800-662-4424 | sportstravelandtours.com

Cuba Baseball Experience

There’s one common element that can bring Cuba to a fever pitch: baseball. The sportoriginally landed in Cuba in the 1860s along with citizens returning from travelsabroad in the United States and with American sailors pulling into Cuban ports.Baseball took the island nation by storm and has firmly rooted itself in Cuban culture.

The Cuban League was founded in 1878 and in 1899 professional players from theleague formed the All Cubans, which was the first Latin American team to tour theUnited States.

Havana, Cuba November 5-12 2016

Cuban Baseball Experience Preliminary Itinerary• Day 1: Miami - Welcome Dinner Reception, Pullman Hotel Miami

• Day 2: Miami/Havana Flight - Muraleando, Hotel Sevilla

• Day 3: Havana - Cuban Baseball History Experience, Old Havana, Baseball Gameat Estadio Latinoamericano

• Day 4: Havana - Cuban Baseball Historian Presentation, Cigar Factory, Universityof Havana, Cuba National Series Baseball Game at Estadio Nelson Fernandez

• Day 5: Havana/Matanzas - Matanzas (City of Bridges), Pharmaceutical Museum,Castillo de San Servino, Baseball Game at Victoria de Giron Stadium

• Day 6: Havana - Cementerio de Colon, Finca Vigia (Ernest Hemingway’s home),Children’s Academy of Baseball, Leisure Time

• Day 7: Havana - National Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation,Q&A with panel of Cuban experts, performance by Habana Compas, SanCristobal mansion

• Day 8: Havana/Miami

Occupancy Price Per Person

Single $7500Double 6800Triple CallQuad Call

LAND PACKAGE RATES

Single CallDouble CallTriple CallQuad Call

PRE-TRIP HOTEL NIGHT(S)

Single CallDouble CallTriple CallQuad Call

POST-TRIP HOTEL NIGHT(S)

Early arrival and late departure daysinclude all applicable hotel taxes andfees.

All Packages and Rates are subject tochange and availability.

Cuba Baseball ExperienceHavana, Cuba November 5-12 2016

Cuban Baseball Experience Preliminary ItineraryDAY 1: Miami - Welcome Dinner Reception, Pullman Hotel Miami

DAY 2: Miami/Havana - Muraleando, Hotel SevillaAfter a short flight, arrive at the José Marti International Airport in Havana and then on to lunchat El Aljibe Restaurant. After lunch we visit the community art project of Muraleando. Artists,musicians & dancers have turned this once neglected neighborhood into one of the city’s cen-ters of self-expression. Hear the stories of the project from community leaders and members.

Next, arrive at the Hotel Sevilla and check in to your room and settle in. You can exchangecurrency at the front desk or at the exchange office located in the lobby. Depart the hotel forthe welcome dinner at La Guarida, Havana’s most well-known paladar or privately ownedrestaurant that citizens have been allowed to operate by the Cuban government as a form offree enterprise.

DAY 3: Havana - Cuban Baseball History Experience, Old Havana, Estadio LatinoamericanoAfter breakfast at the hotel, this morning, we meet with a representative of the BaseballFederation of Cuba, the governing body of the sport of baseball in Cuba for a briefing on theCuban baseball system and its unique structure of leagues. Next, set out to explore Old Havana,founded in 1519, on a walking tour through the city’s historic squares. Learn about the city’scolonial architecture and meet with some of the city’s cuentapropistas (independent businessowners). And then have lunch at La Imprenta, located in Old Havana.

Next, enjoy an afternoon at Hotel Ambos Mundos, which was home to author ErnestHemingway for seven years. For those who wish, visit room 511, which now serves as a smallmuseum to Hemingway. Afterwards, join the rest of the group at the hotel’s rooftop for a cock-tail and share stories of the day. After some time at the hotel, attend a game at EstadioLatinoamericano, located in the Cerro neighborhood of Havana. With a capacity of 55,000, it ispopularly known as “The Colossus of Cerro”. In 1999, this stadium hosted an exhibition seriesbetween the Cuban National Team and the Baltimore Orioles. It is currently home to Havana’smost popular team, Los Industriales.

DAY 4: Havana - Cuban Baseball Historian Presentation, Cigar Factory, University ofHavana, Estadio Nelson Fernandez Begin the morning with breakfast at the hotel. This morning, meet with Ismael Sene, a sportshistorian and expert in Cuban baseball to learn about the history of baseball in Cuba.Afterwards, visit the “Esquina Caliente” or the Hot Corner, where baseball fanatics passionatelycompare their knowledge of statistics and debate about their favorite sport. Then, visit a fábricade tabaco (tobacco factory) to meet with cigar experts and rollers to learn about the role thattobacco has played in Cuban history and enjoy lunch at La Moraleja.

After lunch, visit to the University of Havana for a guided walk around the historic campus withstudents and staff. Afterwards, engage on a question-and-answer session with the studentsand staff and then return to the hotel for a break. Next, depart for the provincial capital of SanJose de Las Lajas to attend a game at Estadio Nelson Fernandez to watch one of Cuba’s newestteams, the Mayabeque Hurricanes. Each of Cuba’s National Series teams are located in the capi-tal of each of Cuba’s provinces. In 2010, the province of Habana, was divided into Havana Cityand 2 new provinces, resulting in two new teams.

*World Atlantic flight and itinerary subject to change.

DAY 7: Havana - National Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Q&A,Habana Compas, San Cristobal mansionOur final full day in Cuba begins with breakfast at the hotel. Meet with a representative of theNational Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) for a briefing on Cuba’sapproach to its sports education system. Next, attend a performance by Habana Compas, anAfro-Cuban dance group that incorporates different styles of dance and music in an energeticperformance. Enjoy lunch at El Litoral, located on the famed Malecon.

After lunch, attend a question-and-answer session with a panel of Cuban experts, including asociologist and economist to discuss Cuba’s emphasis on sports and the economics of sports inCuba. This evening, gather for a reception before a farewell dinner at San Cristobal, a paladarlocated in a restored 19th-century mansion.

DAY 8: Havana/MiamiAfter breakfast at the hotel, we depart the Hotel lobby for the airport. Return to MiamiInternational Airport via World Atlantic flight 426*. Connecting flights should be booked forafter 4:00 pm.

DAY 5: Matanzas, Pharmaceutical Museum, Castillo de San Servino, Victoria de Giron StadiumStart your day with Breakfast at the hotel and then depart Havana for the city of Matanzas,known as the City of Bridges, for the seventeen bridges that cross the three rivers that traversethe city. Upon arrival embark on an orientation tour of the city, including a visit to thePharmaceutical Museum, containing medicines and original furniture from the early 1800’s, andEdiciones Vigia, an independent publishing collective specializing in handmade books. Finally,enjoy lunch at Hotel Velasco.

After lunch, visit Castillo de San Servino, a military fortress built by the Spanish in 1735. Learnabout its history including its use as a prision for Cuban patriots and as a slave trading portTonight, attend a game at Victoria de Giron Stadium, home of the Matanzas Crocodiles. Afterthe game, return back to Havana.

DAY 6: Havana - Cementerio de Colon, Finca Vigia, Children’s Academy of Baseball,Leisure TimeThis morning after breakfast, visit the Cementerio de Colon (Columbus Cemetery) in the Vedadoneighborhood. Learn why this cemetery, laid out between 1871 and 1886, is one of the mostdistinguished in Latin America. Then, visit Finca Vigía, Ernest Hemingway’s home, and the 12-acre property that contains original furniture, artwork, personal memorabilia, and other objectscollected by the author. Of special importance is the author’s 9,000 book library containingthousands of irreplaceable letters and telegrams, more than 2,000 photographs, scrapbooks,manuscripts, and galley proofs. Enjoy lunch at Il Divino.

After lunch, visit the Children’s Academy of Baseball, where many Cuban Major Leaguers gottheir first start. Meet with a representative to learn about Cuba’s development system. Returnto the hotel. The remainder of the evening is unscheduled for personal pursuits.

60 Main Street • P.O. Box 50 • Hatfield, Massachusetts 01038800-662-4424 • 413-247-7678 • Fax 413-247-5700 • www.sportstravelandtours.com