“A land frozen in time,” “unlike any place you’ve ever been,” “Americans can’t go there,” “it’s so hard to get to,” “shabby on the outside, beautiful on the inside,” “steeped in history”… all the comments I’d heard only stirred my desire to experience it myself, and soon!

Just 90 miles from Key West, Florida, yet worlds apart, Cuba is a not-to-be-missed destination and we’re going. Yes, WOW! Travel Club is headed to Cuba February 5-13, 2023! Join us. (Click HERE for full itinerary)

This island nation is only 750 miles long and only 60 miles wide in most places, but packed with tons of unique culture and history. Because the US proclaimed “an embargo upon all trade between the United States and Cuba,” citing the island nation’s “alignment with the communist powers” in 1960, the country seems frozen in time. Vintage cars everywhere, horses and donkeys still pulling carts for everyday use, and corner markets that look like they’re straight out of the 1950’s.

And even as one can easily see that this is a country in transition, it is also a nation brimming with energy and vitality as can be experienced in the music, the art, and the people themselves. That is the allure of Cuba!

Ellen here. I recently visited Cuba in preparation for our WOW! Travel Club adventure in February. We always do a site inspection of a destination to make sure that the accommodations, dining options, and activities are a good fit for our WOW! travelers. Suffice it to say, I am SO excited for this trip! Cuba did NOT disappoint and we have an itinerary that we KNOW will WOW! you!

Our contact in Cuba grew up there. He is intimately familiar with how things work, how to navigate certain situations, and what experiences will be best for us. He lives in the US and travels regularly to Cuba with a team of experts in both countries to handle all the details. Most Cuban destination management companies (our contacts at the destination) are located in the US and deal with a government-run tour company in Cuba, which limits the places their travelers can stay and things they can do. NOT US! WOW! Travel Club will have an authentic Cuban experience but with all the creature comforts.

We will be traveling to Cuba utilizing the “Support for the Cuban People” category of visa (included in the trip price), which is intended to direct the economic activities of U.S. travelers to primarily benefit the private sector in Cuba.  Thus, it encourages travelers to stay in private accommodations and eat in private restaurants. We have made certain that all of our activities are in accordance with the current US Government guidelines.

And it’s even easier than ever to fly into Cuba because many US carriers, including American and Jet Blue, offer nonstop service from several US cities to Havana! And, of course, our flight experts at WOW! Travel Club can assist you, too.

Havana is just as charming as you’ve seen in photos – vintage cars, beautiful architecture, and so much history!

We’ll be dining at paladars – privately owned restaurants where the ambience is divine and the food is delicious!

In Old Havana we’ll be staying at the Kempinski – the nicest hotel in the area and ideally located in the city center – walking distance to shops, restaurants, and historic landmarks. Just look at this view from the hotel!

This trip will be the perfect blend of city life and exploring the natural side of Cuba. A short excursion to Viñales will provide us with a small break from Havana and a big dose of natural beauty!

Trinidad is a quintessential Cuban “small town” where we’ll spend a little time exploring and soaking in the local atmosphere.

Cuba isn’t just historic cities and quaint colonial towns, it’s also beautiful tropical vistas and cool waterfalls. We’ll take a short hike to this very waterfall and revel in the beauty.

There is so much to see and do in Havana! We’ll take in all the sights in this intriguing city!

Our guide, Rolando, knows everything to know about his beautiful country – the good, bad, and ugly. He also speaks PERFECT English and has a great sense of humor.

Our last two nights will be spent in a beautiful, privately owned boutique hotel outside the city center. We’ll bask in the peace and tranquility of this little oasis outside of the hustle and bustle of Havana.

We’ve got a few spots left on this trip and would love to have you join us! We’ll handle all the ins and outs of getting to and around this fabulous island nation. We promise it will be the perfect combination of relaxation and exploration!

Click HERE for the details of the trip! We’d love to answer any questions for you; simply email Ellen (ellen@wowtravelclub.com) or Gabriel (gabriel@wowtravelclub.com). Hope to be traveling with you soon.