VIVA LA LENGUA™: HAVANA
Imagine touching down in a country shrouded in over a half a century of mystique...
Imagine being able to jump right into the rhythm of a country, without language being a barrier...
What if you could? What would you do?
We'll spend 5 days, 4 nights, in Havana, Cuba, on an all-inclusive, unique culturally immersive journey into Spanish language and Cuban culture.
Are you coming??
ITINERARY
Monday, July 15
Afternoon: Check in to your colonial villa and head to our orientation talk for an overview of the agenda, discussion about local transportation, nearby markets, internet access and other logistics. Enjoy our welcome reception at “AltaMira art loft” the home and studio of a family of artists. Enjoy wine and cheese and discuss with the family about Cuban culture and art.
Evening: Have dinner at Paladar Atelier. This restaurant is equally known for its atmosphere and exquisite cuisine. The lighting and textures of the house, which was home to a pre-revolutionary senator, coupled with walls adorned in modern art, create a cozy, but modern setting. Take in an evening stroll along the Malecón, Havana’s famous seawall.
Tuesday, July 16
Morning: After breakfast, enjoy a morning discussion with Raul Rodriguez, a professor/researcher and currently Director of the Center for the United States Studies at the University of Havana. Learn about the education system in Cuba and his experiences as professor at Cuba’s most prestigious university.
Afternoon: Walking tour of Old Havana’s Historic Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. Wander through the Plaza de Armas, see the Plaza de San Francisco, and visit the Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana. Have lunch at Doña Eutimia paladar. Explore Vedado neighborhood and its main landmarks, including the Christopher Colon Cemetery, the Revolution Square and the University of Havana, and a centuries-old mansion in Vedado neighborhood.
Evening: Enjoy dinner at Café Laurent, and a live performance by the Buena Vista Social Club at the Hotel Nacional.
Wednesday, July 17
Morning and afternoon: Take a day trip to the Viñales Valley, a National Monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take in a stroll with a local guide through the valley and tobacco fields and stop at the home of a local tobacco farmer, who will teach us about the cultivation and production process, followed by a rolling demo. Visit a private farm in the valley owned by the large family of Concha and Paco Hernandez and enjoy lunch. Explore downtown Viñales and visit the central plaza, walk through the main street and visit the local markets and small businesses (private restaurants, Airbnbs, craft markets). Stop at a casa particular and discuss with the owners about taxes, licensing, and other aspects of the private sector, as well as life in the countryside.
Evening: Return to Havana and enjoy the evening and explore Wednesday matinee with Reyna y Real at Casa de la Música or at Salsa Night at Salon Turquino.
Thursday, July 18
Morning: After breakfast, take a behind the scenes tour of Old Havana. Walk around the old city to witness Cuban life first-hand. Visit local bodegas, markets and the popular gathering places where locals play dominos and discuss about sports, transportation, jobs and other topics of their daily life.
Afternoon: Spend the afternoon at Playas del Este.
Evening: Enjoy our farewell dinner at La Guarida paladar and then enjoy Old and Central Havana under the stars, taking a stroll along Prado Boulevard, hanging in Central Park, and taking in the hustle and bustle of Obispo Street. Then head out for live music, art and dancing at La Fábrica de Arte Cubano or La Zorra y El Cuervo Jazz Club.
Friday, July 19
Morning: We'll check out and depart for the U.S
YOUR INVESTMENT
$3499
Payment plan (50% deposit due April 22, final deposit due May 13)
Viva la lengua™: Havana Includes:
~ 5 day, 4 nights in Havana, Cuba ~ Roundtrip flight from Washington, D.C. ~ Cuban tourist visa ~ Lodging in a homestay or (double occupancy) in a colonial style language villa ~ Airport transport ~ Meals (DAILY breakfasts. Lunch and dinner as stated in itinerary) ~ Ground transportation ~ All cultural intercambios and activities stated in the itinerary ~ Day excursions
+ Access to Viva la lengua: 4 weeks to conversationally fluent Spanish course (includes: course materials, live weekly group coaching, and personalized feedback)!!
Course access begins: June 14, 2019
Travel dates: July 15-19, 2019
Registration ends April 22, 2019!!
YOU'VE NEVER TRAVELED LIKE THIS BEFORE!
Payment options:
Stripe (Pay in full or subscribe to a payment plan):
Paypal (Pay in full or subscribe to a payment plan):
Meet your coach
For over 10 years, Dr. Aisha Z. Cort has been changing the lives of language learners. Dr. Cort is the founder of Hey Dr. Cort!, a company focused on bringing language to life for language learners of all ages via the VIVA LA LENGUA™ online Spanish courses and cultural immersion language tours to Havana, Cuba, Oaxaca, Mexico and Barcelona, Spain.
A heritage Spanish speaker, Dr. Cort earned her BA in Spanish at Yale University and her MA and PhD from Emory University in Spanish Literature. Her love and mastery of languages has allowed her to master 4 languages (and counting), travel to over 20 countries, and live in 3 Spanish- speaking countries. She has coupled her love of languages with her expertise as an educator in this premium course to help you reach your Spanish language goals.
Additionally, Dr. Cort is a full-time lecturer of Spanish at Howard University in Washington, DC. Her work with Hey Dr. Cort! has most recently been featured in Oprah Magazine and The Grio.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
FAQS and Cancellation
Refund policy: Please note that all payments for Summer Session courses (VIVA LA LENGUA: OAXACA, VIVA LA LENGUA: HAVANA) are non-refundable. Please try to make sure that you can attend the course and trip before booking it.
CFAR Insurance: I strongly encourage you to purchase ‘Comprehensive Cancel For Any Reason’ insurance (CFAR) within 10 days of your purchase, so that you'll be able to recover your investment from your insurance provider, should you need to cancel.
www.insuremytrip.com provides a variety of comprehensive cancel for any reason insurance options. Many CFAR insurance plans include medical insurance.
NOTE: CFAR insurance may only be available to citizens of the US and Canada. Citizens of other countries may not be able to recover the costs of their experience if they have to cancel after purchasing.
FAQ: Why isn’t my deposit refundable? We have to prepay vendors for the experience; therefore, we cannot offer refunds after participants make deposits. However, your travel insurance should cover a myriad of situations in which you may need to cancel your trip.
What insurance is required? Travel medical insurance is required. For travel medical insurance, our minimum insurance policy coverage for medical emergency evacuation and repatriation is USD $200,000 (or equivalent in other currencies). We will verify that all travelers have such insurance in place and coverage as per the requirements listed above.
We recommend the Insuremytrip marketplace where you will find a variety travel insurance options. You have the choice to use any travel insurance provider you'd like, as long as you send us proof of insurance at least one month before the scheduled departure. Failure to provide accurate proof of insurance prior to attending our trips will result in cancellation. **Please note many comprehensive cancel for any reason insurance plans include medical insurance.
Will I have a roommate? Yes. VIVA LA LENGUA is designed to foster community.
What if I don’t want to share a room with a stranger? While we encourage room sharing to foster a sense of community, we understand that some people aren’t comfortable with a roommate arrangement. For an additional fee, we can provide you with a room for yourself.
Who will be my point of contact after booking? Please contact us as at drcort@heydrcort.com . We will respond to your inquiry within 24 hours. In addition to that, you’ll receive frequent email communication and other opportunities to connect with your VIVA LA LENGUA cohort in the months leading up to your trip.
Do I need a visa to travel with VIVA LA LENGUA? Currently, Cuba requires a visa for U.S Citizens. We purchase your visa for this trip and the cost is included in the total price of the trip. For potential customers who aren’t U.S. Citizens, please use this free tool to determine your Visa requirements (https://www.visahq.com/citizens/ ).
How does the payment plan option work? When you purchase a VIVA LA LENGUA Experience using a payment plan, a one-time deposit is due at purchase. Once a month, on the same numerical date of purchase, the remaining payments will automatically be charged on the card that you used to book. For example, if the initial purchase was made on 12/15, the following payments would be debited from your designated account on 1/15, 2/15, 3/15, etc. A service fee of 6% - 12% is applied to all payment plans. NOTE: Final payment is due no more than 60 days from the date of departure.
Still have questions? Please shoot me an email directly at drcort@heydrcort.com!
©2019 Hey Dr. Cort!