Explore, Connect, Photograph and Learn.

**Please note that this itinerary is in DRAFT PHASE until March 2025. Some details may change.
 

Day 0, Wednesday 12/3: The recommended day of arrival to Havana to settle into Cuba before day 1.

Day 1, Thursday 12/4: Our first day together in Old Havana     (D)
 

Arrivals transfer to our lodging and settle in before we meet in the late afternoon for our greetings, to meet our Cuban guide, and to have our welcome drink. Our orientation meeting follows with Dave’s photographic slideshow and briefing on creatively and respectfully photographing life in Cuba. We’ll spend a few hours acclimating, sinking into Cuba’s daily rhythm, learning about Havana’s key landmarks, and beginning to interact with the local community for serendipitous street photography. 

 

Our welcome dinner is at the highly decorated San Cristobal Paladar. Paladares are Cuba’s privately owned restaurants.

Accommodation: When in Old Havana, we are staying at Hostal Buen Viaje.

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Day 2, Friday 12/5:  Old Havana     (B, L) 

After a traditional Cuban breakfast, architect Miguel Coyula provides insight into Cuba’s history and development to provide a greater understanding of what you’ll encounter as we tour Havana. 

 

Opportunity favors the keen observer on foot, so our day begins with a guided walk through Old Havana. Visiting historic plazas and lesser-seen neighborhoods, Dave guides us in capturing its timeless beauty and ongoing restorations before enjoying lunch at El Figaro on Barber’s Alley.

Next, we visit Pepito’s vintage barbershop and Arte Corte to see how this tradition is preserved. Time permitting, we’ll take a classic car to El Morro fortress for sunset views or move that to mañana.

In the evening, we experience the vibrant Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), a truly dynamic re-purposed industrial space of dining, music, and art. You are free to return by cab to the hotel at any time. 

Accommodation: Hostal Buen Viaje.

 

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Day 3,  Saturday 12/6:  Old Havana    (B)

Early AM photo option with Dave. After breakfast, we head to Rafael Trejo Boxing Gym, which is famous for training boxers who compete around the world. It is a perfect spot to practice both fast and slow shutter speeds or try flash to freeze the punch or blur the colorful action and gestures. Then, we have a studio visit with one of Cuba's best street photographers, Adrian Garrido, at his gallery in town. We can explore the old district on foot with Dave before lunch at Paladar Doña Eutemia. The afternoon continues with a photo walk with Adrian to see him in action and learn from his unique approach to street photography. We then shoot together or separately, practicing street styles that match our opportunities. We can visit Fototeca de Cuba, a center for historic and contemporary photography. After resting, we have dinner at La Guarida, perhaps Havana’s most famous paladar, where stars eat. It also appears in the movie Fresa y Chocolate. 

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Accommodation: Hostal Buen Viaje.

 

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Day 4, Sunday 12/7:  Havana to Pinar Del Rio & Viñales     (B, L) 

 

After breakfast, we can store unneeded items before checking out of our Casa. We then drive east towards the verdant Viñales Valley – situated in one of the most picturesque parts of Cuba, among the iconic limestone “mogotes” hills of the Pinar del Rio province. It is a small, relaxed, and culturally rich rural village with friendly and welcoming residents. Upon reaching Viñales, we’ll feast at a hilltop organic farm, Finca el Paraiso, and learn about sustainable farming in Cuba. Their family will show us around and explain the workings of the organic farm they have created. With the beautiful views as our backdrop, we will enjoy a deliciously fresh organic meal prepared by the family— a truly authentic farm-to-fork experience! 

Lastly, we will visit Viñales Valley Town and a nearby Tobacco despalillo processing plant. Here, you have a very rare opportunity to go ‘behind the scenes’ where tobacco is sorted, prepared, aged, and packed to become Cuba’s world-famous cigars. 

 

We will check into our family-run Casa Particular accommodations, and then capture Blue Hour as we head to dinner with Dave. on our own tab. This can be followed by an evening photo walk to photograph the happenings of quaint and unhurried Vinales, or kick back with a drink at our casa to watch the stars, or perhaps review images with Dave.
 

Accommodation: Casa Particular, which has a deck for relaxing into the vibes of Cuba.

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Day 5, Monday 12/8:  Viñales + Early Walk option  (B, L)  

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Today, we will include an early walking shoot in the valley and a walking tour of tobacco farms later on. We will engage with local farmers and photograph the quieter side of Cuba. Lunch at Balcon de Valle provides another view of the Mogotes. In the afternoon, you are free to wander and photograph in town, rent a bike, or rest before dinner. Optional blue hour and nighttime street photography in town. Dinner is on our own at one of the best local spots we’ve enjoyed for years and can be followed by a visit to the gatherings near the Church and Cultural Center of Polo Montañez.  

Accommodation: our Casa.

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​Day 6, Tuesday 12/9:  Vinales to Havana   (B, L)  

 

Early AM photo option with Dave. After breakfast, check out of our casas to return to Havana. 

Our highlight upon arrival is to visit an auto restoration garage where we will tell a story of how Cuba has maintained its fleet of vintage cars. There is a great storytelling opportunity to capture this unique story in pictures or video. 

 

As we drive back to Havana, you may have 1:1 time with Dave to look at your images. We stop along our route for lunch at a local paladar. After checking into our Havana hotel, we then drive to explore and photograph the enormous and beautifully-sculptured Colon Cemetery.  We can dine on our own tonight by ourselves, or with Dave to share our travel stories.

The evening is open to exploring solo on foot with Dave or for cultural activities that may include rooftop drinks, or if pre-scheduled; Cuban Ballet, a Drag Cabaret, or reserved VIP seats for live Cuban Jazz at La Zorra y El Cuervo. 

(Altruvistas: Please check all schedules by November)

Accommodation: Hostal Buen Viaje. 
 

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​Day 7, Wednesday 12/10:  Havana + beach & lunch option   (B, L)  
 

Meet Dave after breakfast as you have a day with him to scope out more city haunts or travel by public bus to enjoy Playas del Este, the coastal beach just 35 minutes outside of la Habana. You can enjoy a beach-side lunch there and return in the afternoon by bus, a little refreshing down time, or to shoot the long shadows of late afternoon.

As night approaches, we head out by cab or on foot to pass the gate into historic Barrio Chino (Old Chinatown), and explore the colorful streets. Dinner there and evening are on us for personal exploration to enjoy Old Havana at night! 

Accommodation: Hostal Buen Viaje. 

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Day 8, Thursday 12/11:  Regla Excursion    (B, D)

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Early AM photo options. After breakfast, we take the tiny passenger ferry across the harbor to Regla. Regla is a small, quiet town compared to Havana. Explore the town alone or with our guide, including the dock area, the Church of the Black Virgin, the Museo de Regla, the town square, the gas works, and other areas, climbing the hill to the main road to Guanabacoa. Exchange at the municipal museum and learn about the Afro diaspora in Cuba and the religion of Santeria. We will then photograph the dance and rhythms of the Orishas— the spirits and saints of Cuban Santeria. Free time for lunch in Regla at a local paladar, or we’ll dine once we're back in Havana. 

 

We will have free time to explore the vast San Jose de Almancenes Caribbean craft market for gifts and souvenirs. Then, wander the Puerto de Avenida and see the remains of the walls that once protected lower Havana. After some solo exploring and downtime, we have our Farewell Dinner at Ivan Chef Justo, a much-celebrated paladar near the Museum of the Revolution. 

After our farewell dinner, it's time to pack for the trip home unless staying longer for our extension.

Accommodation: Hostal Buen Viaje. 

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Day 9, Friday  12/12   Havana to Home (B), or extension to Trinidad  (B, L)
 

1) After breakfast, say adios to our fellow travelers and gracious Cuban hosts! Those departing for home today are transferred to Marti Airport, where they will check-in and fly home. 

2) Those who have registered to join our trip extension will drive with Dave to Cienfuegos and Trinidad.

 

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EXTENSION: Trinidad via Cienfuegos

Day E1, Friday 12/12   Havana to Trinidad via Cienfuegos   (B, L, D)
 

The first stop is Cienfuegos. We will be having a rest and photographing this beautiful colonial town before heading onwards to colonial Trinidad. Founded in 1514, Trinidad is now a Unesco Heritage site and offers excellent street photography and colorful old homes and hills for interesting perspectives. Once we check into our lodging, we can wander to capture golden light and long shadows. The pulse of Trinidad is often punctuated by horse-drawn carts, workers returning home, and children's laughter.

Accommodation: Hotel La Ronda or better Casa Particular. 
 

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Day E2, Saturday 12/13  Trinidad    (B, L)
 

We begin this morning with a guided culturally photogenic tour of Trinidad, where we have options

to climb to the cathedral tower viewpoint and Museo Lucha contra Bandidos. This Museo is home to interesting exhibits from the Cold War and Cuban-American conflict.

We will visit Templo de Yemaya, an Afro-Cuban temple to Yemaya. There, we can learn about the Santeria religion and request to meet with the Santero priest Israel Ernesto Bravo Vega. Dave guides photography, and we may join a local photographer at his studio, TBD.

The evening is a great time to enjoy the music scene by the cathedral and nearby steps. Set your camera for B&W and try some street photography, where streetlights illuminate the walking locals, colonial cobblestones, architectural details, and less-showy 'beater' vintage cars.

Accommodation: Hotel La Ronda or a better Casa Particular. 

Day E3, Sunday 12/14  Trinidad   (B, L, D)
 

For those up early, Dave offers a pre-breakfast walk along the eastern streets of Trinidad

for sweet light, soft colors, and long shadows.

The remainder of the morning until lunch are free-roaming opportunities to shoot alone, in pairs, or with Dave. Trinidad's streets are home to children playing, musicians, vendors, and horse-drawn carriages dating back to the early 1900s. 
 

After lunch, we can opt to make a trip to nearby Playa Ancon to relax and swim at a beautiful tropical beach. There is also an option to learn about one of Cuba’s greatest contributions to the free world— the music and dance of Cuba. An Afro-Cuban folkloric dance group that performs shows at the Palenque Club will host our learning. Gisela Zerquera, the director of the ballet, will welcome us into the venue where

they train and perform. Anyone interested can also take a Cuban salsa class. Night hours are free for guests to roam.

Accommodation: Hotel La Ronda or better Casa Particular. 

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Day E4, Monday 12/15  Trinidad to Santa Clara Airport to Home   (B)

After breakfast, say adios to each other and our gracious Cuban hosts. Extension guests are transferred to Santa Clara Airport, where they will check in and fly home.