a sailboat in a tropical illustration

Temple University College Cuba Trip

Visit Cuba with the Temple University University College in 2025!

Cuban Architecture, Urban Planning and Historic Preservation

February 8 - 18, 2025

Cost: $3,200, double occupancy
(single supplement $320)

The Tyler School of Art and Architecture Architecture program, Temple University University College and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute are offering a unique opportunity to study historic preservation in 2025.

During Cuban Architecture, Urban Planning and Historic Preservation, travelers will visit Cuba from February 8 through 18 (11 days/10 nights) to see and discuss Cuban architecture, urban planning and historic preservation. The tour guide will be Joel Abreau with a special co-host in Havana, Miguel Coyula. This trip is being offered in cooperation with AltruVistas.

The trip includes visits to World Heritage sites, historical preservation locations, walking tours, talks with Cuban professionals and time to experience Cuban arts and music.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 — Bienvenido a la Habana
  • Check in for your flight to Havana, Cuba.
  • Arrive at Jose Marti International Airport.  
  • Check in to your hotel.
  • Pick up by classic cars and cruise the Malecon.
  • Welcome dinner at San Cristobal Paladar.
Day 2 — Havana; World Heritage
  • Havana Past, Present and Future with Cuban Architect Miguel Coyula at Art Deco Casa De Amistad.
  • Visit to Maqueta de la Ciudad (the scale model of the city). The Maqueta is nongovernmental organization that brings together architects, urban planners and sociologists who make recommendations, plan and implement on the future development of the Capital.
  • Guided walking visit of Old Havana with architects who will explain current renovation projects in Havana’s historic center.
  • Lunch at a paladar in Old Havana.
  • Walking tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Optional drop-off for dining at Café Laurent.
  • Experience the architecture of the Hotal Nacional.
  • Live Cuban Jazz at La Zora y El Cuervo.

 

Day 3 — The Master Plan through an Architects Lens
  • Meet with the Union Nacional de Arquitectos E Ingenieros de la Construccion de Cuba. Learn about the organization and work of the architects’ union.
  • Tour of Havana showing the architectural patterns of the beginning of the century and landmarks from this period, including a tour through the Capitol Building.
  • Lunch in Old Havana.
  • Exchange at the City Historian’s Office to learn about the Master Plan for Restoration in Havana.
  • Interactive dance at the Rosario Cardenas Dance troupe off Prado.
  • Walk down Prado before returning to our Hostal.
  • Evening optional cultural activity: A drive to the Forteleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, known as La Cabaña (Fort of Saint Charles), an 18th century fortress complex. The fort rises above the 200-foot hilltop along with Morro Castle (fortress).
  • Dinner reservations at a local paladar Canonazoa.
  • Enjoy the Canoñazo Ceremony, an historical reconstruction dating back to the colonial era.
Day 4 — Havana
  • Meeting with Colegio Nacional de Arquitectos de Cuba (C.N.A.C.), a Cuban national institution based in Havana that grew out of the El Colegio de Arquitectos de La Habana, to learn about architectural education.
  • Tour of Vedado neighborhood and Christopher Columbus Cemetery. This is a continuation of the tour of early century Havana architecture, specifically in the Vedado area, showing many details of eclecticism.
  • Guided visit to the Cemetery of Havana, considered one of the richest in the world for its monumental and architectural values.
  • Lunch at Jardin de los Milagros.
  • Exchange with a vocational training program in Havana.
  • A narrative rich walking tour off the side streets of Havana ending at the Art Deco Bacardi building with Cuban photographer Adriann Garrido.
  • Free time for rest and dinner.

 

Day 5 — Cienfuegos
  • Departure for Cienfuegos City located on the central southern part of the island. Tour of city’s most important architectural sites, such as the Valle Palace, the Terry Theater, the Cathedral and others.
  • Lunch in Cienfuegos.
  • Continuation of the city tour. Exchange with the Coro de Cienfuegos.
  • Leave for the Hotel Ronda in the City of Trinidad.
  • Check in and free evening for dining and to enjoy the Casa de Trova.
Day 6 — Trinidad
  • Tour of Trinidad City, located in Sancti Spiritus province. The historic center of city of Trinidad was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The city shows an amazing display of well-preserved Spanish colonial buildings, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • Meeting with representative of the Restoration Office.
  • Walking tour of the city continues.
  • Lunch.
  • Visit to the Colonial Architecture Museum; the Casa de Aldeman Ortiz is an example of 19th century architecture.
  • Exchange with local artist like Judith Vidal and her community arts and knitting project.
  • Free time to enjoy local music and dance.

 

Day 7 — Trinidad - Havana
  • 8:00-11:00 am Free morning to explore traditional architecture. Or , enjoy optional ecotourism activities like a hike to the Topes de Collantes or Playa Ancon (you can choose one).
  • 12:00pm Check out of hotel and free time for lunch.
  • 1:00pm Leave for the Sugar Mill Valley, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about the economic boom that the area of Trinidad enjoyed during the 18th century and the first half of the 19th was due, among other factors, to the production of sugar cane that took place in this area. Ruins of old sugar mills are well preserved and show this important period of Cuban history.
  • Return to Havana.
  • Check in to the Hostal de Buen Viaje and Dinner at a local paladar.
  • Explore the streets of Old Havana at night.

 

Day 8 — Havana
  • 10.00am Visit to the National School of Arts, ENA, built in 1961 by architects Ricardo Porro, Vittorio Garatti and Roberto Gottardi. We have two reasons to visit this unique place today. First to experience the archicture and second to learn about arts education in Cuba.
  • 12:00pm Photo opportunity and short stop at the Plaza de la Revolucion.
  • 12:30pm Lunch
  • 2:30pm Exchange with a representative of Infraestudio. This architecture and art
  • practice is based in Havana. Fernando Martirena, Anadis González, and other members
  • and collaborators work from a narrative and discursive approach to experiment with
  • various resources such as buildings, research, exhibitions, writings, and activism. This has
  • allowed them to operate discreetly in a city frozen in time, recounting how contemporary
  • architecture is done in Cuba today.
  • 4:00pm Havana Tour by bus of Miramar, Siboney and outlining areas of Vedado to
  • experience the 50’s modernist ‘Mafia’ era buildings to the “Revolutionary period”.
  • 6:00pm Free time for Dinner and rest
  • 9:00pm If weekend optional visit to the FAC, the Fabric de Arte Cubano. We will be dropped off and have a tour of this incredible interactive arts space. You will cab home at your leisure.

 

Day 9 — Havana
  • Exchange with FANJ to learn about Cuba’s commitment to sustainability and how the Tarrea Vida will impact future planning and development in Cuba.
  • The Green Belt: Lenin Park — Visit to the area surrounding Havana to the south, where a reforestation project took place in the 1970’s, by means of which the Lenin Park, a giant cultural and recreational institution, was created. The area also includes the Botanical Gardens as well as ExpoCuba, a permanent exhibit of the achievements of Cuba’s industry and technology.
  • Lunch
  • Enjoy a guided tour of the Alicia Alonso Gran Teatro.
  • Q& A discussion with Miguel Coyula.
  • Evening free for cultural activities and dinner.

 

Day 10 — Havana
  • Exchange with ICAP to discuss the future of US Cuban relations and to learn about the impact of the US Embargo on the restoration efforts in Cuba. We will also be able to talk about Cuba’s housing crisis as buildings deteriorate.
  • Architectural visit to La Casa de la Obra Pía followed by a community exchange at the Convento de Belen.
  • Free time for lunch and shopping at the San Jose de Almancenes.
  • Walking tour of Centro Havana with Architectural photographer Nestor Marti.
  • Free time to rest.
  • Farewell dinner at Café de Oriente off Francisco Square.
Day 11 — Hasta Luego!
  • Check out and transfer to the airport.

For additional information, contact Link Martin at .  

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellations made on or before December 31st (60 days before departure):
    • You will receive a full refund of any payments made, except for the non-refundable $500 deposit.
  • Cancellations made between January 1st and January 15th (45-60 days before departure):
    • You will receive a 50% refund of the total trip cost, minus the $500 deposit.
  • Cancellations made after January 15th will not be eligible for a refund. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the program fee include?

The fee includes:

  • RT airfare Miami-Havana
  • All 3-star hotels and/or casas particulares
  • On ground transportation in an air-conditioned motor coach
  • Full-time guide/translator
  • Preparatory readings/orientation materials
  • Admission and fees to all activities
  • Two meals per day
  • Gratuities for guide and driver
  • Group leaders from Temple University
How do we get to Miami?

Each trip participant is responsible for getting to Miami in time for the flight to Cuba.

What steps are involved in signing up for this trip?

The first step is to register with Temple and pay the $500 deposit. Next, you will be contacted by Temple’s travel partner, AltruVista, to arrange paying the remainder of your trip fee. You will also receive information from Temple about the trip schedule, travel tips, what to pack, what to leave at home, etc.

Do we have to speak Spanish to go on this trip?

No. Spanish is Cuba’s official language but all our tour guides speak English. Translations will be provided for all local hosts, guests and speakers.

Is it legal for Americans to go to Cuba?

For this trip, yes. While the U.S. Department of State does not permit Americans to visit Cuba as tourists, the Temple trip is approved within one of the department’s categories for visits to Cuba.

Are any vaccines or immunizations required to visit Cuba?

No inoculations are required for travel to Cuba. However, we encourage all travelers to visit their personal physician or a travel health clinic before departure. (Confirm your tetanus vaccinations are up to date). For more information, please call the CDC traveler’s hotline at 404-332-4559 or consult the CDC web site: www.cdc.gov.

The most common afflictions for visitors are mild diarrhea and sunstroke. Bring sunscreen and something to take for diarrhea. Also, please remember you’ll be in the tropics, which means mosquitoes! Most of the cities are vector controlled, so mosquitoes are more abundant in the rural and coastal areas. Practice prevention by using insect repellent and wear long pants and sleeved shirts, especially around dusk.

Where will we be staying?

We will be staying in a combination of hotels and the Cuban version of B&Bs. The B&Bs are licensed by the Cuban government to provide accommodations for tourists.

Is there free time on this trip?

Yes, there is time in the schedule to explore on your own.

Is the water safe to drink?

We strongly recommend that you drink only bottled or filtered water during your entire stay in Cuba. Large bottles may be purchased at stores throughout the island and we’ll make stops throughout the trip for you to purchase additional water. We’ll also keep some bottled water in the van or bus. Remember: you’ll be in the tropics. You must drink lots of water every day to avoid getting dehydrated. All international travel is exhausting! Getting used to new food and water is hard on the body, and the change in diet may sometimes result in traveler’s diarrhea. This is generally easy to treat and quick to recover from if you stick to simple foods. Cuban natural remedies for diarrhea include eating guava and malanga root. Vegetarian or other special needs can be accommodated but this may be difficult—there will not be as many alternative choices as you will find in America. Please let us know during your registration process if you have special requirements and make your Cuban guide aware at the beginning of the trip.

Is this an accessible trip for those in wheelchairs or who have difficulty walking?

Unfortunately, we do not recommend this trip for someone using a wheelchair or in need of assistance with walking. Many buildings do not have accessible entrances, there are often few elevators in buildings and we will be walking on cobblestone streets.

Will my credit cards work in Cuba?

VERY IMPORTANT for travelers with U.S. bank cards: You cannot withdraw money from ATMs or use credit cards/debit cards while in Cuba. You must bring all the money you will need for the trip in cash. U.S. Dollars (USD) are now accepted in many stores in Cuba and it is ok to tip in dollars. Cuba is going through economic currency restructuring. The Cuban Peso is locally known as “Peso Cubano”, “moneda nacional” or simply “MN”. This is used for both residents and visitors alike. With inflation in Cuba high, prices can change daily.

Is there Internet access and will my cell phone work?

Cell Phones: Contact your carrier to see if they cover service in Cuba and the cost. Many carriers do not provide services in Cuba.

Internet: Internet access is rather a luxury as Cuba does not have extensive IT support for wireless. For these reasons, we recommend that you do not expect to spend much time online during your time there.

If I have more questions, whom should I contact?

Please contact Link Martin, MSW at . Link has led several Temple University trips to Cuba.