Welcome to the Magic City! Also known as Miami, a city founded by women in 1896, and one of the most amazing places on Earth! Known now for its Latin culture, we will join Charles Kropke, CEO of Dragonfly Expeditions, as he leads us through Little Havana to meet and enjoy the Cubans who have brought their different cultures and now own their own businesses and live their lives in Miami – many generations ago! An award-winning tour, Charles and Dragonfly Expeditions will bring to life the success stories starting in 1960 to the present day!
It's Stone Crab season! Dinner on your own so take advantage of this delicacy while in South Florida!

This morning we will head out to MIA for our short flight to Havana! Once in the air, we will arrive at Jose Marti International Airport within an hour! After going through immigration, we will be transported by our private bus to Old Havana! Dating back to the days of Christopher Columbus, we will walk through the four squares of La Habana Vieja and marvel at the architecture, some built in 1500’s and still visited by many who come to Havana. Cuba is one of the safest countries in the world and we will meet some of her people on the street who are the kindest and most humble we’ll ever see! Get your supply of Havana Rum at their factory and cigars at the Partagas Cigar Store for your adventure this week! The newly restored Pareo de Prado, a beautiful walkway in the heart of Old Havana, holds many shopping treasures we will explore! Lunch will be served at Chacon 162 by our friend, Jose Hector, owner of this fun place where you’ll see an old Harley Davidson hanging over the bar! Cuban’s love American culture! Tonight, we will be treated to a fabulous dinner at Al Carbon, owned by Chefs Ivan and Justo, where they welcome many Internationally known famous and infamous people! And the jazz band you’ll enjoy will keep your feet tapping all night long!

After a beautiful  breakfast on the Rooftop of Tribe Caribe Cayo Hueso Boutique Hotel, we will venture out to Finca Vigia, owned by Ernest Hemingway from 1939 to 1960. It’s a beautiful home overlooking the city of Havana from his own hilltop where he wrote two of his famous books – For Whom the Bell Tolls and Old Man and the Sea. His boat, the Pilar, is located at the “farm” and in great condition! From here we will go back to Old Havana and visit one of the historic museums, Belle Artes Museum, see the inside of the Cuban Capital, then to El Floridita where Hemingway created the Papa Daiquiri. Lunch today will be at La Vitrola, a cool restaurant that showcases Americana items new and old! . Now let’s return to Tribe Caribe and relax before our Fine Wine & Tapas Party at the new PlanH - an eccentric new wine bar in the heart of Old Havana within walking distance of the Capital! Enjoy the evening with a local Cuban band!

This day is going to be great fun! We will visit the studio of Eduardo Cordova, an amazing percussionist who has developed a program to help children lacking in social skills or needing some extra attention because of a challenge in their own lives such as Autism. Centerline Adventures donates a portion of their proceeds to help Eduardo with his program. Some of these children might be there today to participate in the Percussion Show they will share with us. I guarantee that you will get up and move around!!! Now we will visit a very unique area called Fusterlandia where Jose Fuster, an artist who uses mosaic tiles, has created a world in a neighborhood of Havana where he has tiled his entire home! When his neighbors wanted to do the same, he helped them create this amazing area as colorful as any painting! You should definitely take a souvenir from his gallery! Lunch at the new MUSA Restaurant rounds out our morning.  Once back at Tribe Caribe, you will have time to relax and walk around the neighborhood. The Malecon, the most famous boulevard in the Caribbean is within walking distance. Feel comfortable talking to the people along the way. Americans are very well respected in this country. Now prepare for dinner at a beautiful venue called BestView because that's what it has! Looking out along the rooftops of the buildings in Havana, you will get a sense of beauty that will transform you to the days before the changes in the country. Tonight we will enjoy a great meal, live music, and listen for the nightly cannon shot at 9pm.  This tradition began in the late 17th century when cannon blasts were fired at 4:30 am and 9:00pm to signify the opening and closing of the gates into Havana. In 1898, the custom changed to firing once at 9:00pm, which still holds to this day and reminisces the closing of the gates of Havana at sunset.

BEACH DAY! Christopher Columbus said that he “never beheld such a beautiful place” and today you will find out what he was talking about! The beaches are so exquisitely beautiful with all colors of blue to enjoy! We will relax, drink some Havana Rum and Cuban beer, be entertained by the beach troubadours as they pass by our group and relax after a busy week of experiencing Cuban culture! On our way back, we will stop at El Patio de Aleida for a traditional Cuban lunch. It's St. Patrick's Day in Havana! So tonight we will visit our friends Jeff Fuentes and Rita McNiff at CocoBlue y La ZorraPelua,  Jeff is a sculptor, and his creations welcome us as we pass through the threshold for dinner and live music! Rita is from New York and her family is from....IRELAND!! So we will have a great celebration of this fun holiday Cuban style! She came to Cuba 9 years ago and never went back!!! That’s how much Cuba can get under your skin! Rita will share a very special story about Jeff that will hit your heart! Don't forget to wear GREEN! 

Seems like the week flew by as we prepare for our flight back to the States! But before we do, remember the story Rita shared with us last night? This morning you will understand what she was telling us, and we think you will be greatly touched by this! Our last stop will be to visit our BFF, Vivian Melendez, who is highly regarded around the world for her knowledge of cigars. She will show us how to choose, cut, light, and smoke a cigar while paired with Cuban coffee or rum. She also has beautiful items you may want to take back to the US for friends and family! She has a great logo that you will appreciate once you experience her charming personality!! While there, we will enjoy lunch provided by some of the local food artisans before heading to Jose Marti International!

As we say adios to Havana and Bienvenidos to Miami, we greatly appreciate you joining us on our adventure to one of our favorite places -  Cuba! We hope you’ll feel “Havana in My Heart” for years to come!