If you’re a U.S. citizen eager to travel to Cuba but you’re hesitant to go off-the-radar, New York’s Katonah Museum of Art offers a chance for you to travel legally.
Cuban artist Juan Antonio Picasso paints at his studio in Havana. Photo: Julie Schwietert
Despite the Obama administration’s stated commitment to improving Cuba-U.S. relations and reviewing U.S. foreign policy that prohibits most Americans from traveling freely to Cuba, actual policy changes have been slow in coming. The so-called travel ban remains intact for American citizens who are not from Cuba themselves or who do not have family in Cuba.
Fortunately, some organizations have been granted licenses to lead authorized trips to Cuba, and the Katonah Museum of Art, located in Katonah, New York, is one such institution. Museum administrators are now accepting reservations for a trip to Havana scheduled for January 17-23, 2010.
From the museum:
“Participants will spend the week immersed in Cuba’s… vibrant artistic culture through visits to museums, cultural centers, holy sites, and tours of the studios and homes of 14 Cuban artists led by Chelsea [New York] gallerist Alberto Magnan. Artists to be visited include contemporary surrealists Sandra Ramos and Los Carpinteros.”
In addition to the studio visits, trip participants will travel just outside Havana to the Cuban estate of American writer Ernest Hemingway and will have free time to explore Havana on their own. All participants will be lodging at the upscale Parque Central Hotel.
For full itinerary, rates and more information, contact Jacqui Potente at 914-232-9555, ext. 2968.
Community Connection:
Planning a trip to Havana? Check in with Matador’s Havana expert.
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8 Comments... join the discussion!
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This will sound selfish, but I hope the travel band isn’t lifted too quickly – I’d love to get there before the hordes of American tourists and it wasn’t until a few months ago that I started meeting backpackers who’d been there and said it was no big deal (via Mexico).
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There are already hordes of tourists…Europeans, Canadians, wealthy Latin Americans…the American ones are just late to the party…
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Gabriela-
Absolutely! In fact, I wrote an essay about this very issue on my own blog a few months ago:
http://collazoprojects.com/2009/04/03/freedom-to-travel-to-cuba-act-what-does-it-mean-for-cuba/↵ -
i too would be happy for usa citizens not to be allowed to travel to Cuba for selfish reasons . but com’on. what’s with a civillised country doing banning its citizens from traveling anywhere? . wierd!!
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There is no problem for traveling to Cuba via Mexico. When you arrive, just ask the immigration officer not to stamp your passport, and that’s it.
I read a lot of people talking about how the tourism destroy the “secret” places, but Tourism is a great industry, and for the visited country, is very good money. It generates employment not only in directly tourism related companies, but also for services and products this companies need.
Here in mexico, after the shine flu, everything is very slow and we are really waiting for the tourist to come for the Holidays.
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You’re right, Alex– I’ve done it several times and have written about it here on Matador if anyone needs to look up the how-to of it.
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Let me add my two cents – Cuba is wonderful!! Ive lived in Havana full time since 2002 and it is WAY easy to get away from any tourist hordes. in fact, I sometimes miss them since I don’t get much opportunity to speak English.
If you’re headed over or thinking about it, Id like to recommend my brandy new iapp Havana Good Time – this will take you places you’ve never dreamed of! To quote one well traveled TV host: “I love this place Conner! There’s not a ” yuma” in sight!”
Check it out on my website.
PS – simple to travel via a third country but OJO: expensive
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