English

Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties
Mission to Cuba
with Mission Co-Chairs: Rachel Mehta & Jacki Skole
March 12-19, 2023

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.

Optional Group Flights:
UNITED - Non-stop from Newark
UA 3542  12MAR  EWR-HAV  1000A  205P
UA 3543  19MAR  HAV-EWR  305P  640P

Tour Overview:

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Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Sunday, March 12, 2023: DEPARTURE

• We depart from New York on UA3542 non-stop to Cuba!
• We arrive at the Jose Marti Airport and meet our English-speaking guide and driver.
• This afternoon, we enjoy a panoramic overview of the city, including Revolution Square, dominated by the José Martí Memorial. This square is where Fidel Castro delivered the majority of his lengthy political addresses. We also pass by the Rosenberg Memorial, Lennon Park, and Havana University.
• We check into our hotel and enjoy a welcome drink and orientation.
• This evening, we join together for a welcome dinner at Atelier.

Overnight in Havana

Day 2: Monday, March 13, 2023: HAVANA VIEJA

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin our day with a visit to Partagas Cigar Factory. Here, we learn about the history of tobacco and the tradition of cigar rolling in Cuba and interact with some of the rollers.
• We continue with a walking tour of Old Havana (Havana Vieja), a UNESCO World Heritage site. We learn about the history of Havana as we visit highlights of the city and the colonial plazas. We also visit Jewish points of interest, such as the Raquel Hotel, a Jewish-themed hotel, and Adat Israel, the Orthodox synagogue, where we will meet with Jacob Berezniak to deliver our gifts and aid to the community.
• We enjoy lunch at private restaurant Al Carbon.
• Next, we set out on a guided tour of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum) with a local specialist and visit the Cuban art collection.
• We complete our day with a visit to the Patronato, where we meet with community leaders. We tour the center and learn about the pharmacy and Sunday school, with time to deliver our gifts and aid.
• We return to our hotel for time to freshen up.
• This evening, we enjoy dinner together at Café Laurent.

Overnight in Havana

Day 3: Tuesday, March 14, 2023: HAVANA

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Today, we visit the Sephardic Center and meet with Mayra Levy, President of the congregation, as well as members of the community, who discuss the role of Sephardic Jews in the resurgence of Jewish life in Cuba. We also deliver aid to the community and interact with locals. While here, we view the first Holocaust exhibit displayed in Cuba.
• We depart for the Jewish cemetery in Guanabacoa, including a special stop at the site of the Holocaust Memorial.
• We stop for lunch at Finca Yoandra/Il Divino for a glimpse into this organic urban farm and community project with a private restaurant in the outskirts of Havana.
• After lunch, we continue to Finca Vigia, the villa that Hemingway called home for 21 years. His home is now a museum with many of his personal belongings, where we learn how Cuba influenced his writing.
• We return to Havana and our hotel for a chance to relax.
• Enjoy dinner on your own tonight.

Overnight in Havana

Day 4: Wednesday, March 15, 2023: SANTA CLARA - CIENFUEGOS - TRINIDAD 

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• Today, we depart for Santa Clara, an important city founded in the 1600's. Here, in 1958, Che Guevara and his troops won a crucial battle in securing victory for the Cuban Revolution.
• Upon arrival in Santa Clara, we stop at the Che Guevara memorial for a photo opportunity in Plaza Che Guevara (Che Guevara Square), see the eternal flame lit in his memory, then visit the Che Museum underneath.
• Next, we meet with Victor Tacher, a leading representative of the Santa Clara Jewish Community, where we will learn about the local community and deliver our gifts.
• We take a break for lunch together at La Aldaba paladar with Victor as our guest.
• We depart for Cienfuegos, Cuba's “Pearl of the South". Here, we meet with leading Jewish community representative Rebecca Langus to deliver our aid.
• WE continue to the beautiful colonial town of Trinidad, a charming city settled in 1514 and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988.
• We check into our private home stay and refresh for dinner together at restaurant San Jose.

Overnight in Trinidad
Day 5: Thursday, March 16, 2023: TRINIDAD

• Breakfast at our home stay.
• This morning, we enjoy a walking tour of historic Trinidad, which is 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. Along the way, we visit village landmarks such as Plaza Mayor and La Parroquial Mayor Church and watch rumba being played at Palemque de los Congos Reales. We will also visit a rationing store “bodega” and learn how locals buy staple foods.
• Next, we visit Yudit Vidal Faife's private art gallery. Yudit is a native of Trinidad and we will interact with him and learn about his work and challenges.
• We enjoy lunch at Los Conspiradores.
• This afternoon, we meet with the famous Santander family, well-known local potters, and visit their workshop and gallery. These artists have been making handmade pottery for over 100 years.
• The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Explore the village and purchase souvenirs from private local artisans or return to your home stay to relax.
• Dinner on own this evening, then explore the nightlife of Trinidad.

Overnight in Trinidad

Day 6: Friday, March 17, 2023: A HAVANA SHABBAT

• Breakfast and check out of our home stays.
• This morning, we return to Cienfuegos for an interactive walking tour around the historic center. We will visit landmarks, including Parque Marti, Palacio Ferrer and the Thomas Terry Theater and learn about this UNESCO World Heritage site, founded by French immigrants in 1819.
• Next, we visit the Cienfuegos Orchestra at Museo Provincial and enjoy a performance and interaction with the artists.
• We continue to Playa Larga, a tranquil village set on the beach at the head of the Bay of Pigs. It was here that the failed April 1961 CIA-sponsored invasion took place.
• We stop for lunch together at local paladar, Casa de Enrique, a private enterprise featuring rooms for rent and a private restaurant.
• After lunch, we make our way back to Havana and check back into our hotel.
• This evening, we join the local community for Shabbat services at Beth Shalom Synagogue at Patronato followed by Shabbat dinner at This evening, we join the local community for Shabbat services at Beth Shalom Synagogue at Patronato followed by Shabbat dinner at La Mansion Castillo.

Overnight in Havana

Day 7: Saturday, March 18, 2023: SHABBAT SHALOM!

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin our final day 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 in which he lives.
• Next, we visit the Habana Compas Dance headquarters to enjoy a performance of flamenco and Afro Yoruba dances, followed by a chance to interact with the dancers and instructors.
• We enjoy lunch at private restaurant Buenaventura.
• This afternoon, we visit Vocal Clave del Sol, a community project aimed to develop vocal and instrumental skills and promote Cuban traditional music with children 5 to 19 years old.
• We return to our hotel to freshen up.
• We gather this evening and enjoy a classic car ride and a chance to meet private owners and taxi drivers of these classic cards. We also learn about the daily challenges to keep these relics running as we cruise the streets of Havana on a scenic ride in a pre-1979 classic American car on our way to our farewell dinner at Vistamar. During dinner we reminisce about all that we have experienced together.
• Optional: Attend the world-famous show at the Tropicana, an old-world Vegas-style show in production since 1939 (separate cost).

Overnight in Havana

Day 8: Sunday, March 19, 2023: DEPARTURE

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• We stop by the headquarters of JDC in Havana to learn about their projects to assist the Jewish community on the island.
• Our final stop is at the Almacenes de San Jose market, where we stroll through the stalls of arts and crafts made by the locals. This is an excellent opportunity to interact with the artisans, learn about their challenges and purchase some last-minute souvenirs.
• We transfer to the airport for our flight back to New York.



The Memories Last Forever!!
*Itinerary subject to change