Day 1: Havana
Arrive at Jose Marti International Airport & begin with a bus tour of Havana to familiarize yourselves with the area. After checking in at the hotel, attend a brief informational meeting to learn about Cuban culture & your visit. The rest of your evening will be spent enjoying dinner at a local restaurant & exploring the city’s cultural options.
Day 2: Havana
Today, visit the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, an agency specializing in relations with international guests. Then, drive to the Ministry of Public Health to discuss Cuba’s healthcare system. After lunch, visit a family physician’s office to learn about disease prevention & Cuba’s maternal-infant & senior care programs. Return to your hotel & enjoy dinner, followed by an evening walking around the city.
Day 3: Havana
After breakfast, take a walk around Old Havana to marvel at the architecture, visit a few public squares & dine at one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite restaurants. Next, visit the Leonor Perez maternity home to learn how the city addresses the needs of underprivileged pregnant women. Meet local artisans at the Almacenes de San Jose market & return to the hotel for dinner. The evening is free to explore cultural activities.
Day 4: Pinar del Rio
Hop on your coach to Pinar del Rio, a city about two hours away from the capital. Here, you will begin your day visiting students training to become health care specialists. After lunch, stop by a few primary healthcare training centers to see how international students are prepared for the field. Check in to your hotel, eat & meet with members of the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution - a group of men & women committed to protecting their communities from “counter-revolutionary” activity.
Day 5: Artemisa - Havana
Travel about an hour outside of Havana to the province of Artemisa where groups can spend the day at the Las Terrazas biosphere reserve. This is an eco-community of farmers, doctors, shop owners & families living in the Sierra del Rosario mountains. Students can meet with doctors & nurses at the medical center to discuss their healthcare practice within the community. Return to Havana, stopping by the Buena Vista Coffee Plantation to see the process of growing & manufacturing coffee beans. Check in to your hotel & enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Day 6: Havana
Begin your day at the Center for Prevention, meeting with specialists to discuss STI/HIV/AIDS prevention & sexual education. Then, visit the National Center for Sex Education to talk with professionals about sex education policies in Cuba. This includes information on the efforts to aid the LGBTQ community in Cuba. After lunch, visit a local health management training center & learn about mental health at a nearby organization. You will then meet with your guides to reflect on your time in Cuba & enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 7: Havana
Check out of your hotel & depart for Jose Marti International Airport.