¡Viva Cuba! Culture, Community and Conservation

Arrive into Jose Marti International Airport in Havana (HAV) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the guesthouse and settle in, relaxing after your long flight, and join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. Go out for dinner at Paladares, one of Havana’s new privately-owned restaurants, before heading off on your adventure throughout the “Pearl of the Antilles!”

Take a one-hour drive to Charco Azul, an ecolodge tucked into the hills just west of Havana. You’ll be introduced to the work of conservation specialists from Flora y Fauna, a local nonprofit who manage the majority of the protected territories in Cuba. In partnership with the local communities, the organization helps reforest the area and work with farmers to control the use of harmful toxins and train them in sustainable farming practices.

Visit Las Terrazas, the first ecologically-sustainable community in Cuba and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. See what ecotourism means when you set up services inside an environmentally informed community. Head back and take a horseback ride to the famous Charco Azul Lagoon.

Travel five hours to the Lomas de Banao Preserve enjoying the sites of the Cuban countryside. Get an overview of the natural ecological preserve from park rangers and an introduction to their conservation efforts, including the projects your group will work on.

Support reforestation efforts in the Lomas de Banao Reserve as you help build erosion control barriers that will improve soil conditions and contribute to sustainable projects. End the day with a short hike and swim under the Bella Waterfall. Join your group for a mid-trip discussion where you’ll begin to reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned so far.

Head to the coastal town of Tunas de Zaza, one of the best spots for watching wildlife in Cuba, particularly pink flamingos. Enjoy the catch of the day at the park ranger station before heading up the Zaza River on a boat tour. Gather seeds from red mangrove trees along the way to replant further down the river, which is critical to sustain the local marine ecosystem.

Head back toward Havana. After breakfast, set off on a cultural exploration trip to Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a city full of history. Spend your afternoon relaxing at the beach and enjoying the warm Caribbean waters. Head to Havana for dinner.

Take a walking tour of Havana Vieja and see the city through a local lens. Ride a 1950s American classic car to Plaza de Revolución, and the Malecón. Music and dance are very important in Cuban culture, so feel the beat and end your program high dancing with your new friends.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Say goodbye to your new friends and to beautiful Havana on your way home. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.