Celebrating Nature and Nurture, an unimaginable adventure to the eastern tip of Cuba

Tentative dates:

November 5-13, 2025
Cost $3,500

The Friendship Association is celebrating 25 years of support for a number of worthwhile projects in Baracoa as well as emergency aid during times of natural disasters.

We will have a full schedule of travel under the categories of support for the Cuban people, and humanitarian projects according to The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) guidelines for a general license. An intense itinerary will include a strong focus on meaningful interaction with our Cuban counterparts through formal and informal meetings and projects. Each participant is obligated to keep records for possible review by the US Treasury Dept.

Emphasis is on gaining an appreciation of the work that Cuban historians and naturalists are doing to protect historic sites, cultural traditions, and to nourish and preserve the environment in Cuba. We will meet with outstanding Cuban artists and artisans, visit our ongoing community projects and listen to classical and modern Cuban music. There will be a beach cleanup with the local school children, garden planting, and a workshop on the latest trends in hair styling. We will also sample the new trends in creole and international cuisine with Cuba’s growing independent businesses.

This 8-day adventure includes your Cuban visa, flight from Miami, in country transportation, lodging, entrance fees, all meals together with the group, water, tips at meals.

An overnight in Miami the night before our flight is necessary as the flight leaves early in the morning. This will allow us to get to know one another and answer any questions before the flight.

We will be traveling on American Airlines as they are currently the only carrier to Santiago de Cuba.

Itinerary Santiago de Cuba to Baracoa

Santiago de Cuba is the capital of Cuba’s southeastern Santiago de Cuba Province, facing the bay on the Caribbean Sea. Founded by the Spanish in 1515, it is known for its colonial architecture and revolutionary history.

Day 0:

Meet in Miami for overnight in hotel there.
Evening briefing meeting.

Day 1:

Depart for Santiago de Cuba
Check in to our B&Bs in the center of town
Overnight in the city with visits to Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, a UNESCO world heritage site. This intricate complex of forts, storage magazines, bastions and batteries is the most complete, best-preserved example of Spanish-American military architecture, similar to our own Castillo de San Marcos.
Cultural exchanges with leading Santiago artists: Israel Tamayo, Carlos Rene Aguilar, Lawrence Zuñiga,the Ceramics Cooperative and others, walking tour of the historic center, the Government House and Bacardí Museum
Evening, dinner at Ste Pauli, then traditional music at the Jazz Club or the Casa de la Trova.

Fort at Santiago

Day 2:

Breakfast and early departure for Guantánamo. Walk around the Historic Center of town.
Visit the UNEAC center and see current art exhibit there.
Lunch in town with our Cuban friends, then continue on to Baracoa over the famous Farola mountain pass.
Check into B&Bs and meet our host, historian and author Elexis Fernández at La Colina restaurant for dinner.

Day 3:

Breakfast, then guided walk with Rosendo Romero, art historian and author, around Baracoa with visits to studios of leading artists living in this famous/infamous artists’ colony.
Late morning meeting with the School of Cosmotology for exchanges with teachers and students.
Afternoon lunch at a charming criollo restaurant on the ocean side, then visit the Yumurí Canyon, an exquisite natural canyon, with a short row boat ride along the river.
Late afternoon visit to the Cocoa plantation. Return to Baracoa for evening dinner and cultural event in town.

El Yunque

Day 4:

Morning drive to The Alejandro de Humboldt National Park to participate in a Taco Bay beach cleanup effort with the children of the communities in the Humboldt Park (UNESCO world heritage site).
Meet with Caridad and her family cooperative “Save the Mangos”.
Lunch at the Park welcome center.
Afternoon visit to San German, site of recipients of our Solar energy project.
Back to town for dinner and cultural event.

Day 5:

Meeting with members of the Vegetables on Our Patio community project. Distribution of seeds and visit locations.
Meeting with coordinators of Noe’s Simple Soup initiative.
Lunch at La Colonial.
Afternoon: possible Poetry recital including Spanish and English poems.
You are invited to participate with a poem of your own or your favorite poem.

Day 6:

Visit to the Baracoa Zoo where we are working with local biologists, veterinarians and naturalists to transform the area into a sanctuary for wounded wildlife and center for environmental education.
Afternoon open depending on flight times from Santiago.

Day 7:

Depart Baracoa for Santiago and home.

Payments, Cancellations, and Refunds

Cost:

$3,500 (per person, double occupancy).
Add $400 for single supplement (if available).
Limited to 10 participants.
Final payment due by October 1, 2025.

Payment schedule

$500 non-refundable deposit due with application.
$1,500 due September 1, 2025.
$1,500 due October 1, 2025 (Or $2,000 for single occupancy if available).

Included:

membership in the Friendship Association
transportation to and from Cuba from an airport (TBD) in Florida
medical insurance in Cuba
all transportation within Cuba
lodgings in Cuba
all group meals in Cuba
entrance fees; tour guides.
Since people’s drinking habits vary greatly, to be fair, participants are responsible for their own drinks, except bottled water.

Not included:

hotels, food & transportation within the U.S.
visas; personal tips such as Cuban guides, drivers, housekeepers and porters
drinks other than water; extra suitcases and overweight; travel insurance.

Your passport must be valid for six months after you enter the country, i.e., valid through April, 2026.

Email

a COLOR copy of your signed passport (photo and signature pages),
application form, and
release from liability.

Don’t forget to ZELLE your deposit check to: 904 808 2030

Takes user to Zelle

All cancellation notices must be received in writing and will become effective as of the date of the postmark. If you cancel before one month from departure, you will receive a refund of 50% of the payment you have made so far (excluding the non-refundable deposit of $500). If you cancel after the last payment date you will lose your entire amount. Leaving a delegation in progress, for any reason whatsoever, will not result in a refund, and no refunds can be made for any unused portions of the trip. The Friendship Association is a 501 (c) 3, so you can use your payments as donations to our work.

We reserve the right to cancel any delegation for good-faith concerns with respect to the safety, health, or welfare of the participants, major political shifts from either or both governments, or international health crises. If canceled prior to departure, you will be eligible for a full refund except for money already dispersed that may be non-refundable. The Friendship Association cannot be responsible for missed connections to and from Cuba for any reason. Because of the current socio-political situation, there may be unexpected changes in dates. Please be patient.

For more information about this adventure, contact:

Soledad Pagliuca
The Friendship Association
aimisoledad@gmail.com; or
WhatsApp at +904 8082030