Cuban Healthcare and Culture Tour | Cuba Education and Explorer Tours

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SIX MINUTES in Cuba! This video features many activities you'll savor on your tour.

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			The life of one child is worth more than all the wealth in the world. – Dr Ernesto Che Guevara
	Learn about the history of healthcare in Cuba from the US-based organization MEDICC (Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba).

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Cuban Healthcare and Culture Tour
Saturday 16 July to Saturday 23 July 2011

So sorry! Registration for this tour is now closed. It will repeat in February 2012. In the meantime, check out our many other Cuba Education Tours departing in 2011 and 2012.

XI THETA, CHAPTER 342 of Sigma Theta Tau International, is pleased to support humanitarian endeavors that promote global health and wellness. Any questions about participation by nurses can be directed to the Xi Theta chapter, attention .

NURSING CONTACT HOURS! Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 3511, for 20 contact hours. Fee for contact hours is not included in the tour cost. Payments by PayPal or check. Please email , and payment information will be provided. Refund for contact hours payment will be granted if requested in writing to the Provider prior to the start date of the tour.

EXTRA FREE DAY in Cuba for STTI and WANS members: Come to Cuba on July 15 and enjoy a free night at the fabulous Hotel Nacional de Cuba before the tour begins on July 16.

THIS TOUR IS open to all interested in witnessing wellness in Cuba, and the island's vibrant society and people. While in Cuba, you'll candidly examine island medicine, prevention and healthcare from prenatal to elderly care. You'll get a rare glimpse into Cuba's acclaimed system of free universal medical services plus a healthy dose of island culture and history.

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Tour spots filled. All tours proceed with a minimum of ten travelers.

See how Cuba ranks amongst its neighbors on the United Nations Human Development Index.

	Join with North Americans who care for and about health for an up close examination of Cuba's healthcare and education systems.

	Eight days and seven nights of learning, fun and friendship in Cuba. Be part of the authentic daily life of Cubans in La Habana and Artemisa provinces.

	Seven nights in the historic five star Hotel Nacional de Cuba – first choice of global celebs over decades.

	Experience island history, social and ecological achievements first hand.

	In additional to enduring tourmate friends, you'll make lifelong connections with your island counterparts and peers.

	Glean insights into dynamic citizen engagement in all aspects of urban and rural development and national policy.

	A tax-deductible professional development expense with certificates issued for CME and CEU credits

EDUCATIONAL, SAFE, fun, economical travel. Your tour is fully escorted from the minute you touch down in Havana until you return home. You're in the conscientious care of our fulltime multilingual Cuban guide together with a professional bus chauffeur.

Boy toasts his grandmother [abuela]. Cuban youth hold elders in esteem. The island is known as the Jewel of the Caribbean for its natural beauty and the unmatched warmth and kindness of its people.

TRAVEL FOR CHANGE. Cuba Education and Explorer Tours is an American and Canada based organization dedicated to green, ethical travel that benefits Cubans and our guests. Read what others say about our research tours.

Cuba Education and Explorers Tours bus.

YOU TRAVEL in a modern air-conditioned tour coach dedicated to your group from arrival to departure.

DID YOU KNOW Che Guevara was a doctor? His daughter, Aleida, is too. She practices pediatrics in Havana and consults in Latin America.

Tour highlights. An elaborate day-by-day itinerary follows.

	Meet with members of the Cuban Association for the Physically Disabled (ACLIFIM).

	Dine with famed ceramic artist José Fúster at his Havana studio. He is known as the Picasso of the Caribbean.

	Visit a Cuban hospital and talk with doctors, nurses and healthcare providers.

	Tour the Senén Casas Regueiro, a facility for youth with brain injuries and handicaps.

	Learn about the medical system directly from the Cuban Health Ministry.

	Meet with members of CENESEX and SOCUMES, organizations working for gender and sexual equality in Cuba.

	A guided coach tour spanning old to new Havana, and environs.

	Visit the Museum of Modern Art displaying 300 years of Cuban masterworks.

	Tour the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM), training youth from over thirty poor countries to become doctors. The Cuban people pay for their tuition.

	Walking tour of Old Havana and a coach tour of Modern Havana.

	Visit the training centers of the Federation of Cuba Women (FMC), the largest popular organization on the island.

	Meet with members of the Convento de Nuestra Señora de Belén [Convent of Our Lady of Belén], a community healthcare project in Old Havana.

	Visit Las Terrazas eco-community where the entire population lives in harmony with the environment.

	Learn to dance Salsa, Cha Cha Chá, and Rumba form one-on-one lessons by Cuban pros.

MEALS INCLUDED IN TOUR PACKAGE	DAY 1	DAY 2	DAY 3	DAY 4	DAY 5	DAY 6	DAY 7	DAY 8
SEVEN BREAKFASTS	IN AIR
SIX LUNCHES	IN AIR							IN AIR
TWO DINNERS								IN AIR
Apple indicates meals included in tour cost at hotels and fine eateries.

WE ENSURE American teachers travel to Cuba legally. Discover how you can go to Cuba now.

OFFICIAL Cuban medical insurance is included in tour cost.

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Rooftops in Old Havana.

Cuban girls perform folk dance.

Carlos Juan Finlay is the father of Cuban medicine. He discovered the source of yellow fever and more.

Day 1

Saturday

Hello Cuba

The city of Havana as seen from the fortress El Morro, across the harbor from your hotel.

Welcome mojito.

	Arrival at Havana's José Martí International Airport. Collect your bags and go through customs. You're welcomed at the airport lobby by your Cuba Education Tours guide and professional bus chauffeur.

	Your guide will direct you to a bank or exchange bureau (CADECA) to purchase Cuban Convertible Pesos.

	Private transfer to your Hotel Nacional located in Vedado with a view to the sea.

	Private check-in with assistance from your guide. Followed by a welcome cocktail with hotel directors and staff.

	Free time to settle in and rest up.

	This evening you'll enjoy a group welcome dinner with your guide and tourmates.

One-in-ten cars in Cuba are pre-1959. Click photo to enlarge.

TIME AND CLIME IN HAVANA

LONG RANGE FORECAST HERE

Decorative mail drop box in Old Havana.

Inside view of the dome of El Capitolio.

Plaza Vieja in Old Havana.

Exterior and interior of the Cathedral of Havana initiated by Jesuits in 1748 and completed in 1777. Click photos for larger view.

Streets are alive with music.

Example of restoration in Old Havana.

Street pantomime in Old Havana.

Eight-story Che Guevara sculpture in the Plaza de la Revolución. Click photo to enlarge.

Why is this photo of John Lennon here? Click it to find out.

Details from two stone monuments in Havana honoring US civil rights heroes Malcolm X and Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

Day 2

Sunday

Exploring Old Havana, culture and dance

Ornate filigree and statuary adorn Havana's Gran Teatro where the National Ballet performs. Click photo for view of interior.

	Morning walking tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll visit four of the five historic plazas that make Havana unique in the western hemisphere. It contains the largest collection of remaining colonial-era architecture. This is a private tour led by your Cuba Education Tours guide.

	Cathedral Square, the most beautiful and private 18th century colonial plaza on the island. Named after the masterpiece of Cuban baroque architecture: the Catedral de San Cristóbal de la Habana built by the Jesuit order.

	Square of Arms, an ancient military parade ground for Spanish soldiers, surrounded by impressive buildings such as: Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, former seat of colonial government. Today the building houses the Museum of the City. Palacio del Segundo Cabo, seat of the second authority of the island. Today it houses important publishing concerns. Museo de Artesania at Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the second oldest fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies. Today it displays treasures of artistic ceramics by the most prestigious Cuban artists from the middle of the last century to present. The institution is host to the Ceramic Biennial.

	We continue onto San Francisco Square, one of the oldest plazas in the historical quarter. The square is named after magnificent Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco de Asís dating from the 16th century. The basilica is a striking example of Cuba baroque architecture.

	And later to Plaza Vieja, the only civic square of colonial times. Absent are churches and government buildings, and is in contrast surrounded by opulent aristocratic 17th century residences. We'll visit an important center for the visual arts.

	Group welcome lunch at La Mina Restaurant where you'll enjoy traditional Cuban dishes and live music!

	Next we'll visit Callejón de Hamel, an alley where all the buildings display murals inspired by Afrocuban culture and religions. We'll enjoy the live Sunday rumba performance.

	Return to your hotel and freshen up.

	Explore local eateries for dinner. Your guide will make suggestions for every taste and budget.

	Highlight Tonight we have a Cuban band playing for us. You'll learn how to perform and dance to Salsa, Son, Rumba, Mambo and other popular Cuban rhythms from the band members of Grupo Dulce María

Musicians perform at your restaurant.

Havana's Malecón seawall near your hotel – a place for relaxation and new friendships.

Most common tour questions 1 Is Cuban food good? It's healthy and simple but not spicy. 2 Am I free to ask any question? You'll insult your island hosts by being less than candid. 3 Is the water safe? Yes, but we suggest bottled water for peace of mind. 4 Are vaccinations needed? No. 5 Can Americans join legally? They are especially welcome to do so! We help with licenses. 6 Can I stay in Cuba after the tour? Absolutely and we are glad to assist. 7 Do Cubans like tips? Yes, please see our gratuities guidelines.

Cubans come in all colors and are proud of it!

Restored houses on Havana's Paseo del Prado between Parque Central and the Malecón. Click photo to enlarge.


An Afrocuban dance performance. Photos Barbara Fudge.

Doctors at a neighborhood clinic in Havana.

Soldiers fire the 9PM Cannon.

Cuban students watch the firing of the 9PM cannon.

Students watch the blast of the 9PM Cannon.

A view of Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro.

Click to enlarge. A view across Havana harbor from the Malecón seawall. Lighthouse in distance is the fortress Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro. Learn more about the Fortress Cabaña and El Morro!

Day 3

Monday

National healthcare system

	Morning meeting with a representative of Ministry of Public Health for a briefing on the Cuban healthcare system. The Ministry oversees all programs and their implementation. This is a great opportunity for questions and answers.

	Get ready for an air-conditioned luxury coach tour of the most important sites of Modern Havana such as the Capitol building, the Grand Theatre, Central Park, Prado promenade, Plaza de la Revolución, Coppelia Ice Cream Park, Plaza José Martí (in front of US Interests Section), Malecón seawall, Monument to the Battleship Maine, Hotel Nacional, University of Havana, Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, and the Miramar, Central Havana and Vedado neighborhoods.

	Lunch at one of Havana's most popular restaurants: El Aljibe (included in program cost).

	This afternoon we'll visit a neighborhood family clinic. We'll meet and talk with its doctor and nurse about localized services and learn about preventative care.

	Highlight We witness a most dramatic ceremony – El Cañonazo – the Firing of the 9PM Cannon at the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña. This enchanting colonial reenactment dates back to 1519 when the city of Havana was enclosed by a tall thick rock wall to ward off attacks from pirates and the English. The cannon firing signaled the closing of the city gates for the night. If you were outside at the time, you were in "vedado" or the forbidden zone. Today Vedado is an important cultural hub and beautiful section of modern Havana.

Island billboard reads: 200 million kids in the world sleep in the streets, none of them are Cuban.

RESTAURANTE EL ALJIBE Always filled with clued-in locals and foreign diners having the time of their lives. Barbecued chicken served in bitter orange and lemon sauce is the house dish. Your pollo is served with black beans, rice, tostones and ensalada – a resplendent all you can eat delight.

Musician and dancers in Havana.

Left Cuban university students.

Entrance to Palacio de Bellas Artes in Havana.

Entrance to the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Sculpture in front of the Museum of Fine Arts in Havana.

Modernist sculpture by noted Cuban artist Rita Longa stands outside the entrance to Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Psychologist Liliana Rodríguez de la Paz of Línea Ayuda.

Grupo La Peña del Chan Chan performs at Casa de la Amistad.

Entrance to the Casa de la Amistad.

Havana vegetable market.

Fresh from urban organic gardens: farmers market in Havana.

Day 4

Tuesday

Abled and gender equality, Cuban art

Exclusive morning meeting with members and representatives of CENESEX (Centro Nacional de Educación Sexual / National Center for Sexual Education). This organization and its founder Mariela Castro Espín campaign for equality and dignity for lesbians, gays, transsexuals and transgendered people. Its work consists of advocacy at the community and political level combined with national education efforts and sensitivity training. In particular CENESEX leads in the areas of HIV/AIDS awareness and support services, and gender and sexuality counseling. The heroic work of CENESEX has rocketed Cuba into the stratosphere of the most progressive nation in Latin America for queers. As such, Cuba today is ahead of the United States on matters of legality, compassion, safety, health and government supported promotion of equality.

Followed by meeting with Línea Ayuda. This dynamic volunteer organization provides a help line for people with HIV/AIDS together with crucial outreach, and prevention and education activities for young Cubans.

Group lunch at Restaurante El Aljibe.

Visit to the Asociación Cubana de Limitados Fisicos-Motores – ACLIFIM (Cuban Association for the Physically Disabled). This organization advocates for equal rights and expansion of educational and job opportunities for people with physical disabilities. ACLIFIM has a voluntary membership of over 42,000 and is represented in all 14 Cuban provinces. All of the officers are people with physical disabilities. The organization provides counseling, medicine, and rehabilitation equipment. The work of this organization is a real inspiration.

	Island artist Víctor Manuel's Gitana Tropical, known as the Cuban Mona Lisa, was painted in Paris in 1929.

Private guided tour of the Palacio de Bellas Artes [Palace of Fine Arts] dedicated exclusively to housing Cuban art spanning three centuries. Sections are devoted to landscape, religious subjects and narrative scenes of Cuban life. A gallery devoted to the 1970s displays the latest generation of Cuban artists whose works reflect the strong symbolic imagery prevalent in recent decades. Together the exhibits account for the richness of the island's Spanish, French, Chinese, African and Aboriginal cultural roots. Notable works include those of René Portocarrero and Wilfredo Lam.

Return to your hotel. Explore local eateries for dinner. Your guide will make suggestions for every taste and budget.

Evening entertainment suggestion Casa de la Amistad is one of the best settings to listen to great traditional music in a welcoming friendly atmosphere. You'll enjoy the classical son group, La Peña del Chan Chan perform up-tempo salsa and bolero. Dance with Cubans and foreign visitors on the veranda or in the beautiful gardens of Casa de la Amistad's spectacular mansion facilities (entrance fee is 3 CUC and is not included in tour cost).

CENESEX president Dr Mariela Castro Espín. Learn more about renowned sexologist, the incredible daughter of the Cuban president, and her campaign for sex education, fairness and equality, and hopes for Cuba too, at GayCuba.ca

Vilma Lucila Espín Guillois (1930-2007), mother of Mariela Castro Espín, was a feminist and revolutionary married to Raúl Castro, the current Cuban President. Espín was founder and President of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) from 1960 until her death. The FMC has a membership of over 4 million women. Espín was also a leader in the Council of State, as well as a member of the Central Committee and the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1980 to 1991.

Cuban AIDS awareness and prevention poster by CENESEX.

Left Publication of CENESEX offers in depth coverage on all matters of sexuality and AIDS prevention. Right CENESEX pro-condom poster reads: Disfruta la vida evita el SIDA. ¿Cómo demuestro que te amo? [Enjoy life, avoid AIDS. How I show you that I love you?]. This one shows a woman holding a condom and tulip. A matching version shows a man. They appeal to both gays and straights.

Logo of the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM). Learn more about ELAM here.

Special needs kid in Havana practicing martial arts moves.

Practicing martial arts moves. With a one-to-one ratio of staff-to-special needs kids, they excel in many endeavors.

African children who have been helped by Cuban doctors.

Hundreds of thousands of children in Africa and South America benefit from the free medical services of Cuban doctors and nurses stationed there. People in the Caribbean also benefit. Prior to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the first doctor 90% of the population had seen was Cuban.

Cuban nurse attends to patient.

Students can major in dance and ballet at Havana's Institute of Superior Arts (ISA).

Day 5

Wednesday

International health, art, abled care

We'll begin the morning with a tour of a local hospital in Havana. You'll have a change to meet and talk with hospital staff and learn about services provided.

Visit the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina – ELAM [Latin American School of Medicine]. Established in 1999 and financed by the generosity of people of Cuba, ELAM is the largest medical school in the world with a current enrollment of over 12,000 students from scores of countries. All its students come from outside Cuba and are mainly from Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa. The school also accepts disadvantaged students from the United States. Tuition, accommodation and board are free, and a small stipend is provided to students. Upon graduation young doctors are expected to return to their homelands and provide medical services to the poor for a period of three years.

We'll feast on a delicious lunch hosted by José Fúster, one of Cuba's most important ceramists and painters at his whimsical studio in Jaimanitas, just outside of Havana.

Afterwards will visit Senén Casas Regueiro (a division of the Center for Integral Pediatric Rehabilitation), located in Central Havana. Its multidisciplinary team helps kids that suffer from Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome and other disabilities, gain speech, physical and social skills. The student/patient to staff ratio is nearly one-to-one. Advances made at Senén Casas Regueiro are remarkable. Much of the equipment is modern, manufactured in the United States, and donated to the facility by North Americans.

Return to your hotel. Explore local eateries for dinner. Your guide will make suggestions for every taste and budget.

Evening entertainment suggestion Shake your booty to the best Afrojazz, Cubajazz and Sonjazz at Club La Zorra y El Cuervo [The Fox and the Raven] featuring astonishing performances by island bands and soloists. It's a popular haunt for Cubans and foreign guests (entrance fee is 10 CUC and is not included in tour cost).

"TO KNOW how to read is to know how to walk. To know how to write is to know how to climb." – José Martí, hero of Cuban independence. Click here to learn more about the life of José Martí.

Giant mosaic of crab by José Fúster. Click photo to enlarge. Photo Richard Harris.

Lunch item at the home of Cuban artist José Fúster.

José Fúster's lunch dishes are as colorful as his sculptures.

Fantasy garden and studio of acclaimed artist José Fúster. Click photo to enlarge. Photo Richard Harris.

Doña Flora, a 102-year-old resident of the Belén Convent.

Left Doña Flora, a 102-year-old resident of the Belén Convent in 2008.

Restoration of Belén Convent began in 1991 and continues today. It serves as a public health facility for the elderly in the neighborhood and a permanent residence for 50 retirees. Eventually a section of the facility will house a small hotel.

Doctors and nurses at a Havana clinic display donations from their North American counterparts.

Day 6

Thursday

Community care and women's health

Morning visit to the Convento de Nuestra Señora de Belén [Convent of Our Lady of Belén], a humanitarian health project in Old Havana. Construction on the Convent was begun in 1712. It was expanded and remodeled several times over the centuries. Finally abandoned in 1925, it fell into grave disrepair. In 1991 restoration began and continues with amazing results. Today the Office of the Historian, local Public Health authorities and the Order of the Sisters of Charity jointly manage the Belén Convent. It is home to fifty elderly people and provides physiotherapy and ophthalmological services to many more elderly in the community. Other activities include exercise classes, board games, cognitive rehabilitation, films, crafts workshops, and "love among the elderly" lectures. We'll meet with project Director Nelson Águila and tour the facility.

Group lunch at a local restaurant.

We'll meet with members of the Federación de Mujeres Cubanas – FMC [Federation of Cuban Women]. Founded in August 1960, today it is Cuba's largest mass organization and a United Nations recognized NGO. We'll learn of its crucial work in advancing full female equality, leadership building, skills training, and scores of other essential services for women and the family.

Return to your hotel. Explore local eateries for dinner. Your guide will make suggestions for every taste and budget.

Your evening is free to explore the sights and sounds of the city. Your guide will advise on local entertainment options.

Click to graphic to learn more.

Marvelous Federation of Cuba Women mural

This inspired mural was painted on a garage door of a Havana FMC facility thirty-five years ago. Click mural for larger view.

Members of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC).

Members of the Federation of Cuban Women greet Cuba Education Tours participants at their national headquarters in Havana.

Havana youth sells fresh organic garlic on Havana street.

Havana youth sells fresh organic garlic on Havana street.

Havana youth sells organic onions from urban gardens on Havana street.

Cuban Trogon (Tocororo), Priotelus temnurus, is Cuba's national bird.

Cuban Trogon [Tocororo locally], Priotelus temnurus, is Cuba's national bird – its colors match the red, blue and white of the national flag. It is endemic to the island.

CUBA IS recognized as the global leader in environmental sustainability. It has 300 ecologically protected areas encompassing 30 percent of its territory. Six of these areas are UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves. Over half the island's diverse flora and fauna is indigenous – existing nowhere else – and is guarded from exploitation. In 2006, the World Wildlife Federation named Cuba the only nation to achieve a sustainable planet friendly economy.

In the countryside many youth are engaged in organic agriculture combined with rigorous academics. Animal partners help out on the farm. Eco-friendly practices result in tasty produce and high productivity.

Day 7

Friday

Ecology, history and rural education

	Morning departure to Las Terrazas eco-community in the Sierra del Rosario mountain range spanning the provinces of Artemisa and Pinar del Río. We'll tour the rural village called Rancho Curujey and enjoy a welcome cocktail while learning about this self-sustaining community's successes in reforestation, historical preservation, environmental balance, and a good life.

	Next, we'll meet with local artists and craft workers in their homes and studios.

	We'll visit a local school, talk with its teachers and students.

	Later we'll walk the incredible ruins of a French Coffee Plantation built in 1801 worked by African slaves.

	We have lunch at a rural restaurant specializing in traditional country cuisine – ever popular with tour participants.

	You'll have free time to swim in the fresh waters of the Río San Juan and explore the surroundings of this lush tropical paradise. Don't forget your swimming suit.

	We'll meet the environmental scientists and technicians responsible for the restoration of the jungles and forests of Las Terrazas. We'll learn the principles, approaches and practices that combined serve to sustain the region.

	We return to your Hotel Nacional in Havana.

	Farewell group dinner at the popular El Patio Restaurant. Located in the Cathedral Square, in the heart of Havana's colonial district, El Patio is housed in a beautiful 18th century residence, the former Palace of "Marqués de Aguas Claras." Construction began in 1751 and ended in 1755, with distinguishing elements that makes the house one of the most interesting among Cuban architecture of that era. El Patio's menu will please the most diverse tastes. It offers stellar service and tasty international cuisine.

	The balance of your evening is free to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. Your guide will keep you posted on activities.

Once deforested and mired in poverty, Las Terrazas today is a self-sustaining eco-community.

We'll swim in this heavenly pool at Las Terrazas. Don't forget your suit.

Exotic and unique plants and animals thrive in Cuba. The island has more protected areas than any other country.

Young person staffs farmers market.

Farewell dinner at El Patio Restaurant.

Some among hundreds of orchids and flowers found in the province of Pinar del Río.

KEEP IN TOUCH with your new Cuban friends – exchange email addresses! Bring some business cards to pass out on the island. Take pictures and keep a journal. Upon your return, we'll post them on this website for all to see and enjoy.

Day 8

Saturday

Goodbye Cuba

We'll miss you and hope you return soon!


Old Cuban saying, "a true friend remembers the song in your heart when you have forgotten the lyrics."

	Early morning transfer to Havana's José Martí International Airport for your return home. Don't forget to save 25.00 CUC for your Cuban airport departure fee and some money for meals on the airplane.

	Want to stay longer in Cuba following your tour? Contact us and we will help make it happen at a price you can afford.


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