Cuba Today: Havana, Cienfuegos & Trinidad
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At a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Learn how to play dominoes with members of a private dominoes club.
- Enjoy a performance from a private Cuban dance company and meet with the dancers.
- Meet with members of an artist community and learn about Cuba's artistic heritage and developments in contemporary art.
General Notes
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: This daily schedule is a representative guide. Program elements in Cuba are controlled by the Cuban government and are subject to change on short notice, as are flight times. Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon: After checking in at the hotel, take some time to freshen up.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 15 miles total, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking and standing for approximately 3 hours, pedestrian streets, cobblestones, high curbs.
Breakfast: In the hotel restaurant.
Morning: Orientation: 8:30 a.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Our accommodations in Cuba feature clean, comfortable rooms with private baths and standard amenities. Cuban hotel standards may not equal their American or European counterparts. Improvements are ongoing, and we hope that any potential glitch in service or amenities is a minor trade-off for the authentic connections and enrichment we will experience. Meals will be in paladars: privately owned and operated family restaurants. A reminder: The regulations that govern our program and are set by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Program elements in Cuba are controlled by the Cuban government and are subject to change on short notice; therefore, the daily schedule is a representative guide. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Road Scholar programs include activities intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba. Each day's program promotes independence for the Cuban people and results in meaningful interactions with the Cuban People. Road Scholar programs are carefully crafted to comply with these regulations. All itineraries reflect this emphasis. Visits with independent social projects, religious organizations, and members of civil society are included in every program. Thank you for your understanding. Next, we’ll have a presentation on the new Cuban Constitution. We’ll gain an understanding of the political changes currently taking place in Cuba. We’ll then board our private motorcoach and set out on a field trip to Art Brut, a community project that helps self-taught Cuban artists.
Lunch: At a paladar (privately-owned restaurant).
Afternoon: In the afternoon, we will have an introductory walking tour of old Havana with our Cuban host. Afterwards, we will learn about dominoes with members of a private domino club. Dominoes is, in many ways, Cuba’s national game. It has its own set of rules, played enthusiastically in private and public. More than competition and skill, it is a greatly enjoyed social activity. We’ll meet members of a local dominoes league, learn the Cuban rules, then play with club members. Teams will rotate and each American will play with one Cuban and an opportunity to openly exchange ideas about events in both of our countries. You will admire the hand-made Domino sets and perhaps even decide to bring one home.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in Havana. The Group Leader will be glad to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 124 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 2.5 miles; uneven cobblestone streets in Cienfuegos, few places to sit. Driving about 108 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time along coastal road to Trinidad.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will check out of the hotel, board our motorcoach, and begin the journey to Cienfuegos on the southern part of the island. The drive through the countryside will be a fascinating experience as we observe the forms of transportation available to Cubans, including an abundance of horse-drawn carriages.
Lunch: At a paladar in Cienfuegos.
Afternoon: After lunch, we will attend a rehearsal of a local music group – with an opportunity to interact with the musicians – and also enjoy a performance by a chamber orchestra. We’ll then reboard the motorcoach and continue our drive to Trinidad.
Dinner: At a paladar.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 108 miles total, approximately 3 hours. Strenuous walking up to 2.5 miles and standing outdoors; very uneven cobblestone streets; sunny conditions, limited shade. The historic center of Trinidad is not accessible to motorcoaches and can only be reached on foot.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Trinidad is one of the original Spanish settlements and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 1514, this time capsule of a city is a mix of historic landmarks and majestic natural beauty. We’ll set out walking with our Cuban host to Plaza Mayor where we will see historically and architecturally significant landmarks of this colonial town. We will visit the workshops of several local artisans including basket makers, embroiderers, and toymakers. We’ll also have a visit with a local artisan who uses abandoned wood from houses to create one-of-a-kind sculptured portraits.
Lunch: At Hotel Ronda.
Afternoon: We will drive into the UNESCO World Heritage Sugar Mill Valley and visit artisans at the San Isidro de los Destiladeros archaeological site returning to Trinidad in time for dinner.
Dinner: At a paladar.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 253 miles, approximately 4-5 hours riding time including stops. Walking up to 2 miles, uneven ground.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board our motorcoach for the return trip to Havana. En route we will stop at a local organic farm. We will take a walk around the farm with the owner to learn about what is grown and produced there and to appreciate the spectacular views.
Lunch: At the farm Finca Vista Hermosa.
Afternoon: We’ll arrive in central Havana for a motorcoach overview of some of the city’s key sights including Havana University, Paseo del Prado, Revolution Square, and the Malecon. We’ll check in at the hotel later in the afternoon and have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner: At a paladar.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking about 2 miles, standing indoors and out up to 2 hours; pedestrian streets, cobblestones, high curbs; sunny conditions, limited shade. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We’ll be joined by a community leader who will discuss the diversity of the religions practiced in Cuba, including Catholicism, Judaism, and the Afro-Cuban Santeria. We’ll visit projects at the Milagrosa Church. Next, we’ll set out on a walking field trip to explore the historic plazas of Old Havana, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “Havana was founded in 1519 by the Spanish. By the 17th century, it had become one of the Caribbean’s main centers for shipbuilding. Although it is today a sprawling metropolis of 2 million inhabitants, its old center retains an interesting mix of Baroque and neoclassical monuments, and a homogeneous ensemble of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought-iron gates and internal courtyards.” We’ll meet with members of the arts community and learn about Cuba’s rich artistic heritage and developments in contemporary Cuban art, then we’ll enjoy a ride in a private classic car from the 1950s.
Lunch: At a paladar.
Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll ride to a practice space to meet with members of a modern dance group. We’ll observe a rehearsal and have conversation and interactions with some of the group’s members.
Dinner: At a paladar.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking up to 1/2 mile and standing indoors and out; pavement, cobblestones, stairs without railings, uneven curbs and sidewalk surfaces. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles, approximately 45 minutes riding time.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We’ll be joined by an expert in gender studies and sociology for a presentation on women in Cuba that will provide perspectives on women in today’s Cuban society. Next, we will visit the Sephardic Synagogue of Havana and explore the Holocaust museum there.
Afternoon: Next, we will visit a local market of independent artists. We will regroup at the hotel to attend a performance by a women’s a capella chorale. This is an opportunity to hear beautiful voices and to discuss what life is like for women today in Cuba.
Dinner: We will ride to a paladar. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Transportation Information” regarding transfers.
Breakfast: At the hotel or boxed breakfast depending on flight times. This concludes our program.
Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!