Soltura Cuba Travel

03/30/2023

Expressing deep gratitude to the folks at Earth Breeze for the generous donation of a case of their eco-friendly laundry sheets, which we have been able to deliver to various people and projects in Cuba on two recent trips.

This gesture has been deeply appreciated by people in Cuba, who currently experience great difficulty in acquiring the most basic of needs. We hope that things improve in Cuba soon. In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to facilitate this kindness.

Do check out Earth Breeze if you haven't yet. Their products greatly reduce waste, as their packaging is lightweight and biodegradable.

Would you be interested in a trip to Cuba to help bring gifts and donations to community projects and Cuban friends? We've been curating meaningful cultural tours to Cuba since 2008. All of our trips include some degree of immersion into Cuba's art, history, music, and nature. Get a group of friends together and drop us a line!

11/04/2022

Same-sex marriage is now legal in Cuba, and is codified in the constitution! Included with this law come protections for women, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable members of society.

Can the US now give Cuba a break and drop the sanctions? Let's give Cuba a chance to celebrate.

Mariela Castro

10/23/2021

A perspective on the radicalization of Florida Cubans through Spanish-language radio.

In the early 2000's we saw anti-embargo sentiment grow among Florida Cubans. As the old guard passed on, younger generations wanted to reconnect with the land of their grandparents and wanted to facilitate peace. Cuba's harsh post-revolution policies had softened dramatically, and Miami-Havana flights started swelling with families en route to reunite with loved ones.

With Marco Rubio's voice in the previous US president's ear, the tide changed dramatically. A megaphone was handed to those with an anti-diplomacy sentiment, eager to stoke the fire with false claims. There is speculation that the Republican party funneled a lot of money into Cuban exile radio and other media outlets in order to pump misleading rhetoric around communism and socialism and to create a cadre of paranoid Trump fanatics.

It's an interesting read.

The misinformation crisis among South Florida’s Hispanic communities is warping some residents’ understanding of reality — and straining family ties as a result.

09/24/2021

A personal thank you + the most generous pre-paid internet bonus is ON - it expires Saturday https://mailchi.mp/f7b550800de3/support-our-friends-in-cuba-9701441

09/10/2021

Cuba to begin reopening for tourism + another Fonoma bonus for donating to a Cuban's prepaid smartphone, providing ease of internet access - https://mailchi.mp/130d06fcc465/support-our-friends-in-cuba-8863177

08/30/2021

59 years of data demonstrate that US sanctions against the Cuban government do nothing more than make Cuban citizens suffer and force the Cuban government to rely on enemies of the United States.

It is time to against

In its first six months the Biden administration has moved to undo much of the damage done by his predecessor’s “America First” unilateralism, realigning U.S. policies more closely with those of its Western allies and resuming some of former President Obama’s approaches to international issu...

08/28/2021

What's going on in Cuba? What went down in early July, how we can help our friends, and the future of tourism in Cuba - https://mailchi.mp/a81fa517fad1/support-our-friends-in-cuba-8840581

07/12/2021

Overturned police cars. Internet and phones shut down for hours at a time across the country. There have been riots in various cities across Cuba. Some Miami Cubans have been pushing for more violence. We are hoping that this is at most a brief instance of pressure cooker letting off steam, and things will settle down soon, but it's currently uncertain.

There is a food shortage. There is an everything shortage. Out of desperation, Cuba opened Matanzas up for Russian tourism in order to help the economy. Predictably, a Covid-19 outbreak has erupted from Matanzas. The death toll has reportedly skyrocketed.

Punitive US policies initiated under the Trump administration and that continue under the Biden administration, coupled with the pandemic, have devastated Cuba's already fragile economy. Inflation has skyrocketed, and shortages make it so that one needs to get in line 24 hours in advance to buy essentials. A roll of tp can cost $20 (almost one month's salary).

Despite what some US media outlets have claimed, the Cuban government has been doing a great job at distributing the vaccine. However, pandemic restrictions like 9pm curfews are pushing people to the edge. Rumors have it that international medical donations are currently sold in government-run retail stores. Add to that the heat of summer, and you've got a recipe for disaster.

After today's riots, Cuban president Díaz-Canel has declared that "good Communists" should oppose rioters in the streets. Meanwhile, Miami Cubans are pushing for a civilian armada to go to Cuba, in effect creating another Mariel boatlift (https://bit.ly/2T2mwOg).

It got ugly on Sunday. Worse than I ever could have imagined in modern Cuba. We'll update you as we receive more information.

06/25/2021

Here is a comprehensive list of ways to support our friends in Cuba, from topping off a cell phone, buying groceries, or signing a petition. Here's how you can act to support our friends in Cuba - https://mailchi.mp/aa893a1c9994/support-our-friends-in-cuba-8114541?e=21b40effb9

Cuba successfully developed their own vaccine. Unfortunately, supply shortages, lack of tourism, and extreme inflation have made life very hard for our friends in Cuba.

05/18/2021

Urgent Appeal: Cuba needs roughly 30 million syringes for their mass Covid vaccination campaign and they're short 20 million. Please help fund the Syringes4Cuba Campaign. https://mailchi.mp/57ab9b95d466/urgent-appeal-syringes4cuba-campaign