Click on “Download the brochure” for all the details about this small-group, faculty-led Study Tour.

Traveling to Cuba can be aptly described in one word: “life-changing.” Beyond all the sites and experiences you will encounter, this behind-the-scenes tour will help you get to know the true character of the country--a place of great creativity, vibrant community, renowned cuisine, music that moves the soul, and so much more!

Your base will be a charming boutique hotel in incredible Havana, where Cuba's tropical beauty, lively energy, warm hospitality, and abundant charm awaits. From centuries-old plazas to museums filled with historic treasures, you'll explore Cuba’s rich history, as well as the remnants of a glamorous, 20th-century era.

This tour, more than many others, will invite you into the homes and lives of the citizens through opportunities to hear their stories, build an understanding of their traditions, and develop a deep appreciation for facets of modern Cuban life that most visitors don't see.

From your visit to a private classic car workshop to the breezy rooms and shady porticos of Ernest Hemingway’s villa, Finca Vigía, where he wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls—you'll experience it all. And so much more—including private receptions with local luminaries, a visit to a Viñales tobacco hacienda with farmers, and a guided tour of Havana’s UNESCO-listed historic architecture.

Traveling to Cuba requires a special license. CAU's partner, Arrangements Abroad, takes care of that for you. Without the hassle of planning your own logistics, you can immerse yourself more fully in the experience.

Upon your independent arrival in Havana, meet your Arrangements Abroad Tour Manager at the José Martí International Airport and transfer to La Reserva Vedado, the boutique hotel that will be your home for six nights. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner at a paladar, a privately owned restaurant in the proprietor’s home, largely staffed by family members.

(Meals included: Dinner)

Join a local architectural historian for a lecture on the history of the city’s remarkably well-preserved buildings. Then depart on a walking tour of UNESCO-listed Old Havana and four of its expansive plazas: Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de San Francisco, and Plaza de la Catedral. Following lunch at a paladar, take a private tour inside the splendidly renovated, Neo-Baroque Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso, the incredibly ornate home of the Cuban National Ballet.  Dinner is at El Cocinero, followed by an evening of entertainment next
door at Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), the city’s liveliest multidisciplinary performing and visual arts space.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

This morning we depart Havana and drive through the countryside to the western province of Pinar del Río, known for its lush tobacco haciendas. Admire the unique topography and
natural beauty of the Viñales Valley, where you’ll encounter spectacular caves, underground rivers, and the famous mogotes, the iconic hillocks of the region. Meet with farmers for a private tour of their tobacco hacienda to learn about the drying and rolling processes, followed by lunch at a privately owned organic farm. Before you head back to Havana, visit the studio of a local painter who has charted the history of his community through his work. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch)

Today, take an inside look at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana (National Museum of Fine Arts of Havana), Cuba’s largest museum, with a private morning tour of its
Cuban art collection at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. In the company of an independent curator, trace Cuba’s history, from the 17th century to the present, through the works of its greatest artists. After lunch, walk down Calle Obispo, Havana’s main shopping street; explore a local design shop; and speak to the owners about small business practices in Cuba. In the
early evening, drive to The Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, one of only a few Cuban NGOs, for a presentation on Cuban art. The Foundation’s President will host a cocktail reception
and buffet dinner on the penthouse terrace, where guests will include local Cuban artists. This evening, you may opt to attend a performance at one of Havana’s famed music
venues, including the legendary Tropicana.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Reception, Dinner)

Today you're going to head outside of the capital to the small, hilltop village of San Francisco de Paula. Here, take an inside look at Finca Vigía (Lookout Farm), Ernest Hemingway’s residence for two decades. His classic works, For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea, were written here in its breezy rooms and shady porticos.  Then, visit to the village of Cojímar, the setting for The Old Man and the Sea. After lunch, return to Havana and gather for a lecture on the island’s current realities by a former ambassador who was once Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. In the early evening, attend a private after-hours tour and reception at the Museo Nacional de la Cerámica Contemporánea Cubana, housed in the 18th-century Casa Aguilera, followed by dinner at a local paladar.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Reception, Dinner)

Today you get exclusive access to an informal morning rehearsal of the Rosario Cárdenas Dance Company, featuring some of Cuba’s most gifted contemporary dancers. Afterwards,
visit the Colón Cemetery--sometimes called the largest sculpture park in Cuba--with a local guide. Enjoy finding the perfect spot for lunch on your own, and then reconvene with your group to visit a private classic car workshop, NostalgiCar, where some of the city’s finest vintage cars are repaired and refurbished. Next, explore the renowned Hotel Nacional de Cuba
and stop in its storied Hall of Fame to see tributes to its many famous guests, including Buster Keaton, Rita Hayworth, and Sir Winston Churchill. Savor a mojito on a terrace overlooking Havana’s harbor before dinner. This evening, celebrate with a festive farewell dinner at one of Havana’s excellent paladares.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner)

Depart the hotel this morning for the flight home.

(Meals included: Breakfast)

Disclaimer: The itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of Arrangements Abroad. For complete details, please carefully read the terms and conditions at
www.arrangementsabroad.com/terms.)

With Cornell's unofficial historian, Corey Ryan Earle '07, as your Study Tour Leader, you can expect interesting, insightful lectures delivered in Corey's signature accessible style. Whether he is unfolding the map of Cornell-Cuba relations, or revealing fascinating, far-reaching connections through the lens of a single, particular story, Corey is also an experienced tour host known for his good nature and dry sense of humor. As one participant in Corey's CAU Summer course noted, "Corey could read the phone book and find a way to make it interesting."

To reserve your space, contact CAU partner, Arrangements Abroad
Phone: 800-221-1944 |  Email: trips@arrangementsabroad.com

June 12 - 19, 2025
Study Tour featuring David Todd '06, Photographic Artist and eCornell course facilitator
with Jennifer Gioffre Todd, Photographic Artist and Manager of Art Studios
More info coming soon!