Morning: our Cuba education tours are different from others because of the varied quality of authentic Cuban destinations they feature. And this cultural & educational journey to the authentic Cuba is very special in this regard as you will get to venture into the historic city of Santiago de Cuba, the Cradle of the Revolution, at the far eastern end of the island.

After a two-hour flight, you will arrive at the Capital of the Caribbean, the nicknamed of Santiago de Cuba among Caribbean neighbours. Founded by Spanish conquistador, Don Diego Velazquez himself as early as 1514 by a large pocket-shaped bay that opens to the Caribbean Sea, the city soon became the capital of Cuba. Soon the Spanish conquistadores sent expeditions to Florida and Mexico from this city that then became a crucial center of operations for The Americas exploration.

In 1997, UNESCO included the Fortress of San Pedro de La Roca in its list of world heritage sites for a good reason. The Fortress that you will visit next as part of your educational travel to Santiago de Cuba, was built in the early 17th century on top of a cliff that overlooks the Bay of Santiago de Cuba. Ever since it has guarded the entrance to the city and repelled the attacks of pirates, corsairs and buccaneers operating in the Caribbean region.

Lunch at Paladar El Pirata, serving delicious local seafood dishes and boasting nice views of Santiago de Cuba bay and Sierra Maestra Mountains. Eating in private family-run restaurants directly supports the Cuban people and the Cuban families financially while encouraging independent entrepreneurial activities that in turn strengthen civil society in Cuba.

Afternoon: as part of our full-time schedule of professional research, we will attend professional meetings with sports and physical education teachers, trainers and coaches at the Santiago de Cuba Sports School (Escuela de Iniciacion Deportiva Escolar (EIDE)) “Capitán Orestes Acosta”. This activity will be of particularly interest for the professional research of those travelers from USA, Canada and all over the world whose profession, professional background, or area of expertise (including area of graduate-level full-time study) relates to sports and physical education.

Next we will check in at your Luxury Casa Particular.

Morning: as part of our full-time schedule of professional research on Cuba’s educational system, today we will visit the Eastern University (Universidad del Oriente), the second largest university in Cuba that confers higher education graduate and undergraduate degrees to the students of the Eastern provinces of Cuba. Attending professional meetings with professors, faculty and staff at this prestigious educational institution will be of particularly interest for the professional research of those travelers from USA, Canada and all over the world whose profession, professional background, or area of expertise (including area of graduate-level full-time study) relates to the higher education.

Just before lunch we will travel off the beaten track to the cooper mining village of El Cobre (about 20 kms outside Santiago de Cuba). Atop one of the hills of this mining region we will visit the only basilica in Cuba, dedicated to the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, consecrated as Cuba’s Saint Patron in 1916 by the Pope and crowned in 1998 by Pope John Paul II. Attended by hundreds of Cubans daily, the Basilica de La Caridad del Cobre is a mandatory visit for those interested in understanding the Cuban people.

On the way to El Cobre town, we will make stops at the most significant attractions of the modern part of the city to take pictures and learn how Santiago de Cuba has grown into Cuba’s second largest city ever since colonial times. The Heredia Theatre, the Revolution Square, and the Baseball Stadium are among those sites of interest we will explore.

Optional Lunch: optional lunch presents as a great opportunity to eat in a privately-owned family restaurant which are abundant in the area. Your Authentic Cuba Travel® tour guide will facilitate individual bookings and we will provide you with a list of recommended paladares before tour departure. Enjoy!

Afternoon: as part of our full-time schedule of professional research on Cuba’s educational system, you’ll get to visit the young students of the largest primary school in the city, the 26th July Primary School (Escuela 26 de Julio). Professional exchange with teachers who will provide precious insights into Cuba’s educational system, current challenges and the impact of current reforms from primary schooling to university studies. Housed in the former Moncada Barracks, the largest military bastion of dictator Batista in Eastern Cuba, this school is attended in any given year by over 1700 primary students.

With your Cuba Education Tours guide bringing colonial times back to life, we will venture into the historical center of the city. Our guided walking tour will kick off in the Cespedes Square which is surrounded by monumental buildings such as the City Hall, from where Fidel Castro announced the triumph of the Cuban Revolution over dictator Batista on January 1st, 1959.

Is believed that Spanish conquistador and city founder Diego Velasquez remains are buried in the Cathedral of Santiago de Cuba, another historical building standing on the south side of Parque Cespedes. This is the spot where the first cathedral of Cuba was build in the 1520’s, but it was destroyed by different events. So the church that we will visit today- dating from the beginning of the 20th century, it is just the latest in a series of churches that have occupied this location.

One visit of great significance this afternoon, it is the guided tour (by a local expert historian) to the Casa de Diego Velasquez, the oldest house in Cuba still standing since 1522! The main floor used to house a gold foundry and trading house while the Spanish conquistador used the upstairs as his private residence.

Tonight: Casa de La Trova, an iconic music venue popular with Santiagueros and foreigners alike is just steps away from your hotel, and the place we will venture in tonight for a taste of the authentic Cuba. Be ready for live music and contagious sensual dancing with Cubans and fellow travelers!

In our quest to explore the most authentic destinations in Cuba, we have to travel by road, by air and now by sea! Today we will enjoy a very pleasant panoramic boat ride into the Bay of Santiago de Cuba to a little key named after the famous Granma boat.

Originally known as Cayo Smith, Cayo Granma is like a fantasy land inhabited by fishermen. With wooden houses stilted above the water showcasing red roofs and colorful windows, this key is a great place to escape the urban buzz of the busy big city into the real Cuba.

Next we will visit the community art project, Suenos y Fantasia (Dreams and Fantasies) carried out by local children who use their imagination to create toys and crafts from recycled materials collected from the seashores. During this visit we will engage with the Cubans to learn more about the role of this Cuban independent organization. This visit also presents an unparalleled chance for North American university and college professors, faculty and staff; K-12 teachers, and other educational professionals to conduct professional research on Cuba’s artistic and extra curriculum education as well as the educational work of outreach independent community projects in the island.

Your Authentic Cuba guide will take you for a hike uphill to visit the San Rafael Church at the highest point of the key and then downhill for a seafood complimentary lunch at the local restaurant. Eating in private family-run restaurants directly supports the Cuban people and the Cuban families financially while encouraging independent entrepreneurial activities that in turn strengthen civil society in Cuba.

Tonight: Casa de La Trova, an iconic music venue popular with Santiagueros and foreigners alike is just steps away from your hotel, and the place we will venture in tonight for a taste of the authentic Cuba. Be ready for live music and contagious sensual dancing with Cubans and fellow travelers!

This morning your educational travel to the historic city of Santiago de Cuba comes to an end. After checking out of your accommodation, we will enjoy a panoramic bus ride to the airport to take a flight back to Havana city.

Upon arrival in the city, we will head to your hotel Valentin Quinta Avenida (Valentin 5th Avenue) or Luxury Casa Particular.

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: as part of our full-time schedule of professional research on Cuba’s educational system, we will visit to the headquarters of La Colmenita Children’s Theater Company next. La Colmenita (the little beehive) emerged from a dream and hobby of Carlos "Tin" Cremata when he was still a student at the Cuban Theatrical Art Institute directing aquatic and judo performances with young people.

The nucleus of La Colmenita was formed from some of these youngsters and children of three, four and five years from the popular television series "Cuando yo sea Grande" that he also directed.

The company, which was given the UNICEF Goodwill ambassador status in 2007, recently toured the United States with performances in Washington, New York and San Francisco. Enjoy a private performance, and exchange with directors, teachers and children!

This visit to Cuba’s “The Little Beehive” (La Colmenita) presents an unparalleled chance for North American university and college professors, faculty and staff; K-12 teachers, and other educational professionals to conduct professional research on Cuba’s artistic and extra curriculum education as well as the educational work of outreach independent community projects in the island.

Evening: our expedition to the authentic Cuba is far from ending though. Tonight we will tour the largest fortress every built by the Spanish rulers in Las Americas, The Fortress of La Cabana.

The fortress boasts amazing panoramic city views at night, and host one of the most popular ceremonies in Cuba, the Fire of the Cannon of 9 O'Clock, which is attended by thousands of Cubans night after night. Get ready for mingling with habaneros as soldiers in Spanish costumes announced the closing of the city gates by firing a noisy Spanish cannon!

Morning: the first activity in our full-time schedule of professional research on Cuba’s educational system this morning, it is to attend professional meetings with professors, faculty and staff at the University of Havana (1728) because of the role that this higher education institution have played in giving shape to the real identity of Cuba as a sovereign nation.

Our educational trips to Cuba also include a private tour of this educational facility, the largest and oldest in Cuba. Your guide and local experts will tell you about its history, past and present. This activity will be of particularly interest for the professional research of those travelers from USA, Canada and all over the world whose profession, professional background, or area of expertise (including area of graduate-level full-time study) relates to higher education.

Complimentary Lunch: lunch today would be a very special treat. Our group will be hosted by Cuban artist Jose Fuster, regarded as one of Cuba’s foremost ceramists and painters at his home/studio in Jaimanitas, a coastal town in the outskirts of Havana.

We will also pay a visit to the Jaimanitas Community Project, the brainchild of Fuster- an educational outreach idea that brings high art to the streets. The decoration of over 50 houses of local fishermen with original murals of great value makes possible the daily integration of fine arts into the daily routines of ordinary Cubans. And this is just the beginning. His mission: complete the entire town! After lunch we will tour the artist’s studio and the Jaimanitas coastal town, a living gallery.

Afternoon: a visit to the Literacy Museum may not sound like a train stopper, but it is! At least in the opinion of the thousands of educators and travelers that we have taken to this modest museum over the years. The museum tells the story of the national literacy campaign of 1961. And this afternoon, we have the privilege and great honor to introduce you to Dr. Luisa Campos, the museum director who will share her anecdotes and stories with our group. The literacy campaign made possible that over 700,000 Cubans learnt to write and read in the short period of time of one year.

This guided educational tour will be of particularly interest for the professional research of those travelers from USA, Canada and all over the world whose profession, professional background, or area of expertise (including area of graduate-level full-time study) relates to the history of literacy education and alternative approaches to teaching. The ideal approach to teach and learn literacy depends on the student. Every student is an individual with unique strengths, weaknesses, interests, and ways of learning. So how do you teach 700 000 people of different ages and backgrounds in such a record time? What teaching approach was used and why it worked.

Welcome in the New Year with family, friends, and tour mates at your chosen Havana venue (optional/ not included). Your Authentic Cuba Travel® guide will give you options the days before so that you plan ahead this day or just play as it goes! You could also book venues at your hotel tour desk.

Morning: the historic preservation of the architectural and historical wealth of colonial Old Havana is not an easy task. You need to have a highly qualified workforce trained in historic preservation, a profession that comprises the preservation, conservation and protection of buildings and objects of historical significance. And that’s the educational objective of the Escuela Taller “Gaspar Melchor” that we will visit today. Another treat of our Cuba education tours is that our groups are personally welcome and escorted through the school by the principal Dr. Eduardo Gonzalez.

Our professional meeting with Cuban teachers this morning will be of particularly interest for the professional research of those travelers from USA, Canada and all over the world whose profession, professional background, or area of expertise (including area of graduate-level full-time study) relates to the teaching of skilled trades. With an aging workforce, the school is training skilled trades people who can help restore, preserve and maintain the historical and architectural heritage of the nation.

As Cuba cuts on public sector jobs it allows more private businesses to open. The so called paladares- privately-run and usually family-owned restaurants are a popular business in the capital. Your lunch break will be a good opportunity to try one of those. Your Authentic Cuba Travel® guide will recommend great ones and help with individual bookings. Usually the owners and staff are happy to exchange with guests.

Afternoon: another school principal we will have the pleasure of meeting today is Prof. Sonia Garcia from the primary school “Angela Landa”. Professor Garcia will give us a tour of the school as she talks about the student’s daily activities and extra curriculum programs. This is your last chance to ask questions about Cuba’s primary education. This visit represents a great opportunity for North American university and college professors, faculty and staff; K-12 Teachers, and other Educational Professionals to conduct professional research on Cuba’s elementary educational system and to exchange with Cuban educators.

Our authentic Cuba tours are as much a cultural journey as an educational one, and exploring Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site will prove to be a must-do for most Cuba travelers.

Old Havana is one of the 15 municipalities (districts) that Havana city comprises. Even though is the smallest in area, it has the second highest population density in the capital- a fact that makes housing and restoration a recurrent challenge. Add to that the busloads of tourist that come daily to tour its colonial squares, Spanish built fortresses, historical buildings and numerous museums and you have a very buzy historical center to manage.

By the hand of your expert Authentic Cuba Travel® tour guide you will tour four of the main colonial squares in the old city: Plaza de Armas, the original site of foundation of San Cristobal de La Habana in the early 16th century; Plaza de la Catedral, named after the beautiful Cathedral of Havana; Plaza de San Francisco, dominated by the imposing Lonja del Comercio (former Havana Exchange) and Plaza Vieja, the largest one surrounded by art institutions today.

Free time in the famous handicraft market of Old Havana, located inside the Almacenes de Depósito San José, an old warehouse on the harbourside where you can purchase all sorts of crafts and souvenirs by local artisans.

Return to hotel.

Today you will be escorted to the Habana International Airport. Please, make sure to review your flight information with your guide in advance.