Introduction to Sustainable Cuba Tour from Saturday 11 to Saturday 18 February 2012


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	Meet tour leader Lill Erickson, Founder and Executive Director of the Western Sustainability Exchange. Why travel to Cuba? Click here to read her biography and why she personally invites WSE members to join this special research trek. Call for more info on this tour. 1 888 422 5660 Toll free



	Witness Cuba on routes less traveled. Meet the people. Experience their culture. Learn their history. ®

Exclusive Western Sustainability Exchange program
INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE CUBA TOUR
Saturday 11 to Saturday 18 February 2012

AN ISLAND EXPEDITION focused on people-to-people education, nature and cultural exchanges. Cubans, eager to meet their Americans cousins, embrace the program. This tour is geared to environmentalists, and lovers of arts, history and architecture.

PROGRAM INSPIRATION, concept and design is modeled on similar international trips abroad organized by Environmental Adventure Company – voted "one of North America's best wildlife tour companies" by the National Wildlife Federation. The caliber of services and rich content matches the high standards of Environmental Adventure Company, and enjoys its endorsement.

UPON REGISTRATION every participant receives an orientation package for trip planning and preparation.

Services, operations and licensing for this research program are provided by Cuba Education Tours.

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COSTS FROM $2595

FLIGHTS

LEGAL FOR AMERICANS

Tour spots filled. All tours proceed with a minimum of twelve travelers.

CUBA TRAVEL CONCERNS

	Is Cuban food good? Yum. It is organic and tasty, but not spicy. If you like hot, bring Tabasco sauce.

	Am I free to ask all questions? You'll insult your island hosts by being less than candid.

	Is the water safe to drink? Yes, but we suggest bottled water.

	Are vaccinations needed? No.

	Can Americans join legally? Yes. They should do so now while the island is pristine and before it is overrun. We license for free.

	Can I stay in Cuba after the tour? Absolutely! We encourage this and assist sans commission and fees.

	Do Cubans like tips? Mucho! See our gratuities guidelines.

Theme :: People-to-people encounters with Cubans and nature

	Eight days and seven nights of learning, fun and friendship in Cuba. Want to stay longer? We assist.		Euphonium player. Click photo to enlarge. Bananas grow upside-down. Spaniards brought them to Cuba in 1516.

	Five nights in the historic four star boutique Hotel Telégrafo in the heart of Habana Vieja [Old Havana] – the city's arts hub.

	Two nights in Trinidad de Cuba's all-inclusive resort hotel Brisas Del Mar.

	Be part of the authentic daily life of Cubans in La Habana, Pinar de Río, Cienfuegos and Trinidad provinces.

	An up close highly personal examination of Cuba's renowned music, arts and dance scene.

	Experience island history, social and ecological achievements first hand.

	Glean insights into dynamic citizen engagement in all aspects of urban development and national policy.

	Establish enduring personal and professional relationships with your Cuban counterparts and tourmates.

Cuba Education and Explorer Tours guide.

SAFE, FUN, people-to-people cultural travel. Your tour is fully escorted by Cuban experts from the minute you touch down in Havana until you return home. They are there for you.

You're in the conscientious care of our fulltime multilingual guide together with a professional bus chauffeur. They're eager to assist in everyway.

A view from your Hotel Telégrafo facing Parque Central. You'll relax in luxury in its well-appointed rooms. Its central courtyard comprised of imposing brick arches and fountains offer escape (and refreshments). Its elegant Restaurante El Telégrafo specializes in Cuban haute and international cuisine.

TRAVEL FOR CHANGE. Cuba Education and Explorer Tours is an American and Canada based organization dedicated to green, ethical travel that benefits Cubans and our guests.

Cuba Education and Explorers Tours bus.

YOU ROVE CUBA in a new air-conditioned tour coach with a fulltime professional chauffeur from arrival to departure. Havana is one of the oldest and most architecturally stunning cities in the New World. During your many excursions in the capital, and beyond, your guide provides ongoing historical commentary for all points of interest. We want you to learn everything about our beautiful island.

Among site highlights are Modern Havana, the Capitol building, the Grand Theatre, Central Park, Prado promenade, Plaza de la Revolución, Coppelia Ice Cream Park, Plaza José Martí (in front of U.S. Interests Section), Malecón seawall, Monument to the Battleship Maine, Hotel Nacional, University of Havana, Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, and the Miramar, Central Havana and Vedado neighborhoods.

WATCH six minutes in Cuba!

Tour highlights :: An elaborate day-by-day itinerary follows

Click here to review our guide to endemic, near endemic and endangered birds of Cuba.

Cuban flower icon indicates special activities unique to this program.

Concierge Cubana Means Five Star Service on Cuba Education Tours.

	Guided coach tours spanning old to new Havana, and environs.

	Walking tour of Old Havana to examine the greatest collection of Spanish colonial-era architectural in the Americas and learn about preservation efforts.

	Dine at delicious restaurants serving authentic Cuba cuisine and international dishes, and imbibe in pulsating Latin entertainment, music and dance.

	Attend a regal cannon firing ceremony dating from 1519 at one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial fortification in the Americas.

	Day excursion to Viñales Valley, in the heart of Cuba's prime tobacco-growing region. Its geology is the island's most stunning. The valley is enclosed by dramatic karst hill formations known locally as mogotes. There we'll explore caves, nature, art and a tobacco plantation.

	Visit the house and farm of literary titan Ernest Hemingway, today a museum exhibiting his untouched library, manuscripts and personal effects.

	Explore the Afrocuban community of Regla. Its rich African influenced traditions span centuries.

	Tour and dine at the largest urban organic collective farm in Havana, employing 600 people and producing millions of pounds of vegetables, fruits and herbs.

	Visit a scale model of Old Havana used for social development and planning.

	Eat at the Hotel Nacional's outdoor restaurant La Barraca followed by the famed musical review Cabaret Parisién.

	Visit the Museum of Modern Arts exhibiting Cuban masterworks from the 16th to the 20th centuries.

	Visit a crocodile breeding reserve known locally as Criadero de Cocodrilos in the province of Matanzas.

	Take a boat across Laguna del Tesoro [Treasure Lagoon] to inspect a reconstruction of a Taíno Indian village.

	Tour the city of Cienfuegos and witness its unique inventory of French-influenced neoclassical buildings.

	Guided tour of the historic city of Trinidad de Cuba, founded in 1514 by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, and its sugar plantations.

	Board Soviet Army trucks to climb the peaks of Topes de Collantes in the Escambray Mountains, the second highest range in Cuba.

	Group welcome dinner with your guide and tourmates to get to know one another, and farewell trip dinner to cement friendships and relish trip memories.

	Depending upon game and performance schedules we'll attend a Cuban baseball event and spend an evening with the Buena Vista Social Club.

MEALS INCLUDED IN TOUR PACKAGE	DAY 1	DAY 2	DAY 3	DAY 4	DAY 5	DAY 6	DAY 7	DAY 8
SEVEN BREAKFASTS	IN AIR
SIX LUNCHES	IN AIR							IN AIR
SIX DINNERS								IN AIR
Apple indicates meals included in tour cost at hotels and fine eateries.

WE ENSURE American teachers travel to Cuba legally. Discover how you can go to Cuba now.

OFFICIAL Cuban medical insurance is included in tour cost.

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Cuban micro amphibian at ten millimeters (0.39 inches) long from snout to buttock. Discovered in 1996, Cuba's smallest frog still waits for a common name. Its scientific label is Eleutherodactylus iberia. Up until two recent discoveries in Brazil and Borneo, the Cuban pipsqueak held the Guinness World Record for dinkiest Anura. While little Eleutherodactylus iberia has dropped to global third position, it commands top spot for the weest jumper north of the equator. This year a new aspect of its character was painfully revealed. It is venomous, distinguishing it from all other island flora and fauna. Evolutionary dilemma: why didn't it become even more diminutive? Scientists suggest it would have difficultly finding and munching on teensier versions of its favorite dish: bugs.

Welcome to Havana, a journey back in time! The infrastructure is tattered and ragged compared to the United States, but Cubans are warm, outgoing and forward thinking. In this sense, we share much in common.

Rooftops in Old Havana.

Cuban girls perform folk dance.

Cuban school kids by Henk van der Leeden.

Cuban students in Havana say, "Welcome. Come down and meet us!" Photo Henk van der Leeden.

Day 1

Saturday

Hello Cuba

The city of Havana as seen from the fortress El Morro, across the harbor

The city of Havana as seen from El Morro lighthouse and the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña, across the harbor from your hotel.

Welcome mojito.

	Arrival at Havana's José Martí International Airport. Collect your bags and go through customs. You're welcomed at the airport lobby by your Cuba Education Tours guide and professional bus chauffeur.

	Your guide will direct you to an airport exchange bureau (CADECA) to purchase Cuban Convertible Pesos, or you can do this at your hotel to save time.

	Private transfer to your Hotel Telégrafo located in the heart of Habana Vieja [Old Havana].

	Private check-in with assistance from your guide. Followed by a welcome cocktail with hotel directors and staff.

	Free time to settle in and rest up.

	This evening you'll enjoy a group welcome dinner with your guide and tourmates – a chance to get to know one another, make friends and ask questions about Cuba.

One-in-ten cars in Cuba are pre-1959. Click photo to enlarge.

TIME AND CLIME IN HAVANA

LONG RANGE FORECAST HERE

Cubans, kind and effusive, embrace the chance to meet their northern neighbors.

Sunset on the Malecón seawall near your hotel – a place for relaxation and new friendships. Havana is an endless palette of drama, emotion and color.

Merchant at Mercado de Cuatro Caminos

Merchant at a farmers market offers organic pineapple and papaya.

Cuban soldier guards Carlos de la Cabaña fortress.

Left Contemporary Cuban soldier in 18th century British military attire guards the Carlos de la Cabaña fortress (click his photo to enlarge). Right Cabaña turret.

British map from 1763 shows plan of the original walled city of La Habana (founded in 1519). The city was occupied by British and Canadian colonial troops from 1762 to 1763. Spain ended the dispute by trading Florida for Havana. Click here for another British occupation map. You stay in this section of Havana. Try to identify it on this interactive Google Map of Cuba.

Marching grounds of the sprawling Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña, the best-preserved Spanish colonial garrison in the world.

La Divina Pastora Restaurante.

Restaurante La Divina Pastora, located in the Parque Histórico Morro y Cabaña overlooks Havana harbor with an incredible view of the city.

Soldiers fire the 9PM Cannon.

Cuban students watch the firing of the 9PM cannon.

Students watch the blast of the 9PM Cannon.

Life size metal sculptures of elephants in Havana's Plaza Vieja by island artist Fonseca. Cuba's capital is an effervescent creative art space – a visceral feast for art lovers worldwide.

Day 2

Sunday

Old Havana and peer encounters

Ornate filigree and statuary adorn Havana's Gran Teatro where the Ballet Nacional de Cuba performs. Click photo for view of interior.

Ernest Hemingway described Havana as the "Paris of the Americas."

Visit the Maqueta de La Habana Vieja. It's a 1:500 scale model of Old Havana complete with an authentic soundtrack meant to replicate a day in the life of the city. It's incredibly detailed and provides an excellent way of geographically acquainting yourself with the city’s historical core. The model is used for social development and planning.

Followed by a walking tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll visit four of the five historic plazas that make Havana unique in the western hemisphere. It contains the largest collection of remaining colonial-era architecture. This is a private tour led by your Cuba Education Tours guide.

Cathedral Square, the most beautiful and private 18th century colonial plaza on the island. Named after the masterpiece of Cuban baroque architecture: the Catedral de San Cristóbal de la Habana built by the Jesuit order.

Square of Arms, an ancient military parade ground for Spanish soldiers, surrounded by impressive buildings such as:

Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, former seat of colonial government. Today the building houses the Museum of the City.

Palacio del Segundo Cabo [Palace of the Second Lieutenant], dates from 1770. Today it houses the Instituto Cubano del Libro [Cuban Book Institute] and the Galería Raúl Martínez (famed poster artist).

Museo de Artesanía at Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the oldest remaining fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies.

We continue onto San Francisco Square, one of the oldest plazas in the historical quarter. The square is named after magnificent Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco de Asís dating from the 16th century. The basilica is a striking example of Cuba baroque architecture.

And later to Plaza Vieja, the only civic square of colonial times. Absent are churches and government buildings, and is in contrast surrounded by opulent aristocratic 17th century residences. Here we'll visit an important center for the visual arts.

Group welcome lunch at Restaurante El Templete. This bayside fish joint is the latest newcomer to the city’s list of upscale eateries. Basque chef Arkaitx Etxarte does delightful things with seafood. It sits near its namesake temple that marks the spot where the city of La Habana was founded in 1519. Overlooking the harbor, it features two dining spaces: an outdoor alfresco area accommodated under a large awning, and a pleasant indoor dining room with starched tablecloths, expensive-looking wine glasses and cutlery. The quality of the food lives up to its pretentious decor. Shrimp and lobster spearhead its seafood specialties. Many tour participants return to this eatery during their free time.


Island artist Víctor Manuel's Gitana Tropical, known as the Cuban Mona Lisa, was painted in Paris in 1929.

Followed by a private guided tour of the Palacio de Bellas Artes [Palace of Fine Arts] dedicated exclusively to housing Cuban art spanning three centuries. Sections are devoted to landscape, religious subjects and narrative scenes of Cuban life. A gallery devoted to the 1970s displays the latest generation of Cuban artists whose works reflect the strong symbolic imagery prevalent in recent decades. Together the exhibits account for the richness of the island's Spanish, French, Chinese, African and Aboriginal cultural roots. Notable works include those of René Portocarrero and Wilfredo Lam.

Return to your hotel to relax and freshen up.

Now for a special group dinner at Restaurante La Divina Pastora. This seafood palace sets just behind the big cannons below Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña where Che Guevara established his headquarters after the Revolution came to power in 1959 – four hundred years after it was built on the backs of African slaves and endentured European laborers. La Divina is noted for its cocktails, good service and live music. You'll eat near the water on the north side of Havana Harbor overlooking Old Havana to the south.

Highlight We witness a most dramatic ceremony – El Cañonazo – the Firing of the 9PM Cannon at the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña. This enchanting colonial reenactment dates back to 1519 when the city of Havana was enclosed by a tall thick rock wall to ward off attacks from pirates and the English. The cannon firing signaled the closing of the city gates for the night. If you were outside at the time, you were in "vedado" or the forbidden zone. Today Vedado is an important cultural hub and beautiful section of modern Havana.

Incredible detail hallmarks the Maqueta de La Habana Vieja. It's a great way to get a sense of the city.

Decorative mail drop box in Old Havana.

Inside view of the dome of El Capitolio.

Exterior and interior of the Cathedral of Havana initiated by Jesuits in 1748 and completed in 1777. Click photos for larger view.

Streets are alive with music.

Example of restoration in Old Havana.

Street pantomime in Old Havana.

Havana's former Capital building is today home to the Academy of Science (founded by Antonio Núñez Jiménez), and an internet cafe.

Domed ceiling at the Museum of the Revolution.

Domed ceiling of the Museum of the Revolution. Click photo to enlarge.

Entrance to Palacio de Bellas Artes in Havana.

Entrance to the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Sculpture in front of the Museum of Fine Arts in Havana.

Modernist sculpture by noted Cuban artist Rita Longa stands outside the entrance to Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Why is this photo of John Lennon here? Click it to find out.

Left Striking 15 meter (49 foot) mosaic tile mural at the entrance of Museo Bellas Artes.

Ferryboat traversing Havana harbor to the municipality of Regla.

Regla's church honors a black goddess who protects fishers and sailors.

Yoruban "Virgen de Regla" Yemayá is paraded across the community on the Day of All Saints.

Cuban youth snake dance in the island's annual Festival – a Latin America tradition, also with strong Afrocuban influences.

Details from two stone monuments in Havana honoring US civil rights heroes Malcolm X and Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

Cuban cane cutters dance from the 1930s.

1930s photo of a Cuban sugar cane cutters dance. Island music and movement has its origins in labor combined with the admixture of African and Spanish cultures known as syncretism. Modern machete dance below based on sugar heritage.

Modern Cuban machete dance.

Day 3

Monday

Ornithology review and urban nature

You're a guest this evening at the Hotel Nacional's dramatic Cabaret Parisién floorshow, a favorite of island visitors for decades. Click photo for large view.

Note on transportation During your many excursions in the capital, and beyond, your guide provides ongoing historical commentary for all points of interest. We want you to learn everything about our beautiful island. Please don't be shy to ask any question about what you see while on the bus.

War reporter, activist, man of letters, journalist and titan author Ernest Hemingway.

War reporter, activist, man of letters, journalist and literary titan Ernest Hemingway.

This morning we're off to visit Finca Vigía [Lookout Farm] where North America's literary giant Ernest Hemingway spent twenty-one of his most important and productive years penning building blocks of English literature. Claimed by both the United States and Cuba as their son, it was Hemingway himself who declared the island his true home. The house has been preserved just as it was when Hemingway lived there. You'll see his personal objects, thousands of books and photographs, as well as some "trophies" bagged on his frequent safaris.

In preparation for this afternoon's activity, watch this riveting British Broadcasting Corporation feature from Around the World in 80 Gardens on urban organic farms in Havana including a walk-through of Vivero Organopónico Alamar by fab host Monty Don.

We'll visit the UBPC Vivero Organopónico Alamar, 15 km (9.3 miles) east of Havana. It's one of the most successful urban organic farms in Cuba raising ornamental plants, medicinal herbs, and millions of seedlings for neighboring residential and collective farms. Established in the early 1990s, the Alamar cooperative has over 20 members and provides a range of healthy, organic vegetables to the community. Produce is raised employing the practice of permaculture: no chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Instead, natural biological methods are used to nourish the soil, frustrate pests and conserve water. The result is an increased rate of yield and reduced costs.

Next we'll visit Cojímar, a small costal fishing village northeast of Havana where Ernest Hemingway kept his boat during the decades he lived in Cuba. Cojímar was the inspiration for Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea.

La Terraza restaurant and bar in Cojímar.

We'll stop and have lunch at Hemingway's favorite bar and diner La Terraza. Our suggestion is a glass of ice cold "Cristal" cerveza, or lemonade, and camarones al ajillo [garlic shrimp] fried in olive oil, and seasoned with garlic and parsley – delicious! The young boy in the novel "Old Man and the Sea," Manolin, was based on the young son of the original owner of La Terraza, Manolito.

Next we'll visit the Municipality of Regla. This Afrocuban community has a long, rich and still active tradition of African-inspired religions.

We'll visit Regla's church dedicated to the black "Virgen de Regla" Yemayá, the African goddess of the sea in the Yoruba religion and the patron saint of sailors.

We'll tour the Museo Municipal de Regla and learn of the origins of this unique community and its Afrocuban cultures.

Return to your hotel to freshen up and relax.

Special dinner and dance show We'll dine at the outdoor barbecue Restaurante La Barraca on the paradise-like grounds of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba atop a bluff overlooking Havana city and the Caribbean. Afterwards we'll attend a musical review at the Cabaret Parisién and relish this colorful dance extravaganza (included in tour cost).

Note Depending upon game and performance schedules we'll attend a Cuban baseball event and spend an evening with the Buena Vista Social Club.v

Orchid. Exotic and unique plants and animals thrive in Cuba.

Eggshells are affixed to tips of medicinal aloe vera plant to thwart bird attack.

Cuban organic gardening triumphs


	There are over 7,000 organopónicos across the island. This number increases daily.

	More than 200 gardens in Havana supply its citizens with more than 90% of their fruit and vegetables.

	Since 1994, yields have increased from 4 to 24 kg per sq meter (8.8 to 53 lbs per 1.2 sq yard).

	Over 900 million kilograms (one million tons) of food per year is produced on organopónicos: about 82 kg (180 lbs) per person.

	Today, 35,000 hectares (85,500 acres) of land is being used for urban agriculture in Havana.

	The urban agricultural workforce in Havana has grown from 9,000 in 1999 to more than 44,000 in 2006.

	Chemical pesticides and fertilizers are banned in the city of Havana.

	Urban gardens build communities resulting in jobs, better health, greater food supplies, urban beautification, reduction in fuel, energy and chemical use, improved safety, and ecological diversity locally.

Fresh from the farm.

Havana youth sells fresh organic garlic on Havana street.

Havana youth sells organic onions from urban gardens on Havana street.


An Afrocuban dance performance. Photos Barbara Fudge.

Consider climbing to the top of a mogote!

Gundlach's hawk is endemic to Cuba.

Cuban Trogon (Tocororo), Priotelus temnurus, is Cuba's national bird.

Cuban Trogon [Tocororo locally], Priotelus temnurus, is Cuba's national bird – its colors match the red, blue and white of the national flag. It is endemic to the island.

Restaurante El Palenque de los Cimarrones is located in the mouth of a cave at the base of a mogote.

Restaurante El Palenque de los Cimarrones slave dance.

In the countryside many youth are engaged in organic agriculture combined with rigorous academics. Animal partners help out on the farm. Eco-friendly practices result in tasty produce and high productivity.

Vinales valley

Morning fog rests low beneath palms in Viñales Valley.

Day 4

Tuesday

Nature and agriculture in western Cuba

A view of the spectacular Viñales Valley.

	Morning trip to Viñales Valley. This picturesque town in the heart of Cuba's prime tobacco-growing region sits in the center of a flat valley surrounded by stunning karst hill formations known locally as mogotes. Mogotes are irregularly shaped steep-sided hills that can rise as high as 300m (985 ft) and have bases ranging from just a few hundred yards in diameter to as much as a couple of kilometers in length. The mogotes comprise part of the Sierra de los Órganos mountain chain, and were formed by eons of erosion. Many consider this the most beautiful nature spot in Cuba.

	We take a magical walking and boat tour through the Cueva del Indio used by Guanahatabey Amerindians as a burial site, and later as a refuge from Spanish slavers. Within you'll witness earth's natural and social history from the Jurassic to the Paleolithic era and beyond.

	Lunch at Restaurante El Palenque de los Cimarrones. It is located in the mouth of a cave at the base of a mogote. A palenque was a place of refuge for escaped slaves. We access the eatery on a path that takes us through another narrow cave. At the end of the path we're met by a re-creation of a nomadic home used by runaway slaves who hid and lived here. We'll enjoy a brief Afrocuban music and dance performance typical of the slave era. Now at the restaurant we'll dine on slow-roasted entrées and side dishes reflecting the food of the cimarrón [runaway slave.] In the evenings, the restaurant doubles as a popular disco.

	Four kilometers from Viñales village, on one side of the Dos Hermanas [Two Sisters] mogote, stands the Mural de la Prehistoria [Mural of Prehistory], an impressive 120-meter high fresco painted in 1961 by Cuban artist Leovigildo González, a student of the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. Depicted are the animals and other creatures that lived in the valley in prehistoric times. The mural pays tribute to the Darwinian perspective of evolution. We'll dine on traditional cuisine and the mural.

	Meet with local farmers on their small tobacco plantations. Learn first hand the complexities of growing and harvesting the best quality tobacco leaves in the world.

	Free time in Viñales village to explore at your leisure the open-air craft market, the Parque Martí, the Church, and other interesting sites of this charming colonial town.

	Return to you hotel in Havana to rest up and relax.

	Dinner tonight is not included in tour package. Your guide is available to recommend eateries for every taste and budget.

	Evening entertainment options Casa de la Amistad is one of the best settings to listen to great traditional music in a welcoming friendly atmosphere. You'll enjoy the classical son group, La Peña del Chan Chan perform up-tempo salsa and bolero. Dance with Cubans and foreign visitors on the veranda or in the beautiful gardens of Casa de la Amistad's spectacular mansion facilities (entrance fee is 3.00 CUC and is not included in tour cost). Note Depending upon game and performance schedules we'll attend a Cuban baseball event and spend an evening with the Buena Vista Social Club.

Cuban bee hummingbird, known locally as a zunzún, is the world's smallest bird and lives in this region, click here to learn more.

Mural de la Prehistoria [Mural of Prehistory] in Viñales.

Mural de la Prehistoria [Mural of Prehistory] commissioned by Fidel Castro in 1961. Artist Leovigildo González was a student of Mexican great Mexican muralist Diego Rivera.

We'll learn about the cultivation and processing of tobacco from seed to leaf culminating in the world's most famous cigars.

Inside the Cueva del Indio Pinar del Río.

A river runs through the Cueva del Indio used by the Guanahatabey Amerindians as a burial site and a refuge from the Spaniards.

Viñales church in the town's Plaza Martí. Valle de Viñales was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Entrance to the Casa de la Amistad.

Left The horse remains a common form of transportation in the countryside.

Approaching Villa Guamá by boat.

CUBAN CROCODILE HATCHLING emerges from egg. The highly endangered Crocodylus rhombifer is found only in Cuba's Zapata Swamp and the Isle of Youth, though it formerly ranged throughout the Caribbean. It is unique from other species, distinguished by its brighter adult colors, rougher, more pebbled scales, and long strong legs. It jumps to feed by thrusting its powerful tail. It can leap up to four-and-a-half meters (15 feet) from the water to snatch arboreal animals such as jutías from overhanging branches. It is the most terrestrial, aggressive and intelligent of crocodilians. It exhibits pack-hunting behavior. It has blunt rear teeth used to smash turtle shells. It favors freshwater habitats: swamps, marshes, and rivers and rarely swims in saltwater. Today, barely 4,500 Cuban crocodiles remain in the wild.

La jutía, the island's largest endemic mammal, is a rodent the size of a cocker spaniel. These gentle tree-dwelling vegetarians are the preferred breakfast of the fierce Cuban crocodile. Cubans sometimes eat jutías, sautéed in honey and nuts.

The Cuban green turtle is high on the Cuban crocodile menu. The Crocodylus rhombifer evolved blunt rear teeth and strong jaws to crunch Testudines shells.

Flamingos are found in Guamá's lagoons and swamps. They too serve as a crocodile entrée.

Day 5

Wednesday

Boca de Guamá and the city of Cienfuegos

Cuban youth score highest in Latin America in all academic indices. Photo National Geographic Society

Early morning departure to the city of Cienfuegos, known as the Pearl of the South.

En route we stop at Boca de Guamá on the Península Zapata. We'll visit a Crocodile breeding farm. About ten thousand specimens of 16 species of crocodiles are raised here. We'll view the Cuban [Criadero de cocodrilos] and American species as they sleep, feed and wrestle in the oozing mud – a shag carpet for Cuban crocs.

We'll enjoy lunch at the Guamá restaurant, which features crocodile on its carte du jour, among other dishes.

Reconstruction of an Indian village. The name Laguna del Tesoro [Treasure Lagoon] derives from the practice of the Ciboney Indians who gathered at the lake to toss ritual offerings into its waters. The Spanish, in their lust for gold, desperately searched for these native tributes, thinking perhaps gold was among the gifts to their gods.

We'll take a boat ride to Laguna del Tesoro [Treasure lagoon]. It measures 92 square kilometers (35.5 square miles) and is the largest natural body of fresh water in Cuba. We'll journey down a narrow cannel some two kilometers (1.2 miles) before entering open waters. We'll approach a series of small islands. Set among them is Villa Guamá, a reproduction of a Taíno Indian village, typical of Cuba's original inhabitants. The great Cuban sculptor Rita Longa Aróstegui contributed 26 clay figures to the encampment reflecting the daily life of Aboriginals. The cannel, lake and islands are brimming with endemic and migratory birds. Mornings in Guamá explode in a cacophony of avian song.

Onwards to Cienfuegos founded by French immigrants at the beginning of the 19th century. The city is renowned for its wealth of stunning neo-classical buildings.


	Click image to enlarge.

Upon arrival, your guide will recount the story of the origins of this beautiful cosmopolitan city You'll walk its main Plaza Martí where the ceremony of its foundation took place, as do many important events still today. We'll visit such neoclassical buildings as the Cathedral built with donations from wealthy slave owning families – enduring names like Lebranc, Albi, and Terry. Inside the Cathedral a marvelously rendered stained glass mural of the Twelve Apostles imported from Paris will awe you. The original machinery of the Cathedral's tower clock was also crafted in France and keeps on ticking to this day.

Onward to Trinidad de Cuba to check-in to your all-inclusive resort hotel Brisas Del Mar.

Dinner, grill, snackbar and beverages are included at your hotel.

The balance of the evening is free for you to relax and enjoy the amenities of your hotel, wander the safe clean boulevards of Cienfuegos, or check out the local entertainment scene. Your guide will keep you posted on local events.

Cienfuegos also has a Malecón seawall.

Architectural detail of old building in Cienfuegos

Architectural detailing on Cienfuegos heritage building.

Cienfuegos, founded by French colonists, has a replica of the Arc de Triomphe in its central plaza.

Cienfuegos' Teatro Tomas Terry was built in 1889

Teatro Tomás Terry was built in 1889 by the sons of Tomás Terry (a Venezuelan immigrant who became wealthy off the slave trade and later as mayor of the city). It is clad in Carrara marble; sports carved wooden seats, ornate ironwork, and an impressive romantic fresco on its arched ceiling. It once hosted the likes of Enrico Caruso and Sarah Bernhardt.

Ciefuegos Cathedral.

Construction of the Cathedral of Cienfuegos took over three decades, from 1833 to 1869.

Mansion in Cienfuegos.

Cienfuegos' Club Náutico specializes in seafood delights.

FIRST HERO OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE
Taíno Indian Chief Hatuey from the island of Hispanolia traveled to and warned his Cuban counterparts about the horrific dangers of the impending Spanish invasion in the year 1511. Read about his legendary struggle – that of the premier independence and resistance fighter in our Americas who staked his life for freedom from foreign occupation and thralldom.

Trinidad's Manaca Iznaga tower was built in 1816 to watch over cane-field slaves. Its 45 meters high and was for a century the tallest structure on the island.

Musicians (and kids) play on the Playa Ancón.

Cuban beach boy

Sixth generation member of the Santander family spins decorative pots at centuries-old workshop.

Fisher returns home with catch from Península de Ancón near your beach resort. Sea life thrives in the clean ocean waters surrounding Trinidad.

Sunset on Trinidad's Playa Ancón as viewed from your resort hotel.

Day 6

Thursday

Getting to know Trinidad and its people

We'll explore on foot the historic central plaza of Trinidad de Cuba. Its 16th century edifices are the most pristine and unblemished on the island. Road access to Trinidad happened after 1959. Prior to that it was available by ship and sea.

	This morning we explore one of the oldest cities founded by the Spaniards in the West Indies, Trinidad de Cuba, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. It was established in 1514 on orders of the conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar who traveled to Cuba with Columbus in 1493. It was from Trinidad de Cuba that conquistador Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro (1485–1547) launched his attack on the Aztec Empire, toppling its capital Tenochtitlan, the world's largest, most opulent and hygienic metropolis of the day.

	We visit its Plaza Mayor, Museum of Architecture, Museum of the Romantic Era, the main town parish and other amazing sites, some dating back centuries.

	We have free time to wander the streets of Trinidad's historical center and examine the oldest architecture in the Americas, and inspect local art and shop for souvenirs.

	Trinidad is well known for its pottery makers. We'll meet a family that has been passing on the tradition for generations: the Santanders.

	We hop back on to our bus and stop at a mirador (lookout) overlooking the Valle de los Ingenios [Sugar Mill Valley], also an UNESCO World Heritage Site, where sugar slave barons constructed their lavish countryside mansions and huge refineries [ingenios]. They amassed great riches off the backs of thousands of African slaves putting their bank accounts on par with the Warren Buffetts and Paul Allens of today.

	The balance of the day is free for you to enjoy the amenities of your all-inclusive beach resort – and the beach!

	Evening entertainment options Explore the sea and beach. Enjoy your hotel amenities. Or, take a taxi into town ramble the lively streets of Trinidad. How about live Cuban popular music on steps of Casa de la Música or Casa de la Trova – both great sound venues and opportunities to dance with Cubans and your tour companions. Your guide will make it happen for the asking.

Trinidad girl clad in flower and flag.

Young person staffs farmers market.

Left Cuban youths ride a horse on Playa Ancón. Above A boy and his prize piglet.

Cuban cane cutter. Sugar was king in Cuba for centuries. Spaniards introduced the sweetener in 1512. It enriched conquistadors and nobles and helped make the island wealthiest nation in Latin America – more so than all the gold and silver extracted from Peru and Chile. The crop was the engine for the African slave trade, redefining ownership of human beings along color lines for the first time in history. Today sugar plays a greatly diminished role in the economy. Click photo to enlarge.

The Valle de los Ingenios [Sugar Mill Valley] brought untold riches to select families. You'll see their mansions and monuments. The region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, separate from the city of Trinidad de Cuba. The latter was granted UNESCO status based upon its large inventory of intact Spanish colonial-era structures.

Fresh water pool on the way to Topes de Collantes. The Escambray Mountains are located in central Cuba and form the second largest range on the island after the Sierra Maestra in the eastern province of Guantánamo.

A Soviet Army truck is deployed to educate about nature. You'll ride in one to the top of the Escambray Mountains.

Peasant hut in the high altitude jungles of Topes de Collantes.

Animal partners help out on the farm. Eco-friendly practices result in tasty organic produce and high productivity.

The elegant El Patio Restaurant.

Farewell dinner at El Patio Restaurant.

Day 7

Friday

Mountaintop adventure, descent into Havana

Your resort hotel in Trinidad de Cuba is located on the tip of Península de Ancón. Sea life thrives in the surrounding Caribbean waters. Sugar white sand beaches are a joy for relaxation and reflection.


Topes de Collantes National Park in central Cuba's Escambray Mountains is the perfect environment to spot the Cuban parakeet, Fernandina's flicker, the Cuban parrot, and the Cuban pygmy owl (about the size of a robin).

	This morning we board Soviet Army trucks to climb the peaks of Topes de Collantes in the Escambray Mountains. The Escambrays comprise the island's second highest range, reaching to 3,700 feet atop Pico San Juan. The Escambrays are home to small villages and a true delight for birders and naturalists alike. Dramatic slopes are swathed in Caribbean pines, ancient tree ferns, bamboo and eucalyptus

	Upon arrival at Hacienda Codina, an old Spanish coffee plantation, we'll enjoy a traditional Cuban lunch, followed by a walking tour of the area to admire the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the animals and plants it hosts.

	After some exploration by foot, we descend the mountain and return to Havana.

	We check-in to our Hotel Telégrafo. You have time to freshen up and relax.

	Farewell group dinner with you tour guide and chauffer at the ever-popular best food joint in Old Havana Restaurante El Patio. Located in Cathedral Square, in the heart of Havana's colonial district, the eatery is housed in a beautiful 18th century residence, the former Palace of "Marqués de Aguas Claras." Construction began in 1751 and ended in 1755, with distinguishing design features that makes the domicile one of the most interesting Havana architectural examples of its period. El Patio's menu will please the most diverse tastes. It offers stellar service and tasty international cuisine. Relish the occasion to reflect upon your best and most memorable moments on the island.

	Note Depending upon game and performance schedules we'll attend a Cuban baseball event and spend an evening with the Buena Vista Social Club.

	Don't stay up too late. You have an airplane to catch early next morning.

Nature trekking and bird watching.

Enjoy a traditional lunch at Hacienda Codina, once a Spanish coffee plantation.

Proud father in Trinidad de Cuba. Islanders come in all colors and are proud of it.

Cuban billboard reads: 200 million kids in the world sleep in the streets, none of them are Cuban.

Island billboard reads: 200 million kids in the world sleep in the streets, none of them are Cuban.

"TO KNOW how to read is to know how to walk. To know how to write is to know how to climb." – José Martí, hero of Cuban independence. Click here to learn more about the life of Cuba's founding father José Martí.

Cuba is home to scores of lizard species. They are ubiquitous. You'll see them everywhere – perhaps while in the countryside lounging on a sink, tub or toilet. They don't bite unless grabbed. They are not poisonous or aggressive.

KEEP IN TOUCH with your new Cuban friends – exchange email addresses! Bring some business cards to pass out on the island. Take pictures and keep a journal. Upon your return, we'll post them on this website for all to see and enjoy.

Day 8

Saturday

Goodbye Cuba

United smiles and colors of Cuba.

We'll miss you and hope you return soon!


Old Cuban saying, "a true friend remembers the song in your heart when you have forgotten the lyrics."

	Morning transfer to Havana's José Martí International Airport for your return home. Don't forget to save 25.00 CUC for your Cuban airport departure fee and some money for meals on the airplane.

	Want to stay longer in Cuba following your tour? Let us know and we will help make it happen at a price you can afford.


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