Your Tour includes:

• Arrival and departure transfers
• 6 nights accommodation
  • Havana – 3 nights(at hotel or B&B)
  • Trinidad – 1 nights (B&B)
  • Varadero – 2 nights (AI)  
• Meals
  • Breakfast daily
  • 6 lunches
  • 6 dinners
    • Lunches and dinners include an appetizer, main course, dessert, and one drink
• Reception at the Great Masonic National Temple
• Visit the National Masonic Museum
• Function at a Lodge in the Great Temple
• Meeting with Masonic Brothers at the a Tinidad Lodge
• Visit on of the Lodges in Matanzas
• Meeting with the Free Mason Brothers of Matanzas
• Tropicana Club night show
• Buena Vista Social Club show including cover and 3 drinks per person
• All transportation is by car or van depending on party size.
• English speaking guide will be with guests during all scheduled tours, workshops, and most transfers.
• Children are allowed

Tour does not include:

• International or domestic airfares
• Taxes and fees related to air transportation
• Cuban entry visa
• Taxes & Medical Insurance
• Excess luggage
• Optional activities
• Personal expenses
• Travel Insurance
• Tips to guides or drivers
• Expenses of a personal nature
• Meals and services not mentioned in the itinerary

Hotels in your tour:

Hotels will be confirmed at time of booking and may differ from the listed

Day 1: USA, Havana

Upon arrival at Jose Marti International Airport you be welcomed by our VIP Service that includes special assistance, VIP lounge to enjoy a welcome cocktail, expedited baggage delivery, Immigration and customs control.  Then meet with the tour guide who will transfer you to your hotel in Havana. The rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening you’ll be picked up to dinner at a private restaurant and later driven to the famous Tropicana Club for the night show. Return transportation by taxi is at own cost that is both safe and easily arranged at the show’s entrance. Overnight at the hotel. [D/S]

Day 2: Havana

This morning you will explore Modern Havana with stops outside El Capitolio (the “Congress”) and Gran Teatro, home to the National Ballet of Cuba ranked number three in the world.  This beautiful historic building has just been renovated and a real treat for architecture lovers.  We will then visit the  Havana University where you will learn about the influence of Art Nouveau and Art Deco in Cuban architecture as seen today at the Bacardi Building, National Hotel and others.  We will continue to Revolution Square, which is the political and government heart of Havana surrounded by monuments and important buildings. Later you can visit the Colon Cemetery with emphasis on Masons tombs and monuments. We will also drive through El Vedado and down Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) in Miramar, the embassy and country club neighborhood of Havana.  This will give you a good perspective on how Old Havana and the newer parts of town all meld together as the capital of Cuba. Lunch at a private restaurant. Later enjoy a walking tour through Old Havana and its five main plazas, with stops at the residence of the island’s Captain General during the colonial era, the Havana Cathedral, Obispo Street, and more. This tour provides the opportunity for cultural exchanges and gives you a taste of the island that feels like stepping into a time machine.  Old Havana has buildings and streets that are some of the oldest in the Americas, with some buildings dating to the 17^th century.  Though the buildings are hundreds of years old, they are still used to house a significant number of Havana’s inhabitants.  Old Havana features a street paved with wooden bricks, palatial residences and much more! Dinner at a private restaurant.  After dinner, you will get to see the famous Buena Vista Social Club show at the “Rosalia de Castro” Cultural Association. Return transportation by taxi is at own cost that is both safe and easily arranged at the show’s entrance. Overnight at the hotel. [B/L/D/S]

Day 3: Havana

This morning join your guide for a Cigar experience with a visit to a cigar factory and warehouse open Monday to Friday. During the weekend we will visit instead a House of “Habano”, where guests will have the opportunity to sample cigars during the production process. Later, visit to the National Masonic Home, “Llansó”, and tour of the premises. Lunch at a private restaurant and, in the afternoon, visit to the Great Masonic National Temple for a reception by the Grand Master and top Officials. Tour the building and visit to the National Masonic Museum. Return to the hotel and time to rest. In the evening meeting at a Lodge in the Great Temple to exchange with siblings. Alternative program for companions*. Later, enjoy dinner at a private restaurant. [B/L/D]

Day 4: Havana - Cienfuegos - Trinidad

Drive to Cienfuegos for a panoramic tour of the city stopping the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Conception, “Paseo del Prado”, Provincial Museum and “Palacio del Valle”.  Visit Temple of the Lodge "Asilo de la Virtud" and meet some of its members. Lunch at Villa Lagarto.  Continue to Trinidad where, after checking-in at your B&B you’ll have dinner at a private restaurant.  After dinner visit of the Temple and interchange with the members and all participants may attend. If the stay is the 1st or 3rd Sunday of the month we will assist to the work at the Temple of the Lodge “Luz del Sur” - Light of the South. In this case only Brothers may attend* but if it is in any other day of the month we’ll organize a meeting with Masonic Brothers and visit the Lodge. Overnight at your hotel or B&B. [B/L/D]

*Visit to the Temples, Museum and Asylum are for all participants, but participation in the Meetings or meetings of Lodges is only possible for the Masons. In these cases, the programs always include an alternative activity for non-Masons’ companions, which is developed in parallel, or is simply given as free time.

Day 5: Trinidad - Santa Clara - Varadero

After early breakfast start a walking city tour of Trinidad, a city founded in 1514, that has some of Latin America’s best preserved colonial era houses.  Stops at the “Plaza Mayor,” the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Plaza Santa Ana and “Tres Cruces” (Three Crosses), the Palace of Count Brunet which, currently houses the “Museo Romantico” and more. By now you must be hungry so we have scheduled lunch at a private restaurant. Departure to Santa Clara and in route, visit   Sugar Mills Valley outside Trinidad, where we will visit the Manaca Iznaga Sugar Mill ruins, one of the 56 major mills that once flourished.  Cuba was a former economic leader due to its production of sugar, and the Iznaga family held great power until it declined after a tragedy of love.  We will drive to Santa Clara afterwards. Lunch in a private restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Che Guevara Memorial en route to Varadero. Check in and time to rest. Dinner at your hotel. [B/L/D]

Day 6: Varadero

The day is at leisure for non-Masons.

In the afternoon, only for masons, visit to one of the 7 Lodges in Matanzas and participation in the work or make a meeting with the Free Mason Brothers of the city:

• “Verdad” Sundays at 10:00 am.
• "Liberdad" Tuesday at 8: pm
• "Reinvindicación" Thursday at 8:00 pm
• "Obreros del Progreso" Thursday at 8:00 pm
• "Regeneración Masónica" Friday at 8:00 pm
• "Jose Marti" Fridays at 8:00 pm
• "Sol" Saturdays at 8:00 pm

In Matanzas there are many brothers who speak English and we can always guarantee participation and direct exchanges in any Lodge.

Day 7: Varadero - Habana - USA

Unfortunately all good things have an end! We hope this unique Cuba Exchange visit left wonderful memories to share with your family and friends for many years and you decide to come with us again to discover another unforgettable Cuban insertion! Your guide will pick you up to take you to the airport at the convened time so you can complete your departure formalities in good time and board your flight back home! [B]

[B] = Breakfast | [B/L/D] = Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | [D/S] = Dinner and Show | [B/L/D/S] = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Show

Note: We will make our best efforts to follow the above itinerary, however we reserve the right to substitute and/or make changes to certain elements of the itinerary including but not limited to routing, restaurants, hotels and activities in the event of unforeseen circumstances. Please note that activity times shown are for reference only and that actual times may differ significantly – everything runs on “Cuban time” and is part of the cultural exchange experience.

Tour Prices:

Prices are per person and may change without notice

Prices are valid up to January 2018

Tour Code: CU12HAV17FFV