Itinerary
Day 1, Thursday, February 9: Travel Day / Welcome Reception
Morning:
- Depart home cities for Havana, Cuba.
Dress: Comfortable Travel
Afternoon:
- Arrive in Havana, Cuba and meet up with the group.
- Check in at Hotel Parque Central, one of our preferred incentive quality hotels offering the charm of Cuba combined with Western amenities.
Evening
- Enjoy a Welcome Reception and Dinner at Café del Oriente.
- End the evening with dessert at Café Taberna, featuring a musical performance including members of the famed Buena Vista Social Club.
Dress: Evening Casual — slacks or dressy jeans and short sleeve collared shirt for men; dresses, skirts, or capris and blouse for women. No flip flops, please.
Day 2, Friday, February 10: Group Activities / Group Dinner
Morning:
- Following breakfast at the hotel, conduct a site visit of Hotel Parque Central.
- Then, get acquainted with Old Havana on a guided walking tour through the four city plazas, Via Nueva Hotel Bar and Cigar Lounge, and the Maqueta de la Habana Vieja, a 1:500 scale model of the city.
Dress: Active Wear/Casual. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Don’t forget to bring a camera!
Afternoon:
- Experience authentic Cuban cuisine and hospitality during lunch at La Moneda Cubana, established in 1924.
- After lunch, embark on a site visit to Meliá Cohiba Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Havana and La Divina Pastora outdoor venue.
- Following the site visit, enjoy dessert at El Litoral, a paladar situated along the Havana seawall (El Malecón) offering an extensive menu featuring seafood dishes and a nice selection of tapas.
Evening:
- Transfer via coco taxi to dinner at San Cristóbal, one of Cuba’s popular “paladares,” or privately owned and operated restaurants offering visitors the ability to connect with Cuban culture while enjoying a variety of cuisines. The Obamas recently dined at this restaurant during their historic visit to Cuba.
- Enjoy after dinner drinks at VIP Havana, a restaurant featuring a refined atmosphere that includes classic cinema playing on a floor-to-ceiling screen as patrons dine and drink.
Dress: Evening Casual
Day 3, Saturday, February 11: Group Activities / Final Night Dinner
Morning:
- After breakfast, visit the Colon Cemetery (Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón), regarded as one of the world’s most important cemeteries. This magnificent and historically significant cemetery was founded in 1876 and contains grave sites and monuments representing over a century of Latin history.
- After the tour, take in a performance by Habana Compás Dance, a lively dance and music show fusing a variety of Cuba’s cultural influences.
Dress: Active Wear/Casual
Afternoon:
- Enjoy lunch and a performance at the ornate Gran Teatro de la Habana Alicia Alonso, named for Cuba’s celebrated prima ballerina and founder of the National Ballet of Cuba. Considered emblematic of the city, this stately structure was built in 1938 and houses the National Ballet of Cuba, theatre productions, musicals and orchestra, as well as a beautiful selection of Cuban art.
- Wrap up the afternoon with a site visit of Hotel Saratoga, followed by a stroll through the San José Artisans Market, a bay side warehouse featuring works for sale by talented local artists and artisans.
Evening:
- Transfer via vintage cars – a memorable and immersive way to experience Havana – to a Farewell Cocktail Reception at the iconic Hotel Nacional de Cuba, accompanied by live musical entertainment.
- Following the reception, enjoy dinner and drinks at La Guarida, the filming site of the 1993 Oscar-nominated movie “Fresa y Chocolate.”
- End the evening with a performance at the Tropicana Club, one of Havana’s legendary destinations, or head back to the hotel for the night.
Dress: Evening Casual. Please note that shorts and flip-flops are not allowed at the Tropicana Club.
Day 4, Sunday, February 12: Travel Day
Morning / Afternoon:
- Following breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to the airport in preparation for flights to home cities.
Dress: Comfortable Travel
Other Tidbits:
Frequently Asked Questions:
CLICK HERE for answers to questions frequently asked by travelers visiting Cuba.
Important Numbers on Travel Day:
Casey Lazar, Cuba Incentive Travel Associates — 281.704.3355 (cell)
Pricing and Application
The cost of this 4 Day / 3 Night FAM is $2,150 land only, per person, double occupancy. There is a single occupancy supplement charge of $585. This price includes luxury hotel accommodations plus all meals, ground transportation, guides, tours, and tips. Direct commercial flights to Havana will be available from select U.S. cities in 2017. Prices for these flights are currently trending between $200 – $450 for East Coast cities and $550 – $600 from LAX. You may book your flights on your own, or request assistance from CITA.
The total amount of your FAM payment (land only) will be applied as a discount to your first program booked with CITA. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is due at the time of registration, with the remaining balance due by Monday, January 9. Once we receive your registration we will send you a confirmation e-mail with a link to pay your deposit.
Transportation
Please contact Casey Lazar at 832.482.3950 or casey.lazar@cubaincentivetravelassociates.com with any questions about the itinerary. Approximately two weeks before your flight, you will receive a pre-trip packet, including a confirmation of your flight details.
Trip Details
Trip Documents
Your final trip documents will be sent approximately two weeks prior to your February 9 departure.
NOTE: When you receive your pre-trip packet, please review all documents carefully and be sure that your name is listed correctly on your confirmation, and that it matches the name listed on your passport. Your international airline ticket MUST match the name on your passport. Please advise us immediately if the name on your travel documents does not match the name on your passport. There can be no exceptions. You will be denied boarding if the ticket and passport name are not the same.
This pre-trip packet will include:
- Luggage Tags & Name Badges
- Detailed Itinerary
- Guest List
Hotel Parque Central
Hotel Parque Central is nestled in the heart of Havana, Cuba, near iconic sites such as the Capitol Building (which can be seen from the hotel), Paseo del Prado, and the Havana Pier. It is perfectly situated for a leisurely stroll through the streets of Old Havana to experience Cuban life firsthand.
Hotel Parque Central
Neptuno e/ Prado y Zulueta
Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba
Main Number: +53.7.860.6627
Time Zones
Havana is in the Eastern Time Zone.
What to Pack
Comfortable attire is recommended for the flight. Be sure to pack “smart casual” clothes. On this vacation, no suits, ties or formal wear are required! Casual dress is appropriate. Attire for our Final Night Dinner will be evening casual. Please remember, shorts and flip-flops will not be allowed at Café Taberna or the Tropicana Club.
Internet & E-mail Access
WiFi access at Hotel Parque Central is available for purchase. Currently, the only U.S. provider of cellular service is Verizon Wireless at a charge of $3 per minute. If you do not have Verizon, you will not have cellular service while in Cuba.
Medical Information
Because U.S. medical insurance is not accepted in Cuba, Cuban-issued medical insurance is required for the length of stay. Insurance is provided with the purchase of an airline ticket. This will allow any visitor access to medical care while in Cuba.
Program Inclusions
Accommodations at Hotel Parque Central (3 Nights)- Breakfasts (3)
- Lunches (2)
- Welcome Reception and Dinner (1)
- Group Dinner (1)
- Final Night Reception and Dinner (1)
- Group Activities (5)
- Site Visits (3)
- Ground transportation and transfers in itinerary
- Bilingual guides
- On-site Cuba Incentive Travel Associates staff
- Cuba Incentive Travel Associates customer service support
- All taxes, tips and gratuities for activities and meals included in this agenda
Program Exclusions
Not included in this program are: items of a personal nature, including laundry, mini-bar charges, telephone charges, and other room incidentals, as well as meals not included in this itinerary.
Group Activities, Friday, February 10:
Walking Tour of Old Havana —
Embark on a walking tour of the following sites as a knowledgeable, bilingual guide discusses history and points of interest:
- Plaza de Armas — The oldest of the main plazas, Plaza de Armas rests on the site where Havana was founded. During the colonial period, it was the parade ground for the military and home to the governor’s palace. Today, the palm-lined square boasts Hotel Santa Isabel, a monument to “Father of the Nation” Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, and the El Templete monument marking the city’s founding.
- The Maqueta de la Habana Vieja — Featuring a 1:500 scale model of Old Havana, this exhibit is the perfect way to see how the capitol city fits together. The museum offers a rich study into the architectural history of Havana through the model and slide show presentations. Curators can also describe the urban planning methodology presently in use by the Cuban government.
- Plaza de San Francisco de Asís — This plaza takes its name from the Basilica Menor de San Francisco de Asís, a Franciscan monastery which is now used for music concerts. It is also well known for its Fuente de los Leones, which was once a fresh water supply to passing ships.
- Plaza Vieja — This plaza, translated as “Old Square,” was built as a residential area in the 1500s. Over the centuries, it has served a variety of purposes, from open-air market to bullfight arena. Today, it is nearly completely restored and surrounded with a mixture of colonial residences and decorative architecture distinguished by flowing curves and asymmetrical shapes. In addition to galleries, shopping, cafes and restaurants, the lively plaza also is home to several progressive sculptures.
- Plaza de la Catedral — Cathedral Square is one of the main squares in Old Havana and the site of the Cathedral of Havana from which it takes its name. It contains the Colonial Art Museum (Museo del Arte Colonial) and a number of restaurants.
La Divina Pastora — La Divina Pastora offers an unparalleled setting behind the fortresses on Havana Bay. Across the water, you can see Old Havana as you dine on fresh, Cuban-inspired seafood and wine. You may even experience the evening cannon firing at La Fortaleza.
Meliá Cohiba Hotel — Meliá Cohiba Hotel is located in the modern Vedado neighborhood, overlooking the Havana coastline. Situated in the city center, the hotel offers comfort, elegance and proximity to attractions such as the Havana seawall (El Malecón), Casa del Habano cigar store, and Revolution Square (Plaza de la Revolución). The hotel features 462 guestrooms, seven restaurants, four bars and one night club, as well as fitness and spa facilities, meeting rooms and a rooftop pool.
El Litoral — Translated as “The Coastline,” this paladar offers seafood dishes and outdoor seating with views of the Havana seawall (El Malecón). With an interior that is both modern and refined, El Litoral features an extensive menu and nice selection of tapas.
Group Activities, Saturday, February 11:
Colon Cemetery — Havana’s Colon Cemetery is regarded as one of the world’s most important cemeteries, both historically and architecturally, and certainly the most important in Latin America. It was named for Christopher Columbus and designed with a structure defining the social rank of the dead. This cemetery is composed of more than 140 acres showcasing elaborate sculptures, and over 500 estimated major mausoleums, chapels, and family vaults.
Habana Compás Dance — Comprised of 12 women and four musicians, Habana Compás is one of Cuba’s most talented groups. Their performances combine Spanish and contemporary dance with Afro-Cuban rhythm and instruments. Shows are a fascinating fusion of dance and the use of drumsticks, castanets, heels, wood slipper, claves, chequerés, and percussive chairs.
San José Artisans’ Market — Located in what was once a warehouse on the port of Havana, the market now offers an opportunity to peruse the crafts of talented local artisans. Here, clothing, leather items, toys, ceramics, natural material sculptures and paintings are exhibited and available for purchase. In addition to perusing the handiwork of local Cubans, guests can also enjoy the building’s beautiful steel structure and the magnificent view of the bay.
Tropicana Club — A famous Havana venue, Tropicana Club puts on a world famous open air cabaret. The extravagant costumes and choreography are accompanied by an orchestra playing Afro-Cuban rhythms. This show can only be described as spectacular!