NON PROFIT GROUP TOUR
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Cuba: May 18 – 23
Group Size: 15 – 20
Accommodations: First
Class
Focus: Cultural,
Historical, Architecture, Music/Dance/Art
From the streets of Havana
to relaxed Trinidad and Camaguey, no country lives its music like Cuba.
Feel the rhythms of the ever-present Cuban beat as you learn to dance Cuban
style, visit Santiago de Cuba, the home of son of music, and take in the
world famous show at the one and only Tropicana.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Havana
Arrive in Havana at any time. Check into our hotel and enjoy the city.
Please check the hotel lobby for notices on when/where the group meeting
will occur.
One of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere, the Spaniard Diego
Velázquez moved San Cristobal de la Habana to its present location in 1519.
The port city remained in relative obscurity within the empire until gold
and silver began to flow from New World mines back to Spain. At the peak of
Spanish power in the Americas vast fortunes were controlled from here, and
Havana's deep water port served as an assembly point for massive armadas
laden with New World plunder before their perilous journey back to Spain.
Much of the treasure came from the ports of Cartagena (Colombia) and
Veracruz (Mexico). The great flow of wealth bequeathed the city an
architectural heritage unequalled in the region.
Soon pirates turned their attention to the port and the city of Havana and
its annual treasure trove became the number one target for Dutch, English
and French corsairs. Eventually the Spanish began construction of various
forts and a protecting wall to repel the invaders. Nevertheless, the city
was sacked in 1762 and held by the British under the command of Lord
Albermale for nearly a year. Eventually, the Spanish exchanged the Florida
territory in trade for the island. The end of the British occupation also
signalled the beginning of more economic freedom for the islanders, as they
were given the right to trade with cities other than Cádiz in Spain. The
ensuing economic boom translated into steady growth in population and
material progress. Left to decay after the revolution, in 1982 Old Havana
became Cuba’s first UNESCO world heritage site, with its mix of Baroque and
neoclassical monuments, arcades, balconies, wrought-iron gates and internal
courtyards. Today the restoration of the quarter-mile-square district is in
high gear.
The main area of interest to visitors is La Habana Vieja (The Old City), and
the streets around the Malecon (ocean-side walkway). These are best
discovered on a walking or taxi tour. Points of interest in this part of
town include La Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana, the Palacio de los
Marqueses de Aguas Claras (which now houses a restaurant), the Museo de Arte
Colonial and the Plaza de Armas, with its statue of Manuel de Céspedes (one
of the leaders of the Cuban independence movement). The Palacio de los
Capitanes Generales is also located on the Plaza de Armas, which now houses
the Museo de La Ciudad (city museum). The oldest colonial fortress sits on
the plaza’s northeast sector, the Castillo Real de la Fuerza, whose
construction began in 1558. The city is home to various museums, and
depending on your area of interest, there is practically a museum for
everyone. But perhaps one of the city’s (and Cuba's) greatest attractions is
its music. Everywhere you go in Havana you hear and feel music, and people
often dance in the streets; the island literally pulses with the beat and
blend of Afro-Hispanic rhythms.
Cristobal Colón (Columbus) found the main island of Cuba in October of 1492,
following a route indicated by the Arawak people he first encountered in the
Bahamas. Looking for the fabled Cipango, he noted in his log book that this
newly found island was one of the most beautiful he had ever set eyes upon.
The Spanish settlement and exploitation of the island began in earnest with
the founding of towns such as Baracoa, Santiago and Havana. The Arawak
population was soon decimated by both disease and enslavement and the
Spanish replaced the native work force with African slaves. Though they did
not find the metal treasures found in other conquered lands such as Mexico,
Bolivia and Peru, the island did become a hub for the transportation of the
New World wealth and treasure, via galleons, back to the Old World. It soon
became the focal point for pirate activity in the Caribbean and eventually
the islanders began to export their own wealth in the form of agricultural
produce such as tobacco, sugar cane, and coffee.
The unique blend of cultural traditions on the island continues to this day,
with vibrant rhythms and a rich heritage of literature and dance. The
island’s character is also influenced by the social injustice of its past
and the present generation’s efforts to address that situation. Cuba and
Cubans are unique among Latin Americans in many ways, and though the country
has been a magnet for sun seeking tourists for some time, it is only slowly
opening up to less traditional tourism. We sincerely hope you will take the
opportunity to explore this uniquely beautiful and captivating land and its
friendly and open people.
Day 2-3 Santiago de Cuba
We catch a flight to Cuba's “Oriente” region and Santiago de Cuba, the heart
and soul of Cuban music.
Welcome to the cradle of the Revolution, and the home of traditional son
rhythms. Santiago also boasts great museums, colonial churches and buildings
of more recent historical importance, such as the Moncada Barracks, all well
worth exploring. Santiago has a vibrant traditional music scene that will
entice even the shyest dancer out to experiment with some salsa moves!
The city was one of many founded by Diego de Velásquez, and one of its first
mayors was the future conquistador of Mexico, Hernán Cortés. For nearly one
hundred years the city functioned as the island’s capital and seat of power.
However, it suffered through various pirate attacks, as well as natural
disasters and the entire region quickly became isolated from the rest of the
island.
Santiago and the Oriente (east) have a large Afro-Cuban population. Many
Africans were brought in as slaves to replace the dying indigenous people as
labour force in the mines and ranches. The same slave rebellion that brought
an influx of French refugees to the Trinidad area had a similar effect on
Santiago, and spurred the area’s coffee and sugar cane cultivation.
Santiago and the Oriente were both seats of various rebellions and
independence movements. It is the birthplace of General Antonio Maceo, the
revered mulatto leader during the war of independence from Spain (you will
see the massive statue erected in his honour in front of the city’s
long-distance bus terminal). Santiago also holds the title of “Hero City of
the Republic of Cuba” for its leading role in significant events during the
revolution. It was at Moncada Barracks that Fidel Castro first struck out
against Batista’s abusive government in 1953, undergoing the trial that
allowed him to expound on the government’s excesses during his famous La
Historia Me Absolverá (History Will Absolve Me) speech. The people of
Santiago were the first to rise up in arms against government troops in
1956, and it was in Santiago, on January 1st, 1959, that Fidel Castro
declared the triumph of the revolution in a broadcast message to the country
and the world.
The city’s half million residents are fiercely proud of their cultural
traditions and you will find many museums, cultural associations and clubs
around the city. Santiago is where son and boleros originated, and the
richness of the island’s strong African heritage is evident through
institutions such as the Ballet Folklorico Tucumbá, a world-renowned
Afro-Cuban dance company. The city is also well known for its vibrant,
energetic Carnaval celebrations, and its Festival of Caribbean Culture.
Day 4 Camagüey
Continue your journey west along the Carretera Central to Camagüey, the
third largest city on the island. Camagüey retains much of its colonial
heritage in its buildings, plazas and its tinajones, large clay pots
traditionally used in Spain and in its New World colonies for collecting
rainwater.
Camagüey has a rich tradition of cultural and technological leadership
within Cuba. It is the birthplace of poet laureate Nicolás Guillén, whose
brilliant Mis Dos Abuelos clearly captures and reflects the internal
struggle born of Cuba’s tumultuous Afro-Hispanic heritage. Camagüey is also
home of the Ballet de Camagüey, the second most important dance company in
Cuba.
The citizens of Camagüey are also proud of their innovations, and Cuba’s
first radio and television emissions were broadcast from Camagüey, as well
as the country’s first airport and commercial flights were executed here.
This is also a university town and has a rich cultural tradition. With its
large parks and winding cobblestone streets, one will enjoy strolling
through the city. That said, getting around can be a little tricky. The city
was deliberately set out in an irregular and confusing street pattern, with
the aim of disorienting any would-be assailants, but with a little patience
and time you can explore its colonial treasures on a walking tour. Most
noteworthy of its churches, is the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad,
with its baroque frescoes. The Museo Casa Natal de Ignacio Agramonte is the
birthplace of the leader of a celebrated revolt against Spain in the late
1860s.
Wander the historical streets of Camagüey, and explore the city's rich local
tradition in music and literature. Many great music venues await us here!
Enjoy a night on the town before leaving for Trinidad the next day.
Day 5-7 Trinidad
Only a 6-hour bus ride away, the colonial, UNESCO World Heritage city of
Trinidad is home to lovely Spanish-style churches and great museums. Have a
cool Mojito before meeting our salsa and music instructors, as we work out a
relaxed yet fun-filled schedule for the next 2 days’ lessons.
We include a group salsa lessons here; once you are comfortable with the
basics of salsa, an individual lesson will help you learn how to spin or
take the lead. Two lessons of 1 hour each are included (1 group and 1
individual). Depending on your preferences, we can arrange a female or male
salsa instructor. The lessons are given by a cuban dancer normally in the
main homestay or another house. We also include music lessons, introducing
such instruments as congas, claves, guitar and cowbell. Practice up for our
visit to a recording studio where you can record your very own song!
La Villa de la Santísima Trinidad was founded in 1514 by Velásquez, and the
famous defender of indigenous rights in the Americas, Fray Bartolomé de Las
Casas, attended over the settlement’s first mass. The future conqueror of
Mexico, Hernán Cortés recruited sailors here for his future expedition into
that land. Trinidad is a charming town with the green mountains of the
Sierra del Escambray in the background, and the turquoise waters and pure
white sand beaches of the Caribbean Sea just a short distance away.
The town was fairly inactive until the 1800s, when French refugees fleeing a
slave revolt in Haiti landed here en masse and brought with them sugar cane
cultivation. The new residents settled and farmed in the Valle de Los
Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills), just northeast of the town. Vast
wealth flowed into the local economy from sugar cane cultivation and the
area produced one third of the country’s sugar at one point. The sugar boom
was terminated by the two wars of independence, but the wealth generated by
the industry remains visible in the town’s once grand mansions, colorful
public buildings, wrought-iron grillwork and cobblestone streets.
The town and area also saw a lot of action during and following the triumph
of the Revolution, as gangs of counter revolutionaries hid out and struck
from the safety of the mountains. The Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra los
Bandidos and the Casa de los Mártires de Trinidad chronicles the struggles
of this period in the town’s history. The town also has the requisite Casa
de la Trova, a mainstay of Cuban musical culture in every town, and numerous
similar clubs and restaurants, where you may enjoy the sounds of Cuban son.
Spend the rest of your time on the beach relaxing, hiking to the Parque
Topes de Collantes, horseback riding, or visiting the Che Guevera Monument
in Santa Clara.
Santa Clara was founded in 1689 by Spaniards hoping to evade the pirate
raids on the coastal cities. Today it is a modern, industrial centre and
holds a special place in the history of the revolution in that it was the
first large city to be liberated by the Revolutionary Forces in December
1958.
About 18 men, under the command of Comandante Ernesto (Ché) Guevara, fought
against more than 400 heavily armed Batista government troops and captured
an armoured train. The Museo Histórico de la Revolución chronicles the
Battle of Santa Clara, and it is here that a gargantuan statue of El Ché was
erected to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the revolutionary hero’s
murder in Bolivia.
Day 8 Havana
We take a private van back to Havana in the afternoon and arrive around 4 pm
for one last night of revelry. We will take in the unforgettable show at the
Tropicana, Cuba's most famous stage. Over two hundred dancers perform on
Cuba's most famous stage. This is where such greats as Nat King Cole and
Maurice Chevalier won their fame. Adored by tourists, this show is a 1950s
cabaret style extravaganza, where both music and rum flow freely to create
unique memories for you. Known as 'the paradise under the stars', this
open-air venue has been all the rage since 1939.
Day 9 Depart Havana