21 December 2004
Dear Friends
Revolution Route Study Tour. Exploring Cuba’s Western Provinces
09 - 23 November 2005
Thank you for your enquiry about the Cuba Solidarity Campaign’s Revolution Route Study Tour, exploring Cuba’s culture and society in the western provinces. The Cuba Solidarity Campaign are running this tour in association with Havanatour (ATOL 4636), the UK’s leading Cuba specialist, and I have pleasure in enclosing the tour itinerary, booking conditions and Booking Form for your information.
Revolution Route Study Tour provides an exciting opportunity to meet the Cuban people in their neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools and hospitals with time to relax and enjoy the local entertainment, stunning scenery and beautiful climate. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the real Cuba away from the usual tourist trail and experience the achievements of the Revolution as well as the problems caused by the US blockade of over forty years.
Visit Cuban health care centres, schools, work places and farms.
Soak up the delights of Havana, Cuba’s captivating capital city.
Visit Che Guevara’s secret military HQ during the Cuban missile crisis.
Meet Cuban families at a neighbourhood Committee for the Defence of the Revolution.
Visit the historic town of Santa Clara where Cuba’s revolutionary hero Che Guevara intercepted Batista’s troop train and his evocative mausoleum.
Explore Cienfuegos, the Pearl of the Caribbean, and the stunning Botanical Gardens.
Visit the dramatic Viñales Valley with soaring limestone mogotes rising 100 metres from the valley floor.
Explore one of Latin America’s largest underground cave networks.
Relax on Cuba’s pristine white sandy beaches.
Study Cuba’s famous cigar making process, from cultivation to packaging the final product.
The full cost of this unique 13-night tour is £1,299.00.
Father Geoff Bottoms will be leading the tour. Father Bottoms has successfully led several Cuba Solidarity Campaign study tours to Cuba and has travelled extensively throughout the island. He has a wide and detailed knowledge of Cuban politics, culture and society. Father Bottoms is Chair of CSC Miami 5 Campaign and has made several solidarity visits to the families of the Miami Five in Cuba and Gerardo Hernandez and Ramon Labañino, two of the Miami Five political prisoners, imprisoned in US Lompoc and Beaumont prisons and attended their appeal hearing in Miami in March 2004.
Accommodation & Meal Plans
Hotel Plaza. 3 star. 05 – 09/11/2005. 4 nights. Bed & breakfast.
Hotel Los Jazmines. 3 star. 09 – 14/11/2005. 5 nights. Bed & breakfast.
Hotel Jagua. 3 star. 14 - 17/11/2005. 3 nights. Bed & breakfast.
Hotel Plaza. 3 star. 17/112005. 1 night. Bed & breakfast.
Flight Times
Cubana Airlines.
Outbound: 05 November 2005. CU401. London Gatwick (South Terminal) to Havana, touching down in Holguín, eastern Cuba. Depart: 1255. Arrive: 2130.
Inbound: 18 November 2005. CU400. Havana to London Gatwick. Depart: 2210. Arrive: 1255 (19 November 2005).
Flight times are subject to final confirmation by the airline. Joining instructions, flight tickets and Cuban tourist cards will be issued nearer to the departure date.
Itinerary
|
Day |
Morning |
Afternoon |
Evening |
|
09 Nov |
|
|
Arrive Havana. |
|
10 Nov |
William Soler Childrens’ hospital. |
Meeting with ICAP and FMC representatives. |
|
|
11 Nov |
Julio Mella primary school.
|
Local farmers’ market. Statue of Christ in Casablanca.
|
Canon ceremony at Morro Cabañas. |
|
12 Nov |
City tour Old Havana. Museum of the Revolution. Lunch at El Patio restaurant. |
Plaza de la Revolución José Martí monument. |
Optional visit to Tropicana cabaret. |
|
13 Nov |
Visit to Cojimar. |
Transfer to Viñales.
|
|
|
14 Nov |
Rural school in Viñales. |
Republica de Chile State Farm.
|
|
|
15 Nov |
Federico Engels Technical School. |
City tour of Pinar. Entrance to cigar factory. |
Local CDR. |
|
16 Nov |
Tour of the Viñales Valley. Santo Tomás caves. Los Malegones museum. |
Lunch and relaxation on beach at Cayo Jutías restaurant. |
|
|
17 Nov |
Tobacco farm. |
Los Portales caves. Che’s HQ during Missile Crisis. |
|
|
18 Nov |
Transfer to Cienfuegos. |
Bay of Pigs Museum.
|
|
|
19 Nov |
Karl Marx cement factory. |
Cienfuegos Botanical Gardens. |
|
|
20 Nov |
City tour of Cienfuegos,City Museum, Tomás Terry theatre. |
Lunch at Palacio del Valle. Playa Rancho Luna. |
|
|
21 Nov |
Transfer to Havana via Santa Clara. |
Che Guevara mausoleum & museum. Tren Blindado. |
|
|
22 Nov |
Cardiological Institute. |
Free afternoon. |
Evening departure from Havana International Airport. |
|
23 Nov |
Arrive London. |
|
|
What is included: return flights with Cubana Airlines from London Gatwick to Havana, UK Departure Tax, Cuban Tourist Card (visa), 13 night’s accommodation (detailed in attached itinerary) based on two people sharing twin rooms with en suite facilities, all meals listed in the meal plan arrangements, services of an English speaking Havanatur guide and the Cuba Solidarity Campaign’s Tour Leader, air conditioned transport as per itinerary in Cuba and entrance to all visits and excursions, other than those marked as optional, listed in the itinerary.
What is not included: travel insurance, which can be obtained directly from Havanatour (£48 for up to 17 days cover), transfers to and from the departure airport (Gatwick), Havana airport departure tax (CUC25 Cuban Convertible Peso as at January 2005), single room supplement (£125.00 per person) if required and any services not listed as included. All drinks are excluded.
To confirm your participation please complete and send the enclosed Booking Form with your deposit of £100 per person, made payable to ‘Havanatour UK Ltd’ to Nikki Axelsen, Groups Coordinator, Havanatour, 3 Wyllyotts Place, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 2JD. The deposit is used to secure your flight booking. Once made the deposit is non-returnable.
All flights are subject to availability at the time of booking. Please ensure that you have fully read and understood the Havanatour booking conditions. Full payment will be required by 19 September 2005.
If you would like to discuss the Revolution Route Study Tour in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me at the Cuba Solidarity Campaign offices on 020 7263 6452 or e-mail me at tours@cuba-solidarity.org.uk
With very best wishes
Simon Bull
Tours Manager
Cuba Solidarity Campaign
c/o The Red Rose Club
129 Seven Sisters Road
London N7 7QG
Tel: 020 7263 6452
Fax: 020 7561 019