Please note the tour price reflected on the brochure is subject to change. Due to seasonality, and taxes prices of the tour are subject to change without due notice. Please consult with the operator directly for the recent price.
Seascape Discovery - Havana & Varadero
Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
- Panoramic overview of Havana
- Montalván Art Gallery and Studio
- Old Havana historic center
- Santo Angel Neighborhood
- Arte Corte & Jose Fuster Community Projects (artists)
- Las Tres Monedas
- Panoramic tour of Havana by antique car
- University of Havana
- Habana Compas Dance Group rehearsal in Marianao
- Kamil Bullaudey Art Studio
- Angeles del Futuro Community Project
- (teaches children acrobatics for Cuban circus)
- Matanzas - Music and Art school
- Plaza de la Libertad- Matanzas Main Square
- AfroAtenas Community Project
- Panoramic tour of Varadero
- Varadero-cultural exchange with the Danzon Club
- Local craft market
- Casa Dupont (rum and cigar tasting)
Short Description
Cuba is an island nation rich in history, culture, beauty and natural resources. Its varied geography includes rolling farmland, rugged mountains, urban metropolises, quaint Colonial villages and stretches of alabaster sand beaches that melt into larimar seas. Cuban culture is influenced by its melting pot of cultures, primarily those of Spain and Africa. Home to nine UNESCO Heritage sites, Cuba is ranked very highly in the United Nations human development index. Its government has established rigorous sports, ballet and music programs, and offers free education to all. Cuba is home to 47 universities and has the second highest literary rate in the world at 99.8%.
With recent relaxation of the regulations to obtain required licenses for travel to Cuba, this island nation has become more broadly accessible to US travelers. Experience the sounds of rumba and salsa in the streets at night. Stroll past the vividly painted arches that grace the buildings of Old Havana. Admire the gleaming classic cars that roll past colonial architecture. Most of all, meet the warm and friendly Cuban people, who are as anxious to interact with Americans as we are to hear their stories and experience their culture first-hand.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Miami Arrival Day
Travelers will be arriving independently to Miami and gathering at the pre-night Miami airport hotel. In the evening, join the group in attending a welcome briefing to get you prepared for your Havana-Varadero Seascape Discovery. Your Tour Director will be available to answer any questions you may have and will invite you to a welcome cocktail to get better acquainted with your traveling companions.
Day 2 - Havana Arrival Day
After your morning arrival in Havana, you'll be transferred to the city center where you'll enjoy a panoramic overview of the city including Vedado, University of Havana, Malecon, Revolution Square, and the Capitol Area. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Mediterraneo before heading to the Montalván Art Gallery and Studio of Rafael Zarza (if possible). Interact with the artists and learn about their work, as well as the challenges young artists face in Cuba today. In the late afternoon, you'll check in at your hotel and later enjoy a welcome dinner at El Litoral. INCLUDED MEALS: Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Havana
After breakfast at the hotel, walk through Old Havana's historic center with a local historian or architect, and learn about Havana's recent restoration projects and the history of the city. You'll also visit the four major squares in Old Havana. Next, partake in an interactive visit to the Santo Angel Neighborhood and the "Arte Corte" Community Project (comprised of a barber shop, art galleries, private businesses, an elderly center, and a children's park). After lunch at the local paladar, El Figaro, visit the Jose Fuster community project in Jaimanitas "Fusterlandia." Fuster is known as the "Picasso of the Caribbean". Exchange with the artist and local residents of all ages, and learn about how this project has impacted the local community. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon to freshen up before a visit to Las Tres Monedas (a local lounge owned by the famous artist, Kadir). Admire Kadir's works of art on display while you enjoy two included drinks and appetizers at the bar. Later, you will be picked up at Las Tres Monedas by an antique car to enjoy a panoramic tour of Havana before being taken to La Casa Restaurante for dinner on your own. INCLUDED MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 - Havana
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a morning exchange with students and professors at the University of Havana. Next, visit the area of Marianao and interact with members of the Habana Compas Dance Group. Attend one of their rehearsals and experience the energy of this modern dance troupe. After lunch at the El Aljibe restaurant, you'll visit the Kamil Bullaudey Art Studio, and then the Angeles del Futuro Community Project that teaches young children acrobatics to prepare them for the Cuban circus. Interact with the children and learn about the neighborhoods they come from and their strict daily rehearsals. Enjoy dinner on your own this evening. INCLUDED MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 - Havana-Varadero
After your hotel breakfast, you'll depart for Matanzas. Stop at the Bacunayagua bridge view point overlooking the Yumuri Valley on your way to Matanzas city, where you'll visit the Music and Art school and interact with students and teachers. Next, visit the nearby art studio and workshop of Lolo, a famous local artist. Stop at Plaza de la Libertad, Matanzas' main square, before enjoying lunch at the Hotel Velasco. From there, you'll visit Callejon de las Tradiciones, which is part of the AfroAtenas Community Project. The Callejon comprises an urban block of artists in the neighborhood of Pueblo Nuevo. The project's aim is to remember, preserve, and enforce the roots and traditions inherited by the Cuban people from the African culture introduced to Cuba by the slaves. In late afternoon, you'll continue to Varadero Beach and enjoy a panoramic tour along the center of the city. Check into your hotel in late afternoon and enjoy dinner at the hotel. INCLUDED MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Varadero
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Casa de la Cultura in Varadero and enjoy a cultural exchange with the Danzon Club. Meet the musicians and dancers and learn about the Cuban National Dance "El Danzon." Later, you'll visit one of the local craft markets. Interact with the artists and vendors to learn about possibilities in Cuba for setting up private-run stores or markets in this new era. Next, depart for Jovellanos to visit Finca La Luna. Tour around the farm, interact with the family and enjoy lunch there. Then return to Varadero and visit Casa Dupont (also known as Xanadu), the former estate of American millionaire Irene Dupont. Tour the mansion, learn the story of the Dupont family, and enjoy a rum and cigar tasting. Return to your hotel for a farewell dinner with musical entertainment by the pool or other hotel venue, and interact with the musicians. INCLUDED MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Departure
Depart for Havana at 5:00 am, arriving at the airport at 8:00am for your 10:30am departure to Miami (subject to change). INCLUDED MEALS: Box breakfast
Availability
24 Apple Vacations Travel Reviews & Ratings
Seascape Discovery - Havana & Varadero
Company Reviews
TERRIBLE....TERRIBLE! DO NOT USE THEM!
Poor
We are extremely disappointed in our recent trip/experiences for multiple reasons.
Let me start by saying that we were scheduled to depart on 2/12/23 @ 6:30am. When we arrived at our departure terminal we were told that “Swift Air” had an issue the previous day any wasn’t going to make it. Yet no one was notified of this delay. We then boarded a replacement plane, sat on that plane for about an hour but “Swift Air” never transferred a permit. We had to deboard the plane. We were given a $15 voucher while things were worked out. That $15 voucher didn’t event cover a meal at the airport! 2 hours later we were told that we would depart at 4pm however we never left the terminal until after 6:26pm. That was approximately 14 hours we sat in the airport.. During that time I contacted Apple Vacations twice, I was reassured we would have a shuttle when we arrived in Cancun. We get through customs, my husband’s luggage was lost and there was NO shuttle available. Let me also say this was our 1st time out of the country, scared to death cuz we had no idea where we were going and now had to get in a Taxi with someone was not hired to transport us and the paid $120!
This was a 20th Anniversary trip and we were scheduled to “Renew our wedding vows on Tuesday February 14th, Valentine’s Day”. Well yet another disappointment because we still didn’t have the lost luggage which had our clothing, flowers for ceremony, make up and many other personal items.
The luggage did finally arrived late Tuesday, late as in 10pm!
Not only was our trip cut short, we basic lost two days.
Oh wait there is more, the way home “Swift Air” delayed at least 90 minutes BUT one of our checked bags was opened and personal items were stolen from the luggage.
Yes I filed a claim with the travel claims, yes Apple gave us a $200 voucher per person and a $570 refund. Unfortunately this doesn’t make up for the time lost, the rescheduling of ceremony vows and the items that were stolen. The resort we stayed at is more than $570 a night also let’s consider the taxi fees we had to pay because we had no shuttle.
The way that Apple Vacations and Swift Air handled these situations were absolutely horrible and we are honestly hesitant to rebook any future trips.
I doubt that anything will change with this email but I felt that someone should hear our story.
Thank you for reading-
~ Jodi
Terrible hours, horrible customer service, zero help, most stressful vacation I have ever been on in my life!!
Don’t buy into the $500 resort credit.
Travel agent was great, trip was great, but Apple Vacations was basically absent!
Be prepared, you pay but will not receive
I used to travel with Apple Vacation many times, and I never had any issues; however, this time our flight has been changed and we did not receive any notification from Apple Vacation ( we just checkedit online by ourselves). The transportation from and to the airport was included and paid, but somehow once we arrived in Cancun our group was not on the Amstar list. Even though we had proof of paid transportation, it was not provided.. We had to pay 2nd time for transportation. No words from Apple Vacation about reimbursement, about compensation for our inconvenience and questionable safety. Also, do not expect that you will receive paid champagne and other inclusions in the room without asking multiple times the customer service representatives.
In addition, Apple Vacation representatives never looked for us in the hotel. Yes, we arrived late in the afternoon, but the next day nobody contacted us, so we had to look for them. And the very first question was what excursions we are interested in. Nothing about transportation back to the airport.
Also, we requested some rooms with 1bed and with 2beds. Once we arrived, we were told, no requests had been made.
Please be aware APPLE VACATION doesn't offer the best quality service anymore.
Details
Flight & Transport Inclusions
All internal transport included (including local flights)
Group Size
Standard Group - 25 + people
Trip ID#:
appvacseadishavvar
What's excluded
- Roundtrip flights between Miami and your home airport (optional - may be purchased through Apple Vacations)
- Gratuities to housekeeping staff and tour director
- Cuban Departure Tax of $25 USD, payable at Miami airport prior to departure
- AV-OK Total Vacation Security including Trip Cancellation Waiver (available at an extra charge)
- Some meals not included, as specified in itinerary
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