Introducing Cuba - Fully escorted educational exchange tour from Miami - 9 day

Easy Escapes Travel along with our supplier, Discovery Tours invites you to Escape to Cuba on 9 day fully escorted educational exchange. Limited tours are available for set dates in 2013.  Please inquire for pricing and availability.

People to People Package Includes:

• Small groups of 10-18 people guaranteed
• International charter flights Miami-Cienfuegos and Havana-Miami, subject to change
• Airline taxes & fuel surcharges
• 8 nights in accommodations that evoke the local character
• 1 night Crowne Plaza Miami International Airport, Miami
• 3 nights Casa Verde or Perla del Mar, Cienfuegos*
• 4 nights Hotel Terral, Havana  *Guests may be accommodated at either hotel
• All transfers and people to people activities per itinerary in air-conditioned vehicles
• 19 meals: 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 5 dinners (including welcome & farewell dinners)
• Bottled water during educational excursions. Rum cocktail and beer or wine included with dinner
• Services of a Cuban English-speaking Guide and a USA Tour Manager throughout
• Comprehensive, guided activities & cultural exchanges including entrance fees per itinerary
• Health insurance in Cuba (mandatory)
• Visa to Cuba (for US Citizens) and Cuban departure tax
• Luggage handling for one bag per person

Each day, we emphasize people-to-people exchanges during stays in two major cultural centers: Cienfuegos and Havana. The thrill of our small group itinerary is in meeting those who shape today's Cuba and have been shaped by the country's past. During visits to cultural venues, you'll join two or three other travelers for private talks with an artist, architect, farmer, or other locals. It's the warmest welcome you can imagine, from a country you'll never forget.

 

SAMPLE ITINERARY: Itinerary is subject to change. If any activities do change, they will be replaced by other up-close, people-to-people activities.

 

• DAY 1, Thursday - Arrive in Miami

Depart your home city today for Miami, Florida, gateway for our travel to Cuba. We'll stay overnight at an airport hotel before tomorrow's morning departure. We gather tonight for a welcome briefing.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Miami International Airport, Miami

• DAY 2, Friday - Fly to Cienfuegos/Explore Cienfuegos

Today transfer to the airport for your flight to Cienguegos, Cuba. Upon arrival, we set out for a walking tour of the city. Also known as La Perla del Sur, or The Pearl of the South, Cienfuegos was an important trading post for sugar, tobacco, and coffee. The historic center has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its wonderful examples of neoclassical and eclectic architecture, as well as being an early example of urban planning in Latin America. A local guide shares the city's joys with us as we admire the Parque Marti and grand Teatro Terry, which once hosted Enrico Caruso. Then meet local shopkeepers on the pedestrian Bulevar and learn about Cuban currency and product supply limitations. We end our afternoon with an uplifting choir concert. Dinner is at the Casa Verde Restaurant overlooking the lovely Bay of Cienfuegos
Overnight: Casa Verde or Perla del Mar, Cienfuegos
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

• DAY 3, Saturday - Botanical Gardens & Sugar Mill/Explore Trinidad

Begin today at the Cienfuegos Province Botanical Gardens. More than 2,000 species of exotic plants thrive here, including 400 types of orchid. We’ll sit down for a lecture about the garden’s ties to Harvard University and how it was founded as a research center on the site of a sugar mill. Later, we visit a former sugar mill and estate, in Manaca Iznaga. Learn about secrets behind sugar production and the importance of this industry to Cuba’s economy in the past. Lunch will be at the Estate. Afterward, we drive to Trinidad. This 500-year-old city is so well preserved, many consider it an open-air museum. A local guide shows us the old cathedral and the Palacio Cantero, home to the historical museum. We’ll also stop at a rationing store to learn from shopkeepers how staples are distributed. Then roll up your sleeves at a local ceramics studio, where artisans show us how to shape pottery from rich soil. For dinner, we visit a local Paladar, whose owners sit with us and provide insight into private enterprise in Cuba
Overnight: Casa Verde or Perla del Mar, Cienfuegos
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• DAY 4, Sunday - Visit Musicians and Community for Elderly in Santa Clara/Tour Santa Clara

Today we drive inland to Santa Clara, founded under a Tamarind tree that still stands today. The city later became the site of the final battle in the Cuban Revolution that toppled the Batista regime. We’ll hear more on that from our guide at the Che Guevara Memorial and Museum. Later, we stop at the Museo de Artes Decorativos to meet some musicians who set Cuban life to a local rhythm on traditional instruments. There will be time to browse the museum, too. Then continue to the Community Project for the Elderly. Our insightful visit reveals how art, music, and dance play a crucial role in the everyday lives of the inspiring residents. After lunch at the charming Hotel America, we explore Santa Clara by foot on a walking tour. Our local guide leads us through the colorful produce stalls at the mercado and along the city’s wide, arcade-lined boulevard. Dinner is on your own in Cienfuegos
Overnight: Casa Verde or Perla del Mar, Cienfuegos
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• DAY 5, Monday - Visit Bay of Pigs/Meet Business Owners at Casa Enrique

This morning we stop to gain some insight about Cuban-American history at the Bay of Pigs. The museum here, though modest in size, tells a powerful story. We’ll hear the perspective of our local guide. We also visit the tiny village of Caleton, near one of the landing beaches. But these beaches have another story to tell, as we’ll learn during a lecture about the protected land and species of Cienaga de Zapata National Park. For lunch, we visit Casa Enrique at Playa Larga, an eatery set in a private house. Our hosts also run an inn here, and they’ll sit down with us to share their experience keeping a private business afloat in Cuba. It’s a delicious and informative stop. We arrive in Havana in time for dinner
Overnight: Hotel Terral, Havana
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• DAY 6, Tuesday - Explore Old Havana/Visit Jaimanitas/Talk on US-Cuba Policy

After a fun and interactive Spanish lesson at the University of Havana, we set out by foot through Old Havana with a local architect. Our expert guide will share the challenges and successes of restoration projects that are reviving many of the 3,000 baroque, neoclassical, and colonial buildings in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a privilege to learn firsthand how reconstruction is restoring a sense of Cuban identity. After lunch, we proceed to Jaimanitas and La Casa Fuster, home to ceramics artist Jose Rodriguez Fuster. He has adorned some 80 houses in this old fishing town with colorful murals. We’ll meet the artist or his equally talented son Alex, and we’ll sit down to chat with some members of this vibrant community. Later, during an afternoon talk with a distinguished guest, we’ll learn more about the US-Cuba policies that have shaped the relationship of our countries. After dinner at a local restaurant, we head over to La Cabana Castle, the third largest Spanish fortification in the Americas. Here, every night at 9pm, a cannon is ceremoniously fired into the night
Overnight: Hotel Terral, Havana
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• DAY 7, Wednesday - Visit Hemingway's Home/See Urban Gardening at Work/Stop at Regla/Learn about Afro-Cuban Identity/Meet Artists

This morning, we visit Finca Vigia, or Lookout Farm, Hemingway’s home in Cuba from 1939-1960. The baseball field out back also interests us. Papa Hemingway welcomed youngsters to play ball here. We’ll meet a local with a fondness for the game, and learn about the old days of this beloved Cuban pastime. After lunch at il Divino, we’re just steps away from learning about organics at Finca Yoandra, the adjacent urban garden run by the restaurant. Our hosts show us why good, healthy Cuban cuisine is on the rise. Continue to the seaside town of Regla, whose church is known for the revered Black Madonna, patron of sailors. Some locals will tell us about the church’s importance to the community. Later, we will visit Guanabacoa’s Afro-Cuban Museum. Afro-Cuban identity here dates to the 16th century. Today, the community’s religion owes much to its Roman Catholic, West African, and Caribbean origins. We will attend a religious ceremony and meet a specialist who is eager to share beliefs and customs. We close our day at the Muraleando Community Project. This impressive initiative uses the sides of buildings as canvases for whimsical murals. You will have the opportunity to meet some of the project’s amazing artists. Dinner is on your own tonight
Overnight: Hotel Terral, Havana
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• DAY 8, Thursday - Visit Literacy Museum and Elementary School/Enjoy Cooking Class/Attend Jazz Performance

At the fascinating Literacy Museum this morning, we will gain insight into Cuba’s educational system. Then we stop at a Havana school to meet some children and talk with their teachers firsthand about their approach to learning. Later, we head to a cooking class to prepare lunch during a hands-on class where you will get to know the recipes and the staff and chefs! Back at our hotel, we have arranged a jazz performance by musicians from the Instituto Cubano de la Music. Jazz is a staple of Cuban culture, as the Buena Vista Social Club showed when it brought international attention to their country’s musical excellence. We will savor the tradition. Then we can mingle with the musicians and learn more about Cuba’s rich musical traditions. We’ll gather one more time tonight for our special farewell dinner
Overnight: Hotel Terral, Havana
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• DAY 9, Friday - Depart for the USA

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for your return flight to Miami
Meals: Breakfast

Know Before You Go:

Although most of the planning and preparation is taken care of for you, there are still a few things you should know and some details you should take care of to ensure your comfort, safety and peace of mind. Please review the following information before your departure to ensure that any surprises along the way will only be pleasant ones.

    Entry Requirements:

US citizens require a passport valid for six months beyond travel dates.

Visas are required for Cuba

 

Cuban Visas - A visa is required. The cost is included in the program price and will be arranged on your behalf. Information regarding the visa application process will be provided after a reservation has been completed. The visa will be provided in Miami prior to departure from the U.S. Upon arrival in Cuba,

Cuban immigration officials will collect one half of this two-part card. The other half will be collected upon departure from Cuba.

Non U.S. Citizens should check with the Cuban consulate to determine what travel documents may be required for travel to Cuba. Non U.S. residents will need to enter the U.S. twice, once at the beginning and once at the end of the trip.

Important Information for Cuban-born U.S. Citizens
Upon completion of your booking, contact details for assistance for Cuban-born U.S. citizens will be provided. The following will be required:
a. Those who departed Cuba prior to December 31, 1970: PE-11 visa (allow 6 weeks to process) or a Cuban passport (allow 4 months); or
b. Those who departed Cuba after January 1, 1971: Cuban passport (allow 4 months)
We recommend that Cuban-born U.S. Citizens who have previously been rejected for a Cuban visa do not reapply as a repeat rejection is likely and program cancellation fees will apply.
  Trip Preparation

A little pre-planning can make your trip go a lot smoother. Several weeks before your trip, make a list of what you will need to take with you. Make sure your personal documents (passports, visas) are in order and that you have enough prescription medications to last through the trip. We suggest that you make photocopies of passports, visas, and any other important travel documents and pack them separately from the originals. Pack a list of medications including dosage and generic names. If you lose the originals while traveling, you'll have copies for easier reporting and replacement. You may consider bringing a small supply of over the counter medications for headaches and/or anti-diarrhea pills (especially when traveling outside of the USA and Western Europe). We recommend that you pack a portable alarm clock. Avoid placing valuables such as cameras in your checked luggage.

Important Information About Travel to Cuba
The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has granted Discovery Tours by Gate 1 a license (# CT-2012-293418-1) to provide People-to-People programs to Cuba. People-to-People travel is an initiative that allows U.S. citizens and legal U.S. residents to travel to Cuba on a limited basis to participate in cultural experiences and have direct contact with the Cuban people in order to learn more about them and their culture.

Information about OFAC and the rules governing U.S. citizens' travel to Cuba is located on the U.S. Department of the Treasury website at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/pages/cuba.aspx.

Required Daily Journal of Activities
OFAC requires that travelers to Cuba keep a travel journal during their visit. This will serve as documentation that, under the requirements of the OFAC, you have visited Cuba for educational purposes. We recommend you keep your journal on file for five years, in case a U.S. official asks for proof of the educational nature of your journey.

Mandatory Health Insurance
Cuba requires the purchase of Mandatory Health Insurance (called Asistur) which is included in the package and which will be arranged on your behalf. This covers basic medical needs if required during your stay. Local representatives will assist if any medical services are required while on tour.
  Cell Phones & Calling Cards

You may wish to carry a cell phone while traveling overseas. Check with your cell phone provider if your phone will work in the destination(s) you are visiting. U.S. service is dominated by the CDMA technology standard, while most of the world uses the incompatible GSM standard. Some U.S. providers do offer GSM, but you may incur high international roaming fees. With GSM, however, you can often choose to have your phone unlocked and then add a local SIM card for lower fees. If you can access the Internet as you travel, you can take advantage of email or a Skype Internet telephone (VOIP) account for the best value. Alternatively, you may investigate renting a cell phone before you leave or buying an inexpensive phone locally.

When calling the U.S. from a foreign country, you may also use a prepaid calling card; normally, the only additional charge (besides the prepaid long distance charges) is a local fee of a few cents and possibly a connection fee if you are using your card at your hotel. It is best to check with the hotel’s reception desk prior to making phone calls to avoid unexpected charges.

Cuba - Foreign Cell Phones do not work in Cuba. You can purchase phone cards and calls cost on average $2.40 per minute. You may also call from your hotel at approximately $2.50 per minute (fees subject to change).
  Making Telephone Calls from One Country to Another

When dialing a number from one country to another, you should proceed as follows: dial your country's Exit Code + destination Country Code + Phone Number.

For most countries, the exit code is 00. Exceptions include the USA and Canada (011), Hong Kong and Cambodia (001), Australia (0011), and Russia (8 Pause 10*). For Brazil, please consult with the local telephone company. If the international number you wish to call starts with a 0 (zero), you must drop this starting digit when dialing the number.

  Wireless Internet Access

Passengers traveling with WiFi enabled devices (such as a personal computer, smartphone, tablet, or digital audio player) may be able to connect to the internet via a wireless network access point (or hotspot). WiFi access in hotels and/or cruise lines often involves a fee which, in some cases, can be very expensive. Passengers requiring internet access can often locate free WiFi hotspots such as libraries or coffee shops. Hotspots can often be located and planned in advance via an online search. Planning ahead may help avoid unnecessary fees.

Cuba - Wi-Fi is not available throughout Cuba except at some hotels. Most hotels have internet cafes or business centers where you can access the internet for a fee. Expect to pay between $10 and $15 per hour. The connection in Cuba is likely slower than you are accustomed to and in rural areas, the connection may not be available.
  Staying Healthy While Traveling

All travelers should familiarize themselves with local conditions, such as high altitude or required immunizations, which could affect their health. We recommend you consult with your personal health-care provider, the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and/or theWorld Health Organization (http://www.who.int/en/) for their recommendations.

There are several easy steps you can take to stay healthy while traveling which may help prevent contracting an illness while away from home.
  Watch what you eat. Try new foods in modest quantities, and depending upon your destination, you may want to avoid street foods, salad bars, raw vegetables and fruits, unless they have thick peels like bananas or grapefruit.

Stay hydrated. Drink bottled water and avoid consuming ice cubes made with tap water.

If you have allergies to foods, medications or insect bites, or have any other unique medical issues, consider a medical alert bracelet and/or a physician’s note detailing required treatment should you become ill.

Wash your hands regularly and carry hand sanitizer.

Where appropriate, pack sunscreen and insect repellant (for both active and warm destinations).

You may also want to bring a small first-aid kit with bandaids, antibiotic cream, pain killers, bug bite cream, digestive aids like antidiarrheal or anti-bloat medications, antacids, and cold medicine. This is in addition to any prescription medications which should be adequate for the entire trip.

 

Notice on Aircraft Cabin Insecticide Treatment - Please note that some countries may require aircraft cabin insecticide treatment for in-bound foreign flights. A list of such countries is available at: http://www.dot.gov/office-policy/aviation-policy/aircraft-disinsection-requirements.

  Climate & Clothing

United States - The weather in the United States varies according to geographical area. The hottest period is from June to August and the coolest from November to February. Bring comfortable walking shoes, clothes you can layer, and an all-weather jacket. Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses are also recommended.

Cuba -The weather in Cuba is semi-subtropical. Temperatures are generally warm year-round. The rainy season in Cuba typically runs from May to October and the dry season between November and April. However, it may rain at any time and rain gear is recommended. Temperatures may range between 60-90 degrees so comfortable, cool clothing is appropriate. Air-conditioning is common in hotels and restaurants so layering is recommended. Not all locations have air-conditioning.

Cuba Average Temperatures
Dress for comfort and convenience with a casual wardrobe that allows for layering. Comfortable, cotton clothing is suggested. Your packing list may include casual daytime wear: shorts, slacks, long and short-sleeved shirts; a light sweater or jacket; comfortable walking shoes; sunscreen, sunglasses and hats; rain poncho and collapsible umbrella; insect repellent; and travel packs of tissue. Please note medicines, toiletries and other items obtainable in drugstores in the U.S. are in very short supply in Cuba. We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription and non-prescription medication. Prescription medication should be in its original container. It is also recommended to bring copies of your doctor's prescription or a letter on your doctor's office stationary explaining that the medication has be prescribed for you, along with a list of the generic names of your medication.

Our supplier, Discovery Tours by Gate 1 has been granted a license by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury to provide People to People programs in Cuba. License # CT-2012-293418-1.

For pricing and availability, please call Easy Escapes Travel: 1-800-294-6643 or email: info@easyescapestravel.com for a quick quote.