DESCRIPTION:

The Cuba East to West workshop is a photographic exploration of communities reaching from Havana in the West, to Baracoa, on the far Eastern tip of the island, where crumbling colonial buildings, thatched fishing villages and palm-covered peaks sweep down to the sea.  Life happens outdoors: stoops fill like grandstands, alleys act as baseball diamonds for children, plazas as musicians’ stages and national parks expand as new frontiers. Cuba is a treat for photographers.  CUBA

 

With Fidel’s passing in December 2016, Cuba is on the brink of a shift that will likely cause a major transformation. For now, however, the island remains wholly unique: stunted but still stunning.

This photographic journey, will begin in the UNESCO city of Camagüey, where you will take your camera to beautiful plazas and maze like zigzagging streets, which were built to thwart invaders. You will visit local families, observe vendors selling their wares at the Agro Farmers Market and Santeria Market, visit
a music school housed in an old leprosy hospital, where you can meet students and attend rehearsals.

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On our way to Santiago de Cuba you will visit the town of Holguín, the nation’s fourth largest city and stop for a delicious lunch. Santiago de Cuba, set on the southeastern shores of the island, was established by Spanish conquistadores in the early 16th century and served as the capital of colonial Cuba, a battleground during the Spanish-American War, and the birthplace of the Cuban Revolution. Santiago de Cuba, Cuba’s second-largest city, has soul and is justifiably proud of its heroes, beautiful plazas and vibrant musical tradition. Proximity to Jamaica and other tropical isles has infused the city with a distinctly Caribbean spirit that is seen in its art, architecture, and particularly heard in its music. The city exhibits an eclectic assortment of architectural influences, from the imposing El Morro castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), to the exquisite colonial casas of Parque Céspedes in the historic quarter, to Cayo Granma, a picturesque island sheltered in the neck of the harbor, where you can mingle with the tight-knit island community, who are still recovering from the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Sandy and Matthew.

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On our way to our next destination, Baracoa, we will vist the town of Guantanamo, experience one of Cuba's most scenic drives along La Farola, a mountainous road that connects remote Baracoa to the rest of Cuba. Baracoa is an unspoiled paradise by the sea which was isolated until 60 years ago, with access only by boat.

 

Over the next days you will not only have a chance to visit Baracoa, but we will also explore remote fishing villages along the Eastern Coast that rarely see foreign visitors.

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From Baracoa we will board our plane that will take us to Havana for the last but not the least part of our journey. In Havana you will photograph the pulsating city and experience the different neighborhoods of Vedado, Havana Vieja, Miramar, and Regla.

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In Havana you will have a choice of activities, including dance rehearsals, a visit to the El Morro Fort, the Cristobal Colon Cemetery, a ferry ride to Regla, a visit to the Hemingway Museum, or Cojímar, a small fishing village east of Havana that was the background for Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea.

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You will receive lots of personal attention by your guide and photography expert Magdalena Solé in a small group of no more then 8 participants. Magdalena has photographed extensively in Cuba and has driven more then 10,000 miles crisscrossing the country in search of people and their stories. Born in Spain, she speaks Spanish fluently.

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PRICE INCLUDES:

In-country flight, round-trip airport transfers, every nights’ accommodations (based on double occupancy), ground transportation by modern air-conditioned bus, private English speaking national guide for entire tour duration. Most meals are included, please refer to itinerary for details.

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PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

Pre-tour flight and overnight stay in Florida, if needed. Round-trip flight from US to Cuba. Personal expenses such as alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, internet access, medical or evacuation expenses. Expenses caused by factors beyond our control like airplane delays, roadblocks, vehicle malfunctions, political disturbances, and special taxes are not included. Tips for our Cuban guide and our bus driver​ will be collected as needed.

Cuba Visa Fee and airport taxes are also not included.

Single accommodation supplement, if applicable, is US $600.

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PAYMENTS DUE:

Your deposit of $800 is due to reserve your spot on the trip, and will be applied towards the cost of your tour.

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The balance is due by November 31. 

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Please see our cancellation policy.

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PLEASE NOTE:

Please note that the travel costs for the trip might fluctuate before it is finalized due to rate changes beyond our control. We will make every effort to keep the costs the same.

 

DON'T FORGET:

To guarantee a spot you need to send in your deposit of $800 to SolePictures as soon as possible, as this trip could sell out quickly. Please fill out the sign-up form and send payment by check or credit card. 

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OFAC LICENSE:

Sole Pictures is authorized to provide photography workshops in Cuba under a general license for people-to-people travel pursuant to 31 CFR §515.565 (b) of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR). A general license authorizes persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction, including travel agents and tour group operators, to provide travel services in connection with authorized travel without the need for specific licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).  For a complete description of what these general licenses authorize and the restrictions that apply, see 31 CFR § 515.572(a) (1). MORE INFO