For those arriving to Havana early, you’ll begin your travel experience right away with a cocktail at La Bodeguita del Medio, a bar and restaurant made famous by Ernest Hemingway—and arguably the birthplace of the mojito, the rum-based drink the author favored. Next, take part in an informative exchange with artists from the celebrated Taller de la Gráfica collective, one of the island’s most active art hubs.

Continue to explore Havana’s artistic side with a visit to Callejón de Hamel, the Centro Habana alleyway that features musical performances and hundreds of visual-art displays.

Then, we’ll check in to our hotel in the heart of Havana, and meet up with those arriving later in the day for an orientation program.* We’ll celebrate your arrival with a delicious welcome dinner.

Meals | Dinner

*Check-in begins roughly at 3pm ET. The tour start time will vary slightly depending on flight arrivals. 

This morning, you’ll meet with students and professors from La Escuela Taller Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos to learn about the school’s effort to preserve Cuba’s cultural and architectural heritage. Later, get a snapshot into the lives and work of Cuban photographers at Fototeca in Havana, which houses one of the city’s few darkrooms and is a photographer hub.

On your way to lunch, you’ll continue your walking tour of Old Havana’s cobblestone streets and sixteenth-century Spanish colonial architecture. After lunch, you’ll have a very special visit in Centro Habana with a friend and self-taught Cuban artist who opens his home to teach neighborhood children the art of papier-mâché. We’ll wrap up the day by visiting the famous Abdala recording studio, where famous musicians, including Nat King Cole and the Buena Vista Social Club, recorded some of their best music. Tonight, you’ll dine on your own at a paladar, a private, family-owned restaurant. Your insightCuba tour leader, who is an expert in the dining scene, will make the best recommendations. 

Meals | Breakfast, Lunch

We’ll kick off the day by meeting the editor of a popular Cuban newspaper for a presentation on Cuban social issues, economic reforms, and the impacts of U.S.-Cuba policy in Cuba.

Afterwards, we’ll gather with Cuban farmers at Vivero Organopónico to learn how organic farming efforts provide food to urban areas and how Vivero is taking the lead in regarding farm-to-table dining. For lunch, we’ll enjoy an authentic Cuban sandwich at Sloppy Joe’s, a legendary bar in Havana. After lunch, you’ll visit with an internationally known choral group and finish the day at a local farmers market where you’ll see firsthand Cuba’s dual currency at work.

In the evening, share your favorite stories about your time in Cuba with your travel mates during a farewell dinner. 

Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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

Meals | Breakfast