Colorful Cuba with Rhode Island School of Design

Overview

Dates & Prices

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 March 4: Miami – Havana

• Board your flight to Havana, Cuba
• Arrive at Jose Marti Airport in Havana, meet your guide and transfer to your Casa
• Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local paladar

Casa Brava Havana Dinner

Full Day Itinerary

¡Bienvenidos a La Habana! Upon arrival in Cuba’s vibrant capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site, meet our friendly representative just outside the arrivals terminal at Havana Airport. From there, board your comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle and transfer to your casa particular, your charming home base during your stay.

Settle in and enjoy a bit of time to relax or explore your surroundings at leisure. This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at a local paladar, where you’ll savor authentic Cuban flavors in a warm, intimate setting. After dinner, indulge in a quintessential Cuban tradition with a rum and cigar pairing experience, the perfect way to toast the beginning of your unforgettable journey.

Day 2 March 5: Havana – City Tour

• Interact with an art connoisseur in Museo de Bellas Artes
• Embark on a guided tour of La Habana Vieja
• Tour the famous community mosaic project, known as Fusterlandia
• Visit the pottery studio of artist Beatriz Santacana
• Enjoy a guided tour of Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) followed by dinner

Casa Brava Havana Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

There’s no better way to dive into Cuba’s dynamic art scene than with a local expert by your side! This morning, explore the impressive collections at Havana’s Museum of Fine Arts, where a knowledgeable Cuban art connoisseur will guide you through masterpieces by the country’s most celebrated artists.

Then, step back in time as you stroll through the labyrinthine streets of Old Havana. Along the way, soak in the city’s vibrant colors and colonial charm while visiting its four iconic plazas—Plaza de Armas, Plaza San Francisco, Plaza Vieja, and Plaza de la Catedral—each brimming with history and architectural beauty.

After lunch, discover the whimsical neighborhood of Fusterlandia, a living art installation created by renowned Cuban artist José Fuster, often called the “Picasso of Cuba.” His kaleidoscopic mosaics and sculptures have transformed this community into a joyful celebration of imagination and culture.

Continue to the private home and gallery of Beatriz Santacana, an acclaimed independent artist whose expressive ceramics and paintings have been showcased around the world.

This evening, experience the pulse of Havana’s contemporary cultural scene at Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), a cutting-edge arts collective housed in a repurposed factory. Here, visual arts, live music, dance, and culinary delights come together in a vibrant, ever-changing creative space unlike anything else in the city.

Day 3 March 6: Havana – Local Art Exploration

• Visit an art School, to meet with students and staff
• Be inspired in a visit to “Creative Cache” project
• Enjoy lunch at a local paladar
• Visit the studio of photographer Claudia Corrales

Casa Brava Havana Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

Today offers a deeper look into Cuba’s vibrant art scene and a chance to connect with some of its most innovative local artists. Begin with a visit to one of Cuba’s esteemed art schools, where you’ll meet talented young students, view their inspiring works, and learn about the role of art education in Cuban society.

Later, visit the workshop and community project Creative Cache, founded by two gifted female artisans who have earned international acclaim for their hand-painted fabrics. Watch a live demonstration of their intricate technique, hear their story, and take time to explore their stunning handmade collection.

After lunch, step into the creative world of Claudia Corrales, a young and renowned Cuban photographer whose work blurs the lines between fine art and interior design. Visit her studio, learn about her artistic process, and discover how her photography has shaped modern Cuban aesthetics.

This evening, enjoy time at your leisure—perhaps to relax, take a sunset stroll along the Malecón, or enjoy Havana’s nightlife and music scene. 

 

Day 4 March 7: Havana – Santa Clara – Trinidad

• Depart by coach for Santa Clara
• Enjoy a guided tour of Santa Clara
• Explore the architecture with a local university professor
• Continue to Trinidad for an evening at your leisure

Lola Trinidad Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

Depart Havana this morning and journey toward the colorful, colonial town of Trinidad. Along the way, stop in Santa Clara, a city rich in revolutionary history, for a guided visit including the Che Guevara Mausoleum. After lunch, continue exploring Santa Clara’s charming streets with a local university professor, who will share insights into the city’s colonial architecture and vibrant cultural life. As you stroll, stop by a few local design and fashion projects that reflect Cuba’s creative spirit and evolving identity.

Continue to Trinidad, one of Cuba’s oldest and most beautifully preserved colonial cities. Founded over 500 years ago and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinidad feels like a living museum, with cobblestone streets, pastel-colored buildings, and a rich blend of history, art, and music.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at your leisure—perhaps at a local paladar, a privately owned restaurant offering authentic Cuban cuisine. Afterward, consider joining the lively scene at Casa de la Música, where locals and travelers gather in the open-air plaza to dance, listen to live music, and connect over shared stories and rhythms.

Day 5 March 8: Trinidad and the surroundings

• Explore Trinidad on a privately guided walking tour
• Travel to the Valley de los Ingenios
• Visit the studio of Yudit Vidal

Lola Trinidad Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, set out on a privately guided walking tour of Trinidad’s historic city center, where the charm of Spanish colonial architecture comes to life along cobblestone streets lined with open-air craft markets, galleries, shops, and cozy bars. Visit landmarks such as Palacio Brunet and Palacio Cantero and learn about their cultural and architectural significance in the story of Trinidad.

Later, venture just outside the city to the Valle de los Ingenios, a series of three lush valleys that were once the heart of Cuba’s sugar industry during Spanish colonial times. Take in sweeping views of the landscape and visit the atmospheric ruins of San Isidro de los Destiladeros, a former sugar mill estate.

In the afternoon, enjoy a special visit with Yudit Vidal Faife, a renowned Cuban painter known for her vibrant works that reflect the heart and soul of her homeland. Take part in an immersive, hands-on experience as you create a piece of artwork together under her guidance.

This evening, enjoy time at your leisure. You might explore one of Trinidad’s lively music cafés, where the rhythms of salsa and Afro-Cuban beats fill the air—and maybe even join the locals for a spin on the dance floor!

Day 6 March 9: Trinidad – Cienfuegos – Havana

• Depart Trinidad on your way to Havana
• Enjoy a guided walking tour of Cienfuegos
• Exchange with the artists of “Art in Your Hands” project
• After lunch, continue to Havana

Casa Brava Havana Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, settle into your comfortable vehicle and make your way to Cienfuegos, a coastal gem often called “The Pearl of the South.” Known for its elegant French-inspired architecture and seaside charm, Cienfuegos is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On a guided walking tour, discover the city’s wide boulevards, historic plazas, and architectural treasures—including Cuba’s only triumphal arch, and several beautifully preserved buildings, statues, and palaces that tell the story of its unique heritage.
Next, visit the collaborative art studio Art in Your Hands, where a diverse group of local artists works across mediums such as painting, engraving, carving, and mixed media. Enjoy time to explore the vibrant gallery, meet the artists, and browse their one-of-a-kind creations.

After lunch, continue your scenic journey back to Havana, where the evening is yours to unwind or venture out and enjoy the city at your own pace.

Day 7 March 10: Havana – Authentic Cuban Experiences

• Participate in a Salsa dance lesson at Casa del Son
• Learn to prepare some traditional Cuban dishes in an inspiring cooking class
• Visit Finca Vigia, Hemingway’s home in Cuba
• Stop at Hotel Nacional for a fascinating cigar rolling demonstration
• Embark on a sunset ride in a classic American convertible
• Enjoy a festive farewell dinner with music and dancing

Casa Brava Havana Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Today is filled with authentic Cuban experiences that celebrate the island’s rich culture, flavors, and rhythms. Start the morning with a lively private dance class, where local instructors introduce you to traditional Cuban dances—then it’s your turn to step onto the floor and feel the rhythm for yourself! Next, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on Cuban cooking class, learning the secrets behind some of the island’s most beloved dishes.

After preparing your meal, sit down and savor the delicious results together.
In the afternoon, travel to Finca Vigía, the former hillside home of Ernest Hemingway, where he wrote The Old Man and the Sea. Supported by independent organizations, the home has been lovingly preserved. As you walk the grounds, peek through the windows to see the rooms just as Hemingway left them—lined with books, paintings, and personal artifacts. Don’t miss the tower where he wrote and his famous fishing boat, Pilar.

Return to Havana and stop at the historic Hotel Nacional for a cocktail and a cigar-rolling demonstration, a nod to Cuba’s legendary craftsmanship. Then, hop into a beautifully restored classic American car and cruise through the city on a panoramic tour, arriving at dinner in true Havana style.

This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a festive farewell dinner filled with live music, dancing, and a joyful celebration of your unforgettable journey through Cuba.

Day 8 March 11: Departure

• After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to the USA

Breakfast

Hotels

Lola Trinidad

Tourist Class

Casa Lola Trinidad is a family-owned and operated boutique residence ideally located in the heart of Trinidad, a World Heritage by UNESCO, founded by Diego Velázquez in 1514 under the Spanish crown. This colonial town is one of the best-preserved towns in the Caribbean, filled with stunning traditional mansions, private restaurants (paladars), and traditional trova houses. The best part: the casa is within walking distance of the Plaza Mayor, the heart of the town.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 12 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We don't offer travel protection for this package, but we encourage you to purchase your own policy.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about Cuba? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.