SOLD OUT: The Heart and Soul of Cuba
At a Glance
Trip Description
Supporting the Cuban People, Savoring the Culture
Sleek classic convertibles. Intoxicating rhythms. Art on every corner. Cigars. Rum. Dancing. All only 90 miles from the U.S. mainland. Our guide–a Cuban woman our age–makes the culture and history accessible and keeps the days extra entertaining. Come explore Old Havana (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and the surrounding area on this immersive and empowering trip.
You can watch a recording of our information session here to meet our guides and find out more about the trip.
Since we’re traveling under the “support for the Cuban people” program, our trip will be about much more than fun. We actually will be helping Cubans–specifically Cuban women–every day. By visiting their businesses and by donating needed items. On our last trip, NextTribe travelers came with suitcases full of medicine, clothing, personal hygiene products.
You’ll bond with your fellow travelers and give back as you meet artisans, musicians, and female entrepreneurs, and get a taste of the culture – and food, of course – that make Cuba so distinctive and memorable.
Double: $4,495
Single: $5,095
NOTE: NextTribe members receive a $100 discount on price.
5 Reasons We Love This Trip
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Photos
Map
Sample Itinerary
Monday, Feb. 17th: Welcome to Cuba
We'll enjoy dinner at one of many excellent restaurants and get to know each other.
Tuesday, Feb. 18th: Walking Tour and Dance Performance
Lunch will be in Old Havana at a privately owned restaurant that has raised the bar on Cuban gastronomy.
Next, we'll visit the Havana Compass Dance Company for a stirring performance which will get you clapping to the Cuban clave' beat. This is a mixture of many different types of music, salsa, afro-Cuban and flamenco. The color and sounds will be a highlight of your trip.
Before dinner, an American classic car will take us for a ride along the Malecon, down the Prado, through Chinatown, past the Plaza de la revolution to John Lennon Park and back to our hotel.
Dinner at another fantastic restaurant
Wednesday, Feb. 19th: Hemingway Museum, Dancing and Bongos!
We'll visit Ernest Hemingway’s home/museum in the outskirts of the city which is exactly as he left it! We will learn more about his well-known history and all his loves. We will be able to see his beloved boat Pilar (named after one of those loves!)
Lunch in the fishing village of Cojimar, where Hemingway kept his boat
Next, you'll be treated to a dance or bongo lesson and we'll do a little sight seeing at the Morro Fortress and the Hotel Nacional, where we'll enjoy a mojito and have some time to relax on the grounds.
Dinner on your own
Thursday, Feb. 20th: Vinales in Pinar del Rio Province Tobacco Region.
We'll lunch at Finca Paraiso, a farm to table woman owned restaurant with breathtaking views of this most stunning valley. The owner, Rachel will not only have you laughing, but you will be wowed to know that she was invited to the White House as one of Cuba's top female entrepreneurs.
After exploring the village of Vinales, we'll visit El Despalillo, a woman only factory that strips the veins from the tobacco leaves.
Dinner on your own at one of Havana's many fantastic restaurants
Friday, Feb. 21st: Fishing Villages and Artist Studios
Next, an authentic Cuban culinary lesson awaits in the private casa particular of La Lore! We will spend time learning how to cook traditional fare and enjoy the fruits of our labor for lunch.
After lunch you will have the afternoon to meet with the private female entrepreneurs of your choice who are located in Old Havana. You will have the chance to also support other locals as you venture through the back streets or you can even go to the crafts market for all artists in one spot. You decide.
Dinner and show at Casa Miglis
Saturday, Feb. 22nd: Murelando Community Project, Rap Artists & Farewell Dinner
We'll continue our musical adventure with a visit to the Murelanco Community Project. From a heap of garbage, this project arose. Witness how Cubans take care of their own by giving art and music classes to children on weekends. There will be a music demonstration and an opportunity to interact with the children. We will have a chance to buy art in the old water tank store, where some of the revenue goes to the project.
Lunch on your own in the town of Guanabo where you can enjoy the ocean and dine at one of the local restaurants.
We'll have time for a final stroll through the beautiful city before our farewell dinner. After dinner you may choose to visit FAC, Fabrica de Arte Cubano. This unique venue in an old cooking oil factory houses bars, lounges, shops, music and contemporary art.
Sunday Feb. 23rd: Farewell Cuba
Logistics
Fly into Havana's Jose' Marti International Airport (HAV). Several U.S. airliners fly into Havana including American, Southwest and Delta. You will be met at the airport by a professional driver who will transport you to our hotel. Please try to arrive in Havana before 5:00 p.m.
Before the trip, there will be a Zoom information session as well as a meet and greet a couple of weeks before the trip. As the trip nears, our travel manager will guide you through the guidelines and documents required for entry into Cuba.
We will ask everyone going on the trip install WhatsApp on their phones. We use a text group to stay in touch before and during the trip to notify you of any schedule changes etc. You may also want to get an additional text plan. Most major providers have international plans that include texting and roaming for a low price of roughly $10 a day.
If you want to extend your stay before or after, we can work with the hotel to arrange this.
If you have questions, please direct them to Marcy Mitchell, our travel manager, at travel@NextTribe.com.
What's Included
- 6 Nights Lodging in a 4-Star Hotel
- Breakfast Each Day
- 4 Dinners
- 4 lunches
- All activities on itinerary
- Private Guide Services
Migdalia, a lifelong Havana local with guide us through the city.
- Airport Transfers
A professional driver will meet you at the airport and transport you to our hotel and back to the airport for departure.
- Local Transport
A professional driver will transport us to all activites.
- Private Guide Services
Migdalia, a lifelong Havana local with guide us through the city.
What's Not Included
- Alcohol
- Gratuities
- Passport & Visa Fees
- Airfare
- Insurance
Gratuities to local guides, drivers, maids and hotel staff, travel insurance, round trip airfare, passport and visa fees, personal items such as phone calls, laundry, baggage fees and items not expressly listed as included.
Additional Add-Ons
Hotels
Our travelers love us (yay!)
Colleen M., California
What I love about the NextTribe trips is that there is so much camaraderie of other women that are like you, and then the fabulous things that the organizers puts together to give you that viewpoint, it’s awesome.
”Courtney M., Texas
What I love about NextTribe trips is that you get the experience from an insider’s perspective—someone that has ties to the community and focused on building relationships from the start. I’ve been on a trip with another women’s travel group that dropped a guide in, not personally knowing anything about the locale, traditions, or culture. She was there to make sure you showed up on time, got on the bus, etc. With NextTribe, you feel like you’re having a personalized experience with your best girlfriends.
”Donna B., Washington
I didn't know anyone going on the trip but that didn't stop me from signing up. I have learned that some of my life's greatest adventures have come from taking a risk and jumping in feet first. So glad I did with NextTribe! I may not have known anybody at the start, but now I feel like I know everybody.
”Connie B., Pennsylvania
I love to meet and interact with strong, mature women from across the country as we learn together.
”Leslie M., Georgia
I always come by myself on NextTribe trips because I like to meet super fun and interesting women. We're always doing fun and interesting things in great cities that you couldn't do on your own because you wouldn't know the people or places or the insiders.
”Teresa S., Kentucky
NextTribe fills the need I have to travel with older interesting women who are curious about the world and want to share the journey.
”We write articles about all our trips. Read about these special experiences.
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Frequently asked questions
What’s different about your trips?
We curate trips specifically for curious, engaged women over 45. You’re pretty well assured that your fellow travelers will be a lot like you–since you’ve all responded to the idea of “aging boldly.”. That means built-in compatibility in your small group, including the woman who is leading the adventure.. In addition to specializing in group travel for people who don’t normally like group travel, we also pride ourselves on creating experiences that allow you to interact with local women or get deeper into the culture than you would if you planned the trip yourself.
Where do you go?
We have a wide range of weekend jaunts here in the U.S. for those who want a quick getaway. We also love taking women to Mexico, where founder Jeannie Ralston used to live. We’re always talking about pushing boundaries, and we’re doing that in the geographic sense too. For those with more time, we offer trips all over Europe, to India, Vietnam, Peru (for a hike on the inca Trail to Machu Picchu). Soon, our travelers will be getting passport stamps in even more countries on six continents. Be saving those frequent flier miles!
What do you mean by transformational travel?
NextTribe is affiliated with the Transformational Travel Council, an international group of travel professionals dedicated to making the world a better place, one trip and one traveler at a time. We recognize that travelers, especially post-pandemic, are looking for more than just a date and a destination. They can shop for that anywhere online. Our community honors the intention behind a traveler’s investment in a trip. Our travelers want to have fun (we do too!) and to travel with a sense of purpose and belonging. That’s why we go to great lengths to provide ways for women to self-select by reading the articles in our magazine and the content of our website. If you like what you see, you’re likely to be a NextTribe traveler, and we look forward to seeing you on a trip soon!
What if I travel solo?
If you really prefer to book your travel yourself and go it alone, we applaud you. That’s brave and bold and we would never try to talk you out of it. But our trips are designed so that even a woman who’s used to traveling alone, or someone shy about meeting new people, will feel comfortable in our group. Our trip leaders are there to “read the room” and make sure everyone feels included and respected.
What if I don’t like group travel?
We don’t either! Not the way most groups do it. If you feel like doing what the group is doing, great! Join us for dinner or just some of the activities. All the benefits of solo travel and the comfort of being with a group. Our groups are small (normally around 12 to 14 women) and in most situations, you are free to opt out of an activity. We figure you’re grown-ass women who know what’s best for you.
What’s the price range of your trips?
We are committed to providing what we call “affordable-luxury” travel. Don’t expect
the Four Seasons, but who wants to stay in a gilded bubble anyhow? We always look for good value and offer wonderful hotels and memorable experiences that won’t break the bank and will get you closer to how locals live. Our prices depend on the length of the
trip and the destination. We offer domestic trips for under $2,000 for a shared room, which we encourage. If you don’t have a roommate we will match you with someone. Sometimes this has resulted in lasting friendships with new travel buddies., Some of
our longer trips–two weeks in India or Vietnam, for example–will cost between
$4,800 and $6,000.
What’s included in the price?
Our trips cover most everything you’ll need to dive into a destination. Hotels and most meals, plus special experiences such as hands-on classes and sessions with local artists, writers or entrepreneurs are almost always included, but each trip is different so please be sure to read The Experience and the itinerary. We occasionally have an add-on for an extra price, but those are clearly designated. What’s not covered as a rule are airfare, alcohol and tips.
Do you have payment plans?
We sure do. It’s easy to pay for our trips by setting up automatic credit card charges at regular intervals, interest free. Think of it as the layaway plan to feed your soul.
How do I get trip discounts?
Our NextTribe members get a discount on every trip. Plus, members are the first to hear about new trips and receive upgrades on rooms if they’re available. Check out our three different membership levels here.
What’s the average age of women on the trips?
We welcome all women over 45, but most of our travelers are in the 50 to 65 age range. More important than age is the spirit of the traveler–her curiosity about the world, and her eagerness to embrace new opportunities. We’ve found women of any age with those qualities fit in well with our groups.
What’s the activity level of the trips?
Most of our trips are geared for active travelers who like to walk–a rating of 3 on our 1-5 rating scale. Here are some examples of how we rate. A designation of 1 would be our beach trips, where it’s up to you if you’d like to stroll down the beach, or play in the waves or walk around the small town. Trips where we have dedicated transportation for much of the time (such as India) are a 2; Paris is a 3 because we believe the best way to appreciate a city is to view it on foot. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is a 4, because you’ll be walking up some hills (at 6,000 feet altitude) and occasionally on cobblestone sidewalks. Our Inca trail trip is a 5, as are our more adventurous outdoor trips.
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