Morning: ferryboat ride across Havana harbor to the municipality of Regla. This Afro-Cuban community has a long, rich and still active tradition of African-inspired religions.

We'll visit Regla's church dedicated to the black "Virgen de Regla" Yemayá, the African goddess of the sea in the santeria religion and the patron saint of sailors.

Tour of Regla's municipal museum to learn the origins of this unique community and its Afro-Cuban cultures.

Followed by a panoramic tour around Modern Havana in privately-owned vintage cars. These classic cars range from 55 to 85 years old, featuring dream cars from the 1950s. The portfolio includes nearly every brand you can think of, such as Cadillac, Ford, Buick, Chevrolet, Mercury and Chrysler.

We are now "leaving" Havana and entering Jose Fuster, the studio, residence and wild kingdom of José Rodriguez Fuster, one of the most important Cuban ceramists and painters today. Complimentary lunch will be hosted by the artist himself in his personal residence and privately-owned studio-art gallery. Hence, supporting the Cuban people by patronizing privately owned restaurants, stores, art galleries and other small businesses.

Afternoon: we will meet with Professor Alberto Faya for a demonstrative lecture on the African heritage through Cuban Music. Mr. Faya has been working as a singer, composer, guitarist, professor of Music, and researcher within the Cuban musical world for over 30 years.

Cuban music with African roots originates from the diverse musical practices of various ethnic groups from West and Central Africa, who were enslaved and brought to the island between the 16th and 19th centuries. Some of these groups established ethnic associations known as cabildos, which played a crucial role in preserving their cultural traditions, including music. This African musical heritage, intertwined with significant Spanish influences, is foundational to Cuban music.

A large portion of this music is linked to traditional African religions such as Lucumi and Palo, and it retains elements of the languages spoken in the original African homelands. The music is transmitted through oral tradition and is often performed at private gatherings that are not easily accessible to outsiders. Instead of melodic instruments, it emphasizes polyrhythmic percussion, vocal call-and-response, and dance. Similar to other musically vibrant nations in the New World, including the United States, Brazil, and Jamaica, Cuban music embodies a rich African musical legacy.

Evening: we will visit FABRICA DE ARTE- The Factory of Art (F.A.C.). This is one of Havana’s finest new art spaces located in a converted factory in Vedado neighborhood. It is the brainchild of Afro-Cuban rocker, rapper, composer and filmmaker X Alfonso. X is the son of Carlos Alfonso and Ele Valdés, founders of the famous Afro-Cuban symphonic rock group Síntesis. Celebrities Mick Jagger, Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Sting and Katy Perry have visited here. Return to your private rental accomodation.

Afternoon: guided tour of the Museum of Fine Arts' Cuban Collection where we see the evolution of Cuba's visual arts over the last 300 years. The collection accounts for the richness of our Spanish, French, Chinese, African cultural roots.

Followed by a visit to House of Africa Museum (Casa de Africa) in Old Havana. The Casa de Africa Museum opened on January 6, 1986, featuring a diverse ethnographic collection from Africa, with over two thousand artifacts, including wooden sculptures and ivory pieces.

Housed in a building from 1887, which originally served as residential quarters and a tobacco warehouse, the museum is located in Old Havana. It was established to raise awareness about slavery in Cuba and its societal impacts, contributing to the creation of the Museum of the Slave Route and the preservation of the Old Triunvirato Sugar Mill.

Today, Casa de África is a key center for research and community projects related to the African diaspora and its influence in Cuba and the Americas. It offers a museum and gallery, cultural activities, tours, scientific research, a specialized library, and community engagement. A significant event is the annual Scientific Workshop of Social Anthropology and Afro-American Cultures, which honors Don Fernando Ortiz and provides a platform for Africanists to share their research and for visual artists to exhibit their work.

Lunch: a new wave of paladares (privately-owned restaurants) has recently swept the Cuban dining scene offering excellent food and charming ambient. Today we’ll enjoy a welcome lunch at the stylish Paladar San Cristobal, one of Havana's top ten private restaurants.

Afternoon: guided walking tour of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Havana.

Visit to the Cathedral Square, named after the masterpiece of Cuban baroque architecture: the Cathedral of Havana built by the Jesuit order.

Just up the southwest corner of Plaza de La Catedral, we find the Experimental Printing Workshop. Next we will meet with a cooperative of young artists who work tirelessly, shirtless in an airy, spacious colonial building where we can see original prints being created.

Visit to Square of Arms, ancient military parade ground for Spanish soldiers and surrounded by impressive buildings such as:

Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the former official residence of the governors (Captains General) of Havana, Cuba. It is home to the Museum of the City of Havana. It houses exhibitions of art and historical artefacts and many of the rooms are preserved with their original Colonial decoration.

Palacio del Segundo Cabo. The seat of the second authority of the island. Today it houses important publishing concerns.

Castillo de la Real Fuerza. The second oldest fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies. The castle was recently renovated and reopened in June 2008 to hold the impressive maritime museum. Well laid out exhibits chart Spain and Cuba's naval history.

Visit to Plaza Vieja, the only civic square of colonial times. Notice it doesn't have a church or government building around. Here we will visit important institutions for visual arts.

Continue walking tour onto San Francisco Square, named after the Convent of San Francisco, this square was conceived in 1628, with the objective of supplying water to the ships trading with the metropolis. For many years it also served to stockpile the goods arriving from the harbor.

Free time in the famous handicraft market of Old Havana where you can purchase all sorts of crafts and souvenirs by local artisans.

Evening: attend one of the most traditional and popular ceremonies in Cuba, Fire of the Cannon of 9 O'Clock at the Fortress of San Carlos de La Cabana where Che Guevara established his headquarters after the Revolution came to power in 1959.

Morning: We will meet with Gisela Arandia Covarribias, an author and researcher on issues of race in Cuba and a long-time anti-racism activist. Presentation on Black Women in Cuba today and the future of race relations in Cuba. This is a great opportunity for questions and answers.

Like many Latin American and Caribbean nations, Cuba has a considerable population of 'mulatos' or people of mixed ethnicity, where race, class, and social status are closely intertwined. Few Cubans can be categorized as strictly 'white' or 'black,' and the definitions of racial identity are shaped by both social dynamics and physical traits. Afro-Cubans are primarily concentrated in the eastern regions of the island and in specific neighborhoods of Havana.

Next we visit Callejón de Hamel, an alley where all the buildings display murals inspired by Afro-Cuban culture and religions. This is the work of Salvador Gonzales Escalona, a well known Cuban muralist, painter, and sculptor. He has murals in Philadelphia, New York and Norway.

Lunch at El Aljibe restaurant serving the best Creole food in Cuba. El Aljibe made an appearance on Anthony Bourdain’s TV show No Reservations; and is famous for its roast chicken served with a special secret sauce.

Afternoon: we will be treated to a private visit to the studio of Cuban painter and engraver Eduardo Roca, known as Choco.

Choco received the 2017 National Prize for Visual Arts for his significant contributions to the island's visual arts. His work is showcased in prestigious museums and galleries worldwide, including Cuba's Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, the DuSable Museum in Chicago, the Museo de la Estampa in Mexico, the Kochi Museum in Japan, the Miró Foundation in Palma de Mallorca, and various Swedish institutions.

Choco is an expert in printing techniques, particularly collagraphy. His art is deeply influenced by African religion and its lasting impact on Cuban culture, evident in the physical features and textures of his human figures and the overall atmosphere of his compositions.

Followed by visit to Beyond Roots, an Afro-style store that wanted to change the Cuban stereotype of rum, cigars and beautiful mulata women, and replaced it with messages of love for Black culture. They design their own line of key chains, mugs, T-shirts, with phrases such as “Yo amo la cultura afrocubana” (I love Afro-Cuban culture).

Evening: Enjoy a performance of the world famous Legendarios del Guajirito. This cultural project is dedicated to preserving traditional Cuban music. Some of its musicians are former members of the Buena Vista Social Club and the Afro-Cuban All Stars. The band includes 7 Grammy Award winners and 4 Latin Grammy Award winners. (Optional – Not included in tour cost)

Morning: day trip to Matanzas City known for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore, it is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of 90 km east of the capital Havana and 32 km west of the resort town of Varadero.

Rest stop in Bacunayagua Bridge for a Piña Colada and enjoy the view over the highest bridge (110 mts) in Cuba, one of the marvels of Cuban post- revolutionary architecture.

In the 19th century, Matanzas emerged as the center of Cuban sugar production, leading to a significant demand for slave labor and becoming the primary destination for African slaves in Cuba. This historical context explains why Matanzas houses the most important documents related to the history of enslaved Africans and their descendants in the country.

The region's archives contain some of the longest-running records of Africans in Cuba, offering a wealth of information from the early 16th century to the late 19th century. These records include demographic statistics, details on ethnicity, resistance, occupations, and the economy of both free and enslaved Africans. This documentation originated from colonial Spanish administration, churches, estates, and notary offices.

Upon arrival we visit the Slave Route Museum (Museo de la Ruta del Esclavo) at San Severino Castle. Exhibition halls retell the sad and violent history of slave trade which forcibly transported close to twenty million Africans to the Americas. The San Severino Castle, one of the Spanish fortresses built in colonial Cuba in the 17th century, houses four exhibition halls: the house of the commander, the archeological hall, the hall of Slavery, and the hall of the Orishas or African deities.

Lunch at a local family-run restaurant.

Afternoon: Next we visit the Callejon de las Tradiciones (Ally of Traditions) displaying murals that celebrate the African culture and heritage. The ally is run by the community development project AfroAtenas. We’ll meet with staff members to learn about their social work in the area.

Free time at Varadero Beach to enjoy the beach (time permitting).

Evening: we suggest you go to the privately-owned restaurant Coco Blue & La Zorra Pelua. Created by famous Cuban artist José Emilio Fuentes Fonseca (JEFF) this place offers great ambiance with live music, food, bar and an art gallery. (Optional – Not included in tour cost)

Morning: visit to the colonial town of Guanabacoa. Once a small sugar and tobacco center, Guanabacoa is inhabited primarily by the descendents of slaves who worked the fields here, and has kept alive its old Afro-Cuban traditions and religions.

We’ll tour the Museo Municipal de Guanabacoa. Founded in 1964, the museum tracks the development of the neighborhood throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and is famous for its rooms on Afro-Cuban culture, slavery and the Santería religion.

Lunch at the family-run restaturant paladar Arrecife.

Afternoon: visit to the headquarters of Havana Compas, a Cuban dance and percussion company fusing flamenco and Afro-Cuban rhythms. It is the first of its kind in the island. The work of Habana Compass Dance attracts international personalities. U.S. singer Usher and the vocalist of the British band The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, have visited its headquarters. We wil exchange with students and dance instructors.

Evening: Farewell dinner at the family-run restaurant paladar La Cocina de Lilian. La Cocina de Lilliam is a pioneering paladar that opened its doors in Havana during the 1990s, a time when private restaurants were first allowed in Cuba. This beloved establishment is run by the remarkable Sra. Lilliam, celebrated for her exceptional Cuban culinary skills. If you're seeking an authentic taste of Cuban cuisine, La Cocina de Lilliam is a must-visit. The paladar gained significant recognition when former President Jimmy Carter dined there during his visit to Havana.

Early morning departure to Havana City International Airport for departure.