotel

casinos built by the Mafia in Cuba. Owned by mobster Santo

Trafficante, and run by George Raft, the hotel was at a time one of

the largest casinos in Havana. Located blocks from the University of

Havana, Coppelia ice cream, and the Havana seawall, the recent

remodeling provides first class amenities, while leaving the history

and original charm of “The Capri.”

5 pm Group orientation meeting and cocktails. At the Capri.

6:30 pm Welcome dinner at Paladar Atelier. This restaurant is equally

known for its atmosphere and exquisite cuisine. The lighting and

textures of the house, which was home to a pre-revolutionary

senator, coupled with walls adorned in modern art, create a cozy,

but modern setting. We will be joined by tech entrepreneurs for a

discussion about tech and the private sector in Cuba.

Suggested evening activity:

Go to an open-air Salsa Venue at Club 1830, based at the last house of the Malecon, Havana’s famous seawall.

Sunday, January 29

9 am Socio-Political Lecture by Rafael M. Hernandez, historian, author, and editor of Temas, a Cuban quarterly in the field of social sciences and humanities. Hernandez coauthored “The History of Havana” and has recently returned to Cuba after a role as adjunct professor at Columbia University. At the Capri.

10:30 am Visit to the Museum of Cuban Art. We will be

accompanied by Nelson Herrera, an art historian, who will provide an overview of Cuban art and artists over the last 4 centuries.

Lunch and early afternoon free 4 pm Discussion and cocktails at the home and studio of a

family of artists, at AltaMira art loft. 5 pm Discussion with economist Rafael Betancourt, who

will provide an overview of economic reform in Cuba and tourism policy, as well as a specific analysis of the non-state sector. At the Capri.

7:30 pm Dinner at Café de los Artistas, a paladar in the Santo

Angel neighborhood. Surrounded by small businesses and social programs it’s an active area of the Old City.

Suggested evening activities:

Attend a live performance by the Buena Vista Social Club at Café Taberna.

Go to la Zorra y El Cuervo Jazz Club. You will partake with Cuban fans and enjoy a performance by the new generation of jazz composers and musicians.

Saturday, January 28 9:30 am Socio-economic discussion with urban planner Miguel

Coyula, who’s presentation will touch on housing, infrastructure, investment and restoration programs. It’s bound to leave you with a better understanding of why Havana looks the way it does today and possibilities moving forward. At the Capri.

11 am Walking tour of the Old City. Wander through the Plaza

Vieja, the oldest plaza in Havana, dating from the 16th century. See the Plaza de San Francisco, a cobbled plaza surrounded by buildings dating from the 18th century, dominated by the baroque Iglesia and Convento de San Francisco dating from 1719. Visit Plaza de la Catedral and the Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana. Visit the Plaza de Armas, a scenic tree-lined plaza formerly at the center of influence in Cuba. It is surrounded by many of the most historic structures in Havana as well as important monuments.

1 pm Lunch at Doña Eutimia paladar. Famous for its ropa

vieja and frozen mojitos, this cozy paladar made Newsweek Magazine’s top 100 restaurants in the world in 2012. The restaurant’s location in the beautiful cathedral square is unbeatable.

3 pm Visit to Habana Compass Dance where we will witness a

private performance, followed by a discussion with the professors and dancers.

Evening free – Suggested activity:

Head out for live music, art and dancing at La Fabrica

de Arte Cubana. Rock star X Alfonso has turned this into

meeting spot for a young, eclectic crowd of Cubans and

foreigners.

Monday, January 30

Free morning and lunch 1 pm Depart for Cienaga de Zapata (Zapata Swamp), home to

over 900 plant species, 175 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles and over 1000 species of invertebrates. Some of the most notable are local endemics to Cuba, for birds it would include the Zapata wren, Zapata rail, and the Zapata sparrow.

1:30 pm Visit to La Finca Vigía. Formerly the home of Ernest

Hemingway, today it still houses his expansive collection

of books. It was here where he wrote two of his most

celebrated novels: For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old

Man and the Sea. The beautiful grounds and bizarre tales

from Hemingway’s many years in Cuba are captivating.

2:30 pm Continue on to Cienaga de Zapata.

4:30 pm Arrive to Playa Larga and check-in at bed and breakfasts,

known as “casas particulares,”, or “private homes.”

Since the 1990s Cuban families have been permitted to

rent rooms out of their family homes to foreigners.

Featuring comfortable accommodations and ample

privacy, it’s a great way to interact with everyday

Cubans.

6 pm Discussion with local residents about growing tourism

sector, history of the region and opportunities and

challenges ahead.

7:30 pm Enjoy a home-cooked meal by host families at casas

particulares.

Tuesday, January 31

7 am Tour of Ciénaga de Zapata National Park. Led by a local specialist, we’ll have the opportunity to take in rare species of birds and other wildlife in this unique nature reserve.

12 pm Enjoy lunch on the wildlife reserve. 2 pm Visit to the Crocodile raising farm. Here we will

learn about the life of the Crocodylus Rhombifer, a species native of Cuba.

3 pm Visit the Aldea Taína Guamá to learn about the

pre-Columbian inhabitants of Cuba and enjoy the beautiful nature of this island surrounded by the Tesoro lagoon.

Free evening

Wednesday, February 1 8:30 am Depart for Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,

known for its cobble stoned streets, pastel colored homes and small-town feel. On the way we will stop in Cienfuegos.

10:30 am Tour of Cienfuegos, one of the country’s oldest and

most beautiful cities, referred to as the “Pearl of the South,” is one of Cuba’s only cities to display French and Spanish architecture. Housed on one of the country’s largest Bays, the city offers beautiful ocean front landscapes, and is deeply rich in culture.

11:30 am Music and discussion with the local chapter of

UNEAC, the National Union of Artists and Writers of Cuba, featuring an opportunity to meet local artists.

12:30 pm Lunch at El Lagarto. With views and breezes from

the bay of Cienfuegos, the location of this restaurant is unbeatable.

2:30 pm Continue on to Trinidad. 4 pm Arrive to Trinidad and check in at casas particulares. 7 pm Welcome dinner at Los Conspiradores paladar,

located at the foot of the main plaza and the lively Casa de la Musica, featuring live music all night.

Thursday, February 2

9 am City Tour with Nancy Benítez, a local architect, historian and restoration specialist. Ms. Benitez will provide an overview of the city’s history from an architectural, economic and infrastructural point of view.

11 am Visit the Valle de los Ingenios (Sugar Mill

Valley), which offers beautiful views of the valley and the south coast of Trinidad.

12 pm Lunch at the Manaca Iznaga farm located in

the Sugar Mills Valley to learn about the history of slavery on Cuba’s sugar cane plantations. Before lunch, we will visit the tower and lookout, the old house and farm. Enjoy the local market.

Afternoon Spend the afternoon at Playa Ancon, the

white sand and turquoise blue beach just 10 miles from downtown Trinidad.

Friday, February 3

TBD Check out and depart for airport (Flight information pending).

TBD Return flight to U.S. (pending flight

information).

COST Double Occupancy: $3,250 per person Single Occupancy: $3,550 per person

INCLUDED

• 7 night accommodations in Cuba

• Daily breakfast

• Lunches and dinners as listed on the itinerary

• All local ground transportation

• Speaker fees

• Admission to all museums and public buildings listed in itinerary

• Coordination of all listed activities

• Pre-trip departure information

• Cuban Insurance (health and evacuation)

• Cuban Visa

• Compliance with U.S. Treasury Department regulations

Travel on the Cuba Educational Travel license

NOT INCLUDED • Airline baggage fees

• Airfare*

• Individual house/hotel expenses (mini bar, room service, laundry fees, internet, phone charges, etc.)

• Tips to Local Guides

• Meals other than listed on itinerary

• Modest fees for those who do snorkeling and scuba diving

• Cuban Airport Departure tax (25 CUC)

*A note on airfare: As you probably know, the U.S. government has approved

commercial air service to Cuba, and the two countries are currently negotiating

direct flights. Commercial service to Cuban cities OTHER than Havana will likely

begin in October 2016. It’s not clear when commercial flights to Havana will

begin. It may make sense to fly commercially depending on how things develop in

the coming weeks. Otherwise, CET will arrange a charter from Miami. We ask that

you hold tight as we monitor the situation and we’ll update you about confirmed

flights as soon as we have a definitive answer. Thanks for your patience and we

look forward to being in touch soon.

Due to regulations, current high demand for travel to Cuba, and limited hotel capacity, and space is strictly limited for this trip. For inquiries and

reservations, please contact CREST managing director, Samantha Hogenson, at shogenson@responsibletravel.org.