Insight cuba brochure by Insight Cuba

D I SC O VER The True Spirit of Cuba

R •

DIS

V CO

•

C U B

DISC O V E R The True Spirit of Cuba S tep off the plane and back in time…

Cuba, an enchanting island brimming with history, culture, and warm, welcoming people, is calling. From its timeless facades of Spanish architecture, to its soulstirring music, to its people, who are as warm and welcoming as its tropical climate, Cuba has a deep-rooted culture all its own. Just 90 miles off the coast of the United States, Cuba is a captivating journey back in time, with nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, cobblestone streets full of classic cars, and a landscape almost untouched by Western influence. And at long last, this unforgettable island nation is legally open to any U.S. citizen through Insight Cuba’s people-to-people license issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury. It’s time to discover Cuba through its people. Join Insight Cuba, the experts in legal, small-group travel to Cuba, as we explore the mystique behind this fascinating country and the gracious, welcoming spirit of the Cuban people.

Music runs through

the heart and soul

of this fascinating country.

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

R •

DIS

V CO

•

C U B

DI S COVER cuba

Why Visit Now? For the past 50 years, Americans have been all but forbidden to travel to Cuba. For only the third time since 1963, travel to this

“I signed up for a tour

because I wanted to go now,

before the United States ends its travel-and-trade embargo

and the island is transformed faster than

you can say, ‘Hard Rock Café Havana.’”

– Joh n Flin n, travel wr iter , San Francisco Chro n ic l e

enigmatic country is possible for any American, and Insight Cuba will take you there in ways no one else can. People-to-people travel to Cuba was first possible in 2000, and we led the way, sending thousands of Americans to Cuba for the first time in decades. In 2003, after only three brief years, travel restrictions were tightened, eliminating people-to-people travel altogether. Fortunately, in 2011, the program was reinstated, and once again any U.S. citizen can legally travel to Cuba with Insight Cuba. But according to many travel experts, now is the time to visit – before restrictions change again, and while this incredible opportunity is still available to Americans.

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

hums with the spirit

of Cuba and its people.

DIS

R •

along Havana’s northern coastline,

C U B

•

El Malecón, the winding seaside esplanade

V CO

DIscover c u b a

With the Experts W e’re the proven leader in legal people-to-people travel.

Insight Cuba has in-country experience that’s unmatched in the industry. As pioneers in people-to-people travel to Cuba, we’ve successfully brought more than 6,000 Americans to this fascinating island country – making us the largest and most highly esteemed organization specializing solely in people-to-people travel to Cuba. The exceptional travel experience we provide is built on more than a decade of detailed research, comprehensive knowledge of Cuba, and our long-established relationships there. We’ve extensively explored Cuba, and our connections and friendships in the country allow us to create unforgettable travel experiences and lifelong memories for our guests. We’re offering more tours, more destinations, more dates, and more exclusive experiences you can’t find anywhere else, putting you face-to-face with the people and places that make Cuba so distinctive.

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

the insigh t cuba di fference

Invaluable Advantage Insight Cuba has such a deep, longstanding connection with Cuba that we’re treated like family there. And when you travel with us, you are too. A trip to Cuba is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Americans, and choosing the right company is critical. Insight Cuba’s highly trained and experienced team is dedicated to providing you with:

Peace of Mind Due to almost 50 years of travel restrictions, travel to Cuba for Americans can seem complicated. We make it easy by taking care of all the details, from beginning to end. You can rest assured knowing your trip is 100 percent legal, so you can focus on discovering Cuba.

The Most Choices Available Backed by more than a decade of experience in Cuba, Insight Cuba offers the most tours and departure dates to more destinations in Cuba, so you can travel when, where, and how you want to this exciting country.

Small Group Size Our average group size is 16 guests, but you’ll never find more than 24. This allows you the opportunity to travel with likeminded people while sharing intimate experiences with our friends in Cuba.

“I believe the program

was the best of what

people-to-people programs are intended to be.”

– B. Bl a d e s

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

t h e i n sig h t c ub a dif f ere n ce

Invaluable Advantage Insight Cuba offers superior programming and guides, exceptional customer service, and the travel experience of a lifetime. Here’s what else you’ll get when you travel with us: Exclusive, Handpicked Experiences We’ve explored every nook and cranny of the country, which has given us a deep understanding of how to create unique experiences with people and places most visitors don’t get to see. Our programming includes exclusive activities you won’t find anywhere else.

A Cuban Guide and INSIGHT CUBA Tour Le ader Discover Cuba with our favorite English-speaking Cuban tour guides, specially chosen for their knowledge and passion for the country they call home. Plus, each tour will be accompanied by an Insight Cuba Tour Leader, who will ensure that your trip meets or exceeds your expectations.

“ The programming and execution of all of our activities

was of the highest caliber,

with people in Cuba to help us unconditionally all along the way.”

Superior Customer Service and Expertise Our customers’ satisfaction is paramount. Every employee serves as a Tour Leader in Cuba, meaning they personally know the same places and faces you’ll see and meet during your visit. Our top priority at Insight Cuba is providing the best travel experience and customer service possible.

– K . Davis

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

FLORIDA

ou r tours

â&#x20AC;&#x160;Incredible Value

Havana

F LY B Matanzas

Vinales Valley

Las Terrazas

Pinar del rio

Remedios

Playa Larga

Insight Cuba invites you to choose from six carefully crafted tours, offering unique access to the people and places the average tourist rarely sees.

THE BAHAMAS

Key West

Santa Clara Cienfuegos

ETW

EEN

H AV

Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an epic, 12-day, coast-to-coast excursion or a

weekend of discovery in Havana, your journey is designed to

inspire meaningful, engaging experiences with the lifelong

residents who give Cuba its spark.

EACH TOUR INCLUDES: First-class accommodations Full schedule of guided people-to-people activities

Trinidad

All meals while in Cuba U.S. Department of the Treasury License and

Camaguey

Letter of Authorization Cuban Guide Insight Cuba Tour Leader Small group size of no more than 24 guests

Baracoa

All entrance fees to scheduled activities and events

Bayamo

All in-country ground transportation, and airport transfers

CAYMAN ISLANDS (U.K.)

santiago de Cuba

Domestic roundtrip airfare in Cuba for tours that require an in-country flight Guaranteed flights from Miami to Cuba and priority

our to urs

handling (flight cost is additional)

c l a ssic c uba

page 1 2

sce n ic c ub a

page 1 4

un discovered c u ba

page 1 6

c ub a n m usic & art

page 1 8

ja zz i n h ava n a

wee ke n d i n havan a

page 2 0 page 2 2

Travel health insurance, emergency medical evacuation, and trip cancellation coverage (up to $1,000)

JAMAICA

HAITI

Insight Cuba Travel Guidebook 24-hour emergency customer-service hotline Not included: Cost of U.S. domestic airfare to Miami and international airfare to Havana, Cuban Visa, baggage fees, and tips. .

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

classic cuba

7 nights

Bu st l i n g H ava na an d c h a r ming Trinidad stir visions of brightly painted colonial buildings, pulsating mambo rhythms, and bustling barrios. This exciting, eight-day tour of Cuba’s most famous cities will add the brushstrokes you’ve been longing to add to the unfinished canvas of your vision of Cuba. Your experience begins in the boisterous harbor city of Havana and ends in the artistic enclave of Trinidad, with a stop in Cienfuegos, a jewel of a city known as “the pearl of the South.” At each destination, a generous Cuban spirit unfolds as the locals open their hearts and shed light on their colorful and often complex way of life.

• CLAS

C CUB

8 days

• CLAS

C CUB

classic cuba

Havana Playa Larga cienfuegos trinid ad

Tour highlights Explore the historic corridors of Old Havana Spark conversation with locals

“I cannot thank you enough for providing

such a rich variety of experiences and contact with people there.

It truly is the trip of a lifetime!”

– Dawn L.

Havana Playa Larga

Engage with the lively youth of Cuba

Cienfuegos Trinidad

Discover Trinidad’s colorful Spanish colonial architecture

M orro Castle and its lighthouse, perched on a seaside fortress at the mouth of the harbor in Old Havana, can be viewed from miles away.

Receive a dose of education in socialized medicine Meet the founder of a world-famous ballet company

Sample Itinerary*

day 1 miami Havana ¡Bienvenidos a Havana!

After clearing immigrations and customs, your Cuban host accompanies you to your hotel in the heart of Havana. Celebrate your arrival in Cuba with an afternoon program orientation and a welcome dinner at the hotel. Meals | Lunch (for a.m. arrivals), Dinner

day 2 Havana

Meet with a local historian and discuss the state of architecture in Havana and restoration efforts throughout the city. Spark a conversation at the Grandparents Home in Old Havana, and learn about the impact of private businesses on Cuba’s economy at a family-owned restaurant called a paladar. After lunch, meet congregation members of a local synagogue to discuss the history of Judaism in Cuba. Wrap up the day at La Casa del Niño y la Niña, a learning facility for kids in troubled neighborhoods. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 3 Havana

Meet the director of the Literacy Museum to learn about Cuba’s incredible literacy campaign and how the island’s youth mobilized across the country to teach rural inhabitants how to read. Next, hear about the rich history of dance education in Cuba from the founder of the world-famous Spanish Ballet Company, followed by a visit to La Colmenita, a children’s performance group, to chat with students and the director about the balance of studies and family life. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 4 Havana

This morning, we meet with patients, residents, and doctors at a polyclinic in Vedado to learn about socialized medicine and healthcare. After a visit with students at a primary school, the day unfolds in the home of a local artist, where topics of conversation may include freedom of expression, the role of art in popular culture, and the role of national and international organizations in supporting the arts. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 5 havana Playa Larga Cienfuegos Trinidad Today begins in Playa Larga, with a visit to the Korimacao Community Project for underprivileged youth to discuss music education. After lunch, we depart for Cienfuegos, where we’ll meet with Cuban artists at "Art in Your Hands," a cooperative artist center, before arriving in Trinidad. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 6 trinidad

Start the day at the Museum of Architecture to learn about architecture preservation and UNESCO designation. Next it’s on to the Santander’s Family Ceramic Workshop to learn about the history of ceramics in the area and its role as a regional revenue generator. This afternoon we’ll meet performers of the Ballet Folklórico de Trinidad to discuss the history of Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms and movement. Finish the day with a visit to a polyclinic or doctor’s home to discuss socialized medicine and healthcare. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 7 trinidad havana

This morning we’ll head to the community of Palmira to learn about the influence of African traditions and religion on Cuban culture. Next we’ll meet the Cuban children and artistic director from the world-renowned chorus, Coro del Cienfuegos. After lunch we’ll return to Havana to discuss the impact of private businesses on Cuba’s economy with Cuban business owners and a Cuban economist at a paladar, where we’ll have dinner with the owner and his family. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Havana miami ¡Adios Cuba!

After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. Meals | Breakfast

$3,595

prices starting at

For a complete list of dates and prices, please reference pricing card in back of brochure or visit our website – insightcuba.com

*A significant portion of your in-country programming is customized for each group to maximize your cultural experience. Many of the places we visit are not tourist destinations and are thus not always available. Therefore, this program should be considered as a sample only – please keep in mind that your particular tour may vary. Final itineraries are sent to guests one to two weeks prior to departure.

Havana

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

The mecca for tobacco growing in Cuba,

Pinar del Río produces

what many aficionados say

scenic cuba

are the best cigars

in the country – and the world. Viñales Valley

Havana

pinar del río

Sample Itinerary*

day 1 miami Havana ¡Bienvenidos a Havana!

After clearing immigrations and customs, your Cuban host accompanies you to your hotel in the heart of Havana. Get your first taste of Cuba with an afternoon program orientation, and celebrate your arrival with a welcome dinner at the hotel. Meals | Lunch (for a.m. arrivals), Dinner

country’s softer side – rustling tobacco fields, mountain vistas, and farms tended by ox-driven plows – beckons to be explored. Experience both worlds with our eight-day Scenic Cuba Tour through authentic connections with local residents. First, your Cuban guide will help you explore city life in the capital of Havana before voyaging afield to the western province of Pinar del Río, known for its quiet, red-earth pastures and breathtaking national park, Viñales. While these two destinations hit your senses in wildly different ways, the warmth and spirit of their people is steadfast. Lifelong residents reveal the real Cuba to you in ways never before possible.

CUBA

you think you have the raw energy and hustle of Havana figured out, the

C u ba i s a c o u n t ry t h at c a n ’ t be singul arly d ef ined. Just when

7 nights

SCEN

8 days

CUBA •

SCENIC cuba

Havana Viñales Valley Pinar del Río

CEN •S I

days 2–3 Havana

Tour highlights ather with local chefs G and students at Casa de Las Americas Engage with artists along Callejón de Hamel Journey to stunning Sierra del Rosario See the unique limestone formations of the Viñales Valley Learn from guajiros (farmers) about the Cuban tobacco industry

On Day 2, participate in a morning exchange with musicians and artists at Callejón de Hamel (Hamel’s Alley), a Havana street packed with art displays and public music performances. Mid-morning, we’ll gather with Cuban farmers at Vivero Organopónico to learn how organic farming efforts provide food to urban areas. Day 3 starts off with students and professors from a local school to learn about its efforts to preserve Cuba’s cultural and architectural heritage by training local youth in arts, crafts, and theoretical knowledge. Next it’s on to the Compañía de Baile Español ballet dance company to meet the director and discuss the role of dance in Cuban culture. The day concludes with a visit to the Alas de Mariposa, where crafts are created by the community’s elderly women. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 4 Havana

After a morning lecture at the Casa de Las Americas, we’re off to meet with students and chefs at the Culinary School of Havana, where over lunch we’ll discuss challenges Cuban chefs face in procuring fresh foods and the influence of international cooking methods on their business. Later, we’ll visit a local synagogue to discuss the history of Judaism in Cuba and wrap the day up at La Casa del Niño y la Niña, an academic outreach program for kids in troubled neighborhoods. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

days 5–6 Pinar del Río

Our first stop in Pinar del Río is at a project that cares for special needs children. Next, we’ll meet with residents and a family doctor in the La Guabina community to learn about socialized medicine and healthcare. We’ll wrap the day up with a prominent artist in his private studio to discuss art in Cuba and how artists make a living in Cuba. On Day 6, we may get our hands dirty, starting with an exchange with local residents and tobacco farmers about the crop’s history, cultivation, and current role in Cuba’s economy. Later, we’ll sit down with Cuban farmers and growers at the Jardin de Caridad, a privately owned garden, to learn about Cuba’s native plants, flowers, and agriculture. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 7 Havana

Before heading back to bustling Havana, meet residents and leaders from Las Terrazas, a small community and nature reserve situated in Sierra del Rosario. Next, knock at the doors of a distinguished Cuban artist in the fishing village of Jaimanitas to discuss a community beautification project called “Fusterlandia.” Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Havana miami ¡Adios Cuba!

After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. Meals | Breakfast

$3,195

prices starting at

For a complete list of dates and prices, please reference pricing card in back of brochure or visit our website – insightcuba.com

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

UNDI

UBA •

undiscovered cuba

Havana

OVE

santa clara

Remedios

Camagüey

11 nights

ED •

12 days

Bayamo Santiago de Cub a Baracoa

Undiscovered cuba

Havana Santa Clara Remedios C amagüey

Bayamo baracoa

Th e i n t r i gu i n g i sl a n d nat i o n o f Cuba is roughly 780 miles long. It’s a culturally and geographically rich country with virgin forests hugging rustling tobacco fields, colonial cities sprouting from the foot of rugged mountains, and rivers carving blue tentacles into fertile valleys – with the generous, warm spirit of Cuba’s people enhancing your journey every step of the way. We wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to explore it all. In fact, that’s exactly why we’ve introduced our 12-day Undiscovered Cuba Tour. For travelers with a real zest for adventure, this is the ultimate excursion. Follow your Cuban guide on a cross-country tour that gets you behind the scenes and into the art, beats, and everyday lives of the people that give this fascinating country its soul.

santiago de cuba

Tour highlights Experience the beautiful architecture of Old Havana Get familiar with local artists and musicians Gain an insider’s view of Cuban life from both young and old souls Connect with members of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba Engage with farmers, fishermen, and ballet dancers in the community

Sample Itinerary*

day 1–2 miami Havana ¡Bienvenidos a Havana!

Celebrate your arrival in Cuba with an afternoon orientation and welcome dinner on Day 1. Start your second day in Cuba learning about Cuba’s history, before conversing with members and staff at Casa de Los Abuelos, or Grandparents’ Home. After lunch, visit Cabildo Quisicuaba Community Project in Central Havana and learn how a high-risk neighborhood is being transformed by Afro-Cuban art, music, and dance workshops. Finally, get to know children and teachers at an outreach program for kids in troubled neighborhoods. Meals | Day 1: Lunch (for a.m. arrivals), Dinner; Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 3 Havana santa clara

Depart for Santa Clara, where we’ll meet artists from the Saiz Brothers Association of Villa Clara to discuss political expression through alternative art and music, and later, artists from the NaturArte Community Project, an initiative that reclaims and rejuvenates environmentally degraded public lands. This project is a former industrial waste site transformed into a self-sustainable nature-art park and urban farm. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 4 santa clara remedios santa clara

Our journey continues in Remedios, with its striking main plaza and colonial-era churches, where we’ll visit homes of local seamstresses and get an insider’s look into Cuban family life and society. After lunch we’ll learn about the art of cigar-making at a local cigar factory before wrapping up the day in Remedios with a discussion of its history and the impact of “Las Parrandas de Remedios,” one of the Caribbean’s most traditional festivals. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 5 santa clara ciego de avila Camagüey

This morning we’ll set off for Ciega de Avila to meet with students and teachers at a primary school to learn about Cuba’s educational system. After lunch, we’ll continue to Camagüey to chat with prominent local artists about various art forms and how artists earn a living in Cuba. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 6 Camagüey

After a morning with members of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, we’ll meet distinguished local artists to discuss Cuba’s socio-political influences on its art. After lunch, we’ll visit Ballet de Camagüey, founded by renowned ballet instructor Vincentina de la Torre. Wrap up the day chatting with patients and doctors at a local polyclinic about Cuba’s socialized healthcare. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 7 Camagüey Bayamo Santiago de Cuba

Depart this morning for Santiago de Cuba, stopping in the historic city of Bayamo to visit with residents and learn about the city’s history. Get to know singers at the Professional Choir of Bayamo before checking out the Muñequería y Artesanía community project, dedicated to local artists unaffiliated with a cultural institution. We arrive in Santiago de Cuba after dinner. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 8–9 Santiago de Cuba

We’ll start our time in Santiago de Cuba with a discussion of Afro-Cubism at a local artist’s studio. Over the next two days, we’ll get to know local musicians from Centro Provincial de la Música Miguel Matamoros to learn how aspiring Cuban artists earn a living and visit the Museo de Carnival to discuss the history of the slave trade and the influence of African roots on local culture. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 10–11 Baracoa Santiago de Cuba

On Day 10, we’ll depart for the harbor town of Baracoa to discuss the history and challenges of local dance and theater in Cuba with artists and actors. We’ll also visit with factory workers at the Fabrica de Cucuruchos to discuss the influence of regional foods on Cuban culture. After overnighting in Baracoa, we’ll start Day 11 with a morning visit to Proyecto “Proposiciones” to discuss local dance and theater groups. After lunch, we’ll head back to Santiago for a farewell dinner. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12

Santiago de Cuba Miami ¡Adios Cuba!

After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba and board your flight from either Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago de Cuba, or Frank País Airport in Holguin, back to Miami. Meals | Breakfast

$4, 295

prices starting at

For a complete list of dates and prices, please reference pricing card in back of brochure or visit our website – insightcuba.com

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

the U.S. Later, we’ll visit Museo de Carnival to learn about the annual July event, and visit a polyclinic or doctor’s home to discuss Cuba’s socialized healthcare system. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

cuban music & art

Enjoy both at their best on our nine-day Cuban Music & Art Tour, which immerses guests in the cultural scenes of Havana and Santiago de Cuba, the country’s biggest urban hubs. This tour is an extraordinary people-to-people travel experience, full of opportunities to get to know lifelong Cuban residents

T •

M u si c an d a rt f or m t h e h e a rt and so ul of this seductive island.

Get to know local artists in their home studios Peruse Cuba’s most famous photography gallery

who live and breathe artistic expression. Almost untouched by commercialization, Cuba thrives on spontaneity and

Spark dialogue with teachers and students at a vocational art, music, and dance school

planned activities, ranging from recording studio tours to art school visits to encounters with Cuban musicians, chances are you’ll stumble upon at least one live performance on a city street. When you do, lose yourself in the beat and get swept up in the true spirit of Cuba.

santiago de cuba

Tour highlights

Hear musicians jam at La Zorra y El Cuervo

free spirit – especially in the arts. So while your journey includes plenty of

day 6 Santiago de cuba

8 nights

N MU C &

9 days

cu b a n m u sic & a r t

Havana santiago de cuba

CUB

Havana

Sample Itinerary*

day 1 miami Havana ¡Bienvenidos a Cuba!

After your arrival, your Cuban host accompanies you to your hotel in the heart of Havana. Get your first taste of Cuba with an afternoon program orientation, and celebrate your arrival with a welcome dinner at the hotel. Meals | Lunch (for a.m. arrivals), Dinner

day 2 Havana

After breakfast, meet local artists who discuss how they make a living in Cuba. Later, get a snapshot into the lives and work of Cuban photographers at Fototeca, which houses one of the city’s few darkrooms. After lunch, it’s on to La Zorra y El Cuervo, Havana’s famous jazz club, where you’ll meet jazz musicians for a sampling of sounds and rhythms. The day concludes at Egrem recording studios with an intimate discussion about Cuba’s vibrant music industry – and perhaps a live performance. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 3 Havana

The day starts with resident musicians and artists at Callejón de Hamel to learn about how culture, music, arts, and religion can influence community projects in both the U.S. and Cuba. Next, meet with art history experts and artists at the Fine Arts Museum and visit Havana’s Literacy Museum. This afternoon we’ll get to know a prominent independent artist at his Jaimanitas home, where we’ll discuss a host of topics, including the beautification of residential communities using art. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 4 Havana Santiago de cuba

This morning, we’ll meet with students and faculty of Lazos de Sonrisa community project in Havana to learn about how deaf children and adults integrate into society. Next we’ll visit with friends from the local university to talk candidly about life in Havana. After lunch, we’ll chat with independent musicians and artists. We’ll have dinner alongside a Boyeros restaurant owner, learning about private commerce and entrepreneurship, before hopping a domestic flight to Santiago de Cuba. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart for El Oasis Community, a suburb of Santiago de Cuba, to gather at private home studios of local artists and discuss artistic expression in painting, ceramics, and sculpting. Back in Santiago, we’ll chat with students and teachers at the La Tesla de la Joye primary school about the role of education and students’ curriculums in the U.S. and Cuba. Next it’s on to meet members of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) to discuss the role of the arts in society. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 7 Santiago de cuba Havana

This morning we’ll meet with Cuban musicians to discuss how aspiring artists earn a living in both Cuba and the U.S. In the village of Cobre, we’ll visit the Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Cobrea, where Cuban pilgrims make offerings to a statue of a black Madonna. From there, hike alongside a Cuban priest to the Cimarron Slave Memorial for an emotional perspective on Cuba’s history. At the Casa de Cultura de Fernando Ortiz, learn about the influence of African traditions on Cuban culture, before returning to Havana by domestic flight. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Havana

Today, you’ll have a rare chance to meet the founder of the worldfamous Cuban ballet company, who will discuss the history of her company and dance education in Cuba. Later, chat with members of Casa de Africa, a cultural institution dedicated to showcasing Cuba’s African roots. Top off the day visiting with a young Cuban trumpeter and the independent musicians of a jazz collective at a private home and studio in Havana. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Havana miami ¡Adios Cuba!

After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. Meals | Breakfast

$4, 295

prices starting at

For a complete list of dates and prices, please reference pricing card in back of brochure or visit our website – insightcuba.com

day 5 Santiago de cuba

Our first morning in Santiago de Cuba, we’ll get acquainted with Cuba’s educational system – and perhaps enjoy an impromptu performance by pupils – at Escuela Vocacional de Arte José María Heredia, which specializes in art, music, and dance. Next, we’ll chat with independent artists and faculty of the Casa Artex about the impact of religious folk art on communities and culture in Cuba and

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

In eras past, jazz musicians

JAZZ IN HAVANA

in the U.S. and Cuba would travel on the twice-daily ferry between

Havana and New Orleans.

Havana

Matanzas

C uba’s most famous song, “Guantanamera,” has several reported origins, including a poem. Its title means “woman from Guantánamo.”

Sample Itinerary*

day 1 miami Havana ¡Bienvenidos a Cuba!

That’s why we make sure to take you deep into the groove with our Jazz in Havana Tour. We’ve teamed up with JazzTimes Magazine to offer this rare insider plunge into the thriving Cuban jazz and music scene. Immerse yourself for five music-rich days in an inferno of Afro beats, freewheeling jazz, and swirling salsa. When you’re not swaying to a toe-tapping performance, your Cuban guide will usher you behind the scenes to discover just where the beats are rooted and to engage in meaningful, memorable dialogue with musicians, music teachers, producers, and engineers. It’s an extraordinary tour that goes well beyond what you’ll find in any guidebook.

JAZZ •

C u ba’s wo r l d -famo u s mu si c scene is one of its strongest draws.

4 nights

•

5 days

HAVA

jazz in HAVANA

Havana Matanzas

Welcome to Havana! After clearing immigrations and customs, your Cuban guide will accompany you to your hotel in the heart of the city. Later, knock at the doors of distinguished Cuban artist José Fuster, whose community project, known as “Fusterlandia,” is dedicated to beautifying the neighborhood of Jaimanitas. Following an afternoon program orientation, celebrate your arrival in Cuba with a welcome dinner, and then have the unique opportunity to meet with Havana’s jazz musicians and enjoy a live demonstration. Meals | Lunch (for a.m. arrivals), Dinner

Tour highlights E ngage with experts in Cuban jazz Knock at the doors of a distinguished Cuban artist in the Jaimanitas neighborhood Enjoy a private concert at La Zorra y El Cuervo jazz club Visit tap dancers promoting exercise for the community Experience the traditional dancers of a Cuban music group rooted in Matanzas

In partnership with

day 2 Havana

The morning includes a walk through the streets of Old Havana, a famous UNESCO heritage area, en route to meet local artists accompanied by your Cuban guide. Later, join Cuban musicians for a private concert at the famous jazz club La Zorra y El Cuervo – pick up an instrument and join in! In the afternoon, get to know a Cuban papier-mâché artist and the children who participate in his unique after-school art project. In the evening, the beat goes on, with another encounter with some of Havana’s finest jazz players. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 3 Havana Matanzas

This morning we depart for Matanzas, where your first stop is Ediciones Vigia, a publishing house that specializes in handmade books. Afterward, learn about the “Reparadores de Sueño,” or Dream Catchers, a local initiative of the Abraham Lincoln Cultural Center that fosters cultural development among youth. Later, we’ll enjoy a traditional dance performance by members of the Afrocuba de Matanzas, a Cuban music group. In the evening, an expert in Cuban

jazz and prominent musicians will demonstrate the sounds of Havana through a live performance. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 4 havana

Start the day with a visit to Havana’s Literacy Museum to hear how the island’s youth mobilized to teach the rural population how to read. Wrap up the morning alongside Cuban dancers from the Santa Amalia Community Jazz Project. In the afternoon, we’ll meet a renowned jazz musician (and personal friend of Insight Cuba) for an afternoon of discussion and live playing at his home. After dinner, the jazz journey continues with intimate live demonstrations and the opportunity to get to know the people behind the music. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 5 havana miami ¡Adios Cuba!

After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. Meals | Breakfast

$2,695

prices starting at

For a complete list of dates and prices, please reference pricing card in back of brochure or visit our website – insightcuba.com

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

weekend in havana

streets, Havana springs to life with warmth and vivaciousness that never stops taking you by surprise. Cuba’s largest city is an urban metropolis – a place of rambling colonial architecture, endless adventure, and unfettered discovery. It’s where a trip to this Caribbean country, long forbidden to U.S. travelers, truly begins. Our Weekend in Havana Tour is far more than a mere brush with exotic culture – it’s a full-on immersive discovery that allows you to not only experience Cuba’s dynamic rhythm and color, but to dive right in and become part of the canvas.

ANA •

L i k e t h e si z z l i n g sal sa r h ythms that ripple through its cobblestone

3 nights

4 days

Havana

END I K

weekend in havana

WEE

Cuba’s capital city is home to approximately

Tour highlights

2.5 million residents, 15 municipalities, and

Havana

a UNESCO World Heritage Site

in its Habana Vieja neighborhood.

Engage with local artists and musicians Be moved by photographs of Cuba at the famous Fototeca Hear an insider’s view regarding the fascinating African influence on Cuban culture Get behind the scenes of the latest innovative community projects

Sample Itinerary*

day 1 miami Havana ¡Bienvenidos a Cuba!

Day 2 Havana

Following breakfast, sit down with the patients, staff, and director at the Grandparents Home in Old Havana, to learn about care for the elderly and their role in Cuban society. After lunch, get to know a local plastic artist and founder of the Lazaro Project, aimed at teaching kids to create art from recyclable materials like paper and plastic. Stroll through the galleries at Fototeca de Cuba before gathering with members of the Cabildo Quisicuaba Community Project to discuss the influence of African traditions and religion on society and culture. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Havana

This morning, enjoy an exchange with a Cuban economist at a local paladar, where you’ll have the opportunity to discuss the impact of private businesses on Cuba’s economy. Next, knock at the doors of a distinguished Cuban artist in the fishing village of Jaimanitas and learn about a community beautification project called “Fusterlandia.” After lunch, gather with the students and director of the Fundación Antonio Núñez del Hombre to learn about local and environmental community projects. Wrap up your day alongside Cuban dancers from the Santa Amalia Community Project, an initiative aimed at providing exercise and dance for the elderly. Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Havana Miami ¡Adios Cuba!

After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. Meals | Breakfast

$2,095

prices starting at

For a complete list of dates and prices, please reference pricing card in back of brochure or visit our website – insightcuba.com

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

CUST

VEL •

custom group travel

Customized Experiences for Custom Groups

UP TR

select your own days & nights

M GR

custom group travel

Our Custom Group Travel team is ready to help you plan the trip of a lifetime. We’ve designed hundreds of tours for a variety of clients, including: Alumni Associations

Museum Groups

Historical Societies

Affinity Groups

Universities

Art Groups

your group’s schedules, needs, and interests.

hoose from one of six C predesigned itineraries

Families

Music Societies Women’s Groups

Whether you choose a private tour on one of our six popular itineraries or

Design your own private custom tour

Travel Clubs Professional Associations

Lifelong Learning Groups

O u r si n gu l ar f o c u s at I n si g ht Cuba is to create authentic and unforgettable travel to Cuba. If you’re looking to provide a unique travel experience for 15 or more guests, we’ll help craft the ideal trip catered to

customize your own, Insight Cuba has the expertise to create the trip of your

INSIGHT CUBA CUSTOM GROUP BENEFITS

dreams. We handle all aspects of logistics and scheduling, including group

We handle the bookings for your group

bookings, flights, and in-country transit, as well as every detail in between. All

We make it simple

you have to do is make memories of Cuba that your group will cherish forever.

Excellent fundraising opportunity for your organization

“The depth of my gratitude is endless

for the opportunity that you gave me and the 14 Americans on the tour.”

– Lu c i a , C u ba L i b r e c u stom gro u p

The Custom Group Travel Value

A Taste of Cuba

We ’re Licensed So You Don’t Have To Be

with Cuba Libre Restaurant

There are no lengthy and costly applications to complete, lawyers

Guillermo Pernot, chef and owner of Cuba Libre Restaurant,

to hire, or worries whether your trip qualifies as legal travel.

worked with Insight Cuba to craft two unique culinary-focused

As our guests, you are authorized to travel to Cuba under our

trips. He and his wife, Lucia – who also happens to be the

people-to-people, U.S. Department of Treasury-granted license.

great-great-granddaughter of former Cuban President Mario García Menocal – brought a group of 14 Americans to taste the

Handpicked Experiences for Your Group

authentic flavors of Cuba. Highlights included visiting local chefs

You’ll be working with a team of Cuba travel experts who have

at the Cuban Culinary Association, private dinners at paladares,

traveled extensively on the island, personally led numerous

and cooking classes with some of Cuba’s culinary talents.

groups to every province in Cuba, and know how to create a trip that your group will reminisce about for years. Our knowledge of

Cuba Libre is already busy planning its next custom group trip

Cuba and the relations we’ve cultivated for more than a decade

with Insight Cuba. Call us today to get started planning yours.

ensure unique access to people and places the average tourist rarely sees.

Superior Customer Service You’ll have peace of mind knowing our dedicated and expert team will be with you from the first time you contact us until the moment you return home. In Cuba, an Insight Cuba Tour Leader and a Cuban Guide will provide highly personal guidance, and our U.S.-based Travel Specialist team is steadfast in assuring your trip goes smoothly.

Excellent Fundraising Opportunity Many associations and organizations use their trip as a way to raise necessary funds to support their work. It’s an all-around win: Your organization provides a unique member benefit, as well as generates funding for the organization, and everyone gets to discover Cuba! Our Custom Group Travel team will work with you on how to accomplish all of your goals.

Call to speak with a Custom Group Expert or visit our website for more information

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

NCE

O N FID

TRAV

T r avel Wit h Co n fide n ce

WITH

•

Flights & Accommodations Insight Cuba handles all the logistics of your trip to Cuba. When you book online or over the phone, we automatically confirm space on your tour, handle hotel reservations, and reserve your seat on the charter flights to Havana. It’s that simple. Flight Information To provide you with the lowest airfare possible, Insight Cuba does not include airfare in tour prices. We only charge your airfare once it is provided to us by the charter company, roughly 30–60 days prior to departure. We do not mark up airfare, which is common with air-inclusive tours. Please note that costs for the Cuban visa and airline administrative fees will also be collected at the time you are billed for airfare at the current rate. Baggage fees will be applied directly by the charter company at the time of check-in. All guests are responsible for domestic airfare to Miami International Airport, and we usually recommend our guests to arrive in Miami the night before, as many departures and check-in times are early in the morning. The flight from Miami to Havana takes approximately 45 minutes.

Melia Cohiba havan a

About Flights to Cuba Insight Cuba books your international flight to Cuba from Miami using a licensed charter company authorized to provide U.S. citizens with legal flights direct to Cuba. This is why you won’t find these flights available online or through a commercial U.S. airline.

ACCOMMODATIONS Since 2000, Insight Cuba has carefully sought out accommodations that are centrally located and provide the best rooms and service available. In Havana, we usually use the Melia Cohiba or Hotel Presidente depending on your tour, both on the famous Malecón, the winding seaside esplanade. In the provinces, hotel selections are limited and are more representative of the region. Melia Santiago havan a

While the hotels we’ve selected are safe, clean, and often charming, hotel standards in Cuba differ from those elsewhere around the world. So it’s important to keep in mind that traveling there isn’t about your hotel stay; it’s about the opportunity to visit Cuba and the unforgettable experiences it will bring. * For our Undiscovered Cuba tour, your return flight to Miami will depart from Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago de Cuba or Frank Paíz Airport in Holguin.

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

T ravel With Conf idence

Your Travel Dollars Make a Difference When you choose to travel with Insight Cuba, you directly support the independent, not-forprofit work of our parent company, Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS), a recognized leader in international volunteering.

“I love traveling with Insight Cuba

All of our proceeds are used to supplement volunteer travel programs for community development initiatives worldwide. More than 30,000 people have participated in CCS’s

because I know my money

programs since its inception in 1995. Your trip with Insight Cuba not only gives you a lifetime

always goes to a

of memories, it enables CCS volunteers to affordably travel to marginalized communities around the world. There, volunteers help people help themselves and build bridges of cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.

great source.”

— r icha r d E.

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

T r avel Wit h Co n fide n ce

Mentions in the Media Noted for our expertise on Cuba and unwavering commitment to providing a unique travel experience, Insight Cuba has received hundreds of accolades from the most trusted and prestigious sources in travel.

“As part of a newly approved ‘people to people’ tour in Cuba last summer, a group of Americans met with 40 blind Havana residents, who welcomed them with poetry and conversation. Then, Cubans being Cubans, four of them pulled out instruments and within minutes, arms and legs were intertwined as Americans and Cubans danced with abandon in the front yard of Cuba’s National Association for the Blind.” – Da mien Cave, Ne w Yor k Time s, September 11, 2012

M any Cuban children like to pose for a photo – and especially love to see themselves on the digital screen of the camera.

Also Seen in Insight Cuba has also received high praise from these wellknown outlets:

“For half a century the vast majority of Americans have been

barred from traveling to Cuba … With Insight Cuba visitors interact with ordinary Cubans and get a taste of the forbidden fruit.” – Sha sta Da r lin g ton, CNN, Au g u st 11, 2011

“Within minutes of our arrival in the living-room-turned-museum, we're comrades in arms – picking up the finer points of swing, boogieing to vinyl recordings of Sonny Rollins and Dizzy Gillespie, and discovering the true meaning of people to people.” – L au ra Bly, USA Today, Ju n e 22, 2012

“Cuba was remarkable,

Insight Cuba was outstanding,

and I couldn’t wait to book my next trip before I got home.”

– P. Leahy

T ravel With Conf idence

Travel Again Program A t Insight Cuba, our goal is to put a smile on your face with everything we do. Starting with your first inquiry through the moment you fondly recall your trip with friends and family, we’re always working to ensure you have a great travel experience.

To Redeem

We’ve accomplished our goal when you choose to travel

balance due for your specific tour. Only one discount can

with us again. As a way of saying thanks to our loyal travelers, we’ve developed our Insight Cuba Travel Again Program, which includes: FREE round trip international airfare from Miami to Havana for any of our tours 8 days or more in length. Valued between $400 and $585. OR $200 off any of our tours 7 days or less in length

If booking online, please enter Travel Again into the promo code section on the registration page and the coinciding discount will be automatically applied to your invoice. If you prefer to book over the phone with a Travel Specialist, tell us you want to Travel Again.

Terms & Conditions Travel Again Program discounts are applied to the final be applied to any one person. In order for the discount to apply, the person must have traveled with Insight Cuba in the past. Discount is not combinable with any other offers. This program may be changed or withdrawn without prior notice. Insight Cuba will honor all Travel Again Program reservations that are accompanied with a confirmed paid reservation. If there are any questions regarding qualification, a Travel Specialist may contact you.

*Does not include fee for Cuban Visa, administrative fee, baggage fees, or any other applicable fees, charged by the charter airline.

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

NCE

O N FID

TRAV

T r avel Wit h Co n fide n ce

WITH

•

Frequently Asked Questions Insight Cuba offers an unmatched level of travel expertise in Cuba. Find the answers here to a few of your questions, ranging from how to handle your money in Cuba to more info about our excellent guides. For the most comprehensive list, please visit the FAQ section of our website. What are the travel restrictions For Americans?

Who are Insight Cuba’s Cuban guides?

Can I exchange money in Cuba?

Since the introduction of the travel

Our Cuban guides are hand-picked for their

banks, and CADECA bureaus can exchange

ban by the U.S. in 1963, travel to Cuba

expertise and are an excellent resource for

currency (U.S. and Canadian dollars, Euros,

for American citizens has been highly

any questions about Cuban society, history,

British pounds, etc.). Hotels are often

restricted. Traveling to Cuba without a

and culture. Your Cuban guide will work

the most convenient place to exchange

general or specific license authorized by the

to ensure each individual has the most

currency. Be sure to have proper ID

U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

rewarding experience possible. Like a local

(passport) on hand. Due to the official

is illegal for all Americans. Insight Cuba

friend, our guides show you the real Cuba

embargo, U.S.-issued debit/credit cards

provides all guests the authorization to

by providing direct access to the people

are not recognized by Cuban banks, so you

travel under our people-to-people license,

and places most tourists never discover.

must bring a sufficient amount of cash to

Yes. In Cuba, the airport, tourist hotels,

making travel to Cuba 100 percent legal.

cover the entire duration of your trip.

What is people-to-people travel?

Do we travel with a group on Insight Cuba tours?

In 1999, President Clinton implemented

Yes. Our small group size averages 16

What goods can I bring back to the U.S. from Cuba?

people-to-people educational travel, an

guests but is limited to 24, providing the

Due to the official U.S. trade embargo with

initiative that allows Americans to travel to

opportunity to escape crowded tourist

Cuba, the U.S. government only allows

Cuba, via a specific license, issued by the

spots and maximize interaction with the

informational or educational materials,

U.S. Department of the Treasury’s OFAC.

people who know the country best: the

such as books, films, artwork, posters,

All programs under this license include a

locals. Past participants have noted that

photographs, and CDs to be brought back

full-time schedule of educational exchange

one of the favorite parts of their trip was

through customs to the United States.

activities designed to promote meaningful

their camaraderie with fellow travelers,

Agricultural products, such as cigars, rum,

interactions between Americans and

and many have remained in touch long

or coffee, are not permitted, even if they

Cubans. People-to-people travel is not

after their trip.

were purchased at a “duty-free” shop in the Havana airport. Items of Cuban origin

tourist-oriented or self-directed but is both

that are not considered informational or

to visit a wide scope of organizations,

Is Cuba safe for American travelers?

institutions, and community projects that

Yes. Cuba is very safe. In fact, Cuba has

U.S. Customs.

provide a deeper understanding.

the lowest crime rate of any country in

rewarding and unique. It allows participants

educational are often confiscated by

Latin America. The average visitor has little reason to worry about personal safety in the streets, hotels, or any other place a traveler might visit. Petty crime does exist, however. Purse snatching and pickpocketing can occur, but are rare compared to many other countries and pose little problem for attentive travelers.

insightcuba.com

800-450-CUBA

DIS

C U B

•

¡Vamos a Cuba!

R •

D iscover C uba

V CO

Insight Cuba has over 100 departures in 2013. Reserve your spot today.

800 450 CUBA (2822) insightcuba.com For more information, please reference pricing card in this folder or visit our website.

“Cuba takes a hundred

lifetimes to understand,

2 Clinton Place New Rochelle, NY 10801, USA 800 450 CUBA (2822) insightcuba.com

– D. S mi t h

DIS

C U B

•

to fall in love.”

V CO

R •

but only a moment