CTG CUBA PHOTO SAFARI
Santa Clara - Trinidad – Cienfuegos - Havana
9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS
PRICES FROM: $6.520 USD Per Person
Enjoy an exclusive inside look of the Eastern portion as well as the capital city of one of the most photogenic countries in the world. With it’s unique atmosphere, landscape, and its irresistible photographic quality, Cuba is a dream setting for photography. During this 10 day photography workshop, with Julio Larramendi, renound Cuban photographer and professor at the University of Alabama, you’ll be able to capture some of the most beautiful magic Cuba landscape has to offer. You’ll photograph some of the most prestine landscape scenes known throughout the world. Along the way, you’ll be tutored and assisted by Julio Larramendi and other renound photography professionals and proferssors. You’ll also have time to relax and unwind at your hotel and around the city. It’s a perfect combination of relaxation and an enthralling forestall and city photography experience.
This program will give you the opportunity to explore Topes de Collantes’s nature reserve, the Nengoa trails, Sentries of the Melodic River trail, the city of Trinidad, the city of Cienfuegos and the capital city of Havana and many of its treasures.
You will be guided through this extravagant photo safari tour by professors Jorge V. Gavilondo, Chip Cooper and Julio Larramendi.
The objective of this photo safari tour is Fotografia de la Naturaleza y Reportaje y Ensayo by Julio Larramendi, El Retrato and Fotografia de Arquitectura by Chip Cooper, Procesamiento de Fotos by Jorge V. Gavilondo.
DAY 1
Miami – Santa Clara – Topes de Collantes
- Flight Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, US to Abel Santamaria International Airport, Santa Clara, Cuba. After immigration and customs clearance you will first meet your professional tour guide and driver.
- Transfer to Topes de Collantes
- Check-in at Los Helechos Hotel in Topes de Collantes
- Lunch
- Visit to the Hall of Art and The coffee House in Topes
- Free time
- Dinner
- Group meeting. Instructions on the program.
- Lecture and discussion about the history and ecology of the Topes de Collantes Nature Preserve, including current programs and uses of existing facilities in the town itself.
- Lecture and discussion Ecological Photography by Julio Larramendi.
- Free time.
DAY 2
Topes de Collantes
- Hike through the Nengoa trail featuring a walking lecture and discussion about ecological photography, flora and fauna.
- Lunch in a campesino house
- Hike through the Sentries of the Melodic River trail
- Return to the hotel
- Dinner
- Lecture and discussion about Portrait Photography by Chip Cooper and Arquitecture Photography by Julio Larramendi.
- Free time.
DAY 3
Topes de Collantes - Trinidad
- Breakfast
- Transfer from Topes de Collantes to Trinidad
- Visit the scenic overlook on the road to Trinidad
- City tour in Trinidad with Dr. Alicia GarcÃa, professor and expert on the history, preservation and restauration of Trinidad
- Lunch at the paladar Sol Ananda
- Visit to the Valley of Mills
- Return to Trinidad
- Free time
- Return to Topes de Collantes
- Dinner
- Lecture and discussion about the economic and social impact of tourism on campesino communities by professor José Vázquez.
DAY 4
Topes de Collantes - Cienfuegos - Havana
- Breakfast
- Transfer from Topes de Collantes to Cienfuegos.
- City Tour of Cienfuegos.
- Lunch at Paladar El Lagarto
- Transfer to Havana.
- Check-in at Hotel.
- Walking tour of Plaza de Armas, Avenida del Puerto, Malecón
- Dinner at Ambos Mundos
- Lecture: Impact of digital photography in contemporary photography by Jorge Gavilondo. At the end, critiques and final presentation rules.
DAY 5
Havana
- Breakfast
- Group meeting. Instructions on photo work to be done.
- Departure. Three groups:
- Group 1: Explore Barrio de Belén and Rafael Trejo arena
- Group 2: Explore Loma del Angel area
- Group 3: Explore Centro Habana area. South of Neptuno st.
- Return to hotel.
- Lunch.
- All three groups. Critique / Photo processing techniques. RAW (Adobe Camera RAW / Lightroom). Â Group 1 students bring 1-3 photos w/problems.
- Departure.  Three groups, three routes Centro Habana towards sunset at Malecón
- Return to hotel for downloading of photos taken.
- Dinner.
- Free time.
DAY 6
Havana
- Breakfast
- Group meeting. Instructions on photo work to be done.
- Departure. Three groups:
- Group 1: Explore Centro Habana area. South of street Neptuno.
- Group 2: Explore Barrio de Belén and Rafael Trejo arena
- Group 3: Explore Loma del Angel area
- Return to hotel.
- Lunch.
- All three groups. Critique/Photo processing techniques. RAW (Adobe Camera RAW / Lightroom). Â Group 2 students bring 1-3 photos w/problems.
- Departure. Three groups, three routes Habana Vieja towards sunset at Malecón.
- Return to hotel for downloading of photos taken.
- Dinner.
- Free time.
DAY 7
Havana
- Dawn patrol. Three groups return to hotel for breakfast
- Breakfast.
- Group meeting. Instructions on photo work to be done.
- Departure. Three groups:
- Group 1: Explore Loma del Angel Area
- Group 2: Explore Centro Habana area. South of Neptuno st.
- Group 3: Explore Barrio de Belén and Rafael Trejo arena
- Return to hotel.
- Lunch.
- All three groups. Critique/Photo processing techniques. RAW (Adobe Camera RAW/Lightroom). Â Group 3 students bring 1-3 photos w/problems.
- Conference about Havana and its restoration (Invited Professor)
- Unplugged. Free walk and shoot Havana
- Return to hotel.
- Dinner.
- Free time.
DAY 8
Havana
- Group meeting.
- Visit Parque de Trillo, SanterÃa-Callejón de Hammel experience
- Back to the hotel.
- Lunch.
- Visit El Vedado neighborhood. Work with models
- Groups 1 and 2. Upstairs and downstairs
- Group 3. Upstairs and downstairs
- Non-working groups walk and photograph nearby Vedado.
- Group meeting.
- Return to hotel.
- Work with photos for final presentation.
- Deliver 5 best photos (jpeg, 2000 pix longest side, 72 dpi, sRGB).
- Final presentation.
- Farewell dinner.
DAY 9
Havana - Miami
- Transfer to Jose Marti International Airport
- Flight Jose Marti International Airport, Havana, Cuba – Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, US.
What’s included
- Accommodations as detailed in itinerary
- Exclusive-guided programming, including; unique activities, access to Cuba’s famous places and private interaction with Cuba’s renowned experts
- Full-time experienced tour leader
- Full-time expert Cuban guide
- Meals while in Cuba, as delineated in itinerary
- Certification of travel to Cuba under the U.S. Department of the Treasury general license
- Small friendly groups of an average size of 15 pax
- All entrance fees to scheduled activities and events
- Flight package including; round-trip charter air from Miami to Havana, or other city in Cuba, Cuban visa, priority check-in at Miami International Airport, Cuban airport departure tax, and baggage fee for first checked bag
- All in-country ground transportation and airport transfers via luxury motor coach
- Private Cuban Driver
- Cuban health insurance
- 24 hour emergency customer service hotline
- Gratuities for luggage handling, restaurant service, and programmed activities throughout tour*
*Customary end-of-tour gratuities for the Cuban guide, driver, and tour leader are left to the guest’s discretion and should be based on your satisfaction with the level of service received.
What’s not included
- Pre-departure flights to and from Miami Florida US
- Pre-departure hotel in Miami Florida US
- Gratuity for tour guides and tour leaders
- Travel insurance