Join Us on Our Next Adventure!
HAVANA
via
OregonWest
via
OregonWest
November 5-13, 2023
All Inclusive from Miami including R/T Air
8 nights/9 days in Miami/Havana!
8 nights/9 days in Miami/Havana!
Centerline Adventures has partnered with Oregon West to bring an exciting experience to their loyal members in Havana, Cuba! We have been traveling to this island nation for 12 years, bringing groups that marvel at the excitement and energy they participate in when landing at Jose Marti International Airport. Culture swirls through the streets and businesses of the Cuban people who have become quite resourceful in the face of their struggles...with the smiles on their faces and the warmness in which they treat travelers, you forget how hard life can be under their circumstances. While driving from the airport to Old Havana you will recognize many American classic cars used mainly for taxis. The Cubans take great pride in trying to maintain these cars and it's a joy to see them all over town! Follow along with the itinerary to feel the excitement of the next 9 days in Miami/Havana! Don't forget to save room in your suitcases for sets of Dominos and Cuban espresso cups! Don't speak Spanish? No worries...Charles Kropke, CEO of Dragonfly Expeditions, will be with us and he loves to practice his Miami Spanish (he's actually quite good!!) Or we can google translate! Either way, there will be no problem communicating in Havana! Start practicing now.....
Havana, ooh na na!! Let's goooooo.....
Havana, ooh na na!! Let's goooooo.....
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The Itinerary
Day 1
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 made Miami their home. Today we will visit businesses owned by those people who have brought their own culture to share. An award-winning tour, Charles and Dragonfly Expeditions will bring to life the success stories starting in 1960 to the present day!
Tonight we will be on our own to explore the great dining opportunities of Miami. It's Stone Crab season so take advantage of this great delicacy! We leave for Havana in the morning!
Tonight we will be on our own to explore the great dining opportunities of Miami. It's Stone Crab season so take advantage of this great delicacy! We leave for Havana in the morning!
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Day 2
Our private bus will pick us up at 6:30AM for a short ride to the airport and a 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 at one of our favorite spots called Chacon 162! We will have a Cuban Sandwich in Cuba prepared by a Cuban Chef, our friend, Jose Hector! With an antique Harley Davidson above the bar, you will see lots of road signs from America like Route 66! Tonight, we will be treated to a fabulous dinner at Al Carbon, owned by Chef Ivan Justo, where he welcomes many Internationally known famous and infamous people! And the jazz band you’ll enjoy will keep your feet tapping all night long!
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Day 3
After breakfast at our hotel, the newly constructed Grand Hotel Aston, 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, tour the Capitol Building then to El Floridita where Hemingway created the Papa Daiquiri. Lunch today with be at Vitrola, a cool restaurant that showcases Americana items new and old! Now let’s return to the Aston and relax before our fine Wine & Tapas event at the new PlanH - an eccentric new wine bar in the heart of Old Havana within walking distance of the Capital! We will enjoy the exclusivity of this beautiful new wine bar while listening to a local Cuban jazz band!
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Day 4
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!!! After this great performance, we will go a short distance to 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! This afternoon we will have some free time to relax at the hotel or take a walk along the famous Malecon directly across the street…Charles may join us and share some great stories of Cuba, Pirates, and Schooners! Dinner tonight will be an amazing experience! Before the sun goes down, we will venture to the BestView! 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 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.
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Day 5
We all know that Cuba is known for cigars, but do we know who grows the tobacco? Today we will take a 2-hour ride to Pinar del Rio and visit an award-winning tobacconist, Hirochi Robaina, grandson of Robaina who began the legacy of Robaina tobacco and cigars. We will have a walking tour of the farm and then sit down for a great lunch! Suffering devastation in 2022 from Hurricane Ian, Pinar del Rio has rebuilt this area to a greater level and welcomes us to visit this beautiful countryside. On the way back to Havana, we will drive to the Vinales Valley and visit the work of the wonderful prehistoric mural begun in 1961 following the design of Leovigildo Gonzales Morillo, who acquired his knowledge from the teachings of Diego Rivera. The Mural has a length of 393.7 feet, being one of the biggest open-air paintings in the world and took four years and twenty farmers to complete it. Tonight, we will enjoy a drive around Havana in our own classic cars! These cars are the pride and joy of those that are lucky enough to own one! On our return to the Aston, slip into your suits or casual clothes and join us around the pool for a Pizza Party! We will share our stories of our trip...so far!
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Day 6
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 typical Cuban lunch! Tonight we will visit one of our very favorite places, CocoBlue y La ZorraPelua, owned by our special friends, Jeff Fuentes and his partner, Rita McNiff. 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 came to Cuba 9 years ago and never went back!!! That’s how much Cuba can get under your skin! She will share a very special story about Jeff that will hit your heart! Our last night in Havana will end with special friends of Centerline Adventures and Oregon West!
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Day 7
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 see her!! While there we will be treated to lunch and live music to send us on our way back to the States! 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!
*Itinerary subject to change based on weather and/or supplies.
Cost per Person: $4999 based on double occupancy
Singles add $700 to package price
Singles add $700 to package price
Reserve your spot today with a deposit of $500. Payment plans available with final payment due 30 days prior to travel.
ALL PASSPORTS MUST HAVE AT LEAST 6 MONTHS OF TRAVEL AVAILABLE.
PLEASE CHECK YOURS AND ACT ACCORDINGLY.
VISAS ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE.
SPACE IS LIMITED! ACT QUICKLY!
Service charge added to package price.
PLEASE CHECK YOURS AND ACT ACCORDINGLY.
VISAS ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE.
SPACE IS LIMITED! ACT QUICKLY!
Service charge added to package price.
What's Included:
- R/T air from Portland to Miami
- R/T air from Miami to Havana
- 3 nights in Miami at the Hilton Blue Lagoon
- 5 nights at the new Hotel Aston
- Private transportation all week
- Breakfast: 5
- Lunch: 5
- Dinner: 5
- Some alcoholic drinks
- All entries to events
- Visa, Cuban license, medical insurance in Cuba
- Personal Guide
- Trip Host
- Welcome Gifts
- Translator
- Some tips, MIA taxes, Cuban taxes
What's NOT Included:
- Personal Expenses
- Services Not Mentioned
- Travel Insurance (highly recommended)
- Alcoholic drinks not mentioned on program
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