Support the Cuban People Tour
Two Dates: Select April 21-26 or April 28-May 3, 2020
Both tours are from Tuesday-Sunday
We are happy to welcome you to join our Support the People Cuba tour. Cuba is one of our favorite places in the world. It is totally under-rated, unique, lots of fun, and a great value for your money. This is our least expensive tour but probably the most robust as far as culture, adventure, and exotic beaches. You get so much for the price. Doing Cuba right as a first-time traveler is hard to do without guidance due to a number of factors. We are happy to provide that guidance so you can spend less time worrying about details and logistics and more time enjoying your trip.
Tuesday – Departure from Your Airport
Your driver will pick you up from Jose Marti International airport in Havana and drop you off at your Airbnb/casa particular. To meet the rules of traveling under the category of “Support the Cuban People,” we cannot stay in hotels, only Airbnb’s/Casa Particular. Additionally, I ask that everyone bring the following items to donate: gently used clothes, toiletries, and school supplies.
Wednesday-Drop off Donations - Meet and Greet and Night at the Tropicana.
I will be dropping off donations at a school in Old Havana. Those who would like to join me, can. We will have a meet and greet at a rooftop bar for sunset and cocktails from 5:00-6:30 pm. We will return home and prepare for our night at the Tropicana show. We will depart our casa at 8:00 pm. Tropicana show includes round trip transfer and dinner. Meet and greet, transfer and drinks at your own cost.
More about the Tropicana - The Tropicana Cabaret show has been entertaining guests from all over the world since 1939. Once a regular hangout for American celebrities and gangsters, pre-revolution times. Travel back in time and enjoy the show, its costumes, and music.
Thursday-Meet the Artist who created the Che Sculpture and Tour Havana in Classic Car
We will take a taxi to the home of Enrique Gonzalez, the artist who created the “Che” sculpture. We will tour his home for approximately 1.5 hours before we head to Revolution Square to see the famous sculpture he designed. Our classic car driver will pick us up from there to continue the second part of the excursion which is to have a tour of Havana in a classic car or what Cubans call Almendrone. After the tour, I will ask them to drop us off a nice restaurant for lunch. Lunch is at your own expense - price range from $20-25. About the Artist, Enrique Avila Gonzalez - He is a Cuban artist who is bests known as the creator of the famous “Che” sculpture at the famous Revolutionary Square. You'll learn about his art at his home gallery, and he'll share the story of how he made "Che”. He will also prepare for us a glass of mojito using his own special mint from his garden. You will have an opportunity to purchase an original piece of art from him at just $40-$60 each which he will sign with a personal message. Total event time is approximately 5 hours from 2:30-7:30 pm. This is my favorite tour by far.
Optional Night of Clubbing at the Famous Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC)
Havana’s hippest art factory that turns into a night club from Thursday-Sunday. This large art factory is a must-visit while in Havana. Even if you’re not into the club scene, if you love live music, art, fruity cocktails and cool people to hang out with, you’ll love the FAC. The place offers a different genre of music on multiple floors and sections. By far, the coolest club we have EVER visited and it is a favorite with past clients of all ages and interests.
Friday –Day Trip to Varadero Beach
Voted second best beach in the world in 2019 by Trip Advisor, Varadero is a destination beach for travelers from all over the world. It is located approximately 2 hours east of Havana. American passport holders are not allowed to visit leisurely but we can participate in an organized excursion to Support the Cuban People. En route to Varadero, we will make two stops, first to we will stop at the Bacunayagua lookout where you'll enjoy a panoramic view of the Yumurí Valley, as well as the bridge, one of the 7 wonders of civil engineering in Cuba. Here, you can enjoy a delicious piña colada while listening to traditional Cuban music by a live band. Afterward, we will go to Saturn Cave, another place where you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the cave's underground cenote/water, a totally different, highly enjoyable environment due to the water's transparency and color (optional). We will spend one hour here, so we can have most of the time to enjoy the beach. Here is also where you can buy souvenirs, rum, and Cuban Coffee. This excursion includes lunch, pina colada, entrance to the cave, beach chair and umbrella, English speaking guide and round trip transportation in an air-conditioned classic car. Bring a change of clothes, bathing suit, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses. This event is from 7:00 am to 6 pm.
Saturday-Day Trip to Vinales-Tour Cigar Farm on Horseback-We will leave Havana early in the morning for a 2.5-hour ride to the town of Vinales. Here are the details on the tour in their own words….Osniel, Osmin and Miguel are the main guides and will accompany you throughout the excursion where you will be shown the Viñales National Park from your humble point of view, you will do it on horseback or walking as you prefer, you will visit tobacco cultivation houses where he will explain the tobacco growing process and the coffee process as well as other crops, we will also visit peasant homes where you can appreciate how the peasants live in general, and also visit lakes where you can swim if you prefer. They offer lunch for an additional $10-$13 for those interested. This is an all-day trip. We will leave at 7 am and return at about 7 pm. Bring snacks, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses etc. You will have about 30 minutes stop and shop for souvenirs in Pinar del Rio town on the way back.
Sunday –Departure from Havana, Cuba as per your flight schedule
Inclusions:
· Luxury Airbnb lodging –double occupancy
· Daily Cuban breakfast and 1 lunch
· Ground transportation to and from airport in Cuba and excursions
· 5 excursions/activities
· Guidance throughout your travel
Exclusions:
· Flights ($250-500 range)
· Visa to enter Cuba ($25-$100, depends on the airline) can be purchased at the airport, sold by the airline.
· Travel insurance (optional but highly recommended)-under $100
· Airport transfer in the US
· Gratuities for your guides and drivers
Terms: Total package is $1,500. Itinerary subject to change may including lodging and activities. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control but we will keep you informed. Payments are non-refundable. We strongly encourage you to purchase trip insurance to cover trip cancellations and medical emergencies during your travel. Please be aware that cancellations due to Corona Virus are not covered by any travel insurance. Please discuss coverage with your insurance company before purchasing it.