Cuban Visual art & Its community

A Deep dive into the visual arts world of Havana with daily studio & Gallery visits, complimented by incredible music, historical perspective and the art of food.

You are folded into the creative communities in Havana and learn to see, touch and feel into the life blood of this culture. There will be a lot on the schedule, but each day there will be time for siestas and personal exploration of Havana’s magical streets before nights filled with world class food and music. For five days you are transported into a place where creativity is the reigning principle and you will leave rejuvenated with ideas, perspective and a love for this special corner of the world.

This trip is for lovers of visual arts as well as travelers with an open mind and a desire to connect to creative energy and perspectives.

Itinerary

BECAUSE OUR TRIPS CATER TO THE CULTURAL CALENDAR OF HAVANA, SPECIFICS OF OUR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES MAY SHIFT.

DAY 1 / wednesday

You arrive into Jose Marti Airport. One of our drivers will be waiting for you and will take you to Vedado, the creative neighborhood of Havana where you will be living. You will say hello to one of our team members, get settled in your casa and spend some time getting to know the area on your own with a map and tips from us. In the evening we gather for the first time as a group. We begin each trip on the porch of our Turquoise House to get to know one another over rum and Cuban records. Dinner is a large communal table at a hidden gem with fabulous Cuban food and musician friends playing traditional tunes. If you have the energy, we highly recommend staying up late and walking over to a local venue for a contemporary jazz fusion concert. The bar is full of eclectic artistic Cubans and the music shows off the wildly inventive nature of Cuban music today.

Day 2 / THUrsday

Mid-morning we make our way to the other side of Vedado to a gallery that hosts a huge array of contemporary work. This space is an incredible way to begin to grasp the depth of work and ideas present in Cuban art. It also shines a beautiful light on the intensity and power of Cuban culture. We lunch at an amazing design-centric paladar in Old Havana and head out on foot afterwards to visit one or two studios of artists working nearby. You have the rest of the afternoon to wander and explore before we meet back together in the evening to explore the amazingly diverse Fabrica des Artes just down the street from the Turquoise House. Dinner is next door at a rooftop restaurant and there is always more music and culture to return to after dinner.

DAY 2 / FRIDAY

We start the morning with one of Cuba’s hottest contemporary artist’s and at a collective of young Cuban artists. Lunch is in Vedado at a contemporary cafe in a renovated home. The afternoon you have on your own to explore nearby where there are vegetable markets, residential streets and antique dealers all within walking distance. In the early evening we gather at an eclectic bar to have cocktails with a professor who grew up in Havana in the 40s and 50s and is full of stories and perspective. We then head to an artist’s home/studio for dinner surrounded by art and colorful conversation. If you still have energy, we have a music recommendation for you to explore on your own.

DAY 3 / SATURDAY

We start the day jumping into old cars to see the breadth of this magical place and get dropped at a fabulous salsa school so that we can begin to get the unique Cuban rhythm into your system. We have lunch at a famous paladar where we talk about the 500 year old history of Havana and how to see its impact today. We visit with an art collector in the early afternoon before everyone gets some time to explore more or take a long siesta back at their casa. In the evening we head out to see big band salsa before having dinner at one of Havana’s more exquisite restaurants run by a Spanish chef.

DAY 4 / SUNDAY

We spend the morning having two studio visits with emerging artists before having lunch in Miramar to get a feel for a neighborhood with a different energy and history. You can take the afternoon to go on your own to get into some swimmable water or head out with the group to see the famous architecture of Instituo Superior de Artes (ISA), Havana’s renowned arts university. In the early evening we gather back at the Turquoise House for dinner and a private concert by the band of our co-founder Norberto. Friends and artists we have met along the way join for an evening of connection, conversation, laughter and music.

DAY 5 / MONDAY

Enjoy a last relaxed breakfast at your casa reflecting back on all you have seen. If you have a later flight, plan to explore areas we did not see or go back to places you loved. A taxi will be waiting for you at your casa three hours before your flight to take you back to Jose Marti Airport.

Sound good? 
We think so, too! 

To make sure we are on the same page, and that this trip will meet all that you are looking for, check to see if you fit our first description and not our second! 

This trip is for you if... 

You are flexible and don't attach to certain outcomes.

You are curious about how different cultures view the world.

You love great food and design centric venues, but also know that getting your hands dirty means that you touch into culture more deeply.

You are excited about staying in a well appointed bed and breakfast (casa particular), and appreciate the beaut, diversity and quirks that come with each home.

You enjoy connecting with people and learning their stories.

You can stay up late a few nights in the name of great cultural experiences and good fun.

You are physically fit enough for some long walks and some bumpy car rides.

A taxi breaking down is an adventure rather than an inconvenience to you.

You are comfortable with contradictions.

This trip is NOT for you IF... 

You are interested in seeing rather than engaging with a culture.

You need a set schedule that is adhered to with precision.

You need an early bedtime every night.

Long walks can feel burdensome.

You are interested in a trip that consists of high-end hotel stays, multiple museum visits and the highest standard of comfort.

You need concise answers when trying to understand a society.

Details & the Fine Print

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions. You can also find more information about travel regulations and logistics here.