Cuba: Cultural Arts Tour
Stay tuned for dates upcoming
with Dawn Pemberton, Julio Cochoy and Doris Kizinna
Cost: $2795 CAD for Shared Accommodation, $3150 CAD for Single Accommodation (includes GST)
For all ages, if those 16 and under are travelling with parents/guardians.
This Cultural Arts Tour to Cuba will be filled with opportunities to meet and connect with artists in Cuba, sharing time with them, hearing about their lives and their art. You’ll also learn about the context of Cuba, which is like no other place on earth. You’ll spend time at the beginning and end of the tour in Varadero and in Havana mid tour. You’ll get to ride in an antique car through the streets of Havana, visiting Revolution Square and Old Havana. You’ll visit Museums, enjoy a dance class, visit with actors, dancers, and visual artists. You’ll visit with Los Munequitos Rumba Group, exploring a little of Matanzas. You’ll spend some days at the Beach in Varadero, a day trip to Cardenas with a visit to a hospital to understand more of how the Cuban Health system works, a Special School and Senior’s Centre. You will learn about the context of religion in a communist country, and to visit an organic communal farm. You’ll have some free days to lay on the beach or go snorkeling or shop a little in the market in Varadero, and close with a party on the veranda of the Beach House with dancing of course. Often when we ask questions about Cuba we are told by our Cuban Friends: “Don’t try and understand Cuba, just accept it”, a very Cuban response. Cubans are warm, welcoming and we hope you will be delighted by all that you will encounter in this complex and beautiful country.The programme will connect participants with history of this complex country as well as the realities, struggles and hopes that Cubans experience each day. Accommodation will be shared (double) in the Home stays and double or triple to a room at Ceserse Centre and a Casa at the Beach. Single accommodation may be possible at an additional cost, check with us!
The tour fee includes all accommodation, all breakfasts and dinners and lunches in Varadero. It includes all transport in country, tips, and entrance fees to all museums and sites, it is fully guided by 3 Canadian guides and friends in Cuba. Once in Cuba you will be responsible for: all lunches in Havana, bottled water, extra beverages, snacks, extra tips, entrance to clubs and other nighttime entertainment outside of planned activities, taxis outside of planned activities, personal expenses, souvenirs and of course your flight to Cuba.
Cultural Arts Tour to Cuba Itinerary (sample itinerary)
2 nights in Varadero, 4 nights in Havana, 3 nights in Varadero. Flights will arrive and depart from Varadero, Cuba.
Day 1
Travel from Canada to Varadero, Cuba. Settle into our Beach House and Casa Particulares. Meals and welcome.
Day 2
Breakfast on the Beach House veranda. Orientation to life in Cuba with our host Nacyra Gomez. Time at the Beach. Visit to the Peninsula, Nature Reserve and Caves. Explore Varadero, markets, freetime, relax. Lunch and Dinner at the Centre. Settle into your life in Cuba. Dance Class on the Veranda in the evening.
Day 3
Breakfast on the Beach House Veranda.
Travel by van/bus to Havana (145km). Lunch in old Havana. Walking tour and vintage car drive around old Havana.
Settle into accommodation, overnight in Havana.
Day 4
Breakfast at accommodation. Explore Theatre exchange with Teatro Espontáneo de La Habana
Late Lunch and afternoon visit to the Guitar School for Youth.
Cocktails at Hotel Nacional, dinner out. Overnight Havana
Day 5
Go to Coralina rehearsal and Performance with one of the best Choir’s in Cuba.
Lunch and afternoon visit to the Museum of the Revolution. Overnight Havana.
Day 6
Visit to Museo Bella Artes. Lunch.
Visit the Yaruba Centre for a talk and dance performance, Afro-Cuban Dance.
Dinner and evening free. Overnight: Havana
Day 7
Depart Havana with a stop at the Fuster House (Mosaic Art House)
Lunch stop in Matazas and time to explore Matazas. Concert with Rumba Group.
Continue travel to Varadero and settle back into the Beach House and Casas.
Dinner and at Beach House. Overnight Varadero.
Day 8
Breakfast on the Beach House veranda. Travel to Cardenas by van.
Lunch and tour at the Organic Garden, whole group.
Visit Clinic/Neurological Rehab Centre in Cardenas. Afternoon party with the Senior’s at the Senior’s Day Care Centre.
Overnight Varadero.
Day 9
Breakfast on the Beach House Veranda
Beach & chill day in Varadero. Time to explore. Optional Snorkling Trip (extra fee)
Lunch on the Beach House Veranda.
Late afternoon Group Closing
Dinner & Party with Nacyra and friends. Overnight Varadero.
Day 10
Departures to Canada, US or beyond from Varadero Airport.
This trip will be guided by Dawn Pemberton, Julio Cochoy and Doris Kizinna. Dawn loves to explore and is inspired by strangers who become friends and new places that soon start to feel like home. A touring musician, performer, educator and choral director, Dawn lives her life motivated by curiosity and creativity. She’s had the pleasure of going to Cuba four times for musical and choral exchanges and is in awe of the importance and role that the arts have in Cuban culture. When she’s not on the road or travelling, Dawn lives in Vancouver, B.C. and enjoys all things tea, perfecting her tambourine playing, knitting, and embroidery. Doris has been coordinating travel groups to Guatemala, Cuba and India for the past 15 years and is the founder of World Pilgrim. She is working on her Spanish and considers accompanying people on global education experiences a great privilege of her life. Julio is a Maya Quiche from Guatemala and will act as our translator and logistics coordinator for the tour. He has worked in Human Rights in Guatemala and on healing his and his communities trauma from the civil war there. All three are excited to take another group to Cuba! Viva Cuba!
