ITINERARY: 8 DAY TOUR

Day 1: Arrive Havana

Welcome to Cuba! Today you arrive in Havana and settle into our accommodations. You will walk to a classic Cuban restaurant in the neighborhood for dinner and relax after our long journey.

Day 2: Havana - Artist Visits & Tour Havana

In the morning you will visit a large mansion stuck in time with little changed since the Revolution that has slowly aged over the years. After that you will visit the home studio of one of Havana's leading women photographers. Next we you will see the amazing studio of one of Cuba's leading contemporary artists in her beautiful home. After that have lunch nearby and then stop by the legendary mid-century Riviera Hotel formerly owned by Meyer Lansky.

Mid-afternoon you will go for a ride in some of Cuba’s classic cars and tour it's many neighborhoods and along the famous Malecon higway that runs along the ocean at sunset. Before dinner you will stop off at the legendary 1930’s era Hotel Nacional. Dinner will be at a famous restaurant in Old Havana that has a breathtaking roof top view and and wonderful period architecture.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3: Havana - Artist Visits

Your first stop will be a the home of a photographer who was there at the outbreak of the revolution and took many of the famous photos you have seen of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. He tells wonderful stories of the time. Then on to meet a sculptor who does whimsimal pieces with ironic political statements. From there you will drive to the fishing village of Jaimanitas and the home of the famous artist Jose Fuster. Fuster has made his entire home, and much of the surrounding neighborhood, into an a large art environment of mosaic pieces. Lunch will be at an open air restaurant on the coast. Folllowing you will visit the lovely home of a well know female contemporary artist. The next stop will be the home studio of a very inspiring photographer. For dinner you will eat at one of the restaurants in the neighborhood.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4: Havana - Old Havana & Artist Visits

First thing in the morning you will have a walking tour of Old Havana and walk in the footsteps of Havana’s colonial past, visiting the main plazas of Old Havana with our Cuban guide. Following that you will walk in the back street neighborhoods of Old Havana where the real life of the city is. Lunch in Old Havana after which you will have a tour of the Revoltion Museum in the old Presidential building. Following that you will stop at the lovely home studio of a well known Cuban painter. After that you will visit an art project where two artists converted an old warehouse/laundry mat into a large art exhibition space in a poor neighborhood and hear their story.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5: Matanzas

Today you will leave Havana and head to the coastal town of Matanzas. En route you will stop at a former fort which was an arrival port for slaves and wander around taking in the history. Lunch will lbe at a restaurant along thw water front. Following lunch you will explore the town a bit and then check into your houses. Before dinner you will all meet at a house where the hostess will give you a cooking class as she prepares your dinner. Following dinner you will be entertained by a group of 10 musicians and dancers who will perform a Rhumba show on the house's roof top terrace just for us. Cuba and Matanzas is the origin of Rhumba music but it is nothing like the ballroom dance you know in the US. Be prepared to dance this is a lot of fun!

Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 6: Matanzas

In the morning you will first drive to the site of a slave rebellion in the mid 1800s led by a slave Carlotta. Here the Cuban goverment has created a memorial to her made by a famous Afro-Cuban artist Alberto Leskay. From there you will drive to an amazing an organic farm and learn about sustainable farming in Cuba. The mother of the family is a contemporary ceramic artist so art prevades the whole farm with large sculptures everywhere and their own ceramic studio. The family will show you around the farm and give a tour their ceramic studio. You will enjoy a deliciously fresh home cooked meal, a truly authentic farm-to-fork experience. Following lunch you will drive to a nearby small town that used to be a resort escape in the 30s and wander its abandoned mansion and see the small town rural life. For dinner you will wander down to the river front and eat at one of Matanza's charming cafes.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Matanzas to Vinales

In the morning we will head west to the lovely region of Vinales with its scenic famous Mogote hills. We will have lunch at the site of a former coffee plantation with breathtaking views of the valley below. Following lunch you will stop at a botanical garden dedicated to orchids then drive on to Vinales. After checking in and relaxing a bit at your accommodations you will have dinner at a lovely organic farm with breathtaking views at sunset.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8: Vinales to Havana

In the morning you will fist stop at a tobacco sorting room where all women are working. It a a lovely scene and really interesting to visit. Following that a great local guide will give you a walking tour of a local tobacco farm and talk about the region. Then you will all enjoy a lunch with another breathtaking view. Following lunch you will see a bit more around town and then head back to Havana and relax a bit before your farewell dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9: Havana to United States

Today we wave goodbye to the city’s warm waters, colonial palaces and vintage cars before boarding our flights back to the US. Breakfast and Transport to the Airport Included.

Meals Included: Breakfast