Voices of Cuba: An Oral History Journey
Voices of Cuba: An Oral History Journey
January 17-24, 2026
Havana • Soroa • Trinidad • Topes de Collantes • Playa AncónExperience Cuba through its voices. This 9-day / 8-night journey invites travelers to explore Cuba’s vibrant landscapes and layered histories — rooted in the belief that every journey can be a form of profound listening.
Led by Travel Cuba With Us, this small-group program blends ethical travel, oral history practice, and cultural exchange. Guests will meet Cuban artists, entrepreneurs, farmers, and storytellers whose lived experiences illuminate the island’s evolving identity.
Through guided conversations, story circles, and guided site visits, you’ll gain firsthand insight into how oral history deepens understanding, builds empathy, and preserves memory, while also directly supporting the Oral History Association.
Why This Journey?
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Participate in informal oral history sessions and community conversations across Havana, Soroa, and Trinidad.
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Your experience is licensed under Support for the Cuban People, ensuring all activities directly benefit local Cubans, and is in compliance with all U.S. regulations.
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Proceeds from this journey will help sustain the Oral History Association’s mission of advancing education, ethics, and advocacy for oral historians worldwide.
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From an herbalist preserving Cimarrón culture to coffee farmers in Los Tumbos, you’ll meet the voices behind Cuba’s resilience. Be a part of a 20-year oral history archive in the making.
Interviewing the Bocourt family in San Cristóbal, Cuba.
Interviewing Walkiria and Juanito in Los Tumbos, Cuba.
Perfecto Bocourt talks about his father, Moro.
Vanessa shares her oral history journey.
In remembrance of Moro.
Clip from an interview with Perfecto Bocourt.
The Itinerary
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Stroll through Old Havana’s cobblestone streets, experience live rumba at Callejón de Hamel, and enjoy classic car rides at sunset. Meet Cuban guides and artists who share firsthand accounts of life in the city today.
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Visit an orchid garden, share lunch at a cultural patio led by Olmaida — a local herbalist and Cimarrón culture preservationist — and spend time at the Bocourt Coffee Farm, where you’ll learn about Cuba’s coffee heritage and participate in a field-based oral history exchange.
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A free day for optional museum visits, writing, photography, massage, or oral history follow-ups focused on interviewing in sensitive cultural contexts.
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Travel to Trinidad, one of Cuba’s best-preserved rural towns. Engage with artists, musicians, and historians in intimate settings. Hike to waterfalls, enjoy farm-to-table meals, and join a group discussion on the art of preserving stories through generations.
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Return to Havana for your final night – a closing dinner, live music, and reflection on the stories gathered along the way. Depart the next morning with a deeper connection to Cuba and its people.
Trip Details
Dates: January 17–25, 2026 (Saturday–Sunday)
Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights
Group Size: Limited to 10 rooms / 15 participants
Locations: Vedado • Old Havana • Soroa • Trinidad • Topes de Collantes • Playa Ancón
Accommodations:
A beautifully renovated boutique hotel in Vedado near the malecón – 5 nights
Traditional boutique private homes surrounded by the Escambray mountains in the heart of Trinidad – 3 nights
All stays comply with U.S. regulations and directly support local Cuban families.
What’s Included:
Accommodations, airport transfers, and all group transportation
Guided excursions and day trips
Oral history project integration
Entrance fees, classic car ride, and cultural workshops
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
Unlimited filtered/bottled water
Not Included:
Airfare, tourist visa ($85), additional meals, alcohol, optional activities, tips, and travel insurance
Pricing:
Suites: $3,350 single | $2,075 pp double | $1,650 pp triple
Standards: $2,950 single | $1,875 pp double | $1,517 pp triple
Note: There is a $800 supplement added per additional person in a room (already included in the listed prices above)
Who Should Join?
This journey is designed for oral historians, educators, cultural practitioners, and curious travelers alike. You don’t need prior experience in oral history — only an open heart, a sense of curiosity, and respect for Cuba’s living culture. If you've traveled to Cuba, come again, and experience Cuba today.
If you’ve never been to Cuba, get there while you can!
Every aspect of this trip is designed to honor the stories of the Cuban people while supporting their livelihoods.
By joining this experience, you’re also helping sustain the global work of the Oral History Association — ensuring that storytelling and preservation continue to thrive for generations to come.