Forbidden for U.S. tourists for many years, travel to Cuba is now possible through Insight Cuba, a tour operator that takes small groups to Cuba. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control recently granted the company a license to start taking Americans over in August.
Looser travel restrictions to the country for educational programs to Cuba initially started in January. Insight Cuba ran people-to-people programs to Cuba from 2000 to 2003, when travel restrictions prohibited their tours. Once the new travel regulations went into action, the company applied for a license to resume their program.
“We’ve been preparing for this day for seven years,” said Tom Popper, director of Insight Cuba. “Now that we have the license in hand, anyone and everyone can reserve a spot on one of our six programs with more than 130 departures through 2012.”
Insight Cuba limits each group to 16 people and a tour guide. Prices cover meals, ground transportation, domestic flights within Cuba, travel insurance, accommodations in four- and five-star hotels and other fees. Air travel is not included in its packaged price, but the company has reserved some seats on flights from Miami to Havana.
Most tours last seven nights and help visitors experience Cuban culture through local dining, dancing, boat rides, volunteering and touring. Participants can visit sites such as Trinidad, Havana, Bay of Pigs and Castillo del Morro, among others. Each tour arranges trips to interact with locals at places such as schools, orphanages and hospitals.
For more information, visit www.insightcuba.com.
