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Saint-Jérôme 2005 Cuba Tour. Helping island people weather the U.S. blockade!
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Niña off to school.
Consider diving and snorkeling.
Cuban students rank best in the Americas. School is free for life!
Havana was founded in 1519. Its historic sites are unmatched.
World's smallest hummingbird (at size) lives in Cuba.
Havana's Malecón: relaxation, music and romance.
Young person staffs local store.
Dinner Fresh fish from rivers and seas supplement island diets and provide a valuable export commodity.
Coral reefs abound.
Cubans come in all colors. Bigotry is absent. They're proud of their multicolored kids.
Music is pervasive.
Several species of iguana: they're not poisonous or mean.
Ancient cave art at Bellamar by Cuba's first peoples.
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Río Almendares' pristine headwaters.
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Río Almendares en route to La Habana.
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Decades-old debris collects in the river before entering the bay of Havana.
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El Museo de La Revolución. A must see!
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Farmers markets supply fresh produce.
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Cuba is an antique car-lovers dream.
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Block party in Pinar del Río.
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Idyllic environment of Las Terrazas.
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Loyal steed escorts boy across river.
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Bicycles are a mainstay for commuters.
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Animal partners help out on the farm.
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Rural school kids in Pinar del Río.
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Youth retrieves baby cow.
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Hurricane clean up in Pinar del Río. Many North Americans send funds for storm assistance and restoration.
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Cubans and visitors enjoy beaches.
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You're going to Varadero. Prepare for big sun and big fun!
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Bellamar Cave outside Varadero has two kilometers of passages covered in unique stalagmites, stalactites and calcite crystals.
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TIME/TEMP IN HAVANA NOW!
Island-wide annual averages:
Summer temp average: 81F | 27C
Winter temp average: 72F | 22C
Ocean temp average: 78F | 25.5C
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DAY 1
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MONTREAL – HAVANA
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Welcome to Cuba!
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Morning air flight from Montreal to Havana.
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Afternoon Havana airport welcome by your Cuba Education Tours guide. Transfer to Hotel Saint Johns. Private group check in. Brief orientation meeting.
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| Free time for Cégep de Saint-Jérôme students and teachers get comfortable in your new digs and ready for morning's special project to help clean up Havana's suffering Río Almendares. |
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DAY 3
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HAVANA
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Thousands of families reside on the banks of the Río Almendares. You'll make their lives better by helping clean up the river.
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Morning meeting with members of Proyecto Almendares for an exchange of ideas and briefing on work to be done over the next three days.
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Lunch with Proyecto Almendares members.
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Afternoon work exchange with Proyecto Almendares.
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This evening we attend a Peña del Chan Chan and hear one of the most popular traditional septeto band playing live in the gardens of Casa de la Amistad. Unique opportunity to practice dancing with Cubans (optional participation).
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DAY 4
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HAVANA
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Full day work exchange with Proyecto Almendares.
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Lunch with Proyecto Almendares members.
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Top salsa band playing live at Casa de La Música, a great opportunity to dance with Cubans (optional participation).
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Left Visitors are often surprised to learn most Cubans are happy with their lives, love for their work and country.
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DAY 5
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HAVANA
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Full day work exchange with Proyecto Almendares.
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Lunch with Proyecto Almendares members.
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Hear the best live jazz music in Havana at La Zorra y El Cuervo Jazz Club (optional participation).
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Left Celebration is spontaneous and frequent in Cuba.
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DAY 6
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HAVANA
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Kids play at foot of Havana's Malecón (great seawall road).
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Free day to explore the city of Havana with class mates and your new Cuban friends.
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See 64 Things to Do in Havana.
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DAY 8
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VINALES VALLEY – PINAR DEL RIO
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Above Limestone mogotes (pin-cushion hills) are unique to Viñales Valley. Below Tobacco, a major local crop, is considered the best in the world.
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Meeting with members of agricultural cooperative Moncada in Pinar del Río. This is a relaxing day for getting to know cooperative members informally before our volunteer work exchange begins.
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Lunch together with cooperative members at the entrance of Cueva de Santo Tomás followed by visit to the cave.
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Excursion to Viñales Valley containing the most spectacular scenery in Cuba and some of the most interesting and varied geological formations in the Caribbean. The valley is famed for its dramatic freestanding rock formations called mogotes.
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Time to wander Viñales village and explore at your leisure its open-air craft market, Parque Martí, Church and other interesting sites of this charming colonial town.
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Tour Carmen and Caridad Miranda's little paradise known as Viñales Botanical Garden containing many exotic fruits, orchids, herbs and medicinal plants.
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Dinner at hotel (included in cost).
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Your guide will keep you updated on optional evening activities.
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DAY 9
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PINAR DEL RIO
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Full day volunteer work exchange at Moncada agricultural collective.
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Lunch with cooperative members.
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Dinner at hotel (included).
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Your guide will keep you updated on optional evening activities.
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Above Farm collective. Left Youth bathes his steed.
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DAY 10
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PINAR DEL RIO
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Shop clerk assists customers.
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Full day volunteer work exchange at Moncada agricultural collective.
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Lunch with cooperative members.
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Dinner at hotel (included).
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Your guide will keep you updated on optional evening activities.
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DAY 11
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PINAR DEL RIO
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Full day volunteer work exchange at Moncada agricultural collective.
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Lunch with cooperative members.
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Farewell dinner party with members of cooperative.
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DAY 12
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PINAR DEL RIO – VARADERO
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Departure to Varadero.
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Visit the city of Pinar del Río on the way.
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Check in to Hotel Acuazul.
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Beach time!
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DAY 14
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VARADERO
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Free day at the beach!
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DAY 15
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VARADERO – HAVANA – MONTREAL
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Say goodbye to Cuba and hello to Montreal! Take a swim this morning, pack your bags and jump onto your bus for departure to Havana's José Martí International Airport to return to Montreal.
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Your new Cubans friends will miss you and look forward to your return. Be sure to keep in touch with them by email! Take pictures and keep a journal and we'll post them on this website for all to see and enjoy upon your return.
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