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Americans can
once again travel to Cuba legally and Mayflower Cruises
and Tours has planned an amazing trip for you to this
country which has previously been ‘off-limits’. Our
program complies with the OFAC (Office of Foreign
Assets Control) regulations for travel-related activities
to Cuba and was specifically designed to qualify under
the General License “515.574 “Support for the Cuban
People”. Keeping with the license regulations, the
designed itinerary provides a full-time schedule and
does not include an excess of free time or recreation.
Our journey through Cuba supports individuals and
non-governmental organizations that promote travel
and independent activities intended to strengthen
civil society in Cuba, enhance contact with the Cuban
people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote
the Cuban people’s independence. Our itinerary meets
these requirements with the variety of activities
we included for you to experience on this educational
and interactive program. From the welcoming smile
and wealth of knowledge provided by our professional
coach drivers and tour guides to the planned visits
to historic and cultural areas, meals taking place
in local paladars, meetings with tradesmen, artisans,
dancers, and other people you’ll encounter throughout
your stay, your program results in meaningful interaction
with individuals in Cuba, thereby promoting the goals
of the license and giving you an insightful understanding
of the Cuban culture.
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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
DAY 5 Havana / Trinidad:
t’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 – Meliá Catedral,
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 |
$4228 |
$3399 |
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Please add $85 per person for
visa fee.
Passport and Visa is required for this program
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Call
for air rates and schedules from your city to Havana,
returning from Santa Clara, Cuba. |
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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
Trinidad, Cuba
Witness the Art of Traditional Pottery
Making
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