Expedition Details

Thanks to a special license issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, National Geographic invites you to participate in an extraordinary immersive program to discover Cuba's fascinating people and culture. Meet and talk with Cubans in diverse settings, from urban Havana to the rural valley of Viňales. Learn firsthand from Cuban locals and experts about their splendid colonial cities, vibrant music and art scene and lush rural landscapes, and experience the timeless beauty and fascinating culture of this enigmatic island nation. Engage Cubans directly in discussions about their lives and work, culture and traditions. Meet with Cuban historians, teachers, artists, musicians, naturalists, and others, and experience this fast-changing island nation through their eyes.

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Trip Highlights

• Explore the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Old Havana and Trinidad with local Cuban experts.
• Visit historic Playa Girón, the landing site for the 1961 U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs invasion.
• Witness Cuba's shifting cultural and economic landscape on visits to farms, homes, schools, factories, and art studios.
• Meet photographer Julio Muñoz, whose family appeared in a 1999 National Geographic article, and learn about his innovative project in promoting equine care.

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Itinerary - 10 Days

Day 1 — U.S./Havana, Cuba

Upon arrival in Havana, transfer to our hotel. Gather for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.
Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Parque Central, Hotel Santa Isabel, Hotel San Felipe y Santiago de Bejucal or Meliá Cohiba depending on the departure date
(L,D)

Day 2 — Havana

Explore Old Havana and learn about the restoration of its beautiful Spanish colonial architecture from a preservationist and expert in the field. On the main commercial street, meet some of Cuba's cuentapropistas (self-employed), who are part of an expanding private sector. Later, visit the Parque Central and take in the local life of Havana, including the famous Esquina Caliente, where baseball fans debate the intricacies of the game on a daily basis.
Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Parque Central, Hotel Santa Isabel, Hotel San Felipe y Santiago de Bejucal or Meliá Cohiba , depending on the departure date
(B,L,D)

Day 3 — Havana/Cojímar

Discuss the many reforms currently taking place with a Cuban economist. At Ernest Hemingway's rural home, Finca Vigía, meet with one of the museum's curators to discuss the author's enduring legacy in Cuba. Then drive to the seaside village of Cojímar, the setting for the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Old Man and the Sea. Later, watch the work of torcedores, or cigar rollers, at one of the city's famous cigar factories and learn about their work.
Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Parque Central, Hotel Santa Isabel, Hotel San Felipe y Santiago de Bejucal or Meliá Cohiba, depending on the departure date
(B,L)

Day 4 — Pinar del Río/Viñales

Travel into the Pinar del Río Province and Viñales valley, known for its emerald tobacco fields. Visit the legendary tobacco farm of the Robaina family and witness firsthand the cultivation of Cuba's legendary crop. Meet and talk with those who work the farm and learn about Cuba's rural culture and economy. After lunch, meet with a local ranger to learn about agriculture and conservation in this forested region. Continue to the lovely town of Viňales, surrounded by striking limestone formations, or mogotes.
Hotel Los Jazmines, Hotel La Ermita or Hotel Rancho San Vicente, depending on the departure date
(B,L,D)

Day 5 — Cienfuegos

Leave Viňales and head for Las Terrazas, in the heart of a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve, and learn of the country's reforestation project. Continue to Cienfuegos, a port city with architecture that reflects its French colonial roots. This evening, discover the history and Parisian-style boulevards of Cuba's "pearl of the South."
Hotel Jagua or Hotel Union, depending on the departure date
(B,L,D)

Day 6 — Cienfuegos

Near Cienfuegos, visit Cuba's oldest botanical garden with a member of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba, who will talk about Cuba's efforts to maintain the rich biodiversity of its extraordinary plant life. Later, enjoy an orientation tour of Cienfuegos and meet local residents in Parque Martí. See the statue commemorating José Martí, a renowned author and a leader in Cuba's quest for independence from Spain. This evening, join in a neighborhood street party where you will have an opportunity to meet Cubans in an informal setting.
Hotel Jagua or Hotel Union, depending on the departure date
(B,L,D)

Day 7 — Trinidad

Explore Cuba's best-preserved colonial city with restoration experts. Meander along cobblestone streets past pastel-colored homes and serene plazas. Meet with students at a local art institute, housed in what was once the dragoons' barracks and discover what fresh contributions young artists are making to Cuba's shifting cultural landscape. After lunch, meet Julio Muñoz, a local photographer and "horse whisperer" whose wife and niece were featured in an October 1999 National Geographic article. Visit Julio's colonial-era house and stables, the base for his project in promoting equine care in Cuba.
Hotel Jagua or Hotel Union, depending on the departure date
(B,L,D)

Day 8 — Bay of Pigs/Jaimanitas

Set out for the historic Bay of Pigs. Set foot on the famous Playa Girón, the landing site for the 1961 U.S.-backed invasion and visit the austere Girón Museum. Return toward Havana and head to the charming fishing village of Jaimanitas to visit the workshop and home of ceramic artist José Fuster, called the "Picasso of Cuba."
Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Santa Isabel, Hotel Parque Central or Meliá Cohiba, depending on the departure date
(B,L)

Day 9 — Havana

Today, explore the Vedado neighborhood and experience the Callejón de Hamel, an outdoor multimedia art space known for its vibrant murals, Santería shrines, and eclectic art forms. Learn how these artists refract the realities of contemporary Cuban life through a variety of media. Visit La Plaza de la Revolución and Colon (Columbus) Cemetery, filled with elaborate mausoleums, chapels, and tombstones. Meet pilgrims from across the country at the grave of La Milagrosa (the Miraculous One), a woman who died in childbirth in 1901 who is believed to grant good luck. Later, you have the option to return to Callejón de Hamel and mingle with locals as tradtional Cuban rumba is played. Toast our new Cuban friends at a farewell dinner tonight.
Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Santa Isabel, Hotel Parque Central or Meliá Cohiba, depending on the departure date
(B,D)

Day 10 — Havana/U.S.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
(B)

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