Educational Tour: Cuba 2.0
We’re baaaaaack!!
Semester Two is up and ready for you to explore new sides of Cuba. We’re taking you back to Havana for an all new itinerary and this time, we’re adding a trip to Matanzas!
This 5-night/6-day trip is a chance for anyone who came to our OG Cuba Educational Tour to come back and learn even more about this magical island.
I know you didn’t think we were done!
The Highlights:
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Learn
What it’s like to cook like a Cuban including the process of purchasing ingredients.
Rumba with Cuba’s Grammy Award winning dance group.
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DINE
At Havana’s only restaurant owned by a Chinese Cuban descendant.
Riverside along Matanzas’ famous art district.
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EXPLORE
Barrio Chino! Take a stroll through the history of what was once the world’s largest Chinatown.
The art galleries of Matanzas.
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STAY
5 nights, 6 days split between Havana & Matanzas.
Stick with double occupancy pricing to get a roommate or book a private room!
The Curriculum
Day 1
Welcome Back!
Touch down Havana! Say hello to your old friends Ernesto y Marlen! We’re sure you’re hungry so we’ve got you down for our first activity: CUBAN COOKING CLASS.
This isn’t just any old cooking class, you’re cooking CUBAN STYLE! What exactly does that mean?
Well, you’ll each be assigned to a Cuban person. They will tell you what their MONTHLY state-assigned salary is. With that sum, you will go off to find the ingredients on the street for a traditional meal of ROPA VIEJA. We’ll provide a list of ingredients, cash, and off you go!
You’ll have 3 hours to gather all the ingredients with your assigned guide. With what you end up collecting according to your budget and the availability of ingredients in stores, we will (hopefully) be able to cook a delicious meal together at home where you’ll learn how to make Cuba’s most famous traditional meal.
Day 2
Barrio Chino
Today we’re off to learn the incredible story of the CHINESE IN CUBA. The Chinese were kidnapped by British sailors during the Opium wars and sold off to Spanish landowners living in Cuba. This was because the Transatlantic slave trade was banned and therefore the Spanish had to look elsewhere for their slaves. Cue the Chinese…
Barrio Chino Havana was the largest in the world at one point in time. However, over time it has fallen into despair and have basically disappeared. But where did they go? Let’s go find out!
First stop: CASA DE PEDRO. Pedro was a Chinese Cuban historian and painter. Seeing that the history of Chinese Cubans was being forgotten he painstaking painted the history of the Chinese in Cuba on his house. Today we will go visit his family as they explain the history of the Chinese in Cuba.
Next stop: CHINESE CEMENTARY. The Chinese were not allowed to be buried in the regular cementary due to not being Christians. We will continue our lesson of the Chinese in Cuba over at the Chinese cementary so you can really see how big of a presence they had.
Lunch stop: BARRIO CHINO. We’ll head to the famous gates of Barrio Chino where we will eat at the only restaurant owned by a Chinese Cuban descendent who now heads the Wushu school where he will show you around his grounds and explain his efforts to preserve Chinese Cuban culture.
Last top: CASA DE GEORGINA. And finally we will end at the house of the LAST LIVING CHINESE CUBAN where she will go through old photos and explain her efforts as the last living Cantonese singer in Cuba.
Day 3
Matanzas!
Today we’re headed to Matanzas! Just a 2-hour drive away from Havana, you’ll immediately feel the difference in culture in the air.
Our first stop is LA RUTA DE ESCLAVOS or Slave Route where we will stop at the Slave Castle and learn from the museum director of what went down in this Slave Castle.
Next we’re headed to see what their descents are doing. We’ll head to the street of MUNEQUITOS DE MATANZAS, a Grammy winning Rumba group where they will explain the importance of their presence in Cuban culture, how their music and dance is tightly bound to religion, how their practice grounds is an Abacua temple, and you’ll take a dance class yourself!
What other Reroot travelers are saying:
Day 4
Create Your Own Art
Today we will have a tour of the city! Head out with Ernesto to check out all the art galleries, learn the history of the city, visit puppet galleries and finally do your OWN ART.
Ernesto has started a series called APAGONES where he makes one art piece every time there is black out in Cuba. You will work with what you can and do art in the darkness with what you have just like Cubans have to do due to the lack of electricity thanks to the U.S. Blockade.
Day 5
Beach Day!
FINALLY! Your rest day! Head out to the famous Varadero beach! Cuba’s nicest, clearest, white sand beach where you’ll enjoy the day seaside!
Day 6
Class Dismissed!
Your second semester comes to an end today. Taxis will be waiting to take you to Havana to catch your flights!
As always, it’s not goodbye but see you soon!
Book Your Spot!
Starting At : $2,590
All quoted prices are per person based on double occupancy (shared rooms).
Private rooms are available at an additional cost.
A $350 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot.
What’s included:
All Reroot classes
All accommodations
Daily Breakfast & Lunch
Airport Transfers
Ground Transportation**
An English-Speaking Guide
**For nights out, you’ll be responsible for your taxis home. Our guides will instruct you how to catch one.
What’s not included:
Airfare
Entrance/VISA fees
Dinner
Alcohol
Souvenirs
Join a trip in 2025!
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-Semana Santa-
April 17 - 22, 2025
Starting at $2,590
Double occupancy
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-Juneteenth-
June 19 - 24, 2025
Starting at $2,590
Double occupancy