Jewish communities have traveled far and wide for hundreds of years, settling in countries open to trade and closed off from the rest of the world. Your custom tailored tour takes you through the stunning landscape of Cuba and immerses you in the Cuban Jewish lifestyle. Light the Shabbas candles with a local family to celebrated the end of another week. Peruse the library of one of the oldest synagogues in the country. Visit the only kosher butcher on the island. Learn about the heritage of the...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Havana – Havana Heritage
Havana is a city that captures your attention and imagination. Music spills out of cafes. Vintage American cars glide down cobblestone streets. People stroll along the Malecón and enjoy the view of the historic fortresses guarding Havana’s bay. Fishers stand atop the thick wall separating the street from the sea and cast their fishing lines into the water. The sea breeze rolls along the edges of the city, fading as it travels deeper into the old city. You land at Jose Marti International Airport with your heartbeat quickening with excitement. Your private transfer meets you at baggage claim and leads you into the bustling cityscape. The suburbs of the city contain the daily life of Havana locals.
Murals decorate walls along the roadside, celebrating the Cuban spirit. The colors resemble the blue, white, and red of the Cuban flag. Once in vibrant, contemporary neighborhood of Vedado, you pass the University of Havana. The graceful steps lead to a plateau. Stoic columns outline a noble arcade and frame a statue of Alma Mater in the foreground. The university was established in the 18th century under the authorization of Pope Innocent XIII and King Philip V of Spain. The past and the present intertwine in the city, and in the Vedado neighborhood. High-rises tower above colonial era buildings. Classic cars roll down the boulevard of La Rampa. The ice cream parlor of Coppelia turns modern day Havana into a 1950s ice cream social.
What's Included:
Day 2
Havana – Embracing the Community
Day 3
Havana – The Wealth of Antiques
Day 4
Havana – Cuba and the Arts
Day 5
Santa Clara – Celebrations of the Past and Present
Day 6
Santa Clara – Discovering Trinidad
Day 7
Santa Clara – Life in Santa Clara
Day 8
Cienfuegos – A Lasting Image of Beauty
Trip Highlights
- Visit with the various local Jewish communities across Cuba, from Sephardic to Ashkenazy, in Havana and Santa Clara
- Partake in a pottery workshop that immerses you in the cultural artwork of the spirited Afro-Cuban colonial town of Trinidad
- Discover the history and multi-cultural grounds of the Havana Jewish Cemetery
- Experience the extraordinary past and present of Havana’s artistic community with a tour of Hemingway’s former home and the remarkable neighborhood known as Fusterlandia
- Visit the Holocaust Museum in Santa Clara, which contains a walking path paved by stones from the Warsaw Ghetto
- Traverse the shop of the only kosher butcher in all of Cuba, located in Old Havana
- Enjoy a guided tour of Old Havana where the footprints of Spanish Jews escaping the Inquisition are as poignant as the synagogues that remain in the city
Detailed Description
No matter where in the world you travel, you can celebrate the week’s end with a member of the Jewish community and feel like family. Your 8-day tour of Cuba introduces you to the unique life of Cuban Jews, from their struggles of continuing traditions to their history of family perseverance. You arrive in Havana for an introductory tour of the city, beginning with a visit to the Plaza de la Revolucion. Settle in the luxurious neighborhood of Vedado, home to some of the finest hotels in all of Havana. The next day, you meet with members of the Jewish community learning about the religious school system, along with the exploring the different synagogues around the city.
Follow your guide on a fabulous tour of Old Havana. Make your way to the orthodox temple and visit Cuba’s only kosher butcher. Discover the thriving art scene of Cuba by venturing to Finca Vigia, the former home of Ernest Hemingway. Continue with a tour of the spectacular neighborhood of Jaimanitas, also known as Fusterlandia, named for the artist who turned the streets into a ceramic wonderland. Next, you venture to the Guanabacoa Museum for an introduction into the eastern suburb of Havana. Stroll through the Jewish Cemetery before arriving in the charming fishing village of Cojimar.
Your private transfer escorts you to Santa Clara, where you meet the local Jewish community. If you arrive on Shabbat, you can partake in dinner and the traditions of the city. The next day takes you to the preserved colonial town of Trinidad for an interactive cultural experience. Enjoy a pottery workshop before touring the historic streets. Then, you explore the spirited ambiance of Santa Clara. Make your way to the Holocaust Museum followed by a tour of the colonial houses and remarkable monuments decorating the city. On your final day, your private transfer escorts you to the airport in Cienfuegos for your flight home.
Consider browsing our other tours to Cuba to gain further inspiration for your dream Cuba vacation of a lifetime.
Starting Price
$4,300 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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