English

American Conference of Cantors (ACC)
Humanitarian Mission to Cuba
January 7 - 14, 2019

Tour Rates & Dates:

There are no Departure Dates available for this Package.
*Please note that all rates displayed are based on standard room double occupancy.
All rates above are in US Dollars, and are based on full payment by credit card unless otherwise noted.
If check payment discount is available for this tour, it can be selected after clicking "BOOK" above.
(Deposit can still be paid by credit card). Upgraded room categories may be available to book later in the booking process.
If Land & Air price is displayed, the air portion includes tax and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change until ticketed.

Tour Overview:

Download a PDF version:

INCLUDED:

2 nights Hotel Jagua Cienfuegos
5 nights Melia Cohiba Hotel
All touring and sightseeing per an agreed upon itinerary in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with an English speaking guide 
Cuba Visa Fee 
Breakfast daily 
Welcome dinner at Villa Lagarto 
Lunch at El Dorado 
Dinner at Los Laureles
Dinner at El Ajibe
Lunch at Café del Oriente 
Dinner at El Mediterraneo 
Lunch at Il Palio 
Shabbat dinner at the Sephardic Center 
Lunch at Café Laurent 
Lunch at Finca Yoandra/Il Divino 
Farewell dinner at La California 
Cantores de Cienfuegos performance
Meeting with Jewish community leader Rebecca Langus in Cienfuegos
Meeting with the craftsman Santander family in Trinidad 
Meeting with Jewish community leader David Tacher in Santa Clara 
Visit to Havana's Patronato Synagogue and community center, including a meeting with Jewish community leader Adela Dworin 
Explore the history of tobacco & cigar rolling at the Hotel Conde de Villanueva
Meeting with Jewish community leader Mayra Levy at the Sephardic Center in Havana 
Explore the art of the Fuster house/studio 
Enjoy a classic car ride through Havana
Transfers included if arriving/departing with the main group 
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Porterage
Cuban emergency medical insurance

NOT INCLUDED:

Roundtrip airfare, departure taxes and fuel surcharges 
Tips to guides, driver, and dining room waiters ($20.00 per person, per day-pre-collected) 
Meals not listed above 
Any items of a personal nature 
Travel insurance (highly recommended)

FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Flights are now available. Cost is $330/person roundtrip from Miami:
AA2751 07JAN MIA-SNU 355P 505P
AA1334 14JAN HAV-MIA 1145A 100P

MIA = Miami
SNU = Santa Clara, Cuba
HAV = Havana

A limited number of seats are also available connecting from NYC (LaGuardia) to meet these flights from Miami. Note, no non-stop flights exist from NYC to Santa Clara, where our time in Cuba will begin. These seats are at a discounted rate of $539/person (limited in number - first come, first served). Email grace@ayelet.com to add the flights from NY.

AA4563 07JAN LGA-MIA 940A 1253P
AA2751 07JAN MIA-SNU 355P 505P
AA1334 14JAN HAV-MIA 1145A 100P
AA2809 14JAN MIA-LGA 330P 633P

LGA = La Guardia NYC
SNU = Santa Clara,
Cuba HAV = Havana

CANTOR/GROUP LEADER FLYERS:

Cantor Audrey Abrams - Cuba flyer
Cantor Devorah Avery - Cuba flyer
Cantor Julie Berlin - Cuba flyer
Cantor Susan Caro - Cuba flyer
Cantor Linda Ecker - Cuba flyer
Cantor Lori Frank - Cuba flyer
Cantor Marcy Kadin - Cuba flyer
Cantor Jacquie Marx - Cuba flyer
Cantor Ben Rosner - Cuba flyer
Rachel Roth - Cuba flyer
Cantor Tracey Scher - Cuba flyer
Cantor Wendy Shermet - Cuba flyer
Cantor Kerith Spencer-Shapiro - Cuba flyer
Cantor Avery Tracht - Cuba flyer
Cantor Lizzie Weiss - Cuba flyer
Cantor Steven Weiss - Cuba flyer

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Monday, January 7, 2019: WELCOME TO CUBA!

• Depart from your home city to connect on our flight to Cuba.
• Arrive at Cienfuegos Airport and meet our local guide & driver.
• Check into our hotel and enjoy a welcome drink and orientation.
• Enjoy a performance by Cantores de Cienfuegos at Museo Provincial de Cienfuegos.
• Welcome dinner together at Villa Lagarto.

Overnight in Cienfuegos

Day 2: Tuesday, January 8, 2019: HISTORIC TRINIDAD & CIENFUEGOS

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we meet with Rebecca Langus and learn about the local Jewish community with time to deliver gifts.
• We depart to the beautiful colonial town of Trinidad, a charming city settled in 1514 and a UNESCO heritage site since 1988.
• Upon arrival, we enjoy lunch at El Dorado paladar.
• Enjoy a walking tour of historic Trinidad, a 500-year old city with Spanish colonial architecture. Only a few square blocks in size, historic Trinidad is famous for its lovely cobblestone streets, pastel houses with wrought iron grills, as well as beautiful palaces and plazas. We'll learn about the efforts to preserve the city's heritage.
• We meet with the famous family Santander, well-known local potters, and visit their workshop and gallery. These artists have been making handmade pottery for over 100 years.
• We return to Cienfuegos for dinner at Los Laureles.

Overnight in Cienfuegos

Day 3: Wednesday, January 9, 2019: SANTA CLARA TO HAVANA

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning we tour Cienfuegos, including Parque Marti and the Thomas Terry Theater. We learn about this UNESCO World Heritage Site, founded by French immigrants in 1819.
• We depart for Santa Clara, an important city founded in the 1600's. Here, in late December 1958, Che Guevara and his troops won a crucial battle in securing victory for the Cuban Revolution.
• We stop at the Che Guevara memorial for a photo opportunity in the square.
• Next, we meet with David Tacher, a leading representative of the Santa Clara Jewish Community, where we will learn about the local community and deliver our gifts.
• We depart for Havana. Lunch (on own) en route.
• Upon arrival, we check into our hotel and have time to relax and refresh.
• We meet for dinner at La Casa restaurant.

Overnight in Havana

Day 4: Thursday, January 10, 2019: JEWISH HAVANA

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin with a visit to Patronato, where we meet with community leaders - likely either Adela Dworin, the President of Beth Shalom or David Prinstein, Vice President of the community. We tour the center and learn about the Pharmacy and Sunday school, with time to deliver our gifts and aid.
• We take in a panoramic overview of the city. We stop at Revolution Square. The square is dominated by the José Martí Memorial. This famous square is where Fidel Castro delivered the majority of his lengthy political addresses.
• Lunch at Café Del Oriente.
• Next, we stop at Casa de la Artesania. Here, we learn about the history of tobacco and the tradition of cigar rolling in Cuba. We interact with some of the roller and locals.
• Next, we enjoy a walking tour of Old Havana (Havana Vieja), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, we learn about the history of Havana as we visit highlights of the city and the colonial plazas as well as Jewish points of interest such as the Raquel Hotel, a Jewish-themed hotel.
• Tonight, at the Patronato, the Cantors give a concert for the community of Havana.
• Dinner together at El Mediterraneo paladar.

Overnight in Havana

Day 5: Friday, January 11, 2019: EXPLORING HAVANA

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Today, we visit the Rosenberg Memorial, Lennon Park, and pass by Havana University.
• We stop at the impressive Fuster house/studio to see this unique mosaic masterpiece and learn about the artist's project to beautify and help the community he lives in.
• Lunch at El Templete.
• Next, we visit the Sephardic Center and meet with Mayra Levy, president of the congregation, who discusses the role of Sephardic Jews in the resurgence of Jewish life in Cuba. We deliver aid to the community and interact with locals.
• We visit the Holocaust exhibit, opened in 2011, at the Sephardic Center.
• As the sun sets, we participate in leading Shabbat services at the Sephardic Center.
• Tonight, we enjoy Shabbat dinner together at the Sephardic Center with members of the congregation.

Overnight in Havana

Day 6: Saturday, January 12, 2019: SHABBAT SHALOM!

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We participate in leading Shabbat services at Patronato.
• Following services, we stop at Almacenes de San Jose market, where we stroll through the stalls of arts and crafts made by the locals.
• Lunch at Café Laurent.
• Visit the Cuban Art Collection at the Fine Arts Museum or visit the Museum of the Revolution, where we gain an understanding of the momentous change that has occurred in Cuba due to the Revolution over 50 years ago.
• Enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Havana

Day 7: Sunday, January 13, 2019: HISTORY OF HAVANA

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin the day with a visit to Finca Vigia, the villa that Hemingway called home for 21 years. His home is now a museum with many of his personal belongings. Learn how Cuba influenced his writing.
• Lunch at Finca Yoandra / Il Divino. Take a glimpse into this organic urban farm and community project with a private restaurant in the outskirts of Havana.
• We continue with a visit to the Jewish cemetery in Guanabacoa, including a special visit to the site of the Holocaust exhibit.
• We enjoy a classic car ride from our hotel to our farewell dinner together at La California paladar as we recall all that we have experienced together.

Overnight in Havana

Day 8: Monday, January 14, 2019: DEPARTURE

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• We have the morning at leisure for last minute shopping on our own.
• We transfer to the airport for our flights home.


The Memories Last Forever!
*Itinerary subject to change