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DETAILED ITINERARY:
DAY 1 USA / Havana, Cuba: Depart the USA
on your flight to Havana, Cuba. Upon arrival, you will be
met at the airport by a local representative of Mayflower,
assisted with arrival procedures, then transferred to the
hotel. Your Tour Guide will be available at the hotel for
any information you may need as you settle in for your visit
to Havana.
DAY 2 Old Havana: The day is spent getting
a taste of local life in Havana. During a walking tour, discover
the four main squares of the city: San Francisco, Plaza de
Armas, Plaza Vieja, and Cathedral Square, each well-known
for historic importance, architectural beauty and / or social
atmospheres. Your local guide will provide details of their
significance to the city, and you’ll have the chance to meet
the local people when stopping at the various sites. While
visiting the San José Craft Market, mix and mingle with the
artisans and vendors, learn about their art and shop for indigenous
handicrafts. A truly local experience awaits as you witness
the process of making an authentic cigar with local entrepreneurs.
Visit a private cigar shop to see how this ancient art is
kept alive and is a major contributor to the local economy.
Lunch is included at a paladar during today’s excursion. This
evening, you’re in for a special treat as vintage American
cars meet you at the hotel. Travel in style in these restored
antique cars while enjoying a panoramic drive along the Malecón
(coastal road and seawall), see the 18th-century University
(oldest in the Caribbean), the Paseo del Prado and the Capitol
building. Chat with the driver and find out how they manage
to keep their cars running without replacement parts available
to them! Arrive at the paladar for dinner where you can relax
as you enjoy the warm hospitality provided by the staff and
get to know them a bit as you dine. Meals: B, L, D
DAY 3 Havana / Cójimar: A visit to the Fine
Arts Museum in Havana begins the day. See some of its exhibits
and meet with the staff to learn about Cuban art projects
and their importance to society. Depart for the village of
San Francisco de Paula on an excursion to the Hemingway Museum.
Learn about his life, work, love of Cuba and contributions
to the country as you explore the grounds of his house, Finca
Vigia. Continue to Cójimar where lunch is provided at a local
paladar in the town that inspired him to write his Pulitzer
Prize-winning novel, The Old Man and the Sea. Returning to
Havana, a guided visit to the Hotel Nacional awaits. Stroll
through this famous hotel where so many of Hollywood’s elite
actors and actresses previously visited. Viewing the ‘wall
of fame’ in the hotel’s bar will surely bring back memories
of Hollywood’s golden age. This evening, dinner is included
at a paladar. Meals: B, L, D
DAY 4 Havana: More sites in this historic
city are seen today, starting with Morro Castle, a spectacular,
strategically built monument with an amazing history. Your
local guide will teach you about the architecture, design,
and its importance in protecting the city from pirates. Magnificent
views of the city and harbor also await. Visit a neighborhood
community project that focuses on teaching skills to the younger
generation – anything from dance to sports to music. Learn
how these activities play such an important role in changing
the lives of the children. After lunch at a paladar, attend
an interactive and cultural exchange with dancers when visiting
a dance studio. Talk with the teacher and students, see how
the Cuban Salsa is done, and learn how to do this dance yourself!
This evening, dinner is held at a local paladar for your immersion
into local culture, dining on local cuisine and mingling with
the staff. Meals: B, L, D
Trinidad, Cuba
DAY 5 Havana / Trinidad: It’s time to depart
Havana and journey by coach to the colonial city of Trinidad.
En route, visit the town of Cienfuegos. A walking tour around
the center of the town showcases its historic and architectural
sites as well as affording the opportunity to interact with
residents and vendors who are happy to share their stories
of a quiet lifestyle. While visiting the Tomás Terry Theatre,
declared a national monument, see its ornate interior with
Carrara marble, hand-
carved wooden flooring, gold-leaf mosaics, and ceiling frescos.After
lunch at a paladar, continue to Trinidad for dinner at the
hotel and the final two nights of the program. Meals:
B, L, D
DAY 6 Trinidad: The final day in Cuba begins
with a guided walking tour to explore Trinidad. Stroll along
the cobblestone streets of the well-preserved historic center
and witness the grand buildings in the Plaza Mayor, the main
square of the city. Stop in and visit the locals in their
shops, and see the bell tower of the Convento de San Francisco,
which overlooks the square. Sip on a local drink at La Canchánchara
Bar while listening to and learning about Cuban music and
traditional rhythms. At the ceramic studio of Chichi Santander,
you will be taught about the art of pottery-making and the
traditional methods used to create their ceramic pieces of
art. Return to the hotel for an included lunch and some free
time. Your Tour Guide will be available to offer suggestions
on independent afternoon
activities, like visiting the nearby village to meet the local
fishermen and hear their ‘tall tales’! This evening, the farewell
dinner is held in one of the city’s most popular paladars.
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 7 Trinidad / Santa Clara / USA: Bid
‘adiós’ to Cuba as you depart for the airport in Santa Clara
for your flight home. Memories of a unique journey to Cuba
and the warm hospitality of its people will be cherished for
years to come. Meal: B
Itinerary is subject to change.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Days 1 through 4 – Grand Aston, Havana, Cuba
Days 5 and 6 – Melia Peninsula, Trinidad, Cuba
LODGING BEDDING & AMENITIES
| Number of Occupants: |
1 |
2 |
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| Standard Room |
2 Twins |
$4098 |
$3399 |
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Please add $85 per person for
visa fee.
Visa is required for this program
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Air
itineraries may not be available until documents are
received. Air seats are assigned by
the airline for the entire group. Seat changes can only
be attempted upon receipt of tickets
and documents at which time availability may be limited.
If specific seat assignments are
vital to your reservation, we recommend individual air
reservations rather than booking air
with the group. |
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All International travelers must have
a current passport with at least 6 months of time left
after the trip returns before expiration! Please submit
a copy of the name page of all travelers’ passports
along with the trip application and the credit card
authorization form.
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NOTE: Mandatory health insurance for Cuba is included in
the cost
of the airline ticket when issued by a U.S. carrier. Mayflower
does not
offer any additional type of insurance for this program. Additional
coverage can be secured independently through other travel
insurance
companies providing coverage for Cuba.
Cancellation Charges
• 91 days or more - Deposit Amount
• 90 days or less -100% of tour cost
• Early departure from tour -100% of tour cost
• No refund on unused portions of the tour
Exclusions: Mayflower Cruises & Tours reserves the right
to alter its refund and cancellation
policy when a substantial amount of cancellation or postponement
of travel is attributable
to: conditions resulting from an act of God, natural or man-made
disaster, fire, government
action, civil disorder, war, hostilities between nations,
or unavailability of transportation
through no fault of Mayflower Cruises & Tours.
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Tour Highlights
Ride in a Restored Antique Car
Visit Morro Castle in Havana
Witness the Art of Traditional Pottery
Making
Grand Aston - Havana, Cuba
Grand Aston Room - Havana, Cuba
Meliá Trinidad Península - Trinidad,
Cuba
Meliá Trinidad Península Room - Trinidad,
Cuba
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