Hedy Marks Hedy Travel an affiliate of Travel Edge 404.245.2355 [email protected]
Friday · June 4th, 2021 - Monday · June 7th, 2021 Extraordinary Experiences in Cuba Itinerary for Long Weekend in Havana
ACCOMMODATIONS HIGHLIGHTS
Friday · June 4th Arrive Havana Hotel Nacional de Cuba and Rum Tasting Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski (3 nights) Dinner at a select Palador Drinks at El Flordita
Saturday · June 5th Walking Tour of Old Havana Finca Vigia Dinner at a select Palador Live Music Show
Sunday · June 6th Photography Studio Visit Columbus Cemetery Visit the fishing village of JAIMANITAS Shopping at ALMACENES SAN JOSE Classic Convertible Car Ride DINNER AT LA GUARIDA
Monday · June 7th Visit the Head Start Preschool for Disadvantaged Students Cigar Factory Tour Visit Alma Cuba Shop Compas Dance Project
Created by Hedy Marks at Hedy Travel an affiliate of Travel Edge 1 ACCOMMODATIONS GRAN HOTEL MANZANA KEMPINSKI
HIGHLIGHTS Visit the famous Hotel Nacional de Cuba and enjoy a private rum tasting Enjoy meals at the best paladars in the city Enjoy daiquiris at El Flordita, Hemingway's hangout Visit with local artists and get behind-the-scene tours of their studios and enjoy private music performances Step behind the bar and learn how to make the best mojitos in town See Ernest Hemingway's home as it was when he wrote The Old Man and the Sea Practice your salsa moves at one of the happening Havana clubs Take a ride along the Malecon in a classic convertible Visit a preschool for disadvantaged children Tour a cigar factory and see how they are made
Friday · June 4th
Arrive Havana Image credits: Pixabay
Upon arrival in Havana, after customs and baggage, your professional English speaking guide will be waiting for you with a Cultural Cuba sign. This will be your full-time guide throughout the trip. Your dedicated driver and private air-conditioned transfer will also be waiting at the airport and will accompany you throughout the weekend
Created by Hedy Marks at Hedy Travel an affiliate of Travel Edge 2 Hotel Nacional de Cuba and Rum Tasting
Visit the historic HOTEL NACIONAL de CUBA. The hotel was originally designed by McKim, Mead and White which also designed Columbia University in New York City. Perched on a rise overlooking the Malecón, the hotel opened in 1930, initially for American visitors only, in the Vedado area of Havana. The hotel’s iconic HALL of FAME bar depicts many of the famous visitors and the small museum on the grounds of the hotel shares the story of the Cuban Missile Crisis from Cuba’s perspective. Enjoy Lunch (included) at the famed LA BARRACA on the terrace of the Nacional overlooking the ocean. Enjoy a PRIVATE RUM TASTING after lunch on the terrace of the Nacional provided by Havana Club Rum Sommelier, featuring the outstanding Master’ s selection.
Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski
Jun 04 Jun 07 3 nights Check-in Check-out Duration
Created by Hedy Marks at Hedy Travel an affiliate of Travel Edge 3 Room Selection
Room Notes Check in at the lux GRAN HOTEL MANZANA KEMPINSKI. The hotel is situated in the heart of Old Havana amidst UNESCO World Heritage sites with direct views of the Capitol, El Floridita, and the Grand National Theater of Havana. Experience the first true luxury hotel in Cuba and the extra-high ceilings and French windows opening onto Old Havana. Explore the one-of- a-kind ventilated cigar lounge and the rooftop Panoramic Restaurant and Bar with a spectacular reflecting pool and 360- degree views. The hotel also has an excellent spa and top-of-the-line fitness center. Rest and relax at the hotel. Unpack. Enjoy the roof-top pool deck and comfortable lounge chairs.
Dinner at a select Palador
Drinks at El Flordita
Stop in to EL FLORIDITA (conveniently located across the street from the Kempinski) home of the daiquiri and Hemingway hangout with live music.
Saturday · June 5th
Walking Tour of Old Havana
Embark on a WALKING TOUR OF LA HABANA VIEJA /OLD HAVANA, exploring the four major plazas: Plaza Armas, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja, and Plaza San Francisco. With its narrow streets and overhanging balconies, residential Old Havana is also the traditional center of much of Havana’s commerce, industry, and entertainment. It is richly endowed with historic Created by Hedy Marks at Hedy Travel an affiliate of Travel Edge 4 also the traditional center of much of Havana’s commerce, industry, and entertainment. It is richly endowed with historic buildings representing architectural styles from the 16th through the 19th centuries.
Stop in at the birthplace of the mojito, the famous BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO.
EL TALLER EXPERIMENTAL DE GRAFICA As part of the walking tour, stop in at this this community-based Graphic Arts Studio. Printmaking is an important traditional art form in Cuba, and the studio has helped preserve it by producing etchings, lithographs, collagraphs, and woodcuts since 1962. You may speak with the artists as they work.
Finca Vigia
After lunch, we travel outside the city to FINCA VIGIA, the estate of Ernest Hemingway in the San Francisco neighborhood overlooking Havana. This UNESCO site is part of the Hemingway Foundation, preserved as Hemingway left it. It was at Finca Vigía that Hemingway wrote much The Old Man and the Sea (1951) about a fisherman who lived in the nearby town of Cojimar and worked the waters off Havana.
Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the pool at the hotel.
Dinner at a select Palador
Live Music Show
Attend a nightly show at CASA DE LA MUSICA or go see some LATIN JAZZ AT LA ZORRA Y EL CUERVO or FOX & RAVEN Created by Hedy Marks at Hedy Travel an affiliate of Travel Edge 5 Attend a nightly show at CASA DE LA MUSICA or go see some LATIN JAZZ AT LA ZORRA Y EL CUERVO or FOX & RAVEN (dependent on performance schedule). Visit the bohemian Sia Kara bar near the Capitol or head to the roof-top of the Hotel Inglaterra for casual setting with live music.
Sunday · June 6th Photography Studio Visit This morning we visit the renowned PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO of Ramses Batista and Alex Castro. Ramses' photography captures the beauty of the human form and nature. Be sure to view the hurricane series for which Ramses ended up in jail. Alex pays homage to his father, Fidel, often revealing a not commonly seen sweet and tender side to the island’s former leader. Alex is also a renowned baseball photographer.
Columbus Cemetery Visit Havana’s monumental COLUMBUS CEMETERY. One of the largest cemeteries in the world and a place to really learn about Cuba. There are several centuries of scandals and intrigue to be discovered. Don’t miss the fascinating tomb of La Milagrosa and its supposed health and fertility properties.
Visit the fishing village of JAIMANITAS
Travel outside the city to the quaint fishing village of JAIMANITAS and visit the Gaudi Inspired neighborhood mosaic tile art project of world-renowned artist Jose Fuster. Mr. Fuster turned his entire village into a mosaic project. Featured on A&E and Discovery, you will visit his private home and studio.
Shopping at ALMACENES SAN JOSE Visit ALMACENES SAN JOSE (open daily from 10:00 6:00 pm). Browse local crafts, souvenirs. Leather goods (single tubes for cigars), hand-carved wooden items (dominoes), and canvas folk-art paintings are good finds at this large covered artisan market near the marina.
Created by Hedy Marks at Hedy Travel an affiliate of Travel Edge 6 Classic Convertible Car Ride Image credits: Pixabay
Enjoy a CLASSIC CONVERTIBLE CAR-RIDE in the magical lighting of Havana along the Malecon.
DINNER AT LA GUARIDA
DINNER AT LA GUARIDA Havana’s “most famous restaurant” (New York Times). The building, a former tenement house, is the faded beauty where the acclaimed 1994 Cuban movie Strawberry and Chocolate was filmed and, more recently, the shoot location for fashion magazines and international clothing designers. Restaurant-goers climb a marble staircase to the top floor's intimate rooms. Inventive dishes deconstruct and combine traditional Cuban and international cuisine. Optional post- dinner: After dinner, enjoy GUARIDA’S TERRACE BAR (up the spiral staircase) and the incredible setting and views of Havana. Visit the bohemian Sia Kara bar near the Capitol or head to the roof-top of the Hotel Inglaterra for casual setting with live music.
Monday · June 7th Visit the Head Start Preschool for Disadvantaged Students This morning we visit the HEAD START PRE-SCHOOL FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS - A small school for children ages 2 5 from challenging home environments (domestic violence, drug abuse, and or poor living conditions). The beautiful colonial home was restored by the city historian's office and is now operated by nuns who provide formal education with a lot of extracurricular activities involving art and music. Any arts and crafts supplies or music-related items, crayons, coloring books, basic clothing like shoes with Velcro, bolts of fabric for uniforms, sewing materials for the nuns, or non-perishable snacks are welcome and needed.
Created by Hedy Marks at Hedy Travel an affiliate of Travel Edge 7 Cigar Factory Tour
Next we tour a working cigar factory and one of the oldest in the world. Observe as rollers hand-roll some of the best and most recognizable brands such as Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Partagas, and Montecristo.
Visit Alma Cuba Shop Visit ALMA CUBA SHOP. A unique small boutique, and one of Tory Burch’s favorite stops, that sells goods handmade by Cuban artists and artisans using natural or recycled materials. The shop’s objective is to promote the creativity of Cuba's artists.
Compas Dance Project
Enjoy an in-studio performance by Habana Compás Dance whose members are classically trained dancers and powerful percussionists. Chairs, drums, castanets, batas and all sorts of instruments are incorporated into their lively modern performances. Think front row seats to Stomp! mixed with flamenco. The dancers teach young students from the community offering free lessons to dedicated pupils. The group has traveled outside of Cuba so a highly sought-after spot with the troupe is the dream of many students.
Created by Hedy Marks at Hedy Travel an affiliate of Travel Edge 8