Havana, Cuba. January 16 – 21, 2019

I Love Being Black & Traveling.black have teamed up again to curate this global experience centered around an AfroCuban immersion (space very limited). The US government is rapidly closing the door on travel to Cuba so let’s slide on in while this amazing opportunity still exists to go there legally! For 6 days we will take you through various parts of Havana starting off with the world famous International Havana Jazz Festival.

After you submit your deposit we will assist you in booking a flight. All of our tours have a focus on diasporic Black experiences, Black businesses and Black guides whenever possible. Whether it’s your first time in Cuba or your tenth, you can look forward to the following amazing itinerary as you Experience Cuba:

First day in an exciting new part of the world. After you land at the airport we will collect you and the rest of the group then jump in our transport and head to check-in to our condos. We will be staying together in 2-3 condos, so we’ll check in, have a meet and greet and charge our gadgets. We’ll then eat lunch at a nearby restaurant and check out some of the surrounding shops and picturesque plazas. At night you will partake in the best jazz festival experience Cuba has to offer. Click here for 8 reasons to visit Cuba.

After breakfast we will head straight to an AfroCuban museum that will give you the history of Black people in Cuba. This includes existing religions and other parts of African culture that survived slavery. Next we will eat lunch at a favorite people watching spot that often has a live salsa band playing music while you eat (excellent for video). After lunch we’ll head out into Havana Vieja. This is the Cuba you usually see photos of with rustic vintage looking scenery, an abundance of old classic cars and cobblestone streets. Photo shoot anyone?

After our home-cooked breakfast we’ll be taking the ferry just across the water to a town called Regla. Often times when people visit Havana they don’t get to venture off the beaten path much. Visiting Regla is essential if you want to see Afro-Cuban life and experience Cuba outside of tourist zones. There is a church in Regla where they showcase a Black Madonna, showing the virgin Mary. After Regla you will have some free time to take photos, explore or just relax before dinner. After dinner we’ll hit up a trendy hot spot that is a factory turned art gallery and eclectic night club.

Cuba’s beaches are just as beautiful as they are lively. White sand, warm water with a crystal blue-green hue and palm trees galore. In 1958, 1 year before the infamous Cuba embargo, Gordon Parks took photographs on some of these same beaches. For lunch you must try the fresh seafood (vegan options available too) and drink fresh coconut water out of the coconut. Take your time and relax here, and fine tune that tan. After the beach we will freshen up, then get ready for the Havana Jazz Plaza Festival! Rumor has it that rum and jazz go together.

Sunday rumbas are something to savor. A rumba is loosely translated as a party, in this case an Afro-Cuban dayparty. There will be a lot of dancing but don’t forget your camera! This specific area of Havana has some amazing murals and other street art to see. You’ll be able to see the Afro-Cuban culture in it’s most electric form here. Also, this is great place to spark up one of those cigars so look for that too. After the rumba we’ll do a lil shopping, then meet back at the condo for the tour wrap up session. For our last night we’ll be partying in a castle… for real.

Today is the sad day that operation Experience Cuba has to end. Because our trip legally sanctioned, you are able to take back Cuban rum, cigars, etc. legally! We’ll teach you the best ways to do this, then take you back to the airport 3-4 hours before your departure. Havana airport is notoriously slow with their check-in processes, you don’t want to get stuck in Cuba… well, after this trip, you just might.

• Book your flights to land in Havana (HAV airport) as early as possible on Jan. 16th. Folks leaving from the west coast may leave at night on Jan. 15th. We will meet you at the airport then shuttle you to the condo.
• After you submit your deposit we will schedule a time to call you within 48hrs to answer any remaining questions and to assist you in finding a good flight
• Visas are $50 and are usually collected at the airport before your final flight to Havana.
• Traveling to Cuba for tourism is illegal but you may travel to Cuba under 1 of 12 pre-designated areas in a group. The designated area we are all traveling under is “journalistic activity“. This tour is meant for journalists/photographers/content creators/bloggers and you!