Cuba | Agroecological Farming and Sustainability

Depart for Havana from your home city this morning. Upon arrival at José Martí International Airport, after clearing customs and collecting your luggage, you will be met by your guide and driver and taken to your hotel for check-in and a quick orientation to the area. If time permits, explore your new surroundings before meeting back together at the hotel to walk to the first delicious meal of the trip at a paladar, a family-run restaurant, near the hotel.

Learning about the history and culture of Cuba and the area known as Old Havana is vital to this journey. This morning, venture out on a walking tour of the city with your guide, who can complement your experience with knowledge of the past, present, and future of the people of Cuba. Visit the main office of the Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation for Nature and Humanity (FANJ), a cultural and scientific non-governmental institution dedicated to the research and promotion of programs and projects that contribute to the sustainable development and improvement of quality of life and the environment on the Island. Additionally, visit La Felicidad, a permaculture garden associated with the FANJ. Later, have lunch at El Jardín de Los Milagros (The Garden of Miracles), another great farm-to-table paladar. In the evening, enjoy dinner at another paladar within walking distance of the hotel.

This morning, visit Finca Marta, an agroecological family farm owned by Fernando Funes-Monzote. In 2008, Finca Marta began its practice with management strategies striving to improve environmental and biodiversity conservation and sustainability, as well as contributing to better animal health and welfare, and developing grain-free strategies in animal feed. After exploring and learning about the farm and their practices, enjoy a farm-to-table lunch. This afternoon, meet with a professor at the University of Havana to learn more about how higher education institutions in the Island are approaching the subject of sustainability and conservation in their curriculum. This evening, have dinner at a local paladar.

Today, visit Organopónico Vivero Alamar, an incredible urban garden located outside of central Havana, widely considered one of the most successful organic farms in the city. Enjoy a tour of the farm to learn about the advances Cuba has made with respect to organic farming as a result of the Special Period, the years of economic crisis in the 1990s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. For this special visit, please dress appropriately to also work side by side with the cooperative owners on this urban collective farm. Savor the fruits of your labor for lunch before returning to the hotel to freshen up. Head out once again to explore the coast of Havana on a late-afternoon swim and delicious seaside dinner.

Early this morning, embark on the journey to the breathtaking area of Viñales in Western Cuba. The first stop en route is to visit Las Terrazas, a pioneering ecovillage established in 1968 as a reforestation project in the lush hills of Sierra del Rosario. It was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1984 and is considered an exemplary model in sustainable development. Enjoy some time to drink coffee, visit an artist's studio, and have lunch before continuing the journey. The next stop en route is at the Soroa Orchidarium, a garden built in the 1940s by Spanish lawyer Tomás Felipe Camacho to honor his wife and daughter. It is now considered a National Heritage Site as part of the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve, and it houses more than 20,000 plants, with 700 species of orchids, including more than 130 autochthonous ones. The garden is under the care of the University of Pinar del Río, which hosts a botanical research center and orchid workshops on site. After spending time in Soroa, enjoy the scenic drive to your accommodations in Viñales. Settle into the new space before joining the group for dinner at a local restaurant in town.

Viñales is located in the heart of Cuba's tobacco growing region in the province of Pinar del Río, so today after having breakfast at your casa, enjoy a visit to a local, family-run tobacco farm. Take advantage of this great opportunity to learn about the lifestyle and culture of this Cuban family. Then, enjoy the chance to have a hands-on farming experience during the visit, so be sure to dress appropriately. After your time on the farm, explore the fascinating Cueva del Indio, an ancient limestone cave set adjacent to hills covered in lush vegetation. The cave was home to Indigenous Cuban civilizations and features paintings and archaeological remains from pre-Columbian times. Board a boat for a short cruise through its underground world of stalagmites, stalactites, and more. Return to town for lunch and spend the afternoon exploring on your own. In the evening, enjoy a farm-to-table dinner at L'Armonia.

This morning, set out on a guided hike in Viñales National Park to discover the area's peculiar geological formations called mogotes, which are small limestone mountains with rounded tops, and marvel at the native flora and fauna, including the prehistoric cork palm. Valle de Viñales, as the park is also known, is one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in Cuba and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Later, enjoy a special lunch at El Palenque de los Cimarrones, a mix between a museum and a restaurant that pays homage to the rich culture and history of Afro-Cubans. Have a bit of time at leisure this afternoon before gathering for your last farm-to-table dinner at Finca Agroecológica El Paraíso, one of the finest farms in the area.

This morning, return to Havana. After the drive, spend the afternoon at leisure to explore Old Havana and have lunch on your own. There are many places to discover in this area, like the huge and captivating indoor market located on the docks of Old Havana, or perhaps a museum you missed earlier in the week. Early in the evening, gather together once again for a delicious farewell dinner at La Guarida, an emblematic paladar that was recognized as the best restaurant in Cuba in 2023.

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to José Martí International Airport in Havana for the flight(s) home.