Chart your island course on official Cuba Education and Explorer Tours.
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Cuban school kids by Henk van der Leeden.
Cuban students in Havana say, "Welcome. Come down and meet us!" Witness Cuba on routes less traveled. Meet the people. Experience their culture. Learn their history. Photo Henk van der Leeden.
Learn more about ALBA
2004: What is ALBA?
2005: Declaration of ALBA
2006: ALBA Agreement
Nine days of learning, fun and friendship
LATIN AMERICAN SOLIDARITY SCHOOL
Saturday 30 June to Sunday 8 July 2012
Cuba Education and Explorer Tours guide.
ALBA MEANS DAWN in Spanish. ALBA is a fair trade agreement among Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela. Its objective is to create a common union for mutual aid in the areas of healthcare, finance, education, culture, sports, science and trade.

ALBA IS AN alternative to the exploitative World Bank and World Trade Organization, and one-way trade agreements like NAFTA and FTAA designed to funnel resources and big bucks into the pockets of union-busting CEOs and greedy multinationals at the expense of small nations and working people. In contrast, ALBA aims to elevate labor and the poor, and secure control over local resources for the benefit of all.

ALBA'S MOTTO is "For the independence, unity and development of our peoples." Founded in 2004, ALBA seeks social, political, and economic integration for Latin America based upon true equality, cooperation and dignity, reflecting the ideas of Simón Bolívar (1783-1830), the great liberator and unifier of South America and the Caribbean.


Shadow puppet painting reflects the many cultures of ALBA nations. Click image to enlarge.
DURING THIS program North American participants will learn about progressive change unfolding in Latin America directly from representatives of ALBA nations, together with esteemed Cuban scholars, historians and intellectuals. The tour is geared to academics, students, labor activists and community organizers, and all interested in witnessing a new dawn rising over our southern neighbors.

JOIN US ON this mission to understand a humanizing force for the future – that is ALBA. Return home with ideas and inspiration for making a better world today and for generations beyond.
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Your activities in Cuba video.
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We feature the best of island food.


CUBA TRAVEL CONCERNS
Is Cuban food good? Yum. It is organic and tasty, but not spicy. If you like hot, bring Tabasco sauce.
Am I free to ask all questions? You'll insult your island hosts by being less than candid.
Is the water safe to drink? Yes, but we suggest bottled water.
Are vaccinations needed? No.
Can Americans join legally? Yes. They should do so now while the island is pristine and before it is overrun. We license for free.
Can I stay in Cuba after the tour? Absolutely! We encourage this and assist sans commission and fees.
Do Cubans like tips? Mucho! See our gratuities guidelines.


Rooftops in Old Havana.
Rooftops in Old Havana near your hotel.


TIME AND CLIME IN HAVANA



LONG RANGE FORECAST HERE
Program Overview :: An elaborate day-by-day itinerary follows below
Nine days and eight nights of learning, fun and friendship in Cuba.
Eight nights in the historic four-star Hotel Riviera de Cuba in the heart of Vedado on the Malecón seawall.
Meet representatives of the eight ALBA nations and learn about their expectations and dreams for a new Latin America based upon fair trade and respect.
Guests will receive certificates of participation and completion for each sesson signed by an ALBA representative and a Cuban educator.
An up close highly personal examination of Cuba's renowned education system, dynamic island culture, evolving social and political realities, natural environment, and healthcare and legal systems.
Be part of the authentic daily life of Cubans mornings, afternoons and evenings.
Experience island history, social and ecological achievements first hand.
Glean insights into dynamic citizen engagement in all aspects of urban development and social policy.
Establish enduring personal and professional relationships with your Cuban counterparts and North American tourmates.
You're in good hands while on the island
Cuba Education and Explorer Tours guide.
SAFE, FUN, people-to-people cultural travel. Your tour is fully escorted by Cuban experts from the minute you touch down in Havana until you return home. You're in the conscientious care of our fulltime multilingual guide together with a professional bus chauffeur. They're there for you and eager to assist in everyway.
Official Cuban Travel Health Insurance required for foreign guests.
OFFICIAL Cuban medical insurance is included in tour cost. This excellent coverage applies to all health issues that may arise during travel. There are no out-of-pocket expenses while in Cuba.
WE ENSURE Americans travel to Cuba legally. Discover how you can go to Cuba now.
Cuban water lilly
TRAVEL FOR CHANGE. Cuba Education and Explorer Tours is an American and Canada based organization dedicated to green, ethical travel that benefits Cubans and our guests. Read what past travelers say about our tours.
Apple indicates meals included in program in your hotel and at fine restaurants
 Tour day
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Breakfast
In Air
Lunch
In Air
In Air
Dinner
 
 
 
 
 
In Air
Get to know Cuba in comfort and safety
Cuba Education and Explorers Tours bus.
YOU EXPLORE CUBA in a modern air-conditioned tour coach with a fulltime professional chauffeur from arrival to departure. Havana is one of the oldest and most architecturally stunning cities in the New World. During your many excursions around the capital, and beyond, your guide provides ongoing historical commentary for all points of interest. We want you to learn everything about our beautiful island.

Several site highlights are Modern Havana, the Capitol building, the Grand Theatre, Central Park, Prado promenade, Plaza de la Revolución, Coppelia Ice Cream Park, Plaza José Martí (in front of U.S. Interests Section), Malecón seawall, Monument to the Battleship Maine, Hotel Nacional, University of Havana, Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, and the Miramar, Central Havana and Vedado neighborhoods.
Your tour map
Map of Cuba.
Day 1 in Cuba Saturday 30 June :: Hello Cuba
Cuban girls perform folk dance.
Cuban girls perform folk dance.

Mojito
Welcome mojito.

Sunset on the Malecón seawall.
Sunset on the Malecón seawall near your hotel – a place for relaxation and new friendships.
Arrive at Havana's José Martí International Airport. Proceed through Cuban immigrations and customs.
You are welcomed at the airport arrivals lobby by your Cuba Education Tours guide and professional bus chauffeur.
Private group transfer to your Hotel Riviera de Cuba in the heart of Vedado on the Malecón seawall.
Hotel check-in with assistance from your guide.
This is a good time to exchange some money into Cuban Convertible Pesos.
Enjoy a welcome cocktail with tourmates, hotel staff and your guide.
Free time to settle in to your hotel room and freshen up.
Dinner tonight is included in cost at your hotel
Highlight  This evening you'll enjoy a group welcome dinner with your guide and tourmates.
Evening activities
Your guide will keep you posted on entertainment options around the city.
Day 2 in Cuba Sunday 01 July :: Getting to know Havana and environs
Maqueta de La Habana Vieja
Incredible detail hallmarks the Maqueta de La Habana Vieja. It's a great way to get a sense of the city.

Cuban post box
Decorative mail drop box in Old Havana.		 El Capitolio dome
Inside view of the dome of El Capitolio.

Plaza Vieja in Old Havana.
Plaza Vieja in Old Havana.

Exterior of the Cathedral of Havana Interior of the Cathedral of Havana.
Exterior and interior of the Cathedral of Havana initiated by Jesuits in 1748 and completed in 1777. Click photos for larger view.

Cuban soldier guards Carlos de la Cabaña fortress. Turret at Carlos de la Cabaña fortress.
Left Contemporary Cuban soldier in 18th century British military attire guards the Carlos de la Cabaña fortress (click his photo to enlarge). Right Cabaña turret.

Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña.
Marching grounds of the sprawling fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña, the best-preserved Spanish colonial garrison in the world.



Logo of United Nations Development Program (UNDP). See how Cuba ranks amongst its neighbors on the United Nations Human Development Index.
Breakfast this morning is included in cost at your hotel
Lay of the land  We'll visit the Maqueta de La Habana Vieja [Scale Model of Old Havana] to learn about this community and its development plans. It's a 1:500 scale model of Old Havana complete with an authentic soundtrack meant to replicate a day in the life of the city. It's incredibly detailed and provides an excellent way of geographically acquainting yourself with the city’s original core.
Followed by a walking tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll visit four of the five historic plazas that make Havana unique in the western hemisphere. It contains the largest collection of remaining colonial-era architecture. This is a private tour led by your Cuba Education Tours guide. You'll witness:
Cathedral Square, the most beautiful and private 18th century colonial plaza on the island. Named after the masterpiece of Cuban baroque architecture: the Catedral de San Cristóbal de la Habana built by the Jesuit order.
Square of Arms, an ancient military parade ground for Spanish soldiers, surrounded by impressive buildings such as:

Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, former seat of colonial government. Today the building houses the Museum of the City.

Palacio del Segundo Cabo [Palace of the Second Lieutenant], dates from 1770. Today it houses the Instituto Cubano del Libro [Cuban Book Institute] and the Galería Raúl Martínez (famed poster artist).

Museo de Artesanía at Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the oldest remaining fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies.
We continue onto San Francisco Square, one of the oldest plazas in the historical quarter. The square is named after magnificent Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco de Asís dating from the 16th century. The basilica is a striking example of Cuba baroque architecture.
And later to Plaza Vieja, the only civic square of colonial times. Absent are churches and government buildings, and is in contrast surrounded by opulent aristocratic 17th century residences. Here we'll visit an important center for the visual arts.
Lunch this afternoon is included in cost
Group welcome lunch at Restaurante El Templete. This bayside fish joint is the latest newcomer to the city’s list of upscale eateries. Basque chef Arkaitx Etxarte does delightful things with seafood. It sits near its namesake temple that marks the spot where the city of La Habana was founded in 1519. Overlooking the harbor, it features two dining spaces: an outdoor alfresco area accommodated under a large awning, and a pleasant indoor dining room with starched tablecloths, expensive-looking wine glasses and cutlery. The quality of the food lives up to its pretentious decor. Seafood specialties are spearheaded by shrimps and lobster. Many tour participants return to this eatery during their free time.
Return to your hotel to freshen up.
Now for a special visit to the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña where Ernesto Che Guevara established his headquarters after the Revolution came to power in 1959 – four hundred years after it was built on the backs of African slaves and endentured European laborers. The tour will be led by Dr Manuel Yepe, who was an assistance to Che Guevara in the first years of the Revolution.
Dinner tonight is included in tour cost
Group dinner at Restaurante La Divina Pastora. This seafood palace sets just behind the big cannons below Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña. La Divina is noted for its cocktails, good service and live music. You'll eat near the water on the north side of Havana Harbor overlooking Old Havana to the south.
Evening activities included in program costs
Highlight  We witness a most dramatic ceremony – El Cañonazo – the Firing of the 9PM Cannon at the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña. This enchanting colonial reenactment dates back to 1519 when the city of Havana was enclosed by a tall thick rock wall to ward off attacks from pirates and the English. The cannon firing signaled the closing of the city gates for the night. If you were outside at the time, you were in "vedado" or the forbidden zone. Today Vedado is an important cultural hub and beautiful section of modern Havana.
Day 3 in Cuba Monday 02 July :: All about ALBA and Cuba
Dr Manuel Eugenio Yepe Menéndez Dr Manuel Eugenio Yepe Menéndez will lead this morning's session. Click here to learn more about him.


Casa del ALBA in Vedado.

Eduardo Martin Eduardo Sosa
Left to right Classical guitarist Eduardo Martín and trova singer Eduardo Sosa at Casa del ALBA.		 Breakfast this morning is included in cost at your hotel
9:00-10:20AM SESSION  Welcome, introductions, overview of ALBA and Cuba's role in this organization. Sessions leaders include Cubans and representatives from other ALBA nations. Speakers and presenters to be announced.
20 MINUTE BREAK  Snacks, beverages, mingling and restroom stops.
10:40AM-12:00 NOON SESSION  Overview of the situation in Cuba today and its role in ALBA.
Lunch this afternoon is included in cost
Special reception at Casa del ALBA. Set within a beautiful colonial mansion, the only one in Vedado with a bell tower, the new ALBA headquarters in Cuba serves as a coordination center for the island's work within the eight-nation organization. Casa del ALBA was the former home of the Cuban Movement for Peace and Sovereignty of the Peoples (MOVPAZ, now located in Miramar). Before the Revolution, the mansion was a private home and later a convent. Today the wonderfully restored edifice hosts local and international cultural events. It's hallways and galleries feature art from Latin America. Its outdoor courtyards become venues for musical performances at nighttime and on weekends.
Return to your hotel to freshen up.
Dinner tonight is not included in cost
Dinner tonight is not included. You are free to explore different eateries. Your guide will advise on restaurants for every taste and budget.
Evening activities included in program cost
Program highlight  Tonight we have a Cuban band playing for us. You'll learn how to perform and dance to Salsa, Son, Rumba, Mambo and other popular Cuban rhythms from the band members of the Afrocuban Grupo Dulce María.
Day 4 in Cuba Tuesday 03 July :: Labor in Latin America and Cuba
Cuban billboard reads: 200 million kids in the world sleep in the streets, none of them are Cuban.
Island billboard reads: 200 million kids in the world sleep in the streets, none of them are Cuban.

El Santo Ángel Restaurant
El Santo Ángel Restaurant.

Old car in front of the Museum of the Revolution
Museum of the Revolution: old car not part of exhibit. One in ten autos are pre-1959!		 Ceiling of the Museum of the Revolution, former presidential palace.
Museum of the Revolution ceiling. Click to enlarge.


Dancers perform traditional moves from the religion of Santería.		 Breakfast this morning is included in cost at your hotel
9:00-10:20AM SESSION  Roundtable presentations and discussion on the status of labor and unions in ALBA countries today. Reports by ALBA nation representatives. Speakers and presenters to be announced.
20 MINUTE BREAK  Snacks, beverages, mingling and restroom stops.
10:40AM-12:00 NOON SESSION  Roundtable presentations and discussion on the history and role of labor and unions in Cuba. Reports by members of the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba – CTC (Workers' Central Union of Cuba).
Lunch this afternoon is included in cost
Fabulous lunch  Set within a beautiful colonial mansion, El Santo Ángel Restaurant enjoys the magical atmosphere of Plaza Vieja. Its stately inner courtyard is lined with plants to which many birds flock. Its menu features nueva Cubana cuisine and superb international dishes. There is always fab live music to accompany your meal.
Private guided tour of the Museum of the Revolution by Dr Manuel Yepe. He will lead us through the vast Museum of Revolution, the former Presidential Palace. Today it exhibits the history of the Cuban Revolution through documents and objects among which we find the famous Yacht Granma that returned Fidel and his 82 guerilla fighters from México to Cuba to launch the struggle for liberation from the Batista dictatorship.
Return to your hotel to freshen up.
Dinner tonight is not included in cost
You are free to explore different eateries. Your guide will advise on restaurants for every taste and budget.
Optional evening activities
Evening entertainment suggestion  How about partaking in the world famed Cabaret Tropicana that set the benchmark for Las Vegas floorshows and Hollywood musicals. Established in 1939, the cabaret constantly evolves adding a contemporary twists to already dicey sensual performances dating back 70 years. You'll enjoy unobstructed views of the dancers, as well as snacks and cocktails. Costs begin at 75 CUC.
Day 5 in Cuba Wednesday 04 July :: Gender and sexuality in Latin America and Cuba
Dr Marta Núñez Sarmiento. Dr Marta Núñez Sarmiento is an author, sociologist, lecturer on women's issues.

Attorney Rita María Pereira Ramírez is an expert on women and the law. Attorney Rita M. Pereira Ramírez.

Dr Marta Núñez Sarmiento. PhD Camilo García López-Trigo is head of International Relations for CENESEX.

Dr Alberto Roque Guerra is an educator and equal rights advocate with CENESEX. Dr Marta Núñez Sarmiento.

Mariela Castro Espin
CENESEX president Dr Mariela Castro Espín is the daughter of the Cuban president. She works to promote sex education and dignity and equality for LGBT people.



Cuban women's accomplishments by the numbers.
Click to graphic to learn more.



Sculpture in front of the Museum of Fine Arts in Havana.
Modernist sculpture by noted Cuban artist Rita Longa stands outside the entrance to Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Casa de la Amistad
Entrance to the Casa de la Amistad.		 Breakfast this morning is included in cost at your hotel
9:00-10:20AM SESSION  Roundtable presentations and discussion on the status of women in Cuba and ALBA countries today. Reports by Dr Marta Núñez Sarmiento and Attorney Rita María Pereira Ramírez.
Special guest  University of Havana professor, sociologist and feminist author of note Dr Marta Núñez Sarmiento. Ms Núñez holds a Master's in Sociology from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Santiago de Chile, a PhD in Economics from the Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia, and has served as a visiting professor at universities in the Dominican Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Canada, Spain and Argentina. Núñez is an engaging presenter who will explore with you many fascinating and unique aspects of Cuban society including family rights, property laws and gender issues.
Special guest  Attorney Rita María Pereira Ramírez will address issues of women and the law in Cuba. Ms Pereira worked for many years with the Federation of Cuba Women and currently serves as a guest speaker on topics of law and gender on the island. She has represented Cuba at the United Nations Human Rights Commission and hosted many foreign delegations to Cuba. Rita also serves as a collaborator with CENESEX and is a board member of Sexual Diversity section of the Cuban Multidisciplinary Society for the Study of Sexuality (SOCUMES).
20 MINUTE BREAK  Snacks, beverages, mingling and restroom stops.
10:40AM-12:00 NOON SESSION  Roundtable presentations and discussion on the status of LGBT people in Cuba and ALBA countries today. Reports by PhD Camilo García López-Trigo and Dr Alberto Roque Guerra.
Special guest  PhD Camilo García López-Trigo is a graduate of the Institute of International Relations in Havana in 1991 and works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Camilo has collaborated with CENESEX since 2003 and has participated in the Organizing Committee of the Cuban Conference of the World Day Against Homophobia, since its inception in 2007, as well as other events organized by the Center relating to sexual diversity. He was one of the creators of Sexual Diversity section of CENESEX website in April 2004, and remains one of the coordinators.
Special guest  Dr Alberto Roque Guerra is an internal medicine specialist with a masters in intensive care and teacher trainer. He works at the Surgical Hospital "Hermanos Ameijeiras" in Havana. He's a dynamic speaker who has collaborated CENESEX) since 2004. Alberto coordinates the Sexual Diversity section of the Cuban Multidisciplinary Society for the Study of Sexuality (SOCUMES) and is the webmaster for the organization. Alberta serves as a member of the National Commission for Integral Care of Transsexual People, and helps plan the annual Cuban Conference of the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).
Lunch this afternoon is included in cost
Group lunch at Restaurante El Aljibe.
Followed by a private guided tour of the Palacio de Bellas Artes [Palace of Fine Arts] dedicated exclusively to housing Cuban art spanning three centuries. Sections are devoted to landscape, religious subjects and narrative scenes of Cuban life. A gallery devoted to the 1970s displays the latest generation of Cuban artists whose works reflect the strong symbolic imagery prevalent in recent decades. Together the exhibits account for the richness of the island's Spanish, French, Chinese, African and Aboriginal cultural roots. Notable works include those of René Portocarrero and Wilfredo Lam.
Return to your hotel to freshen up.
Dinner tonight is not included in cost
You are free to explore different eateries. Your guide will advise on restaurants for every taste and budget.
Optional evening activities
Evening entertainment suggestion  Casa de la Amistad is one of the best settings to listen to great traditional music in a welcoming friendly atmosphere. You'll enjoy the classical son group, La Peña del Chan Chan perform up-tempo salsa and bolero. Dance with Cubans and foreign visitors on the veranda or in the beautiful gardens of Casa de la Amistad's spectacular mansion facilities (entrance fee is 3 CUC and is not included in tour cost).
Day 6 in Cuba Thursday 05 July :: Healthcare in Latin America and Cuba
War reporter, activist, man of letters, journalist and titan author Ernest Hemingway. War reporter, activist, man of letters, journalist and literary titan Ernest Hemingway.



Logo of the British Broadcasting Corporation  In preparation for this afternoon's activity, watch this riveting British Broadcasting Corporation feature from Around the World in 80 Gardens on urban organic farms in Havana.

Merchant at Mercado de Cuatro Caminos
Merchant at a farmers market offers organic pineapple and papaya.


Youth at play in Cojímar.		 Breakfast this morning is included in cost at your hotel
9:00-10:20AM SESSION  Roundtable presentations and discussion on the status of heathcare and well-being in ALBA countries today. Reports by ALBA nation representatives. Speakers and presenters to be announced.
20 MINUTE BREAK  Snacks, beverages, mingling and restroom stops.
10:40AM-12:00 NOON SESSION  Roundtable presentations and discussion on the history and current state of heathcare and well-being Cuba. Reports by Cuban healthcare specialists. This session will review the role of Cuban doctors abroad. We'll also learn about Operación Milagro [Operation Miracle], a joint program between Cuba and Venezuela established in 2005. The project sends thousands of poor people from South America to Cuba for free restorative eye surgery.
Lunch this afternoon is included in cost
We'll head northeast and have lunch at Ernest Hemingway's favorite bar and diner La Terraza. Our suggestion is a glass of ice cold "Cristal" cerveza, or lemonade, and camarones al ajillo [garlic shrimp] fried in olive oil, and seasoned with garlic and parsley – delicious! The young boy in Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea," Manolin, was based on the young son of the original owner of La Terraza, Manolito.
We'll visit the UBPC Vivero Organopónico Alamar, 15 km (9.3 miles) east of Havana. It's one of the most successful urban organic farms in Cuba raising ornamental plants, medicinal herbs, and millions of seedlings for neighboring residential and collective farms. Established in the early 1990s, the Alamar cooperative has over 20 members and provides a range of healthy, organic vegetables to the community. Produce is raised employing the practice of permaculture: no chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Instead, natural biological methods are used to nourish the soil, frustrate pests and conserve water. The result is an increased rate of yield and reduced costs.
Return to your hotel to freshen up.
Dinner tonight is not included in cost
You are free to explore different eateries. Your guide will advise on restaurants for every taste and budget.
Optional evening activities
Evening entertainment suggestion How about dinner and dance show at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba? Dine at the outdoor barbecue Restaurante La Barraca on the paradise-like grounds of the hotel resting atop a bluff overlooking Havana city and the Caribbean Sea. Afterwards you can attend a musical review at the Cabaret Parisién and relish this famous and colorful dance extravaganza. Costs begin at 45 CUC for dinner and show.
Day 7 in Cuba Friday 06 July :: Education and literacy in Latin America and Cuba
"Yo Si Puedo" means "Yes I Can" learn to read 2006 commemorative stamp issued on 45th anniversary of the Literacy Campaign.
Left Plaque at Literacy Museum: "Yo Sí Puedo" means "Yes I Can" learn to read. Right 2006 stamp issued on 45th anniversary of the Literacy Campaign.

Giant mosaic of crab by José Fúster.
Giant crab mosaic by José Fúster. Click Richard Harris photo to enlarge.

Fantasy garden and studio of acclaimed artist José Fúster
Fantasy garden and studio of acclaimed artist José Fúster. Click Richard Harris photo to enlarge.



Details from two stone monuments in Havana honoring US civil rights heroes Malcolm X and Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.



Lord Byng faculty Richard Harris and 2009 LB Cuba tour student.
Why is this photo of John Lennon here? Click it to find out.
Breakfast this morning is included in cost at your hotel
9:00-10:20AM SESSION  Roundtable presentations and discussion on the status of education and literacy in ALBA countries today. Reports by ALBA nation representatives. Speakers and presenters to be announced.
20 MINUTE BREAK  Snacks, beverages, mingling and restroom stops.
10:40AM-12:00 NOON SESSION  Roundtable presentations and discussion on the history and current state of education and literacy Cuba. Reports by Cuban education specialists including members of the Asociación Cubana de Pedagogos [Association of Cuban Educators] to learn about Cuba's system of universal free lifelong education.
Lunch this afternoon is included in cost
This afternoon we'll feast on a delicious lunch hosted by José Fúster, one of Cuba's most important ceramists and painters at his whimsical studio in Jaimanitas, just outside of Havana.

Literacy rates in Cuba are highest in the Americas.
Followed by a visit to the Museo de la Alfabetización [Museum of Literacy] that exhibits relics of the 1961 literacy campaign. We'll meet with museum director Susana Morejón, who will in addition to explaining the literacy campaign, talk about how Cuba's literacy model is now used in Venezuela, Bolivia and other Latin American countries.

Museum of Literacy
Museum of Literacy in Liberty City near Havana.
Prior to the Revolution a quarter of adult Cubans were illiterate and another million were semiliterate. Ten thousand teachers were unemployed and 70% of the rural population had no schools. After 1959 all private schools were nationalized and education became free and universal. Former military garrisons were turned into schools. In 1961 all schools were closed for eight months and some 250,000 students and teachers volunteered to go to rural areas to teach reading and writing, laying the foundation for Cuba's stellar literacy rate today. This campaign brought tens of thousands of city youth into contact with the country people, breaking down racial barriers and instilling a spirit of national cohesion.
Return to your hotel to freshen up.
Dinner tonight is not included in cost
You are free to explore different eateries. Your guide will advise on restaurants for every taste and budget.
Optional evening activities
Club La Zorra y El Cuervo.
Evening entertainment suggestion  Shake your booty to the best Afrojazz, Cubajazz and Sonjazz at Club La Zorra y El Cuervo [The Fox and the Raven] featuring astonishing performances by island bands and soloists. It's a popular haunt for Cubans and foreign guests (entrance fee is 10 CUC and is not included in tour cost).
Day 8 in Cuba Saturday 07 July :: Exploring rural life and nature in Cuba
Taíno Indian Chief Hatuey

FIRST HERO OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE
Taíno Indian Chief Hatuey from the island of Hispanolia traveled to and warned his Cuban counterparts about the horrific dangers of the impending Spanish invasion in the year 1511. Read about his legendary struggle – that of the premier independence and resistance fighter in our Americas who staked his life for freedom from foreign occupation and thralldom.

CUBA IS recognized as the global leader in environmental sustainability. It has 300 ecologically protected areas encompassing 30 percent of its territory. Six of these areas are UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves. Over half the island's diverse flora and fauna is indigenous – existing nowhere else – and is guarded from exploitation. In 2006, the World Wildlife Federation named Cuba the only nation to achieve a sustainable planet friendly economy.

Restaurante El Palenque de los Cimarrones slave dance.
Restaurante El Palenque de los Cimarrones slave dance.

Cuban farm boy
Many rural youth are engaged in agriculture and rigorous academics.

The elegant El Patio Restaurant.
Farewell dinner at El Patio Restaurant.		 Breakfast this morning is included in cost at your hotel
Havana's Gran Teatro.
Day excursion to Viñales village is a picturesque town in the heart of Cuba's prime tobacco-growing region. The town itself sits in the center of a flat valley surrounded by stunning karst hill formations known locally as mogotes. Mogotes are irregularly shaped steep-sided hills that can rise as high as 300m (985 ft) and have bases ranging from just a few hundred yards in diameter to as much as a couple of kilometers in length. The mogotes comprise part of the Sierra de los Organos mountain chain, and were formed by eons of erosion. Many consider this the most beautiful nature spot in Cuba.
We take a magical walking and boat tour through the Cueva del Indio used by Guanahatabey Amerindians as a burial site, and later as a refuge from Spanish slavers. Within you'll witness earth's natural and social history from the Jurassic to the Paleolithic era and beyond.
Lunch this afternoon is included in cost
Lunch at Restaurante El Palenque de los Cimarrones. It is located in the mouth of a cave at the base of a mogote. A palenque was a place of refuge for escaped slaves. We access the eatery on a path that takes us through another narrow cave. At the end of the path we're met by a re-creation of a nomadic home used by runaway slaves who hid and lived here. We'll enjoy a brief Afrocuban music and dance performance typical of the slave era. Now at the restaurant we'll dine on slow-roasted entrées and side dishes reflecting the food of the cimarron [runaway slave.] In the evenings, the restaurant doubles as a popular disco.
Four kilometers from Viñales village, on one side of the Dos Hermanas [Two Sisters] mogote, stands the Mural de la Prehistoria [Mural of Prehistory], an impressive 120-meter high fresco painted in 1961 by Cuban artist Leovigildo González, a student of the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. Depicted are the animals and other creatures that lived in the valley in prehistoric times. The mural pays tribute to the Darwinian perspective of evolution. We'll dine on traditional cuisine and the mural.
Meet with local farmers on their small tobacco plantations. Learn first hand the complexities of growing and harvesting the best quality tobacco leaves in the world.
Free time in Viñales village to explore at your leisure the open-air craft market, the Parque Martí, the Church, and other interesting sites of this charming colonial town.
Return to Havana and check-in to your hotel.
Dinner tonight is included in cost
Farewell group dinner at the popular El Patio Restaurant. Located in the Cathedral Square, in the heart of Havana's colonial district. El Patio is housed in a beautiful 18th century residence, the former Palace of "Marqués de Aguas Claras." Construction began in 1751 and ended in 1755, with distinguishing elements that makes the house one of the most interesting among Cuban architecture of that era. El Patio's menu will please the most diverse tastes. It offers stellar service and tasty international cuisine.
Optional evening activities
The balance of your evening is free to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. Your guide will keep you posted on activities.
Day 9 in Cuba Sunday 08 July :: Goodbye Cuba
Goodbye Cuba girl.
We'll miss you and hope you return soon! In Cuba we say: A true friend remembers the song in your heart when you have forgotten the lyrics.



Cuban graphic titled: Maiz-granada

Cuban graphic titled: Maiz-granada (Corn-grenade) proposes food not bombs.		 Breakfast this morning is included in cost at your hotel
United colors of Cuba.
Check-out of your hotel.
Transfer to Havana's José Martí International Airport for your return home.
Don't forget to save 25.00 CUC for your Cuban airport departure fee and some money for meals on the airplane and while in transit home.
Want to stay longer in Cuba following your tour? Contact us and we will help make it happen at a price you can afford.
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