Weekend in Havana Tour

4 Days / 3 Nights

Havana

Overview

Our Weekend in Havana tour is far more than a mere brush with exotic culture – it’s a full-on immersive discovery allowing you to not only pay witness to Cuba’s dynamic rhythm and color, but to dive right in and become part of the canvas.

After you arrive, you'll be throwing back the curtain on this vibrant city and discovering, at long last, how its jovial soul has the power to delight and inspire you.

Like the fiery salsa rhythms that can be heard rippling through its city streets, Havana springs to life with warmth and vivaciousness that never stops taking you by surprise. Removed from the quiet fields of sugar cane and mango trees that thrive further afield, 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 tour of Havana packs dynamic sights and sounds into a few activity-filled days, offering a widespread look at what this cultural mecca holds. Immerse yourself in the iconic sights and sounds of Havana and the people that are the rhythm of the city. You’ll live vicariously through the lenses of local Cuban photographers who understand the nuances of their surroundings and will share them with you. Experience Havana’s art galleries awash in brilliant colors, and meet the artists to learn about their inspiration. Through it all, discover Havana through the eyes of a Cuban guide who’s there to engage you and forge heartfelt connections with the people that make the city pulse. It’s a unique people-to-people travel experience that stirs the emotions, as well as the senses.

Our average group size is 16 guests with no more than 24 guests, ensuring individual attention and plenty of personal moments. We have a game plan, but your actual experiences are uniquely your own. Imagine wandering down cobblestone walkways and catching up with a ballet troop during rehearsals in their studio. Catch some shade before heading to the Quisicaba Community Project where African tradition and religion rolls on. Think about turning the corner and encountering a cluster of street musicians, the sound of son (Cuba’s signature Afro-Cuban drumming) punctuating the stillness before you head into their venue with them. Get close. Get acquainted. Our guides are there to foster dialogues between you and the Cuban people who will continue to inspire you long after your trip.

We’ll also peel back several layers of Havana’s tourist surface, immersing you in the real places where Cubans live, work, learn and grow.

What's Included

First-class accommodations
Full schedule of guided people-to-people activities
All meals while in Cuba
U.S. Treasury Department License and Letter of Authorization
Insight Cuba Tour Leader

Cuban Guide
Small group size of no more than 24 guests
All entrance fees to scheduled activities and events
All in-country ground transportation, and airport transfers
Guaranteed flights from Miami to Cuba and priority handling (flight cost is additional)

Travel health insurance, emergency medical evacuation, and trip cancellation coverage (up to $1,000)
Insight Cuba Travel Guidebook
24 hour emergency customer service hotline

Sample Itinerary

*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.

Day 1: Miami / Havana

Welcome to Havana! After clearing immigrations and customs, your Cuban guide accompanies you to your hotel in the heart of the country’s capital. Get your feet wet with an afternoon program orientation. Later that evening, celebrate your arrival with a welcome dinner at the hotel. (L, D)
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 simple 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. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Havana

As day breaks, 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 and the impact of taxes and other regulations on small businesses in both the U.S. and Cuba. Next, knock at the doors of a distinguished Cuban artist in the fishing village of Jaimanitas. “Fusterlandia,” as it’s called, is a community project dedicated to beautifying the neighborhood; discuss its impact during an intimate chat. After lunch, gather with the students and director of the Antonio Nunez Fundacion 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. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Havana / Miami

After breakfast, bid farewell to Cuba as you board your flight home. (B)

Tour Dates & Prices