The Cuba Photography Workshop is our newest addition to Signature Series and we are pleased to offer this once-in-a-lifetime experience to you! Our 7-day, 6-night workshop will follow a custom itinerary to provide many opportunities to capture the unique culture of Cuba.
Vintage Car in Havana, Cuba
To get to Cuba, you will have two options. First you can fly to Miami and take a chartered flight to Havana. Alternately you may be able to fly directly to Havana depending on your local airport and carrier options. Many commercial airlines are securing direct flights into Cuba, and flights will be added, so once you register we make sure your travel arrangements are set.
Cuba Photography Workshop Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Havana to first get through customs and immigration and greet our two local guides. We start right away with the Coliseo Ciudad Deportiva, Cuba's premier sports arena. Here we'll photograph local athletes. We will continue on to lunch via the Plaza de la Revolucion, a popular square in Havana that is the center of government. Finally we check into our hotel, located in the historic Central Park, a beautiful park for street photography. Every evening we will meet up for dinner together to experience the local cuisine of Cuba.
Day 2
We start each day with breakfast on the rooftop restaurant of the hotel. Then we embark on a walking tour of Havana Vieja (Old Havana), visit a cigar factory, an old church, the Plaza Vieja, Obispo Street, a boxing gym, and more.
Day 3
Today we begin at the Christopher Colon Cemetery, the house of Josie Hernandez, and experience a true local farmer's market. Then we go on to meet and interact with dancers at a local dance school while hearing their stories and photographing the life of a dancer. We spend our afternoon visiting a small fishing village, followed by a tour of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba who hosted guests such as Sinatra and Hemingway. Lastly, take a visit to an arts and crafts market and have a night on the town!
Day 4
We board the bus bright and early for a visit to the Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here we meet locals and tour the famous tobacco farms of Cuba. We will enjoy a family style lunch at a farm for a true field to table experience. We spend the day taking in the beautiful valley before heading back to the hotel for dinner.
Day 5
Again we board the bus for a short trip to Ernest Hemingway's old stomping grounds. It is here that he wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea. From there we go on to another fishing village, Cojimar, where Hemingway docked his boat the El Pilar. After lunch we carry on to the Callejon de Hamel, a street known for its murals, public shrines to Santeria, and the African influences in Cuban culture.
Day 6
Visit the Museum of Cuban Art, the Fabrica de Arte Cuba, and La Casa del Son for a dance demonstration and optional salsa lessons. We will have a farewell dinner together at one of Havana's finest restaurants.
Day 7
Sadly, all amazing Cuba photography workshops must come to an end. We will say goodbye and depart for home. We will have photographed art, performance art, sports, architecture, people, landscapes, and the old cars.
Downtown Havana
About the Cuba Photo Workshop
John Batdorff is a professional photographer, author, and authority on Travel and Street Photography. Staci has been a photographer for years and has been along with John on all of his photographic adventures. She is the studio manager, logistics queen, and nature photography specialist. The two of us love exploring a country together, therefore we’d love to show you all the best spots and photography techniques in Cuba to really build your portfolio!
Since this is a full-service workshop, you will learn a ton about photography. John will make sure to answer all of your photography questions in the field so that you get your shots. But ultimately, we know that a trip like this should also be a blast! We’ll have lots of time to soak in the culture, get to know one another, and truly enjoy this journey. If you would like references from previous workshop attendees, please just ask!
Most importantly, we work with experts to ensure a well executed trip so that you can focus only on photography. Furthermore, this trip meets the legal standards of both the United States and Cuba, so you can worry only about your f/stop and not about being stopped!
How to sign-up for the Cuba Photography Workshop
In order to reserve your spot in our Cuba Photography Workshop, please fill out the reservation form and include your deposit of $500 singles/$750 doubles.
* We highly recommend trip insurance. We send you a full itinerary and packing list once you have paid in full.
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