Arrive To: Arrive Miami Airport and transfer by hotel shuttle to the hotel. Check-in is at 3 PM. Early arrivals will be assigned rooms based on availability.

Afternoon: Program Welcome and Orientation. Please meet in the lobby no later than 4:45 PM.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel following the welcome and orientation meeting.

Lodging: Courtyard by Marriott Miami Airport South Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Charter flight Miami to Havana / Drive through Havana / Plaza de Revolucion (Revolution Square)

Breakfast: Breakfast on your own.

Morning: Early morning departure from the hotel by shuttle bus to the terminal (based on final flight times and confirmed during the orientation). Your Road Scholar representative will meet the group in the hotel lobby to help transfer you to the airport. Please be in the hotel lobby with your luggage and ready to depart the hotel 15 minutes before scheduled departure time. Check in to your charter flight to Havana. PLEASE NOTE: Flight times are subject to change and will be confirmed in the final mailing. Arrival in Havana. Upon arrival, receive a welcome greeting by your Cuban host, a bilingual Guide who will be with you the entire trip. Along the route, learn about Cuba and take in the sights as you drive through the city. Upon arrival in Havana we stop at the Plaza de la Revolucion near the city center where we learn about the history of this square and take a group photo.

Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant

Afternoon: Depart for a driving excursion of Havana's sites to get a sense of the city. See the Malacon, the American Interest Section, La Rampa, the capitol, and Havana University . Upon arrival at the hotel, learn about the history of the Hotel Nacional. Check-in, unpack your bags, and relax before dinner.

Dinner: Walk to dinner at the hotel.

Evening: Evening at leisure

Lodging: Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Note: This day will require walking over cobbled and uneven streets in Old Havana.

Breakfast: Breakfast Buffet at the Hotel

Morning: People to People Connection and Presentation: We meet with a local Dance Instructor and learn about the history of dance in Cuba, we explore the various styles and learn why Cuba has such a rich tradition of dance. People to People Connection: We meet with a dance group and see their rehearsal before taking some time to talk with the dancers and learn about their training and their careers. This is an opportunity for an unscripted Q&A session with young Cuban dancers.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon: Field Trip: Enter Old Havana, where you explore the city's intimate beauty and history. Today we focus on Plaza Vieja (Old Square), which serves as the market square as well. Some of the most impressive restoration of Old Havana has happened in or near this square. We end our visit with a stop at the Camera Obscura which allows for a really unique view of Old Havana. People to People Connection: We meet with a group of local contemporary artists from the Collaborative at their studio to learn about their work and to have an unscripted dialogue.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant

Evening: Evening at leisure. You may want to see one of the many different shows offered or go to a music club. Your Road Scholar Group Leader or your Cuban Guide can assist you with suggestions

Lodging: Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cuban Art / Plaza de Armas (Armes Square) / Artist Collaborative dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel

Morning: People to People Connection: Explore the Havana Museum of Fine Arts. While you are exploring the museum a local Art Historian will discuss the history of art in Cuba, learn about the evolution and the style that has made Cuba a favorite of the art world.

Lunch: Lunch in Old Havana at a local restaurant..

Afternoon: Field Trip: Enter Old Havana, where you explore the city's intimate beauty and history. Today we focus on the oldest part of the City around Plaza de Armas (Armas Square). We’ll see the Greek-Roman ‘El Templete” Site of the first Mass and town council meeting in 1519 and learn about the city's restoration project of its plazas and squares while learning how and who funded this renovation and much more insight. We end the visit with some time at the City Museum, once the Govenors palace.

Dinner: People to People Connection: Meet with an artist collaborative based in Havana, and join the members of the collaborative for a dinner reception in your honor. Meet each artist and enjoy some time to talk about art, their work, and life in Cuba.

Evening: After the reception, enjoy your evening at leisure.

Lodging: Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cuban Music / Senior Community Center / Plaza de Catedral (Cathedral Square)

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel

Morning: Learn about the different styles and types of Cuban music. People to People Connection: We meet with members of a senior community center. We learn about the work done by the charity that runs the center and then enjoy some time with our host over snacks and drinks to play cards and dominos or just chat about family. (NOTE: We recommend that your bring postcards of your town with landmarks that you can leave as gifts and they also can be used to generate conversation). PLEASE NOTE: Road Scholar does make a financial contribution to the center on your behalf but this is the only stop where donations can be dropped off and are most needed. Please consult the list towards the end of this mailing for suggested items. People Connection: Talk with artists and craftsmen at the San Jose Feria Market and learn about the artists and their creations.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon: Field Trip: Enter Old Havana, where you explore the city's intimate beauty and history. Today we focus on Plaza de la Cathedral (Cathedral Square), which has boasted an interesting history. If the Cathedral is open, we will take advantage to visit the inside (NOTE: Opening hours are often changed). People to People Connection: We meet with members of a choral group, to discuss and learn about Cuban Music as they take us on a musical journey trough the various musical styles of Cuba. Each song is meant to highlight a style and to generate conversation and exchange.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Evening: Evening at leisure

Lodging: Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel

Morning: People to People Connection: We meet with a unique performance group that specializes in bringing operatic arts to the people of Havana. Meet the cast and members of the group and enjoy some time to talk to them about their art form. (PLEASE NOTE: this activity may be substituted with another performing art group in the event that this group is on tour).

Lunch: Lunch with the performance group.This is a unique opportunity to spend additional time with this exceptional group.

Afternoon: People to People Connection: We learn about Art education and meet with students and faculty at an art school. This is a rare opportunity to visit and explore a Cuban school and talk directly with students and faculty about education in Cuba today.

Dinner: Dinner on your own. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore one of the many new paladars that have opened.

Lodging: Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel

Morning: Check out of Hotel Nacional to board the coach and begin the drive to Varadero. On the way we will make a stop at the famous French Pharmacy known as La Botica Francesca founded in the late 1800's by the Triolet family. Some of the items that would have been found during this time period are housed in this museum. You will see hand painted porcelain vases, medical recipes, old bottles and jars, medical instruments, labels, mortars, scorpion oil and other seemingly ancient pharmaceutical items.Then we will make our way to the San Severino Fortress, built in 1734, it was used to protect the city from pirates and offers a unique view of Matanzas Bay. People to People Connection: We meet with the new rising business class of Cuba at a local paladar to discuss the rise and the challenge of private enterprise in Matanzas.

Lunch: Lunch at a local paladar.

Afternoon: People to People Connection: We meet with one of the many projects run by Caritas Cubana to learn about this community project. The project will change for each group and may feature an afterschool program, a Senior community center, or a young mother assitance project. Continue the drive to Varadero and check into the Melia las Americas Hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Evening: Evening at leisure.

Lodging: Meliá Las Americas

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel

Morning: People to People Connection: We meet with a group that illustrates typical Cuban culture in Cardenas, a municipality in Matanzas Province. This activity will change for each group, but will feature an opportunity to meet with Cuban workers and learn about their lives. We could meet with fisherman, rum factory workers or with local craftsmen or artisans.

Lunch: Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon: Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to prepare your bags or rest.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at the hotel.

Evening: Evening at leisure.

Lodging: Meliá Las Americas

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Check out of the hotel very early and drive to the Havana airport for flight to Miami. Please do not make connecting flight plans within 3 - 4 hours of arrival in Miami due to possible delays and airport security. PLEASE NOTE: The flight time is subject to change.

Meals Included: Breakfast