Why You Should Join an All-Women’s Cultural Trip to Cuba

By GeoEx Staff | September 16, 2024

A Passion to Share Their Experience

In researching and planning our women-only Cuba itinerary, we spoke with Cuban women about what they were most excited to share with our guests. Joslin Fritz, our colleague on the ground in Cuba explains, “Cuba has a very strong female culture, with many women in powerful governmental and private sector positions. We’re excited to introduce and connect travelers with these Cuban women who are paving the way for new generations and working hard to shape their industry, whether it be in the art, culinary, or music world.”

When asked how women’s roles are changing, she continued, “Thankfully, Cuba has a long history of women playing a strong role in society. Today we are seeing more and more successful female artists and business owners, which benefits everyone.”

The Women of Cuba Are Wondrous

Of course, the best way to learn about the female experience in Cuba is to go there yourself and meet with Cubans in the exclusive spaces where they hone their craft and showcase their expertise—be that bustling paladares (semi-private restaurants), lively music halls, or inspired home studios. From historic Havana and seaside Cienfuegos to UNESCO-listed Trinidad, delve into these hidden places and meaningfully connect with the Cuban women at the helm.

Here are some of the impressive women you’ll meet on a cultural trip to Cuba:

Beatriz Santacana

Self-taught Cuban artist Beatriz Santacana creates colorful sculptures crafted from delicate ceramics, reclaimed wood, and wire. She’s received numerous contemporary art awards and her work appears in private collections across the globe, from Spain and France to Kuwait and Hong Kong. We are invited into Santacana’s sensational, two-story studio for a traditional cocktail-making demonstration and an opportunity to paint a personal ceramic tile.

Annabelle Cantatero

In the quiet countryside outside of Havana, discover Finca Tungasuk, an organic family farm owned by chef Annabelle Cantatero and her husband Alfredo. Using traditional and sustainable farming practices, Cantatero and her team produce thousands of unique fruits, vegetables, and aromatic herbs that yield stunning farm-to-table creations. Join your fellow travelers for a farm-fresh lunch on site, with views over the property’s lush terrain.

Yoyi Gomez & Diana Figueroa

Paladar Jibaro is one of Havana’s most charming and popular paladares. To discover the intricacies of purchasing ingredients for such an enterprise, join Jibaro’s General Manager, Yoyi Gomez, for an exclusive tour of Havana’s off-the-radar bakeries, bodegas, and mercado libre (free markets). After your illuminating tour, return to Jibaro and connect with Diana Figueroa, one of the paladar’s founders and an influential Havana entrepreneur, for a delicious meal crafted from your hand-sourced ingredients.

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For more information on this cultural all-women’s trip to Cuba or other sojourns in Cuba, give our travel experts a call at 888-570-7108.