5 NIGHTS IN HAVANA & 2 NIGHTS IN CIENFUEGOS, with a day trip to TRINIDAD

Highlights

• Engage with resident musicians and artists at Callejón de Hamel, a street rife with art displays and public music performances

• Walk through Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage site

• Visit & meet with Cuban artists in their homes or workshops

• Learn about organic farming at Organopoico Vivero

• Meet with representatives from CENESEX, an LGBT advocacy program

• Visit the artist Jose Fustar, also known as the "Picasso of the Caribbean"

• Exchange ideas at Muraleando community project

• Attend a dance session of Ballet Folklorico de Trinidad 

Get acquainted with the romantic city of Havana and its people through interactions with the residents, visiting communities, sharing stories and experiences. Of special interest for our travelers, we will visit several artists and explore the museums and art scene in Havana. We will also have an opportunity to meet with officials and members of the Cuban gay community and learn about their struggles and successes in bringing about an atmosphere of acceptance and in combating HIV. After falling in love with Havana, it's onto Cienfuegos, commonly referred to as "The Pearl of the South", before settling in to soak up Trinidad's colonial charm. While here, you'll walk the cobblestoned streets, mingling with the residents while absorbing the history of this wondrous region.

Call us for additional information and for instruction of how to book this exciting trip. Space is very limited.

Day 1 Sunday April 14th, 2013: Welcome to Cuba!
Fly from Miami to Havana on a charter flight (737 aircraft). Note the flight usually departs at 9:00am with a 5:00am check in time. You may need to overnight at the hotel in Miami airport if you are not from South Florida.
Welcome to Havana! Upon arrival in the dynamic city of Havana, you’ll clear immigration and customs and meet your Cuban host at the airport. On your way to the hotel, discover breathtaking colonial buildings, the picturesque, seaside Malecón and other quintessential sites. You’ll see prominent landmarks, staggering palaces, scenic squares and locals going about their daily routines as you drive through the streets dotted with Russian-built Ladas and a rainbow’s-worth of vintage American cars.
Check-in to the hotel and gather around for a quick orientation with your tour leader.
Then you’ll walk over to Callejon de Hamel, a residential alley turned art project and gathering space for artists in the neighborhood. Sunday is the most festive day in the alley as residents gather to dance and celebrate. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your group at Café Oriente!
(Dinner)

Day 2 Monday April 15th, 2013: Explore Old Havana
Your first morning will start with a stroll through the streets of historic Habana Vieja, exploring the famous Cathedral Square, Plaza de Armas, and the City Museum. The city has been restored to its historic splendor by UNESCO World Heritage; it exudes colonial charm at its finest and is a must-see for all travelers. On your walk you’ll stop by Taller Grafica for a meet and greet with artists and to learn more about arts in Cuba. You will also stop by Casa de Africa, where you will have insight into Afro- Cuban history, music and dance.
Have lunch at a la Dominica in Old Havana
In the afternoon, you will meet with nurses and doctors at a policlinic in Old Havana, where you’ll be able to discuss healthcare provisions in Cuba.
To round off the afternoon, meet with an art historian for a guided educational tour of the Museum of Fine Arts where four centuries of art created on the island is on display; from the colonial period
through the 19th century and 20th century avant-garde, and the new generations since the 1950s up to young artists of the1990s.
Enjoy dinner at La Imprenta and then head to the Morro-Cabana, two fortresses that together, comprise the largest and most powerful defensive complex built by the Spanish in the Americas. After that, enjoy the Cannon Blast Ceremony, one of the oldest traditions in Havana
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 Tuesday April 16th, 2013: Havana
Visit the Organopoico Vivero in Alamar, one of the most successful urban organic farms in Cuba. These organic urban market gardens were created after the Cuban Government decided after the end of the Cold war to give land and water to cooperatives in return for a share of the crops. On your way back to Havana, drive through some of the different neighborhoods of Havana (Playa, Miramar, and Cerro) and learn more about their history and the differences in architecture. Stop by the Literacy museum, to receive insight into the achievements of the Cuban education system. You’ll also stop at a local farmer’s market to view how Cubans buy and sell food. Lunch at Aljibe
In the afternoon, enjoy a special meeting with representatives of CENESEX, the National Center for Sex Education. The center is the primary advocate for the rights of LGBT individuals in Cuba and leads National awareness campaigns on sexual rights and HIV/AIDS education.
To round off the afternoon, visit the Quisicuaba community project, which promotes community participation and cultural development through youth, art, health and family oriented programs. One of their initiatives, amongst others is HIV education and prevention.
Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own at a local paladar. We encourage all participants to take a glimpse into these private restaurants, which are family run and operated out of Cuban homes. Enjoy your evening tasting authentic Cuban fare, while interacting with locals.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4 Wednesday APRIL 18th, 2013: Art and More!
Breakfast at the hotel
Afterwards, drive over to Jaimanitas to see the studio of Jose Fuster, considered “the Picasso of the Caribbean”. Jose engraves, sketches and is also one of Cuba's most original ceramists. As you enter the gray, concrete neighborhood with broken sidewalks and gravel roads, you begin to see ceramic splashes of color as you approach to Jose Fuster's gallery and home. His artwork embodies life in Cuba.
Lunch at La Ferminia. In the afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to exchange creative ideas with several artists at the Muraleando community project. ‘Muraleando’ is the brainchild of several artists that decided to use art to empower their community. They transformed the old facades of their neighborhood into colorful murals, turned dump yards into public parks and even used recycled materials to build their own Arc de Triomphe! Drive back to Havana and stop at Revolutionary Square and University of Havana to view these prominent landmarks. Dinner at La Torre
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5 Thursday APRIL 19th, 2013: Off to Cienfuegos
After breakfast, depart for Cienfuegos province, also known as the "Pearl of the South”. In Cienfuegos, you will be able to see remnants of French style architecture built by immigrants from Bordeaux. The majority of the city however, displays 19th-century early Spanish Enlightenment implementation in urban planning and was declared UNESCO heritage for that reason. Before arriving in Cienfuegos, stop by the town of Palmira, one of the most important Afro-Cuban gathering places. Here you will learn about the history and practice of Afro- Cuban religions. You’ll also enjoy music and a dance performance by folkloric group Obakoso.
Upon arrival in Cienfuegos, you’ll take a brief city tour and enjoy lunch at the ocean-side restaurant former Cienfuegos Yacht Club (Club Naútico de Cienfuegos).
In the afternoon, you’ll have an opportunity to interact with the children’s choir or Cienfuegos
Check-in at hotel and enjoy dinner with the group at the hotel.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 Friday APRIL 20th, 2013: Day trip to Trinidad
Drive over to Trinidad. Start the day with a stroll through the cobblestone streets of Trinidad, nestled in between the Caribbean Sea to the south and the Sierra del Escambray mountain range to the north. You’ll stop at the Museum of Architecture to meet with an expert who will discuss the origin and development of this colonial city. Lunch at Plaza Mayor.
After Lunch, you’ll be treated to a folkloric music and dance session by the Ballet Folklorico de Trinidad. Continue exploration of the Colonial City to meet with several handicraft artists. Return to the Cienfuegos. Enjoy dinner on your own at a local paladar in Cienfuegos.
(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 7 Saturday APRIL 21th, 2013: Return to Havana via Santa Clara
This morning, you’ll check out of the hotel and you’ll start driving towards Santa Clara. In Santa Clara, your group will have the opportunity to visit the Che Guevara museum, a place where Cubans congregate to commemorate the life of this Cuban hero. Lunch en route.
Arrive back in Havana and meet with Queer artist Annete in her home. Discuss life and arts in Cuba. Check into Hotel in Havana. Celebrate your time in Cuba with a special farewell dinner at Café El Patio!
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 Sunday APRIL 22nd, 2013: Adios Cuba!
Check-out and transfer to the airport for your flight back to the U.S
(Breakfast)

*We will make every effort to operate all programs as disclosed. However, circumstances beyond our control may arise which would require an adjustment to the program. We will do all that is possible to avoid such changes but we must reserve the right to make such modifications. Normal cancellation penalties still apply to the program that has been changed.

Rates

Above rates do not include airfare from Miami. Airfare is from Miami and is approximately $600. You may require a night at a hotel in Miami (not included.)

What's Included

• Accommodations for all nights

• All meals (as outlined in itinerary with the exception of paladars).

• Days full of guided activities

• U.S. Treasury Department License and Letter of Authorization

• Insight Cuba tour leader

• A Spanish-speaking Coda representative

• All entrance fees to scheduled activities and events

• All in-country ground transportation, and transfers (with the exception of paladars)

• Travel health insurance, emergency medical evacuation, & trip cancelation coverage (up to $1000)

• Insight Cuba Travel Handbook

• 24 hour emergency service

What's Not Included

• Not Included are tips for local guides, drivers, wait staff, maids and personal incidental costs
• International Charter Flight is not included in the cost of the program:
  Your international flight to Cuba (MIA-HAV) will be issued with an authorized charter company. Flight times are authorized approximately 60-30 days before departure, and flight costs vary month to month, ranging from $400 to $650. Flight cost is inclusive of $50 visa charge,$15 Fed ex charge and $30 Administration fee.
• Miami Hotel is not included:
  If the flight schedule necessitates an overnight in Miami when arriving or departing for you home city, the cost of a hotel in Miami is additional. Coda Tours can make a reservation for you at or near the MIA International Airport.
• Tips are not included:
  Tips for your guide, driver, chambermaids, bell hops and waiters are not included in the program fee. It is important that the group leader collect these funds from the group and pay the tip directly in Cuba or tell the participants that tips are not included and that they should be prepared to pay for this in Cuba.
• Cuban Exit Fee not included:
  $25 Cuban Convertible Peso Exit Fee to be paid upon departure of Cuba (at the airport in Cuba)
  How to book: Please complete a REGISTRATION FORM & fax or email: Fax 561-791-9880. A non-refundable deposit of $275 is required by Insight Cuba to hold your reservation. Cancellation policy: In the event you must cancel a confirmed reservation, the following terms will apply:
  The $275 deposit is non-refundable. Participant may apply the $275 deposit to another Insight Cuba program scheduled to commence no later than 365 days from the date of cancellation, subject to space availability.
  (b) If the cancellation is effective:
  -- 61 days or more prior to the scheduled start date, the Fee paid, less the deposit and any applicable airline cancellation penalties, will be refunded;
  -- 60 to 45 days prior to the scheduled start date, 50% of the Fee will be retained, and the balance, less the deposit and any applicable airline cancelation penalties, will be refunded;
  -- 44 to 31 days prior to the scheduled start date, 75% of the Fee will be retained, and the balance, less the deposit and any applicable airline cancelation penalties, will be refunded;
  -- 30 days or less prior to the scheduled start date, none of the Fee will be refunded.
  The Participant will not be entitled to any refund on account of the participant not participating in or utilizing any portion of the Program, or leaving the Program, for any reason, or on account of any part of the Itinerary and Inclusions being unavailable for reasons beyond Coda Tours’ or IC’s reasonable control.
  Participants are responsible for their transportation to the start location of the Program in the United States or other gateway country. Participants are solely responsible for any loss of airfares and for any airfare or other travel fares, fees, charges, expenses or penalties, that might result from any cancellation of, delay in or change of dates of the Program, change in flight times regardless of the reason for such cancellation, delay or change in dates or at whose initiative.
  There are no exceptions to the cancellation and refund provisions set forth in this Agreement, including without limitation with respect to medical emergencies, and Coda Tours & IC herewith advise that it will not make such exceptions. Coda Tours & IC strongly urge each Participant to purchase trip cancellation insurance in addition to the Travel Medical Evacuation insurance policy that is provided in the cost of the Program. A quotation for Trip Cancellation & Interruption insurance will be provided upon request.

IMPORTANT
*Travel provided by Insight Cuba, a division of Cross-Cultural Solutions; a licensed provider of people-to-people travel. Insight Cuba has been issued a specific people-to-people license pursuant to the requirement that each traveler will have a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities that will result in meaningful interaction between the travelers and individuals in Cuba. In other words, People-to-people travel is purposeful travel and participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful exchange with the Cuban people. Insight Cuba is a division of Cross-Cultural Solutions; an independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1995, and is independent of Coda International Tours Inc. Insight Cuba is the sole organizer, packager and operator of the related transactions to Cuba described on this collateral. Cross-Cultural Solutions is licensed by the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to engage in the travel-related and other transactions incidental to the travel program described on this collateral, and to authorize United States persons to travel on those programs under Cross-Cultural Solution’s auspices. The travel programs described in this brochure provide a full-time schedule of educational exchanges through people-to-people contact. United States law requires that all persons traveling to Cuba to participate in these travel programs adhere to the full-time schedule and imposes upon Insight Cuba the obligation to ensure such adherence.”