Unique and cultural havana
March 14-20, 2023
7 days / 6 nights

With the starting and ending in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as a group.
Your Cuban airfare is included in tour price

Important to know when Traveling to cuba

We are traveling to Cuba under “The Support of The Cuban People” Statue. What that means is we are supporting the people of Cuba in the following ways: Lodge at a private Bed and Breakfast (B&B); Use private transportation; Eat at private restaurants; Visit with Cuban families and learn about their lives; Engage with locals (car readers, artists, musicians, book sellers, etc.); Use a private Cuban guide; Visit a church and learn how charities work; Visit a local farm; Buy souvenirs at privately owned shops; etc.

Don’t just tour Cuba, Experience Cuba

Every Beatrice Bradley trip is crafted to maximize the experiences had during the trip.
The itineraries are specially made to allow time for engaging in conversation and having belly laughs with a new friend. We hope that the activities and experiences may allow you to come out of your comfort zone and to try new or unique things.
These trips are made to replicate a ‘friends get-away trip’. 

Day One: Tuesday March 14, 2023 – Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Arrive at Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL)

Highlights

• We will check into our hotel and have a fun dinner together

Day Two: Wednesday March 15, 2023 – Group Flight to Havana / Arrival, Check In & Visit with Host, Welcome Dinner, Cannon Fire

We will wake up in Fort Lauderdale, have breakfast together and head to the Fort Lauderdale Airport for our flight into Havana.

Arrive in Havana: Our local Cuban driver and guide will welcome us at Jose Marti International Airport. On your way to your accommodations, you will enjoy a panoramic view of Plaza of the Revolution, Old Havana and Vedado.

Check In at Bed and Breakfast, the host will be waiting with refreshments.

Welcome Dinner at Chef Ivan’s El Carbon Restaurant

• Pamper your senses with an outstanding, family style welcome dinner. The menu includes typical Cuban dishes like “arroz con pollo” and “masitas de cerdo.” Chef Ivan uses new recipe ideas from his travels around the world to create his flavorful “Cuban fusion” cuisine. Join the list of many happy clients including the King of Spain.

Cannon Fire Ceremony

• Take a drive to the fairgrounds of Castillo de San Carlos de la Cabaña. A spectacular sunset and view of the city awaits you. Meet tourists and locals who visit the fort to witness the unique tradition of the Cannon Fire Ceremony. Since the 1700’s, this event takes place at 9 pm, signifying the closing of the city doors. Furthermore, you may shop for souvenirs at the end of the event.

Day Three: Thursday March 16, 2023 – Classic Convertible Ride & Photoshoot & Colonial Plazas

1 1/2 Hour Classic Convertible Car Ride & Photoshoot

• Ride with class in one of our colorful, classic convertibles in Havana. For one hour, you will ride along Old Havana and the Havana Malecon. With the photoshoot included this will be a unique and unforgettable experience!
  Note: Photographer will give you a memory stick with your photos the day before departure.
  

Lunch at La Vitrola Restaurant

• Rest and delight in a “al fresco” lunch at La Vitrola. The restaurant offers a great view of the energy of the plaza.

Explore Havana’s Plazas

• Plaza Vieja The eclectic Plaza Vieja is surrounded by colorful colonial buildings. The oversized Carrara dominates the center of the plaza. Great place for photos!
• Plaza San Francisco de Asis The plaza features the Basilica Menor San Francisco de Asis, the boutique Hotel del Marques de San Felipe and Santiago de Bejucal, and the Chamber of Commerce.
• Plaza de Armas The Plaza houses the Hotel Santa Isabel, the Templete Monument and the Castillo de la Fuerza Real.
• Plaza La Catedral The Cathedral Church dominates this Plaza, but you can also discover restaurants and small museums within the square. Hemingway’s Bodeguita del Medio is a “most stop,” for a mojito and to leave your name on one of the street walls.

Almacenes San Jose

• Enjoy live music while you shop for souvenirs, art, and crafts.

Back to lodging to freshening up.

Dinner Together

• Cuban and Spanish cuisine is served at this ocean view restaurant. Great “ropa vieja,” pork and fish.

Day Four: Friday March 17, 2023 – History, Architecture, Culture, Shopping

Fine Arts Museum

• Delight in masterpieces from colonial times and contemporary art exhibitions.

Hemingway’s Finca Vigia

• Today, we will drive to San Francisco de Paula for a tour of Finca Vigia, Hemingway’s country home in the 1940’s. He wrote some of his famous work, the most famous, “The Old Man and the Sea.”

El Mirador de Acosta Restaurant in Lawton 

• Like its name, the restaurant offers great views of Lawton all the way to the coast.

Muraleando Community Project

This community project, at the suburb of Lawton, is an enriching artistic and social community project. Guests can delight in local art and music.Muraleando is truly an exceptional place! What started out as one person’s desire to provide art classes to kids has grown into a huge artistic, cultural, educational, community center. Artists from all over the world travel to add their artistic touch to the murals that now stretch down both sides of the street. And they not only offer typical art classes, but now all kinds of art including drawing, painting, ceramics, theater, music, dance, and more! There is also a focus on art education for students with special needs. And the community can use the beautiful space for a variety of celebrations.

“This place brought tears to my eyes!” — I literally teared up as we walked through this project and learned about its history. A local center that used to be a trash dump and now serves as a center for art and learning for the community and area students. There is so much love and pride here you can’t help but walk away wanting to support their continued success. Buy something from one of the local artists and support the cause! Have a drink while you watch music that the volunteers perform. Just stop for a minute and think about what it is that they have accomplished on their own with so little support. Heart warming and humbling.

Back to lodging to freshening up.

Cabaret Parisien (Doors open at 9:30 pm) 

• Dress up time for the Cabaret Parisien Dinner/Show! Beautifully staged, the show represents the development of the Cuban “mulato,” a fusion of Indian, African, and Spanish roots.

Day Five: Saturday March 18, 2023 – Viñales Valley Countryside

Viñales Valley with Lunch (Day Long)

• The Viñales Valley’s landscape is an impressive ecological site. For instance, the valley is dotted with stand-alone rock formations called “mogotes.” Also, the Viñales area is one of Cuba’s most fertile areas, where some of the world’s best tobacco is grown. Learn how tobacco is grown at a plantation. Discover the Indian Cave and the Prehistoric Mural. Savor a “criollo” lunch at one of Viñales private restaurant Casa de Barbaro.

Farewell Dinner at Allie’s Bed & Breakfast

• This wonderful lady has a very successful Bed and Breakfast, and her chef is amazing!

Day Six: Sunday March 19, 2023 – Goodbye Cuba! Group Flight to Fort Lauderdale

This amazing Cuba experience has reached its end. We are leaving Cuba with so much knowledge, new experiences, and great friends. We hope that your experience was amazing! Our friendly driver will transfer you to Jose Marti airport where we will fly out as a group to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Once we land in Fort Lauderdale, we will gather as a group for a small dinner and reminisce on our time spent together in Cuba.

Day Seven: Monday, March 20, 2023 – Departure Day 

Schedule your flight home anytime that works for you from the Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL)

Pricing

Click here to see payment terms

Activity Level – Moderate

There will walking during the tour.

It is your responsibly to fully read and understand the physical abilities that correlate to this Beatrice Bradley Experience. Difficulty level of activity is subject to individual interpretation so it is extremely important that you read the itinerary and reach out if you have concerns or questions.

If you have questions about the specifics of the physical activity during this trip, please give us a call at 763-784-8291.

Role of a Beatrice bradley hostess

Beatrice Bradley is an Experience Company not a Tour Company.  The role of a Beatrice Bradley Host is to be warm and welcoming. To relate and connect. To have attention to details. And to manage the behind-the-scenes magic so your experience is one-of-a-kind. They are not local experts nor are they tour guides. We hire local experts, guides, and historians as each location warrants. They are expert hosts and manage the camaraderie and logistics of the experience. Our goal is that your hostess will make you feel welcomed, comfortable, and that you will walk away with new & lasting friendships made during an unforgettable experience.

Flight Details

Airport Pick Up is included when arriving at the designated airport within the specified pick up window.

Departure Airport: FLL Fort Lauderdale Airport
Departure Date:  March 20, 2023
Drop off Times: Drop off time may vary

Important information

As a solo-traveler, we need you to provide self-awareness and an understanding that you are fully responsible for yourself. This includes: your possessions, your physical abilities or fitness, your attitude, and all other aspects that relate to traveling solo in a group. 

• Connect with our Members on our Private Facebook Group – Beatrice Bradley Member’s Only
• You must be able to manage your own luggage and all of your personal belongings on this trip
• This is not a handicap accessible able trip – you must be able to get in and out of a Large Passenger Transit Vehicle 
• All Ground transportation is included on this trip
• Group Airport transfers are included in this trip. 
• This trip will have have a maximum of 14 women
• This trip will have 2 Beatrice Bradley Hostesses
• If you need a roommate, we will happily pair you with another Beatrice Bradley traveler 
• Travel insurance is not included. Beatrice Bradley is not a licensed travel insurance operator nor is our staff trained to in travel insurance. You can choose to purchase travel insurance through any licensed provider you choose. We will ask you upon booking if you would like us to send you some suggested licensed insurance companies.