Download - Cuba Nature & Culture: A People-to-People Tour€¦ · of birds (18 endemics), 31 species of reptiles including the Cuban Crocodile, and several mammal species calling the Zapata

Cuba Nature & Culture: A People-to-People Tour With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures

Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 800.426.7781 Fax 650.471.7667 www.naturalistjourneys.com / www.caligo.com [email protected] / [email protected]

ExploreCuba onapeople-to-peopleadventurethatfeaturesCuba’svibrantculturallifeitsabundantnaturalhistory.TravelwithbiologistsCarolSimonandHowardTopoffthroughstunninggeographyaswemakeawideloopthroughruralregions,aheadoftimeinHavana.MeetCubanornithologists,biologists,artists,dancers,teachers,andmore.DiscoverthecountrysideandhistoricsectionsofTrinidadandHavana.ExploretheZapatawetlands,VinalesValley,SierradeEscambray,andBayofPigs.Meetlocals,theirfamilies,andfriendsinvillages.Learnfirst-handhowCubanslookstotheirfuture,andhowtheyinterprettheirpast.Exploreawonderfulvarietyofhabitats,fromtropicalandmontaneforeststomangrovesthatsupport28endemicbirds,plusanumberofregionalCaribbeanspecialties.Thisisapeople-to-peopleprogramconductedwithourpermittedpartner,InternationalExpeditions.

June1–10,2017866.900.1146800.426.7781520.558.1146

[email protected]

orfindusonFacebookatNaturalistJourneys,LLC.



Tour Highlights

• LearnaboutCubanbiologyasyoutravelwithtwobiologists,CarolSimonandHowardTopoff• ExploreTrinidad,aUNESCOWorldHeritageSite,andminglewithlocalartisansandmusicians• Off-roadintoTopesdeCollantesNationalParkwithalocalnaturalistwithafocusontropicalbotany,

keepingoureyespeeledforlizards,butterflies,andbirdslikeCubanBullfinchandCubanTrogon• HikewithalocalfarmerinsearchofthediminutiveBeeHummingbirdneartheBayofPigs• LearnaboutCuba’sexcitingKorimakaoProject,hometoCuba’sfinestmusicians,dancers,andartistswho

travelaroundthecountry• VisitHemingway’shome,FincaVigia,preservedtolookasitdidwhenheleftin1960• DrivethroughthescenicVinalesValleybeforeenjoyinglunchwithalocalfamilyontheirorganicfarm• WalkthelushorchidgardensofSoroawithstafffromtheUniversityofPinardelRio,alsoabirding

hotspot• SpendafulldayexploringOldandNewHavana

Tour Summary 10-Day/9-NightCubanPeopletoPeopleTourwithCarolSimon&HowardTopoff$4790fromMiamiAirportisMiamiInternational(MIA)



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



stuccostructureslinethecobbledstreets.Thiscityreflectsits16th-centurypastandfoundingbyConquistadors.EighteenthcenturysmugglersandpiratesmadefrequentcallshereandevenusedthisportastheirbaseofoperationsintheCaribbean.ThewealthandimportanceofTrinidadcontinuedintothe19thcentury,whensugarbaronsreigned.Experiencethecommunityandhaveachancetoseeartiststudios,visitwithshopowners,andsamplinglocalicecreamaswewalkthroughthecolonialheartofthecity.TherearealsoCurly-tailedLizardsmakingtheirhomesinrockstaircasesofthelovelybuildings.Carolisalizardspecialistandishappytotellyouallaboutthelivesofthesecreatures.FromTrinidadwecontinuetotheTopesdeCollantesforourlodgingsforthenight.InthelateafternoonwestopataMirador(scenicoverlook)alongthewindingmountainroadtotakeintheviewofallwehaveseenthisday.SpendtwonightsatHotelLosHelechosorsimilar.(B,L,D)

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.



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)



Wed., June 7 Soroa & Viñales Afterbreakfast,wewindourwaythroughtheSierradelosOrganosMountainstoViñales.InViñalesyoufindadramaticlandscape;experiencingthecommitmentoflocalpeopletotraditionalfarmingmethodsisimpressive.Samplethehomegrownvegetablesgrownatanorganicfarmwhilemeetingthefamilywhoisresponsiblefortheland.Enjoyaboatingexcursionintooneofthehugelimestonecavesrunningthroughamogote—limestonekarstoutcroppings.Lushforestcloaksthefeatures,habitatforfrogs,theendemicCubanSolitaireandmore.Walkaroundthesquareofthispicturesquetown,forachancetotalkwithartists,shoptenders,ortheownerofanhistoricAmericancar.Finally,enroutebacktoourhotel,stopatatobaccofarmtolearnabouttheprocessesandhistoryofCubancigars.YouhavethechancetosampleafamedcigarandsipacupofCubancoffeeifyouwish.AndyoucanpurchasecigarswhileinCubaifyouwish,nowlegaltobringhome.AccommodationsatVillaSoroaorsimilar(B,L,D)Thurs., June 8 Soroa / Las Terrazas / Havana ThismorningwemeetwithalocalplantspecialisttosurveyanorchidgardenwithstafffromtheUniversityofPinardelRio.Thegardenisextensive,withwell-maintainedtrailstohelpyouexplore.Inadditiontoorchidsyouseemanynativeplantsandtrees.Atthetopofthegardenisanimpressivelookoutwhereyoucanmeetalocalmusicianandtakeintheviews.



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



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.