Explore the Music, Art, and Culture of Cuba with Spanish Professors Freddy Vilches and Megan McDonald

Participants are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Date: May 10th to 18th, 2023

Trip Length: 8 Nights, 9 Days

Group Size: About 16 to 20 participants

Cost

O $4,950 per person, in double occupancy ($750 Deposit plus $$4,200 Balance payment).

(When signing up for the double occupancy option, you must have your traveling companion confirmed. Travelers in double occupancy accommodations are responsible for lining up their own roommate.)

O $5,750 per person, single occupancy ($750 Deposit plus $5,000 Balance payment).

Please find the full itinerary here

Registration is here

Overview

This is an extraordinary trip to Havana with an excursion into the countryside. You will connect with Cuban citizens from all walks of life, including artists, educators and entrepreneurs, to discover the realities of this incredibly fascinating nation. Enjoy magnificent 20th-century architecture, spectacularly beautiful landscapes, an intriguing Afro-Cuban culture and a vibrant music, dance and art scene.

The journey will benefit from professor Freddy Vilches’ experiences in Cuba, and his expertise around Afro-Cuban music, as well as contributions by Spanish professor Megan McDonald. The seasoned staff from Project Por Amor, an artist-run organization bringing Cubans and Americans together, will secure all participants’ Cuban Visas, assist at Havana International Airport, and provide 24-hour program management. We have developed a once in a lifetime itinerary. Alumni, parents, and friends, we hope you will travel with us!

Highlights

• Private dance and music performances and visits with Cuban artists.
• Culinary adventures featuring traditional Cuban fare and nouveau cuisine in historic homes, on an organic farm, and dinner with a home-stay family.
• A sunset ride in restored convertibles through “The Paris of Latin America”.
• Excursions to Ernest Hemingway’s Cuban home, key museums, an outdoor book market, and a stroll through the Cuban tobacco-growing region.
• Facilitated discussions with local experts regarding architecture, Afro-Cuban spirituality, economics, history, and US-Cuban relations.
• Late night Jazz, dancing under the stars, and plenty of opportunities for exploration and discovery.

Note:

Airfare is not included. A number of flights on major airlines flying from major cities to Havana are available. Flight cost greatly depends on departure city but from the Pacific Northwest flights are typically around $650. You can purchase online or through your preferred agent. Staff at Project Por Amor are available to offer guidance ahead of you making your own arrangements.

TRAVEL INSURANCE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED for Lewis & Clark trips, please click here for more information.

Accommodations

These Boutique Hotels or equivalent:

Reserva Vedado, Havana 

El Candil, Havana

ARTeHOTEL, Havana

Private bed & breakfasts in local homes in Viñales Valley. 

Questions?

contact Andrew McPheeters, Associate Vice President of Alumni and Parent Engagement at: mcpheete@lclark.edu or 503-768-7936.

Learn More about Freddy.  

Freddy Vilches joined the faculty of Lewis & Clark College as Assistant Professor of Hispanic Studies in 2006. He received his PhD in Romance Languages at the University of Oregon, specializing in Latin American Literature of the 20th and 21st Centuries. More recently, Freddy produced a documentary about the Abakuá Society in Cuba, a mutualist Afro-Cuban society that has been a key contributor to the Cuban identity. Currently, Freddy is producing Conjunto Chappotín’s 70th anniversary album, one of the most important “son” bands in Cuba today. Future projects include a series of documentary films about the uses of solar and other renewable energies in Cuba.

His teaching experience covers all levels of language instruction and Latin American Literature, as well as an interdisciplinary course on Music in Latin American Cultures. He has published articles on Latin American poetry and fiction.