2024 Strath Haven Cuba Cultural Journey
| Travel Dates: | June 18, 2024 - June 27, 2024 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$3,890 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $598 |
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Cuba Cultural Journey
A mere 90 miles off the coast of Miami, Cuba was once a popular destination for American tourists until politics, revolution and international intrigue got in the way. Today the island nation is a mirage in the minds of most travelers, a mysterious yet romantic place where cigars, antique cars, baseball and a bearded dictator loom largest. Cuba is place of dichotomies that leave your mind spinning: iconic revolutionaries and disillusioned expatriates, white sand beaches and industrial yards, decaying infrastructure and a highly educated population. The paradox of its proximity and isolation seems only to add to Cuba’s charm.
We are thrilled to offer a program that will see our participants digging deep into the history and modern reality of Cuba. We will meet with local community and government leaders, visit with farmers, hike along mountain trails, dance salsa and much more. Viva Cuba!
Cultural Journeys
Cultural Journeys allow travelers to gain insights into the heritage, history and modern realities of their destination by offering a broad diversity of experience. We rely on the expertise of our local staff to plan itineraries which not only explore the prominent sites but also make time for the lesser-known local gems and are intentional about regular interaction with local people.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends
Wander the narrow streets of Habana Vieja, the iconic section of this legendary city
Enjoy white-sand beaches and crystal-blue Caribbean water.
Listen to live music on the streets of Havana and engage with local musicians
Meet with renowned local historians to learn about Che Guevara, Fidel Castro and the roots and consequences of the revolution
Practice your Spanish language skills with locals
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 18 | USA - Cuba | Fly to Havana, Cuba! Upon arrival at Havana Jose Marti International Airport in the afternoon, we'll check into our casa particulares where we will spend the night. We will then walk around our neighborhood and grab dinner before our orientation meeting and getting some well deserved rest. | Casa Particular |
| June 19 | Havana | We'll start our first full day in Havana with breakfast with our families in the casas, then we're off to explore old Havana! Here we'll tour centuries old plazas, churches and homes. For lunch, we'll refuel with traditional Cuban sandwiches, before continuing exploring Havana. After lunch, we will visit Custodio San Angel, where Jose Marti was baptized followed by a stop at the statue of Cecilia Valdez, the main character of Cuban most famous novel, where we will have a discussion on race in colonial Cuba. Afterwards, we will continue to Clandestina, first Cuban designer boutique doing eco fashion from reclaimed materials where we will have a printing demonstration. We will make a stop at San Jose Market where we will put in practice our spanish as we bargain for souvenirs. In the evening, we will head to Paladar San Cristobal, one of the famous restaurants in Havana that once hosted President Obama, Beyonce and Jay Z, and over 20 other presidents. We will shake hands with the legendary owner, Carlos Cristobal, and have a welcome dinner and a guided tour of this spectacular establishment before heading back to our casa particular. | Casa Particular |
| June 20 | Havana | After breakfast at our casas, we will visit Finca Vigia, which was once the residence of Ernest Hemingway, that now serves as a museum. Today, we will participate on a community project with Muraleando, a community-led movement that looks to transform a neighborhood outside Havana, into a healthy and attractive environment. After almost two decades of existence this social and cultural project has made a significant impact in the Lawton neighborhood in Havana. After lunch, we will stroll through the malecon, at the island's water front where Ernest Hemingway kept his boat. We will spend the rest of the afternoon learning about modern history of Cuba and will get the chance to ride Cuba's iconic convertible cars. After a few stops at Universidad de Havana, Plaza of the Revolution, Havana Forrest and Centro Che, we will visit the Museum of the Revolution. We will end our day with a delicious dinner before heading back to our casas to prepare for tomorrow's departure to Terrazas. | Casa Particular |
| June 21 | Havana - Las Terrazas | After breakfast, we are off to Fusterlandia, an impressive and extensive installation of art pieces by local artist inspired in Gaudi's work. From there, it's off to Las Terrazas, an eco-community of artists, coffee growers, and farmers. We will have lunch at Las Terrazas at El Romero, the first Cuban vegetarian and eco cafe. In the afternoon, we will have time to swim in Baños San Juan. We will finish our day singing and playing instruments in a jam session with the Amygo Band. For those interested, there will be a night hike as well! | Casa Particular |
| June 22 | Las Terrazas - Havana | This morning we will continue enjoying Las Terrazas countryside. After breakfast, participants will have the chance to soar through the forest canopy as they do zipline. After lunch, we will learn about the ecology of Las Terrazas, a designated Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. In the evening, we will head back to Havana where we will have dinner and prepare to visit our next destination tomorrow. | Casa Particular |
| June 23 | Havana - Matanzas - Sancti Spiritus | Today we will leave Havana one more time to explore the Matanzas caves. On our way to Matanzas, we will drive by Bridge of Bacunayagua, the tallest bridge in Cuba. After lunch, we will take part in the Varadero oceanography tour. We will then drive to Sancti Spiritus, one of the oldest Cuban European settlements. We will have dinner Finca del Medio, a sustainable farm and leader in Zero-Km slow food. | Casa Particular |
| June 24 | Sancti Spiritus - Trinidad | After breakfast, we will take tour Sancti Spiritus and will have the chance to learn about its rich history and it cultural relevance. After lunch, we will drive to Trinidad, where we will start our visit with a lecture on marine conservation. Then, we will gear up with our snorkeling gear and go on a black coral reef preservation tour. After dinner, we will get an introduction to Afro Cuban religions: Santeria and Palo Monte. We will get the chance to see a presentation of Danza de Orishas and Conga drumming. | Casa Particular |
| June 25 | Trinidad | After breakfast, we will embark on an adventure to learn about the flora and fauna of the Escrambay Mountains as we hike to the Cubano Waterfall. Students will be able take a break of the heat by swimming in this waterfall's refreshing pool. After hiking back, we will get a well deserved lunch break. After some time to rest, we will continue exploring Trinidad. If time allows, we can visit the town's market. In the evening, we will participate in some fun activities and dancing with local high school students before having dinner and preparing for our return to Havana tomorrow. | Casa Particular |
| June 26 | Trinidad - Cienfuegos - Havana | On our last full day in Cuba, we will depart Trinidad and head to Havana. On our way to Havana, we will make a stop in Cienfuegos, where will take tour of the town and will have the chance to see and learn about its French colonial architecture and its sugar barons castles. After lunch, we will continue driving to Havana, where we will have our final reflection and our final dinner with some lively music. We will finally head back to our casa particular to pack and prepare for our international departure tomorrow. | Casa Particular |
| June 27 | Cuba - USA | Today we fly home. | Your own bed! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe. We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.
Casa Particular
Staying in casa particulares is the best and most memorable way to travel through Cuba. One of the few places where free enterprise is allowed to flourish, these homes are managed by Cuban families who also serve as the hosts. Many of the homes are quite impressive!
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
Walking Tree gave us everything we needed to make our vision of the perfect educational trip to China a reality.
Andy
Repeat Group Organizer on programs to China
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
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Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.