In old Havana we will be housed in three or four privately-owned casa particulares in the Vedado quarter of the city, a residential neighborhood frozen in time, abundant with classic American cars and crumbling grand mansions. Built at the beginning of the century around a linear plan, it was inhabited by Havana’s rich families. The streets and sidewalks are large and many houses have gardens, which makes it a lovely neighborhood to walk around. Our Vedado casas are in easy walking distance of each other and of the historic center of the city and many cultural attractions, including the broad esplanade of the Malecón, the Paseo del Prado, Central Park, the University of Havana, and the Gran Teatro de La Habana.
In Matanzas we will stay in two or three privately-owned houses that have been converted into hostels. Matanzas is called the City of Bridges, for the seventeen bridges that cross the three rivers that traverse the city (Rio Yumuri, San Juan, and Canimar). For this reason it was referred to as the “Venice of Cuba.” (It was also called “La Atenas de Cuba” —”The Athens of Cuba”—for its poets.) Matanzas is known as the birthplace of the music and dance traditions danzón and rumba.
Most rooms in both Havana and Matanzas will be double occupancy. In Havana we expect to have a few rooms available for single occupancy for a singles supplement of $100.