Exploring Cuba’s Cultural Heritage
Experience Cuba’s cultural heart and historic soul on this thoughtfully curated eight-day journey from Havana to Trinidad. Begin in Havana, where colonial architecture, revolutionary history, and Afro-Cuban traditions come to life. Stroll the cobbled streets of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and engage with local scholars, artists, and entrepreneurs who provide unique perspectives on Cuban society, politics, and the arts. Highlights include a private rehearsal with the renowned MalPaso Dance Company, a conversation with gender and race activist Norma Guillard, and a classic car ride to the colorful home of mosaic artist José Fuster. A day trip to the lush Viñales Valley reveals Cuba’s rural rhythms, with visits to eco-farms, tobacco fields, and an orchid garden nestled in the hills of Soroa.
The journey continues south to Cienfuegos and Trinidad, where French-influenced boulevards and pastel facades give way to sugar mill ruins and plantation towers in the Valle de Los Ingenios. Along the way, travelers explore the ecological diversity of the Zapata Peninsula, enjoy a choral performance by Cantores de Cienfuegos, and walk the vibrant streets of Trinidad, one of the best-preserved colonial towns in the Caribbean. Throughout the trip, enjoy delicious meals in private paladares, stay in centrally located boutique hotels, and engage in meaningful cultural exchange with Cubans from all walks of life.
This immersive experience offers a rare opportunity to go beyond headlines and see Cuba through the eyes of its artists, historians, dancers, and everyday citizens. With the expert guidance of a local Travel Director and Dartmouth faculty host, travelers will come away with a deeper understanding of Cuba’s past, present, and dynamic future.
