17/05/2016
HAVANA ART TOUR
5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS
FROM US$3,583
CONNECT WITH THE
CULTURE & ART
Havana Art Tour
DEPARTS ON FRIDAYS FROM NEW YORK (JFK)
HavanaArt Tour is a comprehensive overview of Havana’s intricate art scene, this five-day tour is a complete cultural immersion. Find the true meaning of “People-to-People” as you hear stories straight from artists whose works fill you with awe; try your hand - and feet - at a salsa routine; and learn the mysterious history of the beautifully restored buildings of Cuba’s capital city. Spend a day at eco-village Las Terrazas, where innovative locals preserve sustainable landscapes they helped revitalize. Experience the many forms art can take - and gain an appreciation of Cuban expression deeper than even the impression this storied city will leave you.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
Arrive at José Martí International Airport, where you will be met by your tour guide. Check in at your home for the duration of your stay, the Meliá Cohiba, before setting off for your first taste of Havana. Drinks and appetizers at Las Tres Monedas lounge, owned by acclaimed contemporary artist Kadir Lopez Nieves, serves as your introduction to the Cuban capital’s vibrant art scene. Ask the artist himself about the works you’ll admire, then catch a ride in an antique car to tonight’s welcome dinner, where your driver will continue to entertain with tales of adventures with his classic vehicle over the years. (S, D)
DAY 2: ART & ARCHITECTURE IN HAVANA
Start your day with a hearty breakfast, then on to UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Havana for a walking tour of the restored colonial buildings of its four main squares. Learn their legacy in art and history from your knowledgeable architect-guide. Stop at a graphic art studio and hear from local artists how traditional machinery is still used today. Later, experience living art with an interactive salsa lesson, working up an appetite for the light lunch you’ll be having at a neighborhood restaurant. After lunch, it’s off to La Casa de la Cultura, a community center for the arts. Revive with some afternoon downtime at the hotel, then head to one of the city’s many spirited lounges for a live jazz performance, blending Afro-Cuban beats and impromptu rhythms. Finish the evening outdoors, dining with your fellow travelers in a restaurant garden. (B, L, D)
DAY 3: HAVANA ART SCENE
A full day’s immersion into local culture begins at the Cuban Fine Arts Museum. Explore four floors’ worth of national masterpieces as your guide provides insight into the various movements of art on display. From there, journey outside the city to Ernest Hemingway’s former residence, Finca Vigia - the “Lookout House” - where the author penned classics For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea. Refresh with lunch at one of the area restaurants, then become entranced by an Afro-flamenco dance and music show. Next, a tour of UNESCO-honored Yoan Capote’s studio lets you meet the man behind the art. Listen as he recounts his personal experiences and challenges while you browse his applauded sculptures. Head back to the hotel to get ready for a night of mingling: first, with prominent local artists after-hours at a Havana art gallery showcasing their works, then with your group of burgeoning aficionados during dinner nearby. (B, L, D)
DAY 4: LAS TERRAZAS & HAVANA
A scenic drive across the Cuban countryside brings you to the self-sustained eco-village of Las Terrazas. Search for the national bird, the distinctly marked tocororo, as you pass the earliest surviving coffee plantations on the island, learning about the preservation efforts of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve from conservationist and artist terraceros. Try the local brew before a riverside lunch, the serene waters and lush forests a picturesque backdrop for your meal. Return to Havana for a visit to Fusterlandia, the mosaicked brainchild of the “Picasso of the Caribbean,” Jose Fuster. Tonight, compare notes over favorite artworks at a farewell dinner at one of the capital’s elegant eateries. A memorable performance by the famous Buena Vista Social Club—icons of the 1950s Cuban music scene—concludes your final evening. (B, L, D)
DAY 5: DEPARTURE
Say farewell to Cuba, and transfer to the airport for your return flight to New York. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Panoramic Tour of Havana
American Antique Car Ride
Old Havana Architectural Walking Tour
Jose Fuster’s Community Art Project
Visit local artists and sculptors
Salsa Lesson
Day Trip to Las Terrazas Nature Preserve
Jazz Performance over drinks
Interactive Visit to a Cultural House
Visit to Hemingway’s house, Finca Vigia
Habana Compas, Afro-Flamenco Dance Performance
4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 4 Dinners
TOUR DATES
8/19/16 - 8/23/16, 9/9/16 - 9/13/16,
9/23/16 - 9/27/16, 10/7/16 - 10/11/16,
10/21/16 - 10/25/16
PACKAGE PRICE IS PER PERSON AND INCLUDES IN THE PROGRAM:
Roundtrip charter flight from New York (JFK) to Havana
One checked luggage and one carry-on bag per person
(up to 44 pounds of cumulative weight)
4-night hotel accommodations at a Havana hotel
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Two bottles of water per person, per day
Transportation with driver per itinerary
24-hour Tour Director to accompany the group
Cuban local guide services per itinerary
Cuban Tourist Visa
Activities and visits as indicated
Cuban Medical Insurance (excluding pre-existing conditions)
All gratuities for porterage, wait staff, local guide, and driver
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM:
Airfare to/from home city and New York (JFK)
Tips for housekeeping staff and Tour Director
Extra activities and meals not included in program
Cuban departure tax of $25 per person, payable at airport prior to departure
