Along with your stay in the Casa Particular each day breakfast is included. Each Day trip and the tours are approximately 6-8 hours long. These are very full days. Every evening will be free time for you. Cuban translators/guides are often available for evening cultural events.
While our standard tours are planned, they are also very flexible, always. If there is something interesting happening along the way we often stop to check it out.
Free time is built into every tour so you will have the opportunity to relax or explore culture further on your own. We’ve had many people who had never been on an escorted or guided tour before who were extremely pleased at the casual atmosphere created.
Havana Biennial Art Exhibition Tours
Event Dates: May 11th - June 11th, Havana
Taking place every two years the Havana Biennial Art Exhibition promotes Contemporary Art from developing counties around the globe highlighting works from Latin American and the Caribbean.
This year's theme is "Art Practices and Social Imagery", which will explore the meaning of "public art" through exhibitions that examine urban spaces, interactive media, and multidisciplinary projects.
Organized by the Wilfredo Lam Center of Contemporary Art, Havana’s 11th Biennial will highlight scores of arts venues, exhibits, studios and activities all across the city in an international celebration of art from May 11th to June 11th. From the Museo de Belles Artes to the Castillo and El Morro fortresses, from the galleries of Habana Vieja to the myriad studios across El Centro, the painting, video art, photography, large-scale installations and street performances will find their perfect context within Havana’s extraordinary urban beauty. You will have the chance to meet with artists, view their exhibitions, and attend private lectures.
Sample Itineraries and Upcoming Events
Contact us to plan your own tour with your interests!
Let us plan your custom cultural tour!
Biennial Arts and Architecture--7 days, 7 nights
Day One: Arrival in Havana. First, a walk to UNEAC (Union of Cuban Writers and Artists) to meet with Cuban artists, then a visit to the Galleria Villa Manuela. Next we meet at the amazing Plaza de la Catedral with Julio Perez, Professor of Architecture, who will take us on a walking tour of Habana Vieja.
Dinner in Vedado and a night Latin jazz performance at La Zorra y el Cuervo.
Day Two: Walking tour of the historic Vedado district, then a riveting presentation of Havana’s architectural past by professor Miguel Coyula. Numerous studio visits and Biennial events in the old city, ending the day with dinner at the famous Restuarante La Guarida.
Day Three: Tour of the Malecon restoration project, then a meeting with Nelson Arellano, director at the Fototeca Nacional de Cuba in the beautiful Plaza Vieja. Next, a journey across the harbor to see the Biennial installation projects at El Morro historic fort, then ferry back to the city.
Day Four: A walk down the beautiful Paseo del Prado to see the boulevard architecture, then an immersion in the many Biennial exhibits of the Centro District.
Day Five: Miramar and Cubanacan to see the art school complex at the Instituto Superior del Artes, guided by arts professional Sara Alonso. Next will be a visit to the Cementerio de Colon, demonstrating three hundred years of architectural forms.
Day Six: Museo de Los Bellas Artes visit led by Sara Alonso, then a lunch meeting and conversation with photographer Pedro Abascal. Afternoon meeting and conversation with artist Salvador Gonzales at his remarkable environmental art creation, the Callejon de Hamel, followed by the center’s incredible rhumba performance.
Day Seven: Visit with long-time Havana University art history professor Maru Perez at her home. Studio visits near the university, then attendance at an opening reception of collaborative work by Cuban and international artists. Sendoff dinner with Flamenco performance at the renowned Meson de la Flota.
Biennial Arts and Architecture--5 days, 5 nights
Day One: Arrival in Havana. First, a walk to UNEAC (Union of Cuban Writers and Artists) to meet with Cuban artists, then a visit to the Galleria Villa Manuela. Next we meet at the amazing Plaza de la Catedral with Julio Perez, Professor of Architecture, who will take us on a walking tour of Habana Vieja.
Night Latin jazz performance at La Zorra y el Cuervo.
Day Two: Walking tour of the historic Vedado district, then a riveting presentation of Havana’s architectural past by professor Miguel Coyula. Next are numerous studio visits and Biennial events in the old city, ending the day with dinner and Flamenco performance at the renowned Meson de la Flota.
Day Three: Tour of the Malecon restoration project, then a meeting with Nelson Arellano, director at the Fototeca Nacional de Cuba in the beautiful Plaza Vieja. Next, a journey across the harbor to see the Biennial installation projects at the El Morro historic fort, then ferry back to the city.
Day Four: Miramar and Cubanacan to see the art school complex at the Instituto Superior del Artes, guided by arts professional Sara Alonso, followed by a visit with Arte Cubano art critic Beatrice Gago, then an immersion in the Biennial exhibits of the Centro district.
Day Five: Museo de Los Bellas Artes visit led by Sara Alonso, then a lunch meeting and conversation with photographer Pedro Abascal. Meeting and conversation with artist Salvador Gonzales at his remarkable environmental art creation, the Callejon de Hamel, followed by the center’s incredible rhumba performance.
Roman Catholicism & Santeria Tour
Cultural Yoruba de Cuba
This unique tour gives an intimate look into Cuban religions from Catholicism and its beautiful churches to the Santeria. Marvel with meeting church members and learning stories first hand of Cuba's religions. According to the season we organize meetings and scheduled events around many of the religions . We visit museums and cultural centers in addition to meeting Cuban families practicing their religions at home or on the streets.
The Yoruba are an ethnic group native to southern Africa that were brought to Cuba during the 18th and 19th centuries via the slave trade. In order to hide their religious beliefs during years of slavery and religious restriction, the Yoruba people disguised the names of their gods (orishas) as Catholic saints.
Eventually, Yoruba practices and religion became infused with Roman Catholicism and evolved into what is now called Santeria. In 1992, the Yoruba cultural association was consolidated, officially recognized, and inaugurated as an NGO in the presence of several Cuban Communist Party and government leaders. This group, headquartered in Havana, now boasts an exhibition gallery, a museum, two conference rooms, and a library dedicated to Yoruba life and culture.
The Asociación Cultural Yoruba provides a close look at African culture. The bigger-than-life orishas (Yoruban deities) on display are all identified and explained in English, French, and Spanish.
This tour includes meeting Babalawos or priests and participating in religious ceremonies. We are invited to all lectures and dances and music events. The association is near the Parque de la Fraternidad Americana, a shady space around a sacred ceiba tree planted in 1928 with soil from each of the free countries of the Americas.
CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE TOUR IN HAVANA
1.CATHEDRAL CHURCH
2. LA MERCED CHURCH
3. SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH
4. SPIRITU SANTO CHURCH
5. PAULA CHURCH ( FOR CONCERTS NOW)
6. SANTO ANGEL CHURCH
7. SAN FRANCIS OF ASISIS
8. SANTA CLARA CONVENT
9. QUEEN CHURCH. SAGRADO CORAZON DE JESUS
10. CARMEN CHURCH
11. LA CARIDAD DEL COBRE CHURCH
12. SAN JUDAS TADEO CHURCH
13. NUESTRA SEÑORA DE MONSERRATE CHURCH
