Cuba: Discovering Its People and Culture
WASHINGTON—National Geographic Expeditions today announced an exciting new travel program in Cuba, with departures beginning in November 2011.
Cuba: Discovering Its People and Culture will launch in November thanks to a special license issued to National Geographic by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. This innovative program focuses on intimate encounters with Cuba’s people, from the urban neighborhoods of Havana to the tobacco farms of Viñales Valley. During specially designed activities, travelers will have the opportunity to meet and engage with Cubans in diverse settings and learn about this fast-changing nation through Cubans’ eyes. Drawing on its mission to create dynamic, thought-provoking travel experiences, National Geographic Expeditions has arranged for informative meetings with Cuban historians, teachers, musicians, naturalists and others. Among the highlights, travelers will learn about the restoration of Old Havana from local preservationists, visit the Bay of Pigs with Cuban veterans and talk with young artists who are reshaping the cultural landscape.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity to discover Cuba at its most personal and authentic,” said Lynn Cutter, National Geographic’s senior vice president, Travel and Business Development. “We’ve tapped into National Geographic’s network of experts and resources in Cuba to craft an exciting, immersive program, one that provides a true insider’s perspective and an interactive dialogue through encounters with local Cubans.”
On each departure, a National Geographic expert will serve as an ambassador between travelers and the Cubans they meet and will provide insights along the way. Upcoming departures will include such esteemed experts as travel writer and photographer Christopher Baker, whose award-winning books include “Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba,” and writer Tom Miller, an authority on Cuba and author of the acclaimed “Trading with the Enemy: A Yankee Travels Through Castro's Cuba.”
Cuba: Discovering Its People and Culture is a 10-day program departing in 2011 on
Nov. 26, Dec. 10 and Dec. 24. In 2012, departure dates are Jan. 7, Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Feb. 18, March 10, March 24, April 7, April 21 and May 12. To learn more about this program, visit www.
The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than
400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; live events; interactive media; merchandise; and travel programs.
In addition to National Geographic Expeditions, National Geographic Travel includes National Geographic Adventures and National Geographic Student Expeditions with expeditions to more than 60 destinations across all seven continents. Many of these trips are accompanied by top National Geographic experts whose insider perspectives enrich each travel experience. All proceeds from National Geographic’s travel programs support the Society’s aim of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography, education and research. National Geographic has funded more than 9,600 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.