Complete Cuba trip information as well as interesting newsworthy posts about Cuba, the Cuban economy, travel to Cuba, photography and the tsunami of change affecting US/Cuban relations.
Check out a recent exclusive written by our friends over at appleinsider.com.
In Cuba, Apple's Presence is at the Margins, by Stephen Silver
Artist Jose A. Toirac's art installation, which places Fidel Castro in iconic American advertisements (Stephen Silver)
The seventh book of the photography of Complete Cuba alumni has been published! This month, Joe Hohner, releases his book Vintage Cuba.
Read MoreReserve your spots now, the March 2020 Complete Cuba Northern Coast of Cuba trip is going to be fantastic. And we are limiting this to only 8-10 people. We will have experiences no other group tour operator offers and you will experience the Complete Cuba. Sign up today!
Last November, Complete Cuba travelers experienced an incredible sunset during their time in Santiago de Cuba. Amy’s photo of that sunset was recently chosen by the Havana Times as their photo of the day.
Read MoreAmy often takes breaks from her morning run to capture shots before others are out and about. One of her images, “Reflections,” was recently featured by the Havana Times as their photo of the day.
Read MoreComplete Cuba will announce 2020 legally approved trip opportunities in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to plan your 2020 experience of the Complete Cuba!
OnCubaNews reports that, “The trains with the new cars which arrived from China weeks ago will start working next weekend, the island’s Minister of Transportation Eduardo Rodriguez announced this Monday in a commission of the National Assembly of Cuba.”
https://oncubanews.com/en/cuba/new-trains-will-start-operating-in-cuba-with-lower-prices-than-for-buses/?fbclid=IwAR30k_xdfArLJ-M3DiuT3viWtaaFZXA4er0MqQTSIhMNkfQ4uknNJYJNOxY
We were the first company to take travelers to Hershey, Cuba, just 30 miles but a world away from Havana. This quick video from the Hershey Story Museum in Pennsylvania provides background on this “model industrial town" and shows how it looked back in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. https://bit.ly/2J3L14G
Want to learn more about Hershey, Cuba? This article from the Hershey archives describes the town: https://bit.ly/2J3L3cO and this 40 minute video goes in-depth on the town and its history: https://bit.ly/2X53rvS.
Visiting today shows you a unique part of Cuban history and daily life. Come see Hershey, Cuba for yourself with our October small group trip. There are only 2 spots left, email keith@completecuba.com today.
Are you watching Chernobyl on HBO? Did you know there’s a Cuba connection?
Read MoreWhen you think of how you’d like to spend your time in Cuba, do you ever imagine going to a movie? Probably not, but this essay about seeing movies in Cuba (both in traditional theaters and in small video screening rooms) argues that you should do it as a way to experience daily life:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/cubas-old-movie-theaters-make-delightful-destinations
Have you been thinking about traveling to Cuba for a long time?
Have you been to Cuba and just have the bug to go back so bad because you enjoyed it so much?
This Complete Cuba Habana 500 Años trip is going to be INCREDIBLE! Travel with Complete Cuba to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana. There is no better place in 2019 to celebrate the history of the western hemisphere.
THIS TRIP IS STILL SCHEDULED AND APPROVED DESPITE RECENT CHANGES IN US/CUBA POLICY.
SCHEDULE NOW BEFORE FURTHER CHANGES OCCUR.
Read MoreThe Cuban national baseball team was in Ottawa, Canada over the weekend. The national team’s manager, Rey Vicente Anglada, also manages Havana’s Industriales team, which some of our past travelers have gotten to see in action. This story discusses Anglada’s career and the Cuban team.
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/fathers-day-at-the-ballpark-cuban-style
Travelers from our March trip returned two weeks ago, and have been going through their photos. As always, our travelers captured some great images of Cuba far beyond the beaten path. (The trip included a visit to the rarely visited Isle of Youth, which contributed to some particularly great images.) But one of our favorites is this one by Dan Tamarkin from our time in Havana. Here, Amy is greeted by an old friend. If you want to experience the warmth of the Cuban people for yourself, join our email list now for first dibs at our next and last trip for 2019.
Photo by Dan Tamarkin
There is no question that Cuba is an incredibly photogenic place. There is never a lack of great subjects. Regardless of whether you are in Havana, Baracoa, or the Isle of Youth, photographers have subjects at the ready.
Complete Cuba travelers have published 5 books to date of photography from their travels to Cuba.
Now, there is an opportunity to have your Cuba photography recognized by Havana Times. The website also has an archive of the past winners if you are looking for inspiration.
This is the 11th year of their annual photo contest. 2018 saw 109 amateur and professional photographers submit for the contest. From the Havanatimes.org website, categories include:
Life in Cuba in 8-12 pictures. Please indicate the order which the photos should appear. Also send us a brief statement about your compilation of pictures. This category has a 1st prize of US $100, a 2nd prize of $75 and a Special Mention.
The Tourist World in Cuba. For this category you can send from 1 to 3 entries. The winning photo will have a prize of $75 and there will be a Special Mention.
Sculptures and Monuments in Cuba. For this category you can send from 1 to 3 entries. The winning photo will have a prize of $75 and there will be a Special Mention
Special Category for Nicaragua and Venezuela: Pictures of Struggle, Resistance and Repression. For this category you can send from 1 to 3 entries from either of the two countries. This category will have a first prize of $75, a second prize of $50 and a Special Mention.
The terms and conditions of the contest are clearly listed on their website (below), but there is no fee for entry. The deadline is November 1, 2019.
Complete Cuba looks forward to being represented well in the 2019 contest!
With travel to Cuba increasing each year, many people want to bring back a taste of the island. If you like rum, Cuba is a great place to be because rum is everywhere.
Check out part one of this recent article in Forbes for an in depth look at the Cuban rum industry.
This article reflects on cruise travel to Cuba. We have seen the tour groups that get a cursory look at a portion of Havana, if you want to have a real experience and meet people that aren’t paid to talk to you, consider travel with Complete Cuba.
Every year the number of tourist visitors to Cuba grows. In fact, Cuba has seen 12 consecutive years of tourism growth. While tourism brings needed capital to the island nation, it also brings change. If you want to experience the island that is so interesting to literary scholars, photographers, history buffs, environmentalists, conservationists, ethnomusicologists, cigar aficionados, and inquisitive travelers, the time is certainly now.
Check out this recent article in Forbes for more on the expanding travel industry.
It’s go time! In just 5 weeks, you could be experiencing the warmth of the Cuban sun and the Cuban people, traveling with a small group of interesting travelers.
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Thank you to all of our travelers in 2018! You make this all possible. It is with great gratitude we wish all of our travelers, readers, photographers, and prospective travelers Happy Holidays.
Amy & Keith
The New York Times calls it an “island that has played both paradise and prison.” Travelers on our March 2019 trip will call La Isla de la Juventud, the Isle of Youth, home for two days. Go beyond the headlines and join us in exploring the Complete Cuba this March. Get ready by reading the New York Times’ take:
You can check out the full details at http://www.completecuba.com/march-2019/, but highlights will include 4 nights in Havana, including a day trip to untouristed Hershey, Cuba, and an overnight visit to the Isle of Youth, the island that sits just 30 miles off the coast of Cuba but is rarely visited by Americans. Our March trip is acollaboration with Tamarkin Camera, America’s Premier Leica Specialist, so travelers will have the chance to borrow any Leica equipment they would like to try out during the trip, as well as additional photo walks with Dan Tamarkin. Check out http://www.completecuba.com/march-2019/ and email keith@completecuba.com to reserve your spot today!
Read MoreTravel legally to Cuba. Complete Cuba provides an opportunity to experience the untouched island of Cuba now. Explore the cities and villages of Cuba before recent reforms change the island forever -- all with a thoroughly researched, legal, people-to-people tour.
Travel to Cuba with Complete Cuba.
“I have carried a ThinkTank bag with me on every trip to Cuba. The quality and construction are some of the best in the industry and they have plenty of options for bags that don’t scream ‘camera bag.’ ”
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* Through our partnership with Creative Travel Inc., who has legally been providing OFAC approved programs to Cuba since 2012, we are still able to provide our clients private and legal programs to Cuba under the In Support of the Cuban People general license.
License Information In Support Of The Cuban People Available Upon Request Per Requirements of U.S. Law and Administrative Policy.
