Now is your opportunity to travel to Florida’s island neighbor just 90 miles off of Key West with an OLLI at Eckerd College-curated experience. You will see the island with Eckerd staff who lead an active program designed to immerse you in Cuban culture and history.
We are limited to 25 participants on a first-come, first-served basis and this trip always sells out quickly. The group will depart from Tampa on a non-stop Southwest flight and be greeted by our local guide, who will be with us for the full trip. We will arrive in Havana in time for breakfast.
Dates
- January 7-12, 2025
- February 4-9, 2025
- March 25-30, 2025
- December 3-8, 2024 (sold out, waitlist open)
Itinerary Information
(Please note that the itinerary is subject to change and we cannot guarantee details at this time.)
We depart on Tuesday morning from Tampa International Airport on a nonstop morning flight.
Days 1-4 in Havana
Tuesday-Friday are spent discovering Havana and the old neighborhoods steeped in art and history. In addition to museum tours and lectures from University faculty on the Cuban economy and art, we will meet renowned artists and writers, see a documentary by an internationally-known Cuban filmmaker who will be with us to discuss the film, and enjoy a guided walking tour to learn about the historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where we will be staying. In the past, we have been able to meet with the head of the US Embassy, the Charge de Affairs, and depending on his schedule, we may be able to hear from him again. We will enjoy fabulous meals at top restaurants and meet with many locals to have a true immersive experience discovering things that are not traditionally included in tour packages.
Days 5-6 in Playa Giron Area
On day 5, we depart Havana in the early afternoon and journey to the countryside to explore the beautiful scenery of the island. On our way we will tour Vigia La Finca, the famed Hemingway home where he lived for 20 years and wrote The Old Man and the Sea. We will stay two nights in the sleepy little village of Playa Larga, where we will visit the Cuban museum to the Bay of Pigs invasion, and enjoy hearing from two marine biologists who study the reefs and will tell us about the health of the bay. Then we will snorkel a pristine reef with our marine biologist guides. If snorkeling isn’t for you, there is an optional visit to a hummingbird sanctuary (Zunzuncito House), where you can see the world’s smallest bird, a hummingbird that resides only in that part of Cuba.
Traveling with an Eckerd-only group means that you may already know someone else who is going and you already share a common interest. Plus, the staff know you and have worked to make the trip specific for Eckerd adult learners.
This trip is designed for the very active traveler and includes significant amounts of walking and stairs. Elevators are non-existent in Cuba and stairs, often steep, are prevalent.
OLLI members, Eckerd Alumni, families and friends welcome!
Your registration fee includes the following:
- Round-trip nonstop airfare on Southwest airlines (Tampa to Havana)
- Cuban travel visa
- Travel in Cuba via modern, air-conditioned motor coach
- Accommodations in comfortable B&Bs with air conditioning and private baths
- Professional Cuban guide
- Daily breakfast, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
- Entrance to numerous museums, activities, including snorkeling on a coral reef in the Bay of Pigs
- Exclusive speakers - we'll meet a professional economist, artists, scientists, and more
- Emergency medical insurance
- and More!
Once registration closes, we will schedule a pre-departure meeting to review the itinerary and important details. Please click here to see additional information and FAQs.
Note: International travel programs are only available to those affiliated with Eckerd College. If you are not currently an OLLI or ASPEC member or an Eckerd College Alumni, please add an OLLI membership to your cart, as well. Any level of membership is acceptable.
Refund Policy
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Please note that the refund policy for travel is different from the regular OLLI course cancellation and refund policy.
Refund requests must be made in writing by emailing Judy Tilton, tiltonjd@eckerd.edu.
Requests received:
- 90 days or more before departure date — 100% refund
- 60 days before departure date — 50% refund
- 45 days before departure date — 25% refund
- <45 days before departure date — 0% refund
No refund will be issued for the following:
- If a participant fails to make their flight.
- If a participant leaves the program early.
All registrations canceled less than 90 days prior to departure will be assessed a $100 administrative fee.
By submitting a registration and payment today, you are acknowledging that you understand our refund policy.
After submitting this registration form, you will be taken to a secure payment page. You will receive an email confirmation and receipt. If you have any problems with payment, please contact Judy Tilton, tiltonjd@eckerd.edu or call 727.864.8290.