The Masters School Community Program

Masters School Community 

People to People Program

March 23 – 30, 2013

Schedule subject to modification

Hotel Habana Libre, 5 stars, Havana

Hotel Los Delfines, 3 stars, Varadero

DAY 1 –Saturday March 23/Varadero

• Depart LGA 10.30 am arrive Toronto 12.07 pm
• depart Toronto 4.00 pm arrive Varadero 6.30 pm
  * Transfer to Hotel
  * Welcome dinner with tour guide
  
  
  DAY 2 – Sunday March 24/ Varadero/ Matanzas/ Havana

• Breakfast in hotel
  (mid morning) depart for the Museum of Slavery and San Severino Fortress
• lunch in Matanzas, depart for Havana
• stop in Cojimar for ten minutes to see Hemingway memorial
  Visit Finca La Vigía (House and farm of Ernest Hemingway)
• check in Habana Libre
• optional walking tour of La Rampa area, Hotel Nacional, dinner on own

DAY 3 – Monday March 25/ Havana

* Breakfast in hotel

* Visit the Scale Model of Habana Vieja (Old Havana)

* Walking Tour of Habana Vieja

* Visit and lunch Asociación Cultural Yoruba de Cuba (Yoruba Association of Cuba) to see Santería exhibit and meet with staff.

• Visit to Fundación Núñez Jiménez a non-governmental organization involved with issues of sustainable agriculture and the environment; learn about Amazon expedition
• Return to hotel

• Privately arranged discussion with Jose Viera of changes in Cuba and bilateral relations
• Dinner on own (option of Passover seder or dinner with Viera family)

DAY 4 – Tuesday March 26/ Havana/ Viñales

* Breakfast in hotel

* Morning tour of Viñales Valley

* Visit Cueva del Indio (Indian Cave)

* Lunch at El Palenque Restaurant (included)

* Spend the afternoon hiking in the area

* Visit a tobacco plantation and meeting with farmers

* Return to Havana

* Dinner at La Divina Pastora Restaurant, included

* Night: Witness the Cannon Firing Ceremony at San Carlos de la Cabaña Castle, included

DAY 5 – Wednesday March 27/ Havana

* Breakfast in hotel

* Visit to Vocational School Vladimir Ilich Lenin, meet with teachers and students

• Special event: a cultural exchange between the Cuban students and the US students

* Visit the Art Studios and community project of famed Cuban painter José Fuster, lunch included

* Visit the Literacy Museum

* Return to hotel

* Dinner not included

* Evening: 9:00PM. Learn to Salsa Dance at Club Chévere, included

DAY 6 – Thursday March 28/ Havana

* Breakfast in hotel

* Visit the Museum of the Revolution

* Visit the UBPC Organopónico Vivero Alamar (eco-community and urban organic farm)

* Lunch and dinner on own, afternoon and evening self-directed

DAY 7 – Friday March 29/ San Miguel/Cardenas/Varadero

* Breakfast in hotel

• Early departure to San Miguel de los Baños town, explore the former spa, climb hill
• Lunch at Centro Cristiano de Reflexión y Diálogo (Christian Center for Reflection and Dialogue); learn about its community service programs

• Check-in at hotel in Varadero
• Farewell dinner included
• option of Varadero Tropicana show

DAY 8 – Saturday March 30/ Varadero / Departure (Breakfast)

* Breakfast in hotel

* Transfer to Airport

****************************************************************

• Double room occupancy per person (sharing a room during tour): $ 2,149.00

• Single room for duration of tour: $ 2,349.00

TOUR COSTS

A non-refundable deposit of $200 is required within 10 days of registration to secure your tour participation. If you cancel, your deposit can be applied to any future tour or transferred to another traveler. Balance of tour payment is due 30 days prior to departure. We invoice you for your tour deposit and final payment. We accept Canadian and U.S. checks . All credit cards are processed in Canadian dollars (exchange rates vary daily). Checks payable to Zunzun Education Services, Ltd””

Note: Cost of return airfare from New York to Havana is not included in this proposal.

Included in your tour cost

• All taxes. Prices listed are the total amounts you pay.

• Airport transfers: We meet you at José Martí Int'l Airport in Havana and take you to your hotel upon arrival. We return you to José Martí Airport for departure.

• Hotels as listed in tour itinerary.

• Welcome cocktail and orientation gathering with hotel management, staff and your Cuba Education and Explorer Tours guide upon arrival.

• All breakfasts. Welcome dinner. Other lunches and dinners as listed in tour itinerary.

• All activities, services, speakers, meetings and meals as described in tour itinerary except those noted as "optional" or "not included in cost."

• Luxury air-conditioned coach transportation and a full-time professional driver.

• An expert Cuban English speaking guide and translator throughout the program.

• Official Cuban medical insurance coverage during your island stay.

• Free air reservations, arrangements and ticketing services.

• Ongoing support from Cuba Education and Explorer Tours staff in Canada before, during and after your stay.

• Emergency collect call access to our North American staff while in Cuba.

Not included in your tour cost

• International airfare to and from Cuba. We help with best rates and flights. WE DO NOT add a commission or markup your air ticket costs!

• Gratuities for Cuban tour guide, bus driver. chambermaids, restaurant staff, porters, etc. (total approximately $100) Guidelines here http://www.cubatreks.com/itineraries/738tipping_adults.php

• Cuban airport departure tax of 25.00 Cuban convertible pesos (CUC).

• Optional travel interruption and cancellation insurance. Your tour cost already includes an excellent Cuban medical policy.

* Optional cultural and social activities, meals on own

* $100 per family for miscellaneous in country expenditures by FfRD, incl. CCRD in Cardenas

For information, contact jmcauliff@ffrd.org