I was curious to learn more about Cuba and to see if my romantic notion of what I would experience during a visit was true. What I discovered exceeded my expectations. The island’s fascinating 500 year history, highly educated people, classic cars, varied architecture, haute cuisine, art and music, plus beautiful landscapes were captivating.
The opportunity to experience its culture, gastronomy and connect with its people is just a flight or two away. Dust off your panama hat, grab a cigar coupled with an aged dark rum, sit down, relax and read on.
Important to Know
Trips must adhere to the cultural interaction requirements of Support for the Cuban People – sanctioned travel. I traveled with Cultural Cuba, my preferred partner, who seamlessly arranged the legal travel requirements to travel under the Support for the Cuban People license.
My Experiences
My group had an amazing itinerary and Alain, our private guide throughout our trip, made us feel like we were traveling with a local friend.
Our late lunch at El Del Frente in Old Havana immersed us immediately into the culinary scene. We ate exclusively at paladares, which are privately owned restaurants in or attached to the owners’ residences. The food is exceptional with fresh vegetables, fruits, meats and seafood produced locally and payment for the meals goes directly to the owner as part of the Support for the Cuban People. We also had a private visit with the granddaughter of Fidel Castro’s photographer to see his work, including his photo of a fisherman that is credited as the muse for Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea. Chef Ivan (former chef to Castro) created a wonderful menu for us at Ivan y Justo and afterward the head sommelier of Havana Club Rum treated us to a rum and cigar tasting.
Each day was filled with experiences and meals at paladares as well as opportunities to understand the art, music and nightlife in Havana. We walked through Old Havana to see the architecture and understand history, we visited a cigar factory to understand where the best tobacco is grown and watched as workers hand rolled the cigars. I was a bit timid about our salsa dance lesson (great fun), enjoyed our private rooftop concert, the private performance at Habana Compas Dance, and marveled at the nightlife at Fabrica de Arte with its variety of music and art under one roof. The visit to the pre-school, Hemingway’s house and cooking + mixology class were exceptional. The sunset classic car ride with private photographer was a highlight of the trip!
Cuba is a perfect destination for curious and discerning travelers who desire enriching and memorable experiences tailored to their interests. Whether they seek an opportunity to connect with the culture and people in a meaningful way or an opportunity to experience the nightlife and the world’s best cigars (or all of the above), Cuba will leave travelers with a sense of admiration for its people and a zest for life!
Helen Jordan is the owner of Jordan Luxury Travel, an independent affiliate of Brownell Travel, a member of Virtuoso. She can be reached at [email protected].
