Cuba

Havana, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad

October 18-25, 2013

8 days from $4999*

View complete itinerary

Cuba has long captured the interest of gay travelers. Perhaps it is the old cars that traverse its streets, or its famous music, or unique cuisine. Others may recall the writings by Reinaldo Arenas, the self-exiled gay author whose well known work, Before Night Falls (and Julien Schnapel's subsequent film of the same name), who described so patiently the repressive experiences that gays endured during the first two decades of the revolution.

Or, perhaps it is because we've been told for so many years that we cannot go, and gay people do not like being told we can't do something! The fact is, you CAN go to Cuba LEGALLY.

Zoom Vacations is proud to partner with the Center for the Study of the Cuban Economy + Culture in sponsoring a people-to-people trip to Cuba.

Our proposed travel arranges a nonstop charter flight from Miami to Havana because we will travel under under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Treasury's special People to People Cultural Exchange License, designed to educate and create understanding of both countries.

Zoom Vacations has been working hard for years to plan the right trip to Cuba, and the Center for the Study of Cuban Culture + Economy has a strong record in providing engagement that enhances Americans' understanding of Cubans, and vice versa. We were able to develop a wonderful itinerary, and secure permissions and reservations at the best hotels and with the best guides.

Our itinerary has been crafted with the expertise of the Center for the Study of Cuban Culture + Economy's Executive Director, Dr. Joseph L. Scarpaci, who has led more than 50 trips to the island. Our itinerary focusses on strengthening the bonds between the Cuban and U.S. people, by visiting and meeting with artists, human rights activists, leaders in various cottage industries, and the Cuban version of entrepreneurs, with a great (but intimate) group of Zoom guests who will be hosted by The Center.

Most importantly, we will to go there to show our support for the Cuban people and hopefully to increase their understanding of the U.S.

Our Gay Group Tour Highlights

• Fully escorted with the services of a Zoom Vacations® Concierge throughout the trip

• Tour a Cuban cigar factory and meet with factory workers to talk about why Cuba has the best cigars and the future of the Cuban cigar industry

• Visit numerous apartment complexes and speak with local residents about the challenges of securing building materials

• Meet small entrepreneurs who work in food processing, produce vending, and handicrafts

• Interactive tours and meetings with leaders in the private Cuban arts and music scene, including the private cooperative The Merger, whose art work has been widely appraised in New York, Toronto and throughout Europe

• Walking tour of Old Havana with Dr. Scarpaci (co-author of Havana: Two Faces of the Antillean Metropolis, with Cuban architects Mario Coyula and Roberto Segre) and an in-depth look at the architectural restoration processes throughout the city

• Visit to historic Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most architecturally intact town in Cuba from the days of the early 19th-century sugar trade

• Visit one of the most successful private agricultural cooperatives in the public-housing suburb of Alamar, and then to the small fishing village of Cojimar and have lunch at Las Terrazas, the setting in Hemingway’s novel, The Old Man and the Sea

• Visit Cuban retailing districts after hearing Dr. Scarpaci discuss new trends in Cuban consumer behavior, based on his recently co-authored book, Marketing without Advertising: Consumer Choice and Brand Preference in Cuba. Then, compare and contrast private with state-run marketing strategies

• Visit the National Ballet at the National Grand Theater

• Air-conditioned vehicles for transfers and activities

• Round trip bus from Havana to Cienfuegos/Trinidad and back to Havana

• Bilingual group tour guide for entire stay

• Five nights at the Parque Central Hotel in Havana

• Two nights at the La Union Hotel, Cienfuegos

• Breakfast Daily

• Lunch at Bodeguita del Medio in Havana, Hemingway's favorite bar

• Outdoor terrace farewell dinner with live Cuban music

• Lunch at the extremely picturesque Palacio del Valle in Cienfuegos

• Includes U.S. Airport Departure Tax and Cuban Visa (Note: persons born in Cuba will require additional paperwork and fees)

• Mandatory Health Insurance and evacuation required by the Cuban Government. This provides $25,000 worth of medical coverage and $7,000 worth of medical transportation (which is not enough coverage for a private plane back to the US).  This coverage does not include pre-existing condition

Gay-Friendly Accommodations at the best hotels in Havana and Cienfuegos

Parque Central, Havana, 5 Nights

The Iberostar Parque Central combines the elegance of the Spanish colonial style with modern services and facilities. The hotel is located on Parque Central, within walking distance to Plaza de la Catedral, Capitolio building, Gran Teatro de La Habana, and Havana Harbor.

Guestrooms enjoy soundproof walls and double-glazing on the windows. Classic-style wooden furniture provides a very intimate ambience. Spacious bathrooms are decorated in white, beige and green and include a bath and a separate shower. 

Other ammenities include a gym, wifi, spa, and several restaurants featuring live Cuban music.

La Union, Cienfuegos, 2 Nights

Within a few steps of Parque José Martí in down town Cienfuegos stands Hotel La Union, one of the most charming boutique hotels in Cuba. The hotel, a colonial mansion built in 1869, features marble pillars, antique furniture, two inner patios, a pool, bar, restaurant and a great roof top terrace. Its 49 comfortable rooms with balconies are equipped with everything you can expect from a fine hotel.

Its 49 comfortable accommodations with balconies, including 11 junior suites, are equipped with satellite TV, radio, international telephone service, bathroom with hairdryer, in-room safe and mini-bar. Hotel La Union features a small business center, a fitness area and a small spa where you can go for a relaxing massage. 

The inviting pool, located in an interior courtyard, has a fragment of an old arched brick wall and a couple of sculpted lions guarding over it. The open-air central courtyard bar is another great space to hang out and relax. Do not forget to visit the Venus Negra terrace of hotel La Union with its amazing view over the city and the bay. 

Air: International and domestic airfare not included. Zoom Vacations® has negotiated a 5% off your fare with American Airlines to Miami.  Go to aa.com/rainbow, type in your departure city and Miami and don’t forget to enter the Promotion Code: 94H2DH. Click " Get Fare".

*Land only Introductory rate, based on double occupancy. Prices are subject to change. Need a roommate? Zoom Vacations® is happy to match you with someone, at no additional charge. Or, you may pay a single supplement and go as a single.

Please read Terms and Conditions prior to booking.