Photo-Feature by Cele & Lynn Seldon.
There may be no better way to immerse oneself in the enigmatic culture and people of Cuba than on small ship Cuba cruises with International Expeditions aboard the intimate 46-passenger Panorama. Here’s Part 2 of our 8-night voyage, which sailed from Havana to Cienfuegos.
Editor’s Note: International Expeditions’ current itineraries are land only as US citizens and most residents of the US are not permitted to cruise to Cuba. The cruise itinerary described here is no longer offered.
Part 2: This half of the story picks up after departing Havana…
Guanahacabibbes National Park
The next day was our first taste of the rest of our small ship Cuba cruise as we visited the Guanahacabibbes Peninsula and the Maria la Gorda beach resort. Located on the westernmost tip of the main island, the peninsula is home to several remote villages, as well as a local school in little El Valle. The uniformed school children were highly inquisitive, asking as many questions of us as we did of them. It was an eye-opening glimpse into how the Cuban rural school system operates and the importance that the Cuban people place on education.
Children in class at an elementary school in El Valle, a small rural town on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba. * Photo: Seldon Ink.
We also stopped at Guanahacabibbes National Park. Cuba’s first protected and preserved region after the revolution, the area became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1987 (one of six in all of Cuba) and a National Park in 2001. A major eco-tourism attraction, the National Park consists of about 125,000 acres, with more than 170 species of birds and tropical fauna, flora, and marine life.
The afternoon was spent at the dive resort of Maria la Gorda. Although a far cry from typical Caribbean resorts, the beach featured fine white sand, calm crystal-blue waters, and a chance to swim, snorkel, and lounge on the beach. A traditional Cuban barbecue lunch was served on the beach.
Swimming at Villa Maria la Gorda Hotel & International Diving Center, Maria la Gorda, Cuba. * Photo: Seldon Ink.
Isla de la Juventud
The next stop was Isla de la Juventud, or the Isle of Youth, the largest of the 350 islets of Cuba, with a population of about 100,000. Our day was filled with people-to-people activities, including: a visit to the local maternity house, where we met with doctors, nurses, and several expectant women; Museo Municipal (City Museum) and its history of this remote island; the island’s capital city of Nueva Gerona; and a visit to Presidio Modelo, the massive jail that once held more than 5,000 varied prisoners, including Fidel Castro and his comrades, in the mid-1950s. Today, the shell of Presidio Modelo houses a museum that offers a glimpse into the grueling penal system.
Presidio Modelo, the jail where Fidel Castro was held prisoner, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. * Photo: Seldon Ink.
Trinidad
After another day at sea, with more lectures, movies, and free time, we docked in the coastal colonial town of Trinidad in early-evening. A UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its pastel-colored 18th– and 19th-century houses, cobblestoned streets, palaces, and plazas, Trinidad was easily explored on foot with a group sightseeing tour and dinner at local a paladar.
Shopping for local artwork and handicrafts in the street market along the cobblestoned streets, Trinidad, Cuba. * Photo: Seldon Ink
The next morning featured more exploration, including stops at the Museum of Architecture, the Romantic Museum, the many palaces and churches surrounding Plaza Mayor, a visit to a scale model of the city, and people-to-people exchanges with local wood-working artist Lazaro Niebla and potter Chichi Santandar in their studios.
Lazaro Nieble in front of some of his wood carving portraits, Trinidad, Cuba. * Photo: Seldon Ink
Cienfuegos
From there, we rode about 90 minutes northwest to the town of Cienfuegos. This colonial town was initially settled by French immigrants and retains a French feel, with 19th-century buildings, a congenial street life, and a lovely waterfront that opens to the Caribbean Sea. An outdoor spit-roasted lunch was served at Los Laureles in Hotel Jagua, with stunning panoramic bay views from the rooftop.
Traditional pig roast and lunch at Dos Laureles in the Hotel Jagua, Cienfuegos, Cuba. * Photo: Seldon Ink.
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral along Parque Jose Marti, Cienfuegos, Cuba. * Photo: Seldon Ink
After lunch, we were treated to an array of the city’s charms including: a festive and interactive children’s musical performance of “La Cucarachita Martina” at the Julio Antonio Mella Cultural Center; a walking tour of central José Marti Park, with its Arch of Triumph, Tomas Terry Theatre, and the Cienfuegos Cathedral; an inspiring and elegant choral performance by the Cienfuegos Choir; a visit to a graphic artist studio; and free time to shop along Paseo El Prado.
People-to-people children’s musical performance of Cucarachita Martina at the Julio Antonio Mella Cultural Center, Cienfuegos, Cuba. * Photo: Seldon Ink
After our last dinner and evening onboard Panorama, we packed our bags and set out early the next morning by bus to Santa Clara for our flight back to Miami. Girded for a reprise of our rather chaotic arrival in Cuba at Havana Airport, we were pleasantly surprised when our final people-to-people experience was met with few crowds, a serene calm, and an on-time departure.
Statue of Jose Marti in Parque Jose Marti, Cienfuegos, Cuba. * Photo: Seldon Ink.
International Expeditions sets sail for Cuba with seven Cuba Voyages in 2018, sailing from Cienfuegos to Havana. The 9-night 2018 itineraries include 7 nights on board, one night in Miami pre-cruise, and an overnight stay in the Viñales Valley, allowing passengers fewer sea days and the opportunity to experience the stunning mountain vistas. With all cruises, but especially cruises involving Cuba, itineraries are subject to change.
N.B. Because of recent US Government regulations, U.S. citizens and most permanent resident are no longer permitted to cruise to Cuba. As the Editor’s Note says below, you may get updates by clicking on the link.
For more information about International Expeditions, go to ietravel.com or call 800-633-4734.
Editor’s Note: As with any travel, we would recommend staying on top of the Cuba travel policy changes in your resident country, as well as following International Expeditions notifications at https://www.ietravel.com/blog/what-people-people-cuba-travel.
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HEIDI SARNA
