Here is a sampling of the activities you can choose from in designing your trip. We're always expanding our offerings, so let us know if you don't see what you're looking for - we'll do our best to make it work!
Museums
- Visit the National Museum of Fine Arts for a tour of the museum's collection of Cuban, European, and Latin American Art.
The National Museum of Fine Arts is home to Cuba's most impressive collection of fine art, with stunning examples from the colonial period as well as many contemporary pieces . A curatorial tour can be arranged, or you may elect to explore the collection on your own.
- Visit the Museum of the Revolution to see exhibitions on the history of Cuba's revolution and selected military artifacts.
Located in the former Presidential Palace, the Museum of the Revolution provides an account of the early 1960's in Cuba through original documents, photographs, and other artifacts. Directly adjacent to the museum is an outdoor exhibition of military vehicles, including the yacht, Granma, which took Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba for the Revolution, and a surface-to-air missile of the type that shot down a U.S. spy plane during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Visit the Museum of Decorative Arts.
Located in the expansive former residence of María Luisa Gómez-Mena viuda de Cagiga, Countess of Revilla de Camargo, the museum's collection contains examples of art and design from Cuba's colonial period. Tour the estate's richly decorated rooms, filled with impressive examples of European and East Asian Art.
- Visit the Ceramics Museum for a private tour.
This small collection is located in the heart of Old Havana, and has been lovingly curated by the museum's director, Alejandro Alonso. An expert of Cuban art and architecture, Mr. Alonso retired from his position as the Director of the National Museum of Fine arts in order to pursue his passion: ceramics. Several small exhibitions surround a central courtyard, and contain examples of both traditional and contemporary work.
- Visit the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, located in Old Havana.
Built around a large central courtyard, the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales offers a unique view of Cuba's pre-revolution culture, with compelling examples of fine and decorative arts. The museum is located directly east of the Plaza de Armas, and is a classic embodiment of the Cuban Baroque Style.
Visits
- Participate in a guided tour of the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), Cuba's preeminent institution for fine arts education.
Located on the former American-owned country club in the western Havana suburb of Cabanacán, the Instituto Superior de Arte was founded when Fidel Castro and Che Guevara nationalized the land in 1961 for the express purpose of creating an arts academy for the citizens of Cuba. ISA has produced an astounding number of Cuba's leading artists and musicians, and remains a vibrant source of artist training. Pending approval from the school's administration, enjoy a guided tour of the school's impressive revolutionary architecture and meet students with an opportunity to arrange the purchase paintings, photography, sculpture, prints, and ceramics.
- Visit the Havana Souvenir & Craft Market.
The craft market, located alongside the inner harbor in a large warehouse, is home to many vendors offering small souvenirs, art, and clothing for sale. It is a great place to pick up a few keepsakes or gifts, but unfortunately contains many more knick-knacks than compelling art or handmade crafts. Worth a brief visit, but not much more than that.
- Visit to Finca la Vigia, the former home of Ernest Hemingway in San Francisco de Paula.
A 20-minute drive from downtown Havana, Finca la Vigia has been preserved exactly as it was left by Hemingway. Peer through the windows of the home to see his collection of animal heads, books, and the famous stand-up desk where the author wrote The Old Man and the Sea. Tour the grounds to see his pool, lookout tower, and fishing boat Pilar.
- Visit Jaimanitas to see Fusterlandia, a neighborhood playfully decorated in Gaudiesque tile mosaics by the artist Jose Fuster.
Located in the heart of Havana, this neighborhood has been taken over by the Cuban folk artist José Fuster, whose colorful mosaics and monumental sculptures have turned his street into one of Havana's cultural landmarks.
- Visit to El Patronato synagogue, the center of the Jewish community in Havana.
Located in Vedado, this is the largest and best-known synagogue in the city. Arrange a meeting with the director of La Casa de la Comunidad Hebrea de Cuba, Adela Dworin, to learn more about the vibrant Jewish community in Havana.
- Visit El Taller Experimental de Gráfica (The Experimental Graphics Studio) in the heart of Old Havana to view traditional printmaking techniques and purchase art from some of Havana's leading printmakers.
Tucked in an alley off the Plaza de la Catedral, this print workshop is a great opportunity to purchase unique lithographs, photographs, prints, and other pieces of art. Meet with artists and enjoy the wide range of available art for sale.
- Walking tour of Old Havana, with stops at the four central squares: Plaza de San Francisco de Asis, Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja and Plaza de la Catedral.
Amble through the heart of Old Havana, and witness the ongoing architectural renovation of Havana's iconic buildings. Your guide will provide background information on the area's history, as well as many opportunities to explore the neighborhood's restaurants, galleries, and shops.
- Guided tour of Colón Cemetery.
This cemetery, founded in 1876, is home to countless elaborately sculpted memorials for notable Cuban families and individuals. Enjoy a guided tour of the cemetery, and visit the tombs of individuals like Cuba President José Miguel Gómez, Alberto Korda, Alejo Carpentier, and many others. A must see.
- Visit El Morro, for a tour of the fortress and a panoramic view of Havana from across the harbor.
This iconic fortress guards the port of Havana, and was conceived as a first line of defense against would-be invaders. Located directly across the mouth of the harbor from Old Havana, the fortress provides incredible views of the city and is a popular destination for visitors hoping to catch sunset view of Havana. A cannon shot can be heard each night at 9:00 PM announcing that the bay has been closed for the night, and is free of all pirates and buccaneers.
- Visit Havana's Camera Oscura, located on the top floor of the iconic Gómez Vila Building, to see views of the city reflected through the use of two enormous lenses and a mirror on a periscope.
This large camera obscura was a gift from the Council of Cadiz, Spain, through the office of Eusebio Leal, Havana's City Historian. The great lens is able to capture strange and vibrant views of the city, and is a wonderful stop during your exploration of Old Havana.
SPECIAL EVENTS
- A dinner party in the private home of a Cuban family, with invited guests including American expats, leading intellectuals, professors, and Cuban artists.
The heart of any trip to Cuba is the opportunity to meet with Cubans from a variety of fields and social strata, and we believe the best way to do this is over a homemade meal in a beautiful private home. Depending on your interests, we will arrange a small group of Cuban guests to discuss the current state of Cuban affairs, the country's relationship with the United States, and what the future holds for both countries. Begin the evening with a cocktail hour for brief introductions, followed by a dinner party during which guests may exchange views on a variety of topics.
- A performance at the Tropicana Club.
Founded in 1931, La Tropicana is a world-known cabaret and club situated in the outskirts of Havana. Located on what was once a nine-acre estate, the venue features both an indoor and outdoor stage and is home to some of Havana's best dancers, singers, and musicians.
- A meeting or dinner with an expert in the field of art, architecture, film, economics, business, agriculture, literature, or other areas of interest.
BPH Cuba benefits from long-standing relationships with Cubans working across many fields, and we will work to schedule meetings with those individuals based on your interests. When planning your trip, please make sure to indicate any specific requests in the comment field.
- A private rehearsal of Cuba's National Contemporary Dance Company, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba.
Danza Contemporanea de Cuba is a Cuban dance troupe that combines modern American theater, Afro-Caribbean dance styles, and classical European ballet. Under the direction of Miguel Iglesias, Danza Contemporanea has toured throughout Latin America, the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Attend a closed-door morning rehearsal of the company, and watch as dancers hone their craft to the beat of Afro-Cuban drummers.
- A performance of the Buena Vista Social Club.
The Buena Vista Social Club is a large musical ensemble made famous by performances at the now-defunct Havana Club, several albums, and the 1991 movie of the same name. Today you may see original band members perform at several of Havana's most popular clubs and restaurants.
- A performance of the Cuban National Ballet.
Founded by Alicia Alonso in 1948, the Cuban National Ballet is recognized around the world for its dancers, technical abilities and the strong emotional content of their performances. The company conducts extensive international tours, and performs in well-known venues throughout Europe, Asia, and America each year. Due to this, the inclusion of a ballet performance in your itinerary is pending availability, which may not be known until a few weeks prior to your departure. As such, participants will be expected to pay the ticket price in cash upon arrival in Cuba.
- A visit to Organopónico Vivero Alamar, an organic urban farm in the residential suburb of Alamar.
This Unidad Básica de Producción Cooperativa - or Basic Unit of Cooperative Production - is an example of Cuba's push towards self-sufficiency in the period following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Covering nearly 30 acres in the outskirts of the city, this working farm grows a variety of vegetables, fruits, seedlings, and timber. Meet with the proprieters of the farm to learn about farming during the "Special Period," and Cuba's ongoing agricultural challenges.
- A visit to a local jazz club.
Havana is home to some of the word's best jazz ensembles, whose performances around the city often last until the early hours of the morning. Let us take you to some of our favorite spots!
ARTISTS
- Visit the shared gallery space of six well-known female Cuban artists, Studio 7 y 60.
Located in a gorgeous mid-century apartment building, this airy gallery contains work from Maria Cienfuegos, Elizabeth Cerviño, Adriana Arronte, Diana Fonseca, Dania González, andLisandra Ramírez. Pending availability, meet with each artist and enjoy an opportunity to purchase their work.
- Visit 331 Art Space, the shared studio and gallery of three emerging Cuban artists.
Located in a recently remodeled home in the heart of Vedado, visit the new gallery of Frank Mujica (drawing), Adrian Fernández (photography), and Alex Hernández (painting). Pending availability, meet the artists and enjoy an opportunity to purchase their work.
- Visit the home and studio of the Cuban artist Abel Barroso.
Abel Barroso's work consists primarily of found objects and wooden embellishments, grappling with issues including globalization, technology, alienation, and national boundary. Visit the artist in his home to see a few of his pieces, and enjoy a conversation with the artist about his work.
- Visit the studio of the popular Cuban artist Yoan Capote.
Yoan Capote is a well-regarded Cuban sculptor, painter, and installation artist whose work focuses on the internalized fears and worldview of the Cuban people through monumental works that are at once unsettling and humorous. The artist has shown extensively in Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, France, England, Panama, and the United States, and was one of four Cuban artists represented Cuba at the 2011 Venice Biennale. Arrange a studio tour and a meeting with the artist.
- Visit the home and studio of the Cuban artist Roberto Diago.
Primarily concerned with questions of race, slavery, and religion in Cuban culture, Roberto Diago's paintings have been shown at the Venice Biennale in 1997 and at the International Contemporary Art Fair in 1999. Visit with the artist and see his work.
- Visit the home and studio of the well-known Cuban artist, Kadir López Nieves.
Kadir López Nieves has been a mainstay in the Cuban art scene for many years, known for his mixed-media works that employ relics of pre-revolutionary Cuba to recast familiar objects in an unfamiliar light. Visit his spacious home for a private tour of his gallery and a conversation with the artist.
- Visit the shared gallery space of the Cuban art collective, The Merger.
Tour the gallery space of a collective of three Cuban artists who, along with their own work, produce pieces under the shared moniker The Merger. With two based in Miami and a third in Havana, the cross-border collaboration of Alain Pino, Niels Moleiro Luis, and Mario Miguel González was featured recently in the exhibition One Race at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana as well as The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West.
- Visit the home and studio of the Cuban artist José Toirac.
José Toirac is one of Cuba's most compelling and controversial living artists, working primarily with painting, drawing, and installation. His work is featured in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Cuba's National Museum of Fine Arts, the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno in the Canary Islands, and many others. Dealing primarily with questions of national identity and collective memory, Toirac remains a singular voice in Cuba's contemporary art scene.