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 |
Ready to Get Started?
Complete this enrollment form to secure your spot today!
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!
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 abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teaches that we must be flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to 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. Then we're off to explore old Havana! Here we'll tour centuries old plazas, churches and homes. 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. 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 in our casas before heading to a local dance studio where we will learn and practice some salsa moves! We will then, have a historic tour of the city, where we will learn about the American period in Cuba. 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. After having dinner, we will head back to our casas. | 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. We will then, take part in the Varadero oceanography tour. After lunch, we will have a talk about Cuba as an island before heading back to Havana where we will enjoy some free time to continue exploring in small groups. After dinner, we will head back to our casas for the night. | 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. Upon arrival, participants will have the chance to soar through the forest canopy as they do zipline. 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 lunch, we will learn about the ecology of Las Terrazas, a designated Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. We will then, head back to Havana and have lunch there. This evening, 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 dinner, we will head back to our casas. | Casa Particular |
| June 23 | Havana - Matanzas | Today we will leave Havana and spent most of the morning driving to Matanzas. Along the way, we will explore the Matanzas caves and drive by Bridge of Bacunayagua, the tallest bridge in Cuba. Upon arrival, we will have lunch Finca del Medio, a sustainable farm and leader in Zero-Km slow food. After lunch, we will drive to Trinidad, where we will have a tour of the city to learn about its rich history and it cultural relevance. We will then have dinner and settle into our new casas. | Casa Particular |
| June 24 | Matanzas - Trinidad | After breakfast, we will start our day with a lecture on marine conservation. Then, we will gear up with our snorkeling gear and go on a black coral reef preservation tour. This afternoon, we will have some free time to continue exploring Trinidad and visit the town's market. 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 - Cienfuegos | After breakfast we will drive to El Nicho Waterfall, where will embark on an adventure to learn about the flora and fauna of the Escambray Mountains as we hike to the waterfall. Students will be able take a break of the heat by swimming in this waterfall's refreshing pool. After hiking back, we will start making our way back to Havana. On our way to Havana, we will make a stop in Cienfuegos, where will have lunch and take tour of the town and will have the chance to see and learn about its French colonial architecture and its sugar barons castles. | Casa Particular |
| June 26 | Cienfuegos - Havana | On our last full day in Cuba, we will continue exploring Havana. We will have time to do some last minute souvenir shopping as we walk through Vedado before lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the famous Hotel Nacional and 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. This evening 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 group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
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 FUNDING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
I was comfortable that the trip my daughter was on was safe, educational, interesting and fun. She made life long friends with her host sister. An exceptional life learning experience.
Carolyn
Parent of a Peru traveler
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.
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.