Cuba
Havana, Cienfuegos & Trinidad: An Exploration of Cuba for Women
Program No. 25120RJ
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Participant Reviews
Based on 7 Reviews
SHOWING
I am happy both to review and applaud this program and its leaders for introducing me to Cuba and to Road Scholar. This was my first trip with Road Scholar; I was not certain what to expect--and when current events began to complicate life and travel in Cuba, I was even more uncertain. How was this new experience going to take shape for me?
I couldn't have been more reassured, then impressed, with what and whom I encountered when I arrived in Cuba and began my journey. Your program leader, Jocelyn Langford, is not just an expert on Cuban history and culture, but also a dedicated "visitor" to the people of Cuba who clearly cares about their wellbeing--past, present, and future. She was always available for and responsive to our questions and concerns. Her program partner and our Cuban guide, Karina Sanchez, was equally informed and attentive to "My ladies," as she termed our Women Only group. I especially appreciated how she often (always appropriately) shared the history of Cuba through the lens of her own personal experience--making the complex story of Cuban lives that much more meaningful and real for me, and, I believe, for my travel companions.
The program was clearly carefully planned and highly impactful. The individuals and organizations that we visited all contributed to my understanding of this unique island and its culture. Since education is essential to the Road Scholar mission--a key reason for my choosing this trip--I was eager to learn as much as I could on my visit. And I did. The various musical events were wonderful; the opportunities to engage with individual Cubans through lectures were valuable; and the meals were amazing (I am now a fan of Cuban rice and beans).
I would recommend two changes to the program: Drop the hummingbird garden visit; maybe replace it with a (botanically guided) walk through a Havana park. And add a visit to the Art Museum and/or a university campus.
I'm out of space. Thank you, Jocelyn, and RS. I'll be back!
— Review left March 17, 2026
As a first-time Road Scholar participant and solo traveler, I had an extraordinary experience. Each day offered fresh learning, and the abundance of live music added to the journey. With countless sights and activities, I never ran out of discoveries. Though I started alone, I ended the trip surrounded by friends.
— Review left February 23, 2026
Fantastic trip! So glad I went, even with all the political uncertainty. I heartily recommend trusting Road Scholar with any aspirational traveling you may be thinking of.
— Review left February 13, 2026
This was my first Road Scholar trip and I had a wonderful time. Our trip was all female and we all enjoyed getting to know one another. I enjoyed the variety of activities, the lectures, the program leaders and the opportunities to speak with our fellow participants. I learned so much and fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Cuba. I look forward to my next RS trip!
— Review left February 13, 2026
A truly wonderful trip! It was my first Road Scholar trip and did not disappoint. The trip was jam-packed with experiences all over Havana, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad. The best part was all the Cuban people we met-talented, resilient, resourceful, and kind. The speakers we had were well-informed and extremely engaging. Our tour guide, Jocelyn, and our Cuban guide, Karina, and driver Alex were all top-notch. Meals and accommodations were lovely.
All over Cuba, you sometimes feel like you have stepped back in time, but especially in Trinidad. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its importance to the sugar trade in the 18th and 19th centuries, and a World Craft City due to the presence of marvelous artisans, such as Lazaro Neibla, a master woodcrafter and the Santander family, who create traditional pottery. We met both of these creators in Trinidad, saw their work, and were able to talk to them about their work.
The live music and dance we experienced was amazing. We heard a women's choir, a children's dance group, a young adult dance group, a jazz quintet and a strings group, as well as a Buena Vista social club type performance.
As a final note, the gasoline and oil shortages were occurring while we were in Cuba, leading to blackouts. I have to say that we experienced no real impact to our trip from the blackouts, as most places we went had back-up generators. The Cuban people, however, are hard hit by these blackouts. We can support them by continuing to travel to their beautiful country!
— Review left February 12, 2026
There aren't enough superlatives to describe our terrific women-only trip to Cuba. Despite the growing concerns about the ability of Cuba's crumbling infrastructure to support tourists and the political tensions, our trip was beautifully managed and went off without a hitch. Both our Road Scholar Guide (Jocelyn) and our local Cuban guide (Ilen) were terrific, keeping our great group on track every day, providing us with incredible opportunities to learn about and experience Cuban culture, and sharing volumes of information. We loved traveling as a group of women, focused on women's experience of living in Cuba, and just hanging out together. I found the trip incredibly rewarding and, given all of the complexities of travel in Cuba, can't imagine doing this any other way. My first experience with Road Scholar was definitely an A+ and I highly recommend this travel experience to others.
— Review left January 30, 2026
This trip exceeded expectations. The guides Jocelyn and Ilen were excellent. The speakers were all experts in their fields and their talks were interesting. This was the first all women’s trip and it had a different, warmer feel than other trips. People mixed more and it was easier to get to know more people. Tourists are prioritized as their economy relies on it. I would rate our hotel about a 3 star. We had electricity when the rest of the city did not because the hotels have generators (and fuel). The private paladars are normal restaurants. Food is variable as they may not be be able to source everything on their menu. The people were warm and friendly. This is a very interesting trip for people willing to get a bit out of their comfort zone.
— Review left January 30, 2026







