Welcome to the Official 2010 International Women's Day Cuba Tour
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I experienced so much joy and happiness. Cuba, hallmarked by its people, is the most beautiful country in the world. My tour was life altering. My heart is forever with islanders and their dreams. Jennifer Burns, Toronto, 50th Anniversary Cuba Education Tours participant
Hotel Habana Libre An upscale luxurious respite during an action packed itinerary at this historic five-star facility.
PicturesqueHotel Resort Los Jazmines positioned atop a mogote (hill) in breathtaking Viñales Valley with breakfast and dinner included.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Meet with members of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), visit their projects and learn about their work
Esteemed University of Havana professor and feminist author Dr Marta Núñez Sarmiento leads portions of this tour
Attend a special community festivity on IWD organized in honor of this delegation
Visit Vivero Organopónico Alamar collective farm and dine with its staff
Dance lessons taught by Cuban professionals with live music
Visit a family doctors office and clinic
Excursion to Viñales Valley in the province of Pinar del Río where we'll explore caves, nature and farms
Tour the ruins of an ancient French coffee plantation once staffed by slaves
Enjoy Havana's best jazz at La Zorra y el Cuervo, and other salsa hotspots
Visit the Project for the Transformation of the Cayo Hueso neighborhood, largely run by women
Guided tour of the Museum of the Revolution by Dr Marta Núñez Sarmiento
Visit the Afrocuban community of Regla and witness key contributions to island culture
Private panoramic motor coach tour of Modern Havana
Visit CENESEX and Linea Ayuda, two organizations involved in sex education, LGBT rights, and AIDS awareness and prevention
Tour Las Terrazas eco-community, a remarkable story of environmental restoration
Lunch hosted by José Fuster, one of Cuba's most important ceramists and artists today
Encounter with local farmers at Viñales to learn about their lives and work
Presentation of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba at the Gran Teatro in Havana
Private guided walking tour of the main historical sites of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Special presentation on Women in Cuba Today by Dr Marta Núñez Sarmiento
See Viñales Botanical Garden run organically by women seniors
Tour the studios of contemporary women artists
No swine flu fears in Cuba. Click here for updates.
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In Cuba from Saturday 6 to Saturday 13 March 2010
Eight special days to meet with island women, learn of their achievements, share ideas and establish enduring friendships
Special activities with the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) during their 50th Anniversary, and leading female scholars, activists and organizers
Detail from 1970s Cuban film poster.
Visit museums, architectural and historical sites, United Nations biosphere reserves, and enjoy swimming, nature and cave exploration
Relish the island's best food, amenities and entertainment in the five-star comfort of the Hotel Habana Libre and mountaintop Resort Los Jazmines
They became friends. Over one hundred thousand young Cuban women volunteered to eradicate illiteracy in 1961. (Click photo to enlarge.) Learn more about the Literacy Campaign here.
Click image for "Bread and Roses" song lyrics.
Women in Cuba have much reason to rejoice on March 8th: Free health care and education, equal pay for equal work, unfettered reproductive choice, low-cost childcare, one year paid maternity leave, six months leave of absence for child emergencies, fifth position globally for female participation in government, half of the workforce and a majority of professional and technical jobs, no-hassle divorce, constitutionally guaranteed equal rights at all levels, and most importantly, a government, constitution and culture pledged to full dignity, recognition and respect. All this in just 50 years!
Unlike in many countries, IWD in Cuba is not a day of protest; instead it consists of workplace celebrations and neighborhood parties. Men express their appreciation to the women around them with poems and flowers. Islanders seem to have taken to heart the slogan of the 1912 Massachusetts women strikers at the Lawrence Textile factory that sparked IWD: "We want bread, but we want roses, too!" Cuban women invite you to share this occasion with them.
Who should join? This program is for women and their partners who want to learn about Cuban achievements in sexual and gender equality, and witness island life and culture first hand.
This official tour is designed by Cubans for North Americans to candidly examine and enjoy island life as is only possible on Cuba Education Tours.
The program is fully escorted from the minute you touch down in Havana until you return home. While on the island you're in the conscientious care of our expert multilingual Cuban guides together with our professional bus chauffeur. Our Canadian and Cuban staff ensures worry free island travel before, during and after your trip.
TIME TO COMMIT
This tour is limited in size and fills up fast (see costs). Registration is first-come, first-served – don't miss out. Consider signing up now. Shy, budget-minded or independent? Review the benefits of intimate group Cuba travel.
TOUR ACTIVITIES LEGEND
IWD Cuban woman icon for activities unique to this tour
Shoe icon for music and dance activities
Turret icon for history and architecture
Face icon for art, museum, and education visits
Owl icon for flora and fauna outings
Fork icon for tour meals included
Ball icon for beach, sun and swimming
Smiling boy icon for free time and leisure
HintBLUE text links across this site offer extensive details and pictures.
USA travelers This program is legal and licensable for professionals whose work is related to this tour's theme. LegalCubaTravel.com provides an easy step-by-step application kit. If you don't qualify for licensed travel, there are alternatives!
Travel for changeCuba Education Tours is a Vancouver, Canada based organization dedicated to green ethical travel that benefits Cubans and our guests. Five-star treatment round-the-clock from our Cuban and Canadian staff ensures worry free travel abroad. Included in costs are all activities listed below unless noted otherwise. Island transportation You travel in a private fuel-efficient luxury air-conditioned tour coach chauffeured by a fulltime professional driver. Meals All breakfasts are included. Some lunches and dinners are not. Your guide is glad to suggest eateries for every taste and budget.
Getting to Cuba Call 1-877-687-3817 toll free or email us. We can help.
Memories of Cuba last forever. Discover the island on routes less traveled with Cuba Education Tours.
1975 Cuban poster for IWD celebrations. On this year the United Nations recognized International Women's Day. While the event was a longstanding island tradition, Cuba was the first to honor the UN's mandate officially.
In the world we are building, it is necessary that every vestige of discrimination against women disappear. – Fidel Castro, 1962.
CLICK TO REVIEW EACH TOUR DAY ::01::02::03::04::05::06::07::08::
Tour highlight View of the Hotel Nacional as seen from La Torre Restaurant, which occupies the rooftop of the 39-storey FOCSA Building – the tallest in Cuba. When completed in 1956 it was the second highest steel and concrete building in the world.
Streets are alive with music.
The capital city of Havana as seen from the El Morro Castle and La Cabaña Fortress, across the harbor from your hotel. Click photo to take an incredible virtual tour of El Morro and La Cabaña.
Arrival at Havana's José Martí International Airport.
Collect your bags and go through customs. See What to take to Cuba including suggestions for gifts and donations.
You're welcomed at the airport by your Cuba Education Tours guide and professional bus chauffeur.
Your Cuba Education Tours guide will direct you to a bank or exchange bureau (CADECA) to purchase Cuban Convertible Pesos.
Group transfer to the Hotel Habana Libre located in Vedado, the heart of Havana's cultural and entertainment district. Private check-in with assistance from your guide.
La Torre Restaurant.
Group welcome dinner atop the tallest building in Cuba, and one of Havana's best and most expensive eateries. La Torre Restaurant specializes in international cuisine. Tour meals Complementary breakfast buffets are served daily from 7:00am to 10:00am at your hotel. Lunch is included on Days 2, 3, 4 and 7, and dinners on Days 1, 6 and 7. Your guide is happy to suggest eateries for every taste and budget for meals not included in tour package.
José Martí International Airport in Havana – a colorful welcome.
Havana's Malecón seawall near your hotel – a place for relaxation and new friendships.
Most common questions1 Is Cuban food good? It's healthy and simple but not spicy.2 Am I free to ask any question? You'll insult your island hosts by being less than candid.3 Is the water safe? Yes, but we suggest bottled water for peace of mind. 4 Are vaccinations needed? No. 5 Can Americans join? They are especially welcome to do so! 6 Can I stay in Cuba after the tour? Absolutely and we are glad to help. 7 Do Cubans like tips? Yes, please see our Gratuities Guidelines.
Colorful indigenous Cuban Tody.
CUBA IS THE LARGEST and least commercialized island in the Caribbean. It hosts 6000 plant species, half of which are endemic. There are 20 million palms in Cuba comprised of 30 species. Other flora includes the rare cork palm, a holdout from the cretaceous period; the jagüey, a fig with aerial roots; the palma barrigona (pot belly palm); the ceiba (sacred silk-cotton tree); and the mariposa (butterfly jasmine, Cuba's national flower). The most abundant land fauna is reptilian: crocodiles, iguanas, lizards, salamanders, turtles and 15 species of nonpoisonous snakes. The biggest land mammal is the jutía, a tree dwelling rodent the size of a cocker spaniel. The native bee hummingbird or zunzún is the world's smallest warm-blooded vertebrate weighing between 1.6 and 1.8 grams. The Cuban trogon or tocororo is the national bird – its red, blue and white plumage reflecting the colors of the Cuban flag.
Boy toasts his grandmother [abuela]. Cuban youth hold elders in high regard. The island is known as the Jewel of the Caribbean for its natural beauty and the unmatched warmth and kindness of its people.
Example of restoration in Old Havana.
Street pantomime in Old Havana.
View of the Capitalio from the Malecón seawall.
Inside view of the dome of El Capitalio.
Exterior and interior of the Cathedral of Havana initiated by Jesuits in 1748 and completed in 1777. Click photos for larger view.
Morro Castle and Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña guard entrance to Havana Harbor.
Cuban youth sells organic onions from urban gardens on Havana street.
Ornate filigree and statuary adorn Havana's Gran Teatro where the National Ballet performs. Click photo for view of interior.
In preparation for today's activities watch this riveting British Broadcasting Corporation feature from "Around the World in 80 Gardens" on urban organic farms in Havana including a walk-through of Vivero Organopónico Alamar by fab host Monty Don.
This morning 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.
Highlight Special lunch prepared by members of Vivero Organopónico Alamar – a chance to dine with your new Cuban friends.
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. 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, seat of the second authority of the island. Today it houses important publishing concerns.
Museo de Artesania at Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the second oldest fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies. Today it displays treasures of artistic ceramics by the most prestigious Cuban artists from the middle of the last century to present. The institution is host to the Ceramic Biennial.
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 Cuban 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. We'll visit an important center for the visual arts.
Free time in the famous open-air arts and craft market of Old Havana where you can purchase all sorts of souvenirs by local artisans.
Evening option Attend a performance of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba at the Gran Teatro. This activity depends upon ballet schedule and is not included in program cost.
Cuatro Caminos merchant offers pineapple and papaya.
Vivero Organopónico Alamar workers. "Vivero" means garden.
Fresh from the farm. We have lunch at the Vivero Organopónico Alamar.
Left Young Cuban expresses her desire for world peace in 2008. Right 1971 Cuban poster by Felix Beltrán demands, "Freedom for Angela Davis."
Left Iconic 1960s photo of Cuban soldier reflects women's determination to defend their rights and homeland (click image to enlarge). Right Cuban artists of both sexes dwell on themes of strong women.
Ballet student rehearses at Havana's Institute of Superior Arts (ISA).
Alicia Alonso commemorative coin minted in 1998 for the 50th anniversary of the National Ballet.
Detail from the 19th International Festival of Ballet in 2004.
Why is this photo of John Lennon here? Click it to find out.
Many staples are grown organically in Havana: From left Bananas, coffee beans, cucumbers, pineapple, sweet potatoes, eggplant, and avocados.
Vilma Lucila Espín Guillois (1930-2007), mother of Mariela Castro Espín, was a feminist and revolutionary married to Raúl Castro, the current Cuban President. Espín was founder and President of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) from 1960 until her death. The FMC has a membership of over 4 million women. Espín was also a leader in the Council of State, as well as a member of the Central Committee and the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1980 to 1991.
This inspired mural was painted on a garage door of a Havana FMC facility thirty-five years ago. Click mural for larger view.
Members of the Federation of Cuban Women greet Cuba Education Tours participants at their national headquarters in Havana.
"Our task is to cure homophobia, not homosexuality," says CENESEX president Dr Mariela Castro Espín. Learn more about renowned sexologist, the incredible daughter of the Cuban president, and her campaign for sex education, fairness and equality, and dreams for Cuba too, at GayCuba.ca
Exclusive morning meeting with members and representatives of CENESEX (Centro Nacional de Educación Sexual / National Center for Sexual Education). This organization and its founder Mariela Castro Espín campaign for equality and dignity for lesbians, gays, transsexuals and transgendered people. Its work consists of advocacy at the community and political level combined with national education efforts and sensitivity training. In particular CENESEX leads in the areas of HIV/AIDS awareness and support services, and gender and sexuality counseling. The heroic work of CENESEX has rocketed Cuba into the stratosphere of the most progressive nation in Latin America for queers. As such, Cuba today is ahead of the United States on matters of legality, compassion, safety, health and government supported promotion of equality.
Followed by meeting with Línea Ayuda. This dynamic volunteer organization provides a help line for people with HIV/AIDS together with crucial outreach, and prevention and education activities for young Cubans.
Group welcome lunch at La Mina Restaurant where you'll enjoy traditional Cuban dishes and live music. A special treat for participants of the Official 2010 International Women's Day Cuba Tour.
Afterwards we'll meet with members of the Federation of Cuban Women (Federación de Mujeres Cubanas – FMC). Founded in August 1960, today it is Cuba's largest mass organization and a United Nations recognized NGO. We'll learn of its crucial work in advancing full female equality, leadership building, skills training, and scores of other essential services for women and the family. We also participate in IWD activities with them.
Program highlight This evening you're a special guest at a festive gathering of at a local Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) in honor of IWD. CDRs are responsible for the well-being, education, sanitation and safety of people in their neighborhoods. This event is hosted for participants of the 2010 International Women's Day Cuba Tour. Tip: Be a good guest. Plan to take snacks for the kids, and rum and coke for the adults.
Child welfare, health care, and thwarting crime and violence are chief aims of this block watch-type institution with chapters for every several hundred residents across the island. CDRs also ensure electoral integrity and provide detailed profiles on candidates for residents. Voting booth and ballot security is entrusted to primary school students on election days.
Marta Núñez center rear lectures at the University of Havana. Núñez has penned many key theses on gender in modern Cuba.
Fantasy garden and studio of acclaimed artist José Fuster. Click photo to enlarge. Credit Richard Harris
Giant mosaic of crab by José Fuster. Click photo to enlarge. Credit Richard Harris
José Fuster's lunch dishes are as colorful as his sculptures.
Moviemaker Michael Moore visits the home of Cuban artist José Fuster while filming SiCKO in March 2007.
Private guided tour of the Museum of the Revolution by University of Havana professor and feminist author of note Marta Núñez Sarmiento followed by a round table discussion. 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 a fascinating engaging lecturer who will explore many interesting and unique aspects of Cuban society including family rights, property laws and gender issues.
Núñez 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 Mexico to Cuba to launch the struggle for liberation from the Batista dictatorship.
Get ready for an air-conditioned luxury coach tour of the most important sites of Modern Havana such as the Capital building, the Grand Theatre, Central Park, Prado promenade, Plaza de la Revolución, Coppelia Ice Cream Park, Plaza José Martí (in front of US 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.
Tour highlight This afternoon we'll feast on a delicious lunch hosted by José Fuster, one of Cuba's most important contemporary ceramists and artists at his whimsical studio in Jaimanita, just outside of Havana.
Followed by visits to studios of contemporary painters such as Jacqueline Brito, Yamilys Brito and Alicia Leal. Their work is displayed in galleries and museums around the world.
Tour highlight
This evening we have a private Cuban band playing for us: Grupo Dulce María. You'll learn to perform and dance to Salsa, Son, Rumba and Mambo from band members. In this relaxed environment you'll find it easy to learn the steps and start dancing like a native!
The Museum of the Revolution displays a vast and fascinating journey through Cuba's hundred years' struggle for independence.
Museum's magnificent domed ceiling. Click photo to enlarge.
Alicia Leal, Mujer, Gato y Pajaro (Cat and Bird), serigraph on paper, 20 x 27.5 cm.
Yamilys Brito, Figuras from Bajo la piel (Under the Skin), 1995, collogram and woodcut, 22 x 33 cm.
Jacqueline Brito, La ruta del desterrado (The path of exile), oil on canvas, 20 x 35 cm.
Afrocuban dance in Cuba. African and Spanish heritages have combines to create a rich unique culture. Photos Barbara Fudge
Callejón de Hamel, located in Central Havana's Cayo Hueso neighborhood, is an Afrocuban cultural hotspot.
Afrocuban inspired folkdance.
Santiago de Cuba mom gently introduces her tot water sports.
Did you know Che Guevara was a doctor? His daughter, Aleida, is too. She practices pediatrics in Havana and consults on health across Latin America.
Afrocuban band performs in the community of Regla.
Morning ferryboat ride across Havana harbor to the Municipality of Regla. This Afrocuban community has a long, rich and still active tradition of African-inspired religions and culture.
We'll visit Regla's church dedicated to the black "Virgen de Regla" Yemayá, the African goddess of the sea in the Yoruba religion and the patron saint of sailors.
We'll tour the Museo Municipal de Regla and learn of the origins of this unique community and its Afrocuban cultures from its curator Raiza Fornaguera.
Following our return to Havana we have a special presentation on Cuban Women Today by esteemed professor Marta Núñez Sarmiento followed by a round table discussion. Núñez is noted for her candid and incisive views on the challenges Cuban women face now and in future.
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 program cost).
Ferryboat traversing Havana harbor to the municipality of Regla.
Regla's church honors a black goddess who protects fishers and sailors.
Cubans start dancing from the time they walk and don't stop until they drop.
Exotic and unique plants and animals thrive in Cuba. The island has more protected areas than any other country.
Young person staffs farmers market.
Once deforested and mired in poverty, Las Terrazas today is a self-staining eco-community.
The jutía, native to Cuba, is a large rodent the size of a cocker spaniel. They dwell in trees and are vegetarians. Jutías are the preferred breakfast of crocodiles and the largest endemic island mammal.
Morning departure to Las Terrazas eco-community in the Sierra del Rosario mountain range west of Havana in the province of Pinar del Río.
We'll tour its rural village called Rancho Curujey and enjoy a welcome cocktail while hearing about this self-sustaining community's goals of reforestation, historical preservation, environmental balance and a good life.
Next we'll meet with local artists and craft workers in their homes and studios.
Later we'll walk the incredible ruins of a French Coffee Plantation built in 1801 and worked by African slaves.
Then we continue on to La Moka, an ecologically designed hotel with trees growing up through its balconies and ceilings.
We'll enjoy lunch at a local eatery serving traditional Cuban country cuisine. (Not included in program cost.)
You'll have free time to swim in the fresh waters of the Río San Juan and explore the surroundings of this lush tropical paradise.
Now we're off to your Hotel Resort Los Jazmines. Time to settle in and rest up. Dinner is included at the hotel.
Evening options An opportunity to enjoy the beautiful natural environment surroundings of your hotel, and its amenities. Or, your guide will let you know of local happenings.
In the countryside many youth are engaged in organic agriculture combined with rigorous academics. Animal partners help out on the farm. Eco-friendly practices result in tasty produce and high productivity.
We'll swim in this heavenly pool at Las Terrazas. Don't forget your suit.
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 Fund named Cuba the only nation to achieve a sustainable planet friendly economy.
Some among hundreds of orchids and flowers found in the province of Pinar del Río.
Background A mogote is a freestanding rock formation unique to Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Foreground World famous tobacco is raised here.
Downtown Viñales. The village is an historic 19th century agricultural settlement. Colonnaded red-tiled houses in the neo-colonial style flank its main street.
Left Cork palm flower, right cork palm tree. It is not a real palm, instead a member of cycads family. Viñales Valley's flora is closely linked to its ancient past, and holds 17 endemic varieties found nowhere else on earth, including the cork palm (Microcycas calocoma), a living fossil from the cretaceous period.
FIRST HERO OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE
Taíno Indian Chief Hatuey from the island of Hispanolia traveled to and warned his Cuban counterparts of the horrific dangers they faced from 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.
Exploration of Viñales Valley, containing the most spectacular scenery in Cuba and some of the most interesting and varied geological formations in the Caribbean. The valley is particularly famous for its great freestanding rock formations called mogotes.
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.
We'll enjoy a traditional Cuban lunch following the cave expedition.
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.
Visit Carmen and Caridad Miranda's magical mini-paradise, known as the Viñales Botanical Garden. These two elderly widows maintain a little Eden full of fruit trees, orchids and medicinal plants nurtured lovingly and organically.
Free time in Viñales village to explore at your leisure the open-air craft market, the Parque Marti, the Church, and other interesting sites of this charming colonial town.
Tonight is free for you to explore the sites and sounds of the city or the amenities of your hotel. Your guide will keep you posted on local events.
Mural de la Prehistoria [Mural of Prehistory] commissioned by Fidel Castro in 1961. Artist Leovigildo González was a student of Mexican great Diego Rivera.
We'll learn about the cultivation and processing of tobacco from seed to leaf culminating in the world's most famous cigars.
A river runs through the Cueva del Indio used by the Guanahatabey Amerindians as a burial site and a refuge from the Spaniards.
VINALES VALLEY 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. The 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 naturally beautiful spot in Cuba.
KEEP IN TOUCH with your new Cuban friends – exchange email addresses! Bring some business cards to pass out on the island. Take pictures and keep a journal. Upon your return, we'll post them on this website for all to see and enjoy.
Invite your friends to join you on the island for the Official 2010 International Women's Day Cuba Tour.
Early morning transfer to Havana's José Martí Int'l 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. Want to stay longer in Cuba following your tour? Contact us and we will help make it happen.
Old Cuban saying, "a true friend remembers the song in your heart when you have forgotten the lyrics."
More Cuba tours
Five-star treatment round-the-clock from our Cuban and Canadian staff ensures worry free travel abroad.
In preparation for today's activities watch this riveting British Broadcasting Corporation feature from "Around the World in 80 Gardens" on urban organic farms in Havana including a walk-through of Vivero Organopónico Alamar by fab host Monty Don.
![Mural de la Prehistoria [Mural of Prehistory] in Viñales.](images/204prehistory_mural333.jpg)
