*An Important Note About Travel to Cuba
As of June 5, 2019 the U.S. State Department and Office of Foreign Assets Control removed the license Rustic Pathways uses from the list of legal travel options for U.S. citizens for Cuba travel. All Rustic Pathways programs purchased before June 5 will operate as planned but we will no longer be accepting new applications at this time.
Please reach out to your Personal Travel Advisor or call 800.321.4353 if you have questions about upcoming travel to Cuba.
Teacher-Led Trips in Cuba
In true Rustic fashion, students have explored beyond Havana and the country’s tropical coastlines since we started offering Cuba programs in 2016. Built around local interaction, hands-on learning, and engaging community exchanges, our programs here are designed to reveal what life is really like in Cuba. Participate in environmental conservation efforts or explore this fascinating country behind the lens of your camera. The country is just beginning to open its doors to American tourism, and there is so much for us to learn and experience.
Cuba is at such a unique and important crossroads in its history. So much has happened in recent years, yet it still feels like a country fundamentally unchanged since 1959. The sense of community and solidarity among the Cuban people is striking and their resilience is fascinating. An experience in Cuba will leave you with a new perspective and a longing to return. — Harry Alvarez, Dominican Republic and Cuba Country Director
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Born in New York City and raised in the Dominican Republic, Harry represents the multi-cultural approach of Rustic Pathways. Harry graduated from SUNY New Paltz with degrees in psychology and Spanish and completed pre-med coursework at Columbia University. After his first summer in Costa Rica in 2008 he decided that there’s more than one approach to helping others. After managing programs in both Costa Rica and Panama for four years, Harry opened our programs in the Dominican Republic in 2012 and our Cuba programs in 2015. Harry carries tremendous pride in bringing students to the Caribbean. In addition to his passion for service and Latin dance, Harry enjoys cooking and hosting friends at his home in New Orleans.