Cuba

Spring Break 2023

Cost: $3000

Themes

This journey will include three major themes:

1. Cultural Elements: Setting for The Old Man and the Sea, Hemmingway’s home and office, Jose Marti’s birthplace, two nights visiting colonial city Trinidad and sugar boom era city Cienfuegos, Bay of Pigs, Shrine of Saint Lazarus with Santeria lecture, Havana city tour with Cathedral and Plaza San Francisco, Old Fortress El Moro, Plaza of the Revolution.
2. Faith-Based Projects: Nursing homes for the elderly, center for bioethics, Jesuit pastoral projects, entrepreneurship training, women’s projects, after-school programs.
3. Environmental Awareness: Cuba has some of the most pristine parks and nature preserves in the Americas. Pinar del Rio is a lush area with orchid sanctuaries and tobacco farms. The Bay of Pigs offers and opportunity for snorkeling and learning about the marine environment. Zapata Park is home to birds found only in Cuba.

Tentative Schedule

• Fri 3: Departure, Havana dinner, orientation
• Sat 4: St. Lazarus Shrine, rural pastoral project
• Sun 5: Mass, Havana city tour
• Mon 6: Pastoral projects, Havana
• Tue 7: Pastoral projects, Havana
• Wed 8: Pinar del Rio, rural women’s project
• Thu 9: Bay of Pigs, Zapata Park
• Fri 10: Cienfuegos & Trinidad
• Sat 11: Return to Havana, Mass
• Sun 12: Return flight

Timing

$1,500 non-refundable deposit due 1 December. Remainder 1 February, 2023

Included

Airfare, accommodations, all meals outside airports, Cuban tourist visa, travel/health insurance, Cuban health insurance, ground transportation + driver tips, stipends for speakers & guides, journal for
reflection, materials for travel preparation.

Not Included

Luggage fees, hotel fees (safe, tips, etc), activities outside schedule, transport to US airport, any other type of Cuban visa needed.

This proposal is based on an average price of $38/person/night. If for some reason there is a sudden spike in hotel prices, there will need to be an increase in the total fee. If reasonable flight schedules are not available at $650 at the time of booking, there will be an increase in the total fee.

Accommodations

Restrictions from the US government prevent use of government-owned hotels in Cuba. Privately owned hostels and B&Bs will be used. Students will have to share rooms. While we avoid it, there is the chance that some students may need to share beds part of the time.

Visa

For the proposed activities and accommodations, a tourist visa is normally what Cuba requires. If an individual for some reason needs a special visa for Cuba (usually just for persons born in Cuba), they will need to obtain and pay for the visa themselves.

Register

For further information, please contact Fr. Bao Nguyen, S.J., Ph.D. 
bqnguyen@loyola.edu 
410-617-7088