Cuba Nature & Culture: A People-to-People Tour With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures Explore Cuba on a people-to-people adventure that features Cuba’s vibrant cultural life its abundant natural history. Travel with biologists Carol Simon and Howard Topoff through stunning geography as we make a wide loop through rural regions, ahead of time in Havana. Meet Cuban ornithologists, biologists, artists, dancers, teachers, and more. Discover the countryside and historic sections of Trinidad and Havana. Explore the Zapata wetlands, Vinales Valley, Sierra de Escambray, and Bay of Pigs. Meet locals, their families, and friends in villages. Learn first-hand how Cubans looks to their future, and how they interpret their past. Explore a wonderful variety of habitats, from tropical and montane forests to mangroves that support 28 endemic birds, plus a number of regional Caribbean specialties. This is a people-to-people program conducted with our permitted partner, International Expeditions. June 1 – 10, 2017 866.900.1146 800.426.7781 520.558.1146 [email protected]www.naturalistjourneys.com or find us on Facebook at Naturalist Journeys, LLC.
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Cuba Nature & Culture: A People-to-People Tour With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures
Thurs., June 1 Arrive in Miami OurCubapeople-to-peopletravelprogrambeginsinMiamiwithabriefingbyourpartnercompanyforthetour,InternationalExpeditions,theCubanvisa-issuingcompanythathelpsuscompletefinalpaperwork.Enjoydinner,followedbyanintroductiontoCuba’secologicalsignificanceintheCaribbeanbyhostsandbiologistsCarolandHowardTopoff.Westayatamodernhotelthathasacomplimentaryairportshuttle. AccommodationsattheCambriaSuitesBlueLagoon,Miami(D)Fri., June 2 Miami / Cienfuegos Earlythismorning,wereturntotheairportandboardourcharterflighttoCuba.ByJunethismayactuallybeacommercialflight,andifso,refundswillbemadeforanydifferenceinyourfavoronthefare.WeflyintoCienfugosandshouldarriveintimeforlunchandachancetoseethehistoriccitysquare.WevisitthemarvelousCienfuegosBotanicalGarden,Cuba’soldestgarden,establishedin1901.Thegardenhasimpressivecollectionsoforchids(over400species)andpalms,andyouhaveanexcellentlocalguidetoshowoffthecollection.Botanicgardensarealsogreatplacestofindanimalsofalltaxa.Enjoyyourfirstviewsofrurallifeonanislandwherecarsarestillrare.TherearemanyolderAmericancars,butmostpeopletravelonfoot,inpublicbuses,orbyhorsecart.TodaywealsoenjoyaperformancebyeithertheCienfuegoschoir,withachanceafterwardstomeetthemusiciansandtalktothemabouttheirtrainingandproductions.OvernightinCienfuegos(B,L,D) Sat., June 3 World Heritage Sites: The Sugar Mills Valley & Trinidad ThismorningweleaveafterbreakfasttodrivethroughthespectacularValleDeLosIngenios―ValleyoftheSugarMills―aUNESCOCulturalHeritageSitewhereweseetheruinedhullsof19thCenturysugarestates.Duringthe19thCenturythereweremorethan40sugarmillswithelaborateestatehouseshere,butnowmostareinruins.ThisisoneofthemostsceniclocationsinTrinidad,repletewithnaturalwonders,too.ChatwithvillagersinManacaIznagawhileenjoyingaglassofcoldmangojuice. ContinueontoTrinidad,anarchitecturaljewelproclaimedbyUNESCOasaWorldHeritageSite.Redtiledroofsatoppastel
Cuba Nature & Culture: A People-to-People Tour With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures
Sun., June 4 Topes de Collantes / Trinidad EnjoyaspectacularmorningintheSierradeEscambrayMountains,onceastrongholdoftherevolution,atTopesdeCollantesNationalPark,oneofthebestplacestoenjoyCuba'snaturalbeauty.WetwindscomingofftheAtlanticmakethenorthfaceofthemountainsarefugeforplantsandanimals.Todayonahikeweshouldseeagoodvariety,includingCubanTodyandCubanTrogon,thenationalbird.Weshouldhaveachancetoseeavarietyofspecieswithourexpertlocalguide,whosharesnaturalhistoryhighlightsofthisagriculturalforest,amixofnativeandintroducedspecies.Thelooptrailwewanderendsathistorichomesoftheregion,andasmallmuseumdedicatedtocoffee,alongwithrum,oneofCuba’smainexports.AfterlearningthehistoryofCubancoffee,relaxoveracupwhilechattingwithyourlocalguideaboutconservation(natureandculture)effortsintheregion.Afterlunchataviewpointinthepark,wevisitamodernartmuseum,seeingpiecesbyimportantartists.Thissmallmuseumholdssomefantasticpieces,introducingyoutoartistsyetunknowntoAmericanaudiences.(B,L,D)Mon., June 5 Zapata Wetlands / Bay of Pigs TheZapataPeninsulaencompassesanationalparkprotectingCuba’smostimportantwetlandarea.ItisalsoaUNESCOBiosphereReserve,closelyresemblingtheFloridaEverglades.Thereare900speciesofflora,171speciesofbirds(18endemics),31speciesofreptilesincludingtheCubanCrocodile,andseveralmammalspeciescallingtheZapataWetlandshome.
Cuba Nature & Culture: A People-to-People Tour With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures
JoinOrlandoRamirez,alocalfarmer,tosearchfortheworld’ssmallestbird,theBeeHummingbird,andatypeofwoodpecker,Fernandina’sFlicker,anendemicspeciesthatisaspecialtyofpalmsavannas.LandCrabsareprolifichere,movingbetweenthewoodlandandcoastaccordingtotheirbreedingcycle.Reefsoccurjustoffshore,evidencedbyturquoisewaters.AttheBayofPigs,discusstheimportanceofthewetlandswithalocalresearchscientist.Enjoydinneratafestivelocalpalador.AccommodationsHotelPlayaLargaorsimilar(B,L,D)Tues., June 6 Bay of Pigs / Playa Larga / Soroa GreetthedayontheBayofPig’stidalshore,lookingattidepoollife,orbirdssuchasYellow-crownedNightHeronandBlack-neckedStilt.Othersmaywanttoenjoyaswim.Afterbreakfast,wevisitthenearbyKorimakaoProjectwhichhousessomeofCuba’sfinestmusiciansandartists,whorefinetheirskillsbeforetravelingtoremotevillagestoperformandteach.Iftheynottravelling,weenjoyapracticesessionordemonstrationbyanartist.Ifyouwishtobringart,music,and/ordancesupplies,wecangivethemtothedirector.WethensetouttowardthewesternpartofCuba,travelingtoPinardelRioProvince.WestopatafacilitywhereCubanCrocodilesarebeingraised,andwhereHutia(nativemammals)areondisplay.Afterabreakhere,wecontinueontolunchatalocallyownedpaladar,ILDivino.Chataboutthe"new"Cubaneconomywiththeentrepreneursoperatingthissmall,privaterestaurant.Afterlunch,stretchyourlegsinthegarden,whichusessustainableagriculturetosupplytherestaurant.Thisisalsoaplacewhereseniorcitizenscanspendthedayiftheirworkingchildrenneedanassist.WethenpayhomagetoErnestHemingwaywhilediscussinghisworkwithCubanHemingwayspecialistsathisformerhome,FincaVigia,preservedasitwasonthedayofhisdeath.Travelerscanonlypeerthroughtheopenwindowsofthismuseum,buttheinsideisarrangedalmostasifthehomewerewaitingforhimtoreturnwithguests.Hemingway’sfishingboat,ElPilar,isstillonthegrounds.Fromhisporch,allofHavanaisinview.FromhereweturnwestbeforeourownvisittoHavana,forafewdaysinthemountainsandscenicvalleys.Amodernroadheadsthatway,stillmainlytraversedbyhistoricautos,andotherthanourbuses,horseandoxcarts.SpendtwonightsatVillaSoroaorsimilar(B,L,D)
Cuba Nature & Culture: A People-to-People Tour With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures
Fromhere,wedrivetowardsHavana,stoppingintheplannedcommunityofLasTerrazas,aUNESCOBiosphereReservewithjust1,000residentsthatwasfoundedonagreenethic.Theself-containedcommunityissurroundedbyfoliagethickwithindigenousspecies,includinghibiscus,teak,andebonytreesthatwerepartofareforestationproject.Herewemeetlocalnaturalists,businessownersandfarmers,andwehaveachancetovisitthelocalschool.WearesureHowardwillhaveyoureadywithasongtosingbacktothekidsaftertheyperformoneforyou!StopatCafédeMariaforacupoflocallygrowncoffeeandchatwiththefamilywhorunsthebusiness.Then,it’sofftoHavana!Thereissomuchtoseehere,andourlocalguidesareabletotakeustodifferentareasofthecity,navigatingwithease.DrivealongtheoceanfrontMaleconAvenuewhereCubansliketogather,andstoptoseethemonumentsofRevolutionSquare.SpendtwonightsattheParqueCentralorsimilar(B,L,D)Fri., June 9 HavanaHavanaisthecenterofallthingsCuban,andaswestrollthesestreetsitislikebeingonamovieset.ClassicAmericancarsfromthe1940sand1950scruisewideboulevardswhilepaintpeelsfromgloriousSpanishcolonialbuildings.OldmeninstrawhatspuffonhugeCubancigarswhilemusicfillstheair.OurCubanguidehelpsyoutourOldHavanatoseethedetailsofcultureandarchitecturebeforestoppingatArteCorte.Thissocialprojectteachesatradetoneighborhoodresidentsandissupportingsocialcenterssuchasaseniorcenterandchildren'spark.Interactwiththelocalsasweexploreanartmarket.Diningishalfthefun,agreatwaytoexperiencethevibrantlifeofthecityaswesamplelocalrestaurants.Tonight,wehaveorganizedanexcursiontotheformerBuenaVistaSocialClub,atCaféTaverna,oranotherperformanceofinterest.AccommodationsinHavana(B,L,D)Sat., June 10 Departures TransfertotheJoseMartiAirportforourcharterflighttoMiami,whereyouconnectwithflightshomeafter8:00p.m.(B)Please NoteNaturalistJourneys,inassociationwithInternationalExpedition’s
Cuba Nature & Culture: A People-to-People Tour With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures
people-to-peopleprogram,itineraryand/orspecifichotelaccommodationsmayvarydependingonlicenseregulationsorotherlocalconditions.Remember,wearenottravelingtoatypical“tourist”destinationandmustplantobeflexible.Ourhotelswillrangefrombasictocomfortableandyouwillenjoyatrulyengagingexperience.People-to-peoplelegaltraveldoesnotallowfortimetoexploreindependently. Plan Ahead!ProtectyourselfwithAllianzTravelInsurance.Ourofficecanhelpyouwithaquote.Offsetyourcarbonfootprintusingoneofthemanyonlineprograms.Showusthereceiptandwe'lltake50%-upto$50.00-ofyourcarbonoffsetfeeoffyourfinalpayment.Cost of the Journey Costofthejourneyis$4790.00perperson,doubleoccupancy,singleoccupancy$5690.PlusCharterAirfromMiamiofapproximately$500(includesyourVisafees;subjecttochange),arrangedandbilledtoyoubyInternationalExpeditions.Thegroupislimitedto16persons.Tojointhisjourney,participantsmustapply(pleaserequestspecialapplicationformbyemail),andoncetheirapplicationisacceptedaspartoftheCubapeople-to-peopleprogramwecanconfirmyou.Twoformsmustbecompletedandwillbesentuponrequest,oneisyourVisaform.PleasesendtheregistrationformtoNaturalistJourneys/CaligoVentures,withyourdepositof$600.00madeouttoNaturalistJourneys(sendacheckorphonewithcreditcardinformation).TraveltoCubarequiresflexibility.Althoughourprogramlogisticsarerequestedoverayearinadvance,activitiesandaccommodationscanchangeatthelastminuteduetogovernmentoversightorhotelmanagement.Therightmindsetaheadoftimewillhelpensureyourenjoyment.Remember,CubaisnotuptoU.S.standardsonmanythingssuchasqualityofhotels,food,etc.Induetimethesethingswillimprove,butuntilsuchtimeyourexpectationsshouldbeinlinewithcurrentCubanpolicy,standards,etc.*Faressubjecttochange.NaturalistJourneys,LLCisanequalopportunityserviceproviderandcommittedtothegoalofensuringequalopportunityforallinemploymentandprogramdelivery.Photo CreditsCubanScenic,GregSmith(GS);SwingingBridge,NaturalistJourneysStock(NJS);CubanParrot,GS;Curly-tailedLizard,PegAbbott(PA);GroupBirdinginTopes,NJS;Horse&Cart,NJS;TrinidadChurch,NJS;TrinidadStreet,NJS;TrinidadSteeple,NJS;CubanTody,PA;BayofPigs,NJS;FemaleBeeHummingbird,PA;KorimakaoDancers,NJS;GreenCarinPlayaLago,NJS;BlueCarinVinales,NJS;CubanFarmland,NJS;Mogotes,PA;MontesinoTobaccoFarm,NJS;CheCoffee,PA;Red-leggedHoneycreeper,NJS;ChildrenPlaying,NJS;LocalsontheMalecon,PA;RelaxinginHavana,LynnFeryus;OldCar,NJS;Rooster,PA;CubanCigar,NJS.
