Caribbean Dreamin’: Havana Nights – January 19-26, 2025

OregonWest is headed back to Cuba! You do not want to miss this one!

In November of 2023, OregonWest partnered with Cuba specialist Centerline Adventures for our first trip to the beautiful island nation – and it was EPIC! Amazing cultural experiences, wonderful food, music everywhere, classic cars scattering the streets, the Malecon at our front door, dancing, the beach, cigars, mojitos…. there was so much to experience. This excursion exceeded our expectations, and we plan to do it again! We have made some small changes which are sure to please our travelers (who wouldn’t want a private house and personal chef available during Beach Day?!?), and have a excitement-packed itinerary we hope you can join. Come see why Trip Advisor just listed Cuba as the Number 1 Cultural Destination in the World!

Day One; Sunday, Jan. 19: Depart for Miami
Your journey today is to Miami. From PDX, hop on a direct flight to Miami where we will be greeted by warm air and water and a nice ocean breeze. We will check into our hotel and then have dinner as a group. The remainder of your evening is free to enjoy the change in weather. (D)

Day Two; Monday, Jan. 20: Arrive in Cuba!
Today starts with a short flight to an island worlds away from the United States. Instead of flying into Havana, we will be arriving in Varadero, voted one of the best beaches in the world, for a two-night stay. We will be picked up from the airport and taken to the beautiful Sol Caribe Resort where we will have lunch and check into our water view rooms. After freshening up, head to the beach as a group for mojitos, dominos, and some of the most beautiful water you will see. This evening, we will have a meal of authentic Cuban cuisine. In addition to the afternoon, there will be plenty of time to get your toes in the sand if you wish as the beach is just steps from the resort. (B, L, D)

Day Three; Tuesday, Jan. 21: Santa Catalina Caverns and Xanadu Dinner
Start the day with breakfast, a swim, or just walk on the beach. As a group, we will journey to the Santa Catalina Caverns, the only place in the world where you can see mushroom shaped stalagmites. Lunch will be at the hotel again to allow time to relax and continue to enjoy the beach as this will be the last beach day. Tonight for dinner, head to the 90-mile marker and have dinner at Xanadu, a restaurant located in a mansion formerly owned by the Dupont family. Along with dinner, enjoy the delightful sounds of music mixed with surf crashing on the beach just outside the restaurant. Return to the resort for one last night before heading to Havana.  (B, L, D)

Day Four; Wednesday, Jan. 22: Arrive in Havana and two Wonderful Meals
After breakfast and checking out of the resort, we will say goodbye to the soft sand beaches of Varadero and hit the road to Havana on a two and a half hour trip into Old Town Havana where we will stop and eat a delicious light al fresco lunch on the streets at La Vitrola, a cool restaurant that showcases Americana items new and old! After lunch, we will take a short drive down the Malecon along Havana Bay and past the US Embassy to our hotel for the remainder of the trip, the Hotel Grand Aston. Enjoy a welcome drink as the staff introduces the hotel and then we are off to our rooms. Enjoy some time in the afternoon at the hotel or along the Malecon before dinner at Al Carbon. This restaurant not only serves great food out of its open kitchen, it has great live music to enjoy! The wonderful environment and company will extend the evening until it is time to return to the hotel for a dip in the pool, a walk along the Malecon, or sweet dreams. (B, L, D)

Day Five; Thursday, Jan. 23: Percussionists and Fusterlandia
This day is going to be great fun! We will visit the studio of Eduardo Cordova, an amazing percussionist who developed a program to help Autistic children and those lacking social skills. The program held by the instructors is fun and inspiring; I guarantee that it will get you up and moving around!  After the performance, we will go a short distance to Fusterlandia where Jose Fuster, a mosaic artist, created a colorful tiled world our of his home. When neighbors wanted to do the same, he helped them create an amazing area as colorful as any painting! Lunch will again be in a local restaurant; this tour looks for opportunities to visit privately owned businesses and connect with and support locals. We will return to the Grand Aston Hotel and relax before our fine Wine & Tapas event at the new PlanH – a new wine bar in the heart of Old Havana within walking distance of the Capital. We will enjoy delicious food and wine during this private event at this woman-owned, beautiful new wine bar while listening to a local Cuban jazz band! Then it is back to the hotel for another great night’s rest. (B, L, D)

Day Six; Friday, Jan. 24: Organic Farm visit with Horses
Prepare for a great day at Finca Vista Hermosa, an organic farm where they grow their own vegetables and fruit, raise their own livestock, and make their own cheese. Produce is hard to grow in the summer because of the heat but they have developed a technique that allows them to harvest year round. The farm will be the location for today’s lunch where we can enjoy a great lunch using the bounty of their land. Those guests that are feeling a bit adventurous can even take a horseback ride through the farm before lunch. In the later afternoon we will have the opportunity to rest up at the hotel, take a swim in the beautiful pool, or take advantage of their spa. Dinner tonight will be an amazing experience at BestView, a wonderful rooftop venue in Old Havana. Looking out along the skyline, you will get a sense of beauty that will transport you to the days before the changes in Cuba. Tonight we will enjoy a great meal and listen for the nightly cannon shot.  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. When we return to the Hotel Grand Aston, venture over to the Malecon to enjoy the music and the culture that comes out after the sun goes down – It’s a beautiful experience! (B, L, D)

Day Seven; Saturday, Jan. 25: Hemingway Day
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, then to El Floridita where Hemingway created the Papa Daiquiri.  Later in the afternoon we will have a chance to freshen up before dinner at a rooftop restaurant, Abel, with music and Salsa Dancing before heading back to our last evening at the hotel. (B, L, D)

Day Eight; Sunday, Jan. 26: Cigars and Rum, then a Journey Home
Today may be a travel day, but we are going to soak up every last bit of Cuban heritage and culture that we can before we depart. After breakfast at the hotel and saying goodbye to the Grand Aston La Habana, we will take a short ride into Old Town Havana to visit Vivian Melendez, a world-renowned cigar expert. She will impart some of her knowledge on how to choose, cut, light, and smoke a cigar paired with Cuban coffee or rum….before she defeats everyone in a game of dominos! Live music will entertain us and still be ringing in our ears as we depart for the United States. In Miami, we will transfer to a direct flight to PDX and our journey home. This is a trip that you will be talking about for years! (B)

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