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Ports of Call
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HAVANA
Cuba’s colorful capital is probably best known for the Spanishinfluenced
architecture of Old Havana. But its historic castles, fortresses, cathedrals, mansions and public buildings vie for attention with the city’s lively music and entertainment scene, an eclectic and sophisticated mix of museums, art galleries,
music, dance, and open-air festivals that take full advantage of the island’s sunny Caribbean climate.
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CIENFUEGOS/TRINIDAD
The coastal city of Cienfuegos is known to Cubans as the
Pearl of the South. Near the entrance to the bay stands
the imposing fortress of Castillo de Jagua, built in 1745 to
protect the city against pirate attacks. Just an hour away is
Trinidad, one of Cuba’s best-preserved cities from the days
of the sugar trade. It was from here, in 1518, that Hernán
Cortés recruited men for his now-legendary expedition.
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SANTIAGO DE CUBA
The distinctly Caribbean spirit of Santiago de Cuba is evident in every aspect
of the city’s Afro-Cuban cultural life. Cuba’s second largest city is home to the
popular festivals of Carnaval and the Fiesta del Fuego, as well as to many of
the country’s most famed musicians and artists. Its diverse architecture ranges
from the Spanish coastal fortress of Castillo del Morro to the red-domed towers
of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre, Cuba’s most sacred
pilgrimage site.
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TWO DAYS IN
Cienfuegos/Trinidad
A DAY IN
Havana
During a walking tour of Old Havana, you meet business owners and workers and see, firsthand, why current restoration efforts in this UNESCO World Heritage site are crucial to both the city’s cultural pride and its economic future.
After lunch at a local restaurant, your afternoon continues with visits to the artists’ neighborhood of Muraleando, the fishing village of Cojimar (setting for Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea), and the
District of Alamar, a 1970s social housing project of Soviet-style concrete. In the evening, there’s live Afro-Cuban music and a chance to meet the musicians one on one.
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On your second day, a short trip from Havana brings you to Las Terrazas, a
self-sustaining community in the forested hills of Sierra del Rosario. Over coffee at a
small cafe, you’re welcomed by the owner’s family as you learn more about the role
of coffee in Cuban culture. Back in Havana, you meet with independent booksellers,
pay a visit to a famed contemporary Cuban artist, and sit down with Cuban
professionals and entrepreneurs for discussions on education, economics, the role of
government, and how the Cuban economy has been changing in the post-Soviet era.
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A DAY IN
Cienfuegos/Trinidad
You take part in the morning’s lessons at a primary school. Immerse yourself in the French
Colonial architecture of Cienfuegos’ UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy a private choral
performance by the world-renowned a capella Choir of Cienfuegos. After lunch at one of the privately owned restaurants or private homes known as paladares, you explore the nearby city of Trinidad with a restoration expert, visit a family-owned pottery house and learn about traditional Cuban ceramic techniques, and meet with local professionals and entrepreneurs to learn more about the country’s economic challenges and its emerging opportunities.
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A DAY IN
Santiago/De Cuba
Your final port is Santiago de Cuba, capital of the Spanish colony of Cuba from 1522 until 1589 and still the island’s most important city after Havana. The heritage here is Spanish, French and Afro-Cuban, and today you find yourself exploring it all. But you also learn more, much more, about modern-day Cuba and its influences on the world.
You meet the musicians that work to keep Cuba’s diverse and globally renowned musical traditions alive and vital. You explore the ruins of French coffee plantations, tour a local distillery for a taste of genuine Cuban rum, and get a first-hand look at the production of the island’s arguably most famous export: the fabled Cuban cigar.
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Call today for your reservations. 1-727-278-8446
Fathom’s Cruise Ship Adonia
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Make no mistake the Adonia is a 704 passenger ship with no casinos, Broadway-type shows, or comedy night clubs. It is not a glitzy mega-ship.
It does have restaurants, lounges, bars, pools, a spa, a state-of-the-art gym, and all the other amenities of a 21st-century passenger ship. You’ll never lack for opportunities to relax and enjoy the company of our group members.
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Above and Beyond Travel, Inc.
2230 West Bay Drive, Suite C, Largo FL 33774
All information is subject to change and/or alteration at any time for any reason.
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