Sample Itinerary

Day 1:
• Arrival in Havana
• Check into Hotel Nationale and orientation with representative from insight Cuba
• Dinner at El Aljibe

Day 2:
• Breakfast at the hotel
• In the morning, take part in an exchange with local residents in Old Havana where you will learn the history of the city.
• Participate in a discussion with representatives of the City Historian Office’s radio station Habana Radio.
• Lunch at La Dominica
• Meet with staff and local musicians at the EGREM recording studios. Here you’ll learn about the history of music in Cuba and the recording industry in Cuba today.
• Dinner at the Jazz Café.

Day 3:
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Take part in an exchange at the Guillermo Tomás Music School in Guanabacoa where you will meet with Cuban students and teachers to discuss Cuban music. After your discussion, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Museum of Guanabacoa, to learn the history of Afro Cuban religion & traditions on the island
• Lunch in Old Havana
• After lunch, meet with a local artist at their studio, here you’ll discuss art and what it’s like to be an artist in Cuba today.
• This evening, enjoy dinner at a local paladar. Enjoy your evening tasting authentic Cuban fare, while interacting with the locals.

Day 4:
• Breakfast at the hotel
• After breakfast, your group will participate in a discussion with a local historian regarding domestic community music & art programs
• Lunch in Old Havana
• In the afternoon, you will take part in an exchange with the staff of the Museum of Music. Here, you’ll learn about the history of music and its influence on Cuban life. After the discussion, your group will meet with local musicians
• Before dinner, you will have the unique opportunity to take part in a neighborhood dance workshop where you’ll have the opportunity to learn about dance from the local residents
• Dinner at La Terraza

Day 5:
• Breakfast at the hotel and then depart for Cienfuegos
• Lunch at local establishment
• In Cienfuegos, participate in an exchange with the Choir Cantores de Cienfuegos. Founded 50 years ago by a catholic priest, the choir’s repertoire ranges from the oldest styles of renaissance and baroque to national and international contemporary songs • Depart for Trinidad
• Arrival at hotel followed by dinner

Day 6:
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Take part in an educational walking tour of Trinidad’s historic center with a historian and meet with local residents to learn about local life
• Lunch at Plaza Mayor restaurant
• Meet with the staff of the pottery workshop Taller de Santander. The Santander family has a long tradition in pottery dating back to the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. The family gave their factory to the government and became workers there. With the development of self-employment in the 1990’s, they opened the current location of the pottery workshop where several family members are on-site each day
• In the late afternoon, take part in an exchange with the dancers and musicians of Ballet Folklorico de Trinidad. Your group will learn about the history of Afro-Cuban dance on the island and the training that is offered to help develop youth interested in pursuing a career in dance
• Dinner at a local Paladar

Day 7:
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Depart for Havana
• Lunch in route to Havana at a local eatery
• Farewell dinner
• After dinner, meet with musicians at La Zorra y El Cuervo for a private discussion on the history of Jazz in Cuba

Day 8:
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Departure for airport
• Flight back to the U.S.

Photos courtesy of
Insight Cuba


Hotel Nationale

Havana

Habana Vieja

Music in Old Havana

Cathedral Square

Trinidad