ITINERARY: PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

Day 1: Arrive Havana - Tour Havana

Welcome to Cuba! Today we arrive in Havana and settle into our B&B accommodations. Upon arrival at the airport we will meet our Cuban tour leader and driver who will be with us throughout our stay.

After we have settled in and relaxed we will go for a ride in some of Cuba’s classic cars and tour its many neighborhoods and the famous Malecon. Before dinner we will stop for a cocktail at the legendary 1930’s era Hotel Nacional. After that we will have our welcome dinner with our Cuban guide at one of Havana’s leading restaurants.

Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Havana - Old Havana

First thing in the morning we 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 expert guide offering insightful history along the way.

We will then will meet with our first Cuban photographer. We will see a presentation of their work, have lunch and then go out to some not touristic neighborhood of Old Havana to shoot with them. We will visit an historic mansion and have a Cuban ballerina working with us for our shoot.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3: Havana

In the morning we will meet with the renouned photographer Roberto Salas who at age 18 shot during the Revolution and worked closely with Fidel in documenting this historic event.

We will then meet with another photographer and review his portfolio. In the afternoon we will go out to a nearby horse farm and shoot with him.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4: Havana

Today we will meet our 4th photographers in Centro Havana. After seeing their work and going to one of the local neighborhoods of Havana to shoot with them and on our own.

In the late afternoon we will visit two of Cuba's famous 50s era hotels and have a sunset cocktail on the 25th floors with amazing views.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5: Havana

Today we will meet with one of Cuba's leading documentary photographers. We will first see his work in his home then travel outside the city to photograph in a nearby small town. Dinner back in Havana and option to hear music in the evening and visit the famous Fabrica del Arte.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6: Havana

Today we meet with our 5th photographer review his work and spend time shooting and talking about how they see and work. We will again today travel out to a nearby small town.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7: Trinidad - Optional Add On / Today Depart Cuba

Today we will depart for the wonderful colonial town of Trinidad. There are two options here for group to decide on: drive to Cienfuegos and then on to a little village on the coast for a simple lunch and a swim in the ocean. There is also a botanical garden we might visit. We will then drive on to Trinidad to check into our casa and relax a bit before we go to town for dinner and an evening of music.

Meals Inclueded: Breakfast

Day 8: Trinidad

The beautiful colonial city of Trinidad is an UNESCO landmark and it is a joy to walk and explore its cobblestone streets. We begin with a cultural walking tour of Trinidad where we will visit some of the local historical museums and stop in and see an interesting local artist who does wood relief portraits of elderly Cubans. We will eat lunch on the plaza and meet and listen to one of the town's many delightful Cuban groups. Late afternoon we will go out to Playa Ancon, stop and collect coral and then relax at the beach with a picnic or dinner at a nearby restaurant.

In Trinidad music is everywhere, with numerous live venues and many dance performances every day of the week, day and night, all amongst the enchanting setting of old colonial buildings and cobblestone streets.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9: Trinidad

Today we will relax a bit in the morning and talk with some local musicians and learn more about Cuban music. We'll meet members of the Afro Cuban Folkloric dance group that perform Afro Cuban shows at the club Palenque and learn about the cultural and social importance that dancing has to Cuba. We will be welcomed into the venue where they train and perform before taking on a Cuban salsa class. Those who want to can go on a hike to a lovely nearby waterfall and there is also an option for a salsa class which everyone always enjoys. In the evening we will go out for a special meal to one of Trinidad's better restaurants and be serenaded by a local band performing just for us.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10: Trinidad

We will leave Trinidad to head back to Havana via Cienfuegos and visit a charming small town Palmira. Palmira is a very friendly relaxed town that has a large Afro-Cuban population. We will visit a Santeria temple where they will do a special musical and dance presentation just for us. This is not a town tourists normally visit and it will be an opportunity to see authentic life in small town Cuba. We will have lunch there in a local paladar. We will then head back to Havana where we will have some free time to freshen up before our farewell dinner.

Meals Inlcuded: Breakfast

Day 11: Havana

In the morning we will relax before our flights then 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.