Cuba – Building Bridges

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Grassroots Expedition

8 Days / 7 Nights

$3,695 Adult / $3,495 Child

Volunteer alongside youth in a colorful Havana neighborhood. Engage in citizen diplomacy as relations improve between the U.S. and Cuba.

The Experience

Our most immersive, people-to-people journey through Cuba, this trip is built around community and cross-cultural engagement. The bulk of our time will be spent developing art projects with the youth who reside in an area of Havana called Lawton. Create ceramic tiles for the town’s murals, repairing the nearby soccer fields, play sports together along with a range of other meaningful activities.

In addition to connecting with the community, explore the main sites of Havana, a city overflowing with art, music and dance. Enjoy salsa dancing classes with the local community, visit the home of Ernest Hemingway and sample some its amazing cuisine. Take an overnight journey to the colonial towns of Trinidad and Cienfuegos, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Revel in a private performance by a Cuban Guitar Ensemble, take a walking tour through the cobblestone streets of Trinidad and relive history at the Bay of Pigs.

Legal, Immersive Travel To Cuba

Discover Corps offers a legal way to travel to the island of Cuba. We operate under the Support for the Cuban People license which ensures that you are traveling with an itinerary that will help support Cuban micro-entrepreneurs. Visit our Cuba FAQs page for more information.

Our Impact

The community of Lawton, just outside of Old Havana, was a typical barrio of Havana in distress. The economic hardships of the 90’s and lack of resources led to many children dropping out of school and urban decay to take hold. That was until a pioneering community art center called Muraleando was formed to help youngsters revive their neighborhood.

Today, Muraleando, which means “mural making” in Spanish, is a hub for creativity and a place for the community to come together to learn art, music and dance. Volunteer alongside this pioneering community by creating colorful ceramic tiles for the community and participating in dance workshops and sports games with the children, helping to both inspire children and continue the regeneration of their town.

Where You’ll Stay

During your trip, you’ll have the unique opportunity to stay in casas particulares, which literally translates as “private homes”. Casas are essentially family-run bed & breakfasts (think AirBnB’s with private breakfast in the morning). Families invest in making sure their houses are up to international quality standards, and they greet you with Cuban hospitality – but also give you the privacy and comfort you desire.

While houses vary in style from eclectic to classical, they all provide a comfortable glimpse into Cuban life. Our portfolio of casas particulares for this trip are located near Muraleando in the neighborhood of Lawton and have private bathrooms, air conditioning & a fresh breakfast each morning.

Itinerary Overview

Arrive in Havana and meet your guide before setting off for an introduction to Muraleando. The following day begin your project, creating art and learning printmaking and salsa dancing. Venture off to Trinidad and Cienfuegos to uncover the beautiful colonial architecture, quaint plazas and alleyways.

Return to Havana where we’ll continue our projects with the children at Muraleando. We’ll also take time to explore Havana’s oceanfront Malecon, visit Hemingway’s house and explore the charming old town of Havana for shopping and music. Say your goodbyes at Muraleando before flying home.

Optional Post-Trip Extension

Discover Corps’ post-trip extensions allow you to extend your experience beyond the core itinerary and explore unique corners of the destination.

Traveler’s Journal

“What makes international travel a beautiful experience for us is the opportunity to learn about the culture firsthand through its people, food, and music. Discover Corps designed this trip to Cuba with all of that in mind. We developed genuine connections with people we would have never had a chance to interact with otherwise, enjoyed so much delicious food, and heard music everywhere. The casa particular was an incredible opportunity to hone our Spanish and, for my 8-year-old daughter, to be immersed in the language for a week. Our tour guide gave us chances to make the trip our own during free-time and showed us the local perspective day after day.”
Cuba volunteer vacation

Ann L.

Milwaukee, WI.

Read More Discover Corps Reviews

Rating: 5/5 stars

Dates and Prices

Our trips are inclusive of all activities, lodging, transport and most meals to make your experience hassle-free.

$3,695 Adult

$3,495 Child

  • Double Occupancy Price. Children’s pricing applies to travelers 16 years old and younger sharing a room with an adult
  • Single Room Supplement = $500. This will guarantee you your own, single occupancy room for the entirety of the trip. If you are a solo traveler and would like us to match you with a roommate of the same gender, please book as double occupancy. See full details here.
  • Have questions about the logistics and legalities of traveling to Cuba? Contact us at (619) 758-3030.

What’s Included:

  • Bilingual expert Cuban guide & private Cuban driver
  • All meals in Cuba – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at restaurants or in Cuban families’ homes
  • 5 nights accommodation in casas particulares in Havana
  • 2 nights casas particulares accommodation in Cienfuegos
  • All scheduled activities
  • All in-country ground transportation and airport transfers via air-conditioned van
  • Tips for luggage handling, restaurants, and programmed activities throughout tour
  • Legal documentation of your support for the Cuban people program
  • 24-hour Discover Corps emergency hotline & turnkey service

What’s Not Included:

  • Tips for Cuban guide and driver
  • International airfare
  • Cuban visa

Dates

Our intimate, small-group departures consist of like-minded travelers. Don’t see a date that works? Want to make it private? Schedule a personal travel consultation and we’ll make it happen.

2024 Dates

October 6-13, 2024

November 24-December 1, 2024

December 26, 2024-January 2, 2025

2025 Dates

February 16-23, 2025 STS

March 23-30, 2025

June 15-22, 2025

July 13-20, 2025

July 27-August 3, 2025

October 5-12, 2025

November 23-30, 2025

December 26-January 2, 2026

2026 Dates

Feb 15-22, 2026 STS

March 22-29, 2026

April 4-11, 2026

June 14-21, 2026

July 26-August 2, 2026

October 4-11, 2026

November 22-29, 2026

December 26-January 2, 2027

Alumni & Family Discounts, Monthly Payment Plans, and More

Repeat travelers and groups are eligible for discounts. Looking for a payment plan to help manage your trip? Learn more here.

Customized Private Trips

Let us create a custom trip for your group. Learn more about custom group travel.