A summer program in Cuba is a structured, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)-licensed educational experience for high school students ages 14 to 18 that combines Spanish-language immersion and cultural exchange with Cuban communities.
This guide compares teen-travel and institutional providers operating programs in Cuba on price, age range, enrollment model, and OFAC licensing.
How do the top Cuba summer programs compare?
| Provider | Price | Ages |
|---|---|---|
| Rustic Pathways | Contact for custom group pricing | 14–18 |
| ARCC Programs (Adventures Cross-Country) | Contact for pricing | 14–18 (grades 9–12) |
| Global Volunteers | Currently unavailable | Teens, adults, families |
| Authentic Cuba Travel / Cuba Pathfinder | $2,599–$8,999 + airfare | Schools, colleges, educators |
| ProximityCuba | Contact for pricing | College and school groups |
| Peace Works Travel | Contact for pricing | School groups |
Authentic Cuba Travel and Cuba Pathfinder are two brands of one operator, Bella Travel Group Ltd. of Toronto.
Global Volunteers has suspended all programs to Cuba due to an ongoing fuel shortage. (June 2026)
Rustic Pathways, ARCC Programs, Global Volunteers, Proximity Cuba, and Peace Works Travel all operate custom-priced programs. Contact the individual service providers for pricing.
Why is Cuba a top destination for summer programs?
Cuba is a Spanish-speaking country whose architecture, music, and art developed outside the commercial tourism common elsewhere in the region, so language students practice without a translator, and culture itineraries draw on daily Cuban life. Travel programs are service- and education-focused, since reputable operators build people-to-people itineraries with the Cuban community and university partners.
Legal access sets Cuba apart. U.S. travel must fall under an authorized Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) category, such as education or people-to-people exchange, which is why the programs operating there are purpose-built for compliance and educational depth rather than general tourism, and why families should confirm OFAC documentation and routing before booking.
Rustic Pathways in Cuba
Rustic Pathways was founded in 1983 in Mentor, Ohio, and operates school-group and custom programs in Cuba rather than fixed individual departures. Pricing is set per group, so contact Rustic Pathways a custom quote.
Rustic Pathways Cuba itineraries pair Spanish-language immersion with documentary photography and cultural exchange.
Rustic Pathways programs employ one Program Leader for every 4.37 students. This supervision ratio is lower than the American Camp Association’s (ACA) recommended standards.
Independent reviews of Rustic Pathways programs run 4.8 to 4.9 stars on Google, Trustpilot, and GoOverseas, and 9.56/10 on GoAbroad (verified June 2026), and Rustic Pathways has invested $3.6 million in scholarships.
It was a great experience being able to learn about a forbidden land. Traveling to Cuba has allowed me to understand the complexity of our relations with the Cuban government. I highly recommend this trip and program to all who are interested in traveling abroad.
Margaret R, Rustic Pathways Cuba Alumni
Read more Rustic Pathways reviews.
ARCC Programs in Cuba
ARCC Programs (Adventures Cross-Country) is a U.S.-based teen travel operator founded in 1983. It runs a high-school summer program in Cuba that combines community service, cultural immersion, and adventure.
The Cuba itinerary pairs 30 hours of community service, including medical-supply delivery and work at a group medical home, with a University of Havana learning session and time in Old Havana. (arccprograms.com/high-school-summer-travel-programs-with-unique-destination)
Contact ARCC for current pricing program details.
Global Volunteers in Cuba
Global Volunteers runs English-teaching and community service programs in Cuba for teens, adults, and families. Global Volunteers is a U.S.-based nonprofit founded in 1984 and one of the longer-running volunteer-travel organizations operating in Cuba under OFAC licensing. (globalvolunteers.org/cuba/#group-opportunities)
Global Volunteers has suspended its programs in Cuba until further notice due to an ongoing fuel shortage. (June 2026)
Programs are mixed-age rather than teen-only. Three institutional operators round out the comparison.
Authentic Cuba Travel and Cuba Pathfinder in Cuba
Authentic Cuba Travel (authenticubatours.com) and Cuba Pathfinder (cubapathfinder.com) are two brands of the same operator, Bella Travel Group Ltd. of Toronto, which organizes educational and cultural exchange travel for schools, college groups, and educators across the United States and Canada.
Programs cost $2,599 to $8,999 plus airfare, depending on group size and itinerary. Programs are built around people-to-people exchange under OFAC educational licensing for U.S. academic institutions.
ProximityCuba in Cuba
ProximityCuba is a U.S.-based operator, headquartered in Florida, that runs OFAC-compliant educational and cultural programs for college students, school groups, and organizations. Program pricing depends on group size, itinerary, and the type of accommodation. (proximitycuba.com/international-programs/academic-programs)
Proximity Cuba is a registered 501(c)3 that supports people-to-people exchanges and community projects.
Peace Works Travel in Cuba
Peace Works Travel (peaceworkstravel.com) is a U.S.-based operator, founded in 2005, that runs OFAC-compliant educational and cultural student travel to Cuba for school groups and teachers.
Programs are built around people-to-people exchange and documentary storytelling, with pricing on request, since each program is custom-built for a school group. (peaceworkstravel.com/student-travel-destinations/educational-cuba-travel-abroad-programs)
With the operators compared, the next step is to consider program fit.
How do you choose the right Cuba program?
Choose a Cuba program by matching operator type, age structure, and booking model to the trip.
- Rustic Pathways suits families or schools that want a Spanish-immersion, photography, or culture itinerary. School groups can plan a custom trip through Rustic Pathways school-group travel.
- ProximityCuba is the Florida-based choice for U.S. academic institutions booking school groups or college programs.
- Authentic Cuba Travel and its Cuba Pathfinder brand are the only operators that publish fixed prices for their Cuba travel itineraries.
Across every operator here, confirm OFAC licensing, supervision standards, and emergency protocols in writing before paying a deposit.
Compare Cuba against other destinations using the Rustic Pathways summer programs for high school students guide.