Details, prices and bookings come from the operator (coda-tours.com). Check with them before you go.
11 days / 10 nights. Coda Tours is introducing the only all-gay trip to “Unexplored Cuba,” as we cross the length of this historic Caribbean island for in-depth People-to-People exchanges in Havana, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba and more. This tour for intrepid travelers provides a deeper understanding of the diversity of the island and its marvelous people.
Our 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 our walk we’ll stop by Taller Grafica for a PEOPLE TO PEOPLE meet and greet with artists and to learn more about arts in Cuba.
After breakfast, drive to the Museum of Fine Arts for a PEOPLE TO PEOPLE visit with an art historian. Discover four centuries of art created on the island, 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 the 1990s. Afterwards, walk to the Revolution Museum, where the offices of all presidents from Menocal to Batista where located prior to the revolution.
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.
We depart Havana this morning, we will have our PEOPLE TO PEOPLE exchange en route as we stop to meet local artisans and craftsmen, see demonstrations of their various projects, and talks about local enterprise. Upon arrival in Santa Clara, we will have lunch at a paladar. In the afternoon, we visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum, a memorial complex honoring Ernesto “Che” Guevara de la Serna. Che was an Argentine-born physician, Marxist and military leader who played a key role as Fidel Castro’s second-in-command in the Cuban Revolution.
This morning we drive to Sancti Spiritus where we learn about the traditional Guayabera, a four-pocketed shirt that has become an iconic symbol of Cuba. We will visit the Guayabera Museum, set in a historic 1858 villa.
Camagüey is home to many of Cuba’s most celebrated artists. Located in the middle of the country, Camagüey feels different to its neighbors, though with its history of defiance — it has nurtured revolutionary poets and thinkers — this comes as no surprise. Dubbed “the Maze” or “the City of Squares” for its labyrinthine lanes and squares, they say the city’s twisted layout was designed to confuse and disorientate the pirates and pillagers who frequently ransacked the city. With low rise, brightly colored houses, it feels distinctly South American. As the third largest city in Cuba, it is decrepit in parts, but the beautifully restored historical center was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2008, the 9th Cuban city to achieve this.
Before leaving Camaguey this morning, we will see a performance by the local ballet company. Depart for Holguín. Lunch will be at a paladar in Holguín. Take a tour of the city which may include the Casa Editora Cuadernos Papiros (Papyrus Papers Publishing House) where a historic 19th-century printing press is still in use. Continue tour hotel in Gibara.
Our final destination will be Santiago de Cuba on the eastern end of the island. Santiago has strong African influences, a thriving music scene and passionate people, all which give the city a vibe all its own. Stop in Biran en route to Santiago. Biran is the birthplace of Fidel and Raul Castro. We will explore Finca Mañacas, the family estate, with a local historian. Lunch will be in Biran. Continue to Santiago for check in at our hotel.
Visit one of modern Cuba’s key historic sites, Cuartel Moncada Memorial (Moncada Barracks). Now a school and museum, this was the Cuban army barracks attacked by some 100 rebels led by Fidel Castro on July 26th, 1953, one of the earliest actions in the Cuban Revolution. We will talk with docents about the attack and its aftermath as we view exhibits on the event and its role in Cuba’s history. Continue to the Cemetery of San Efigenia, where the tomb and memorial of Cuba’s national hero, the poet, journalist and freedom fighter, Jose Marti (1853-95) is located.
After breakfast, transfer to the Antonio Maceo International Airport in Santiago de Cuba for the return charter flight to Miami. Allow three hours for flight changes.
Last departure 29 Dec 2017 – 5 Jan 2018 · Cuba · with Coda Tours
Last departure 13–20 Nov 2016 · Cuba · with Coda Tours
Last departure 3–10 Apr 2016 · Cuba · with Coda Tours