3 Reasons to Visit Havana Before 2020

#1 – Its Havana’s birthday! 

Havana is having an awesome year, following the international Havana Bienale this past spring, the city is gearing up to celebrate it’s much awaiting 500 year anniversary on November 16, 2019!  That’s right! Its been 500 years since the founding of Havana (originally known San Cristobal de la Habana) in 1519. There are parades, festivals, marathons, and many more festivities planned for the special day and into the New Year!

#2 – Changing regulations for US travelers

In June 2019, the Trump administration announced that they would be eliminating the most popular of the 12 legal ways that US citizens were able to travel to Cuba– the “People to people” category. Coupled with that, in October 2019, the administration announced that it would be restricting direct flights to all cities in Cuba, except Havana, starting in December 2019. What does that mean for US citizens and those hoping to travel from the US to Cuba? 

It is harder, but YES, it is still legal for US citizens to travel from the US to Cuba as there are still 11 legal categories under which US citizens can visit the island. In order to reach other popular cities on the island such as Varadero, Santiago, and more, you will have to fly into Havana and either catch a flight in-country or travel via ground transportation. Here’s an infographic for departure cities and companies that currently fly directly from the US to Havana:

Pro- tip: Be sure that your trip falls under one of the accepted categories.

#3 – VIVA LA LENGUA: HAVANA Winter edition

We had such a great time in July that VIVA LA LENGUA is heading back to Havana this December and you can join in! We have a number of activities planned including a rum and cigar welcome reception, an Afro-Cuban cultural tour of Guanabacoa, a day trip to the tobacco valley of Viñales, salsa nights, a traditional Cuban cooking class, and much more! 

Registration is open until November 15, with special pricing available now! Head to https://bit.ly/3463J4D for early access!

Viva la lengua,

Dr. Cort