Medicine and Society in Cuba
About the tour
There is only one Cuba. This vivacious tropical island with music throbbing through its veins has a vivid history and a unique healthcare system.
Cuba has universal healthcare with a strong focus on primary care, preventative medicine and home health, with basic healthcare for all a national priority. Cuba has long made wide use of traditional and herbal remedies from a pharmacological perspective, from necessity as much as anything.
There has rarely been a better time to visit Cuba. Still in a time warp from the embargo from which it is only recently emerged, Cuba is poised on a creative wave of new culture. This tour follows in the footsteps of previous successful medical tours to Cuba, providing real insight into Cuban society and healthcare.
Download our brochure Medicine and Society in Cuba
Our online booking system is temporarily unable to accept payments. If you would like to book this tour please call our office on:(Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764.
Your tour leader
Dr Chet Pager
Dr Chet Pager grew up in Honolulu and spent a lot of time in his parents' home cities of Melbourne and London, graduating to adulthood with five passports and a love for travel. He is qualified as a medical doctor in both the UK and Australia and has practised in both countries. Since completing his PhD in 2015, he has become more settled in London.
Chet originally started out in Education (studying at Harvard, Stanford, Cape Town) and worked in policy and evaluation as a consultant for the RAND corporation and the Victorian Government. After qualifying and initial training in Medicine at Sydney Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, he assisted the NSW Government in developing local Aboriginal health plans. His interest in Indigenous health policy led him to a JD at Yale Law School and a year of studying Zulu. He has also volunteered in medical settings in Mali, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Nepal and South Africa.
On the travel front, Chet has been a Tour Doctor as well as Tour Manager for Captain's Choice since 2005. He has also worked with the UK-based Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, a number of UK Charity Challenge companies, and is a leader and medical technical advisor for The Perse School's Outdoor Pursuits Programme, which in 2023 culminated in ascending a 6,200m peak in Bolivia (in 2024 it will be a 5,800m peak in Ladakh). Chet has visited more than 140 countries and led or assisted leading over 50 tours and expeditions.
Need more information?
- Tel: (Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764
- Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Itinerary at a glance
- Day 1: London / Havana (Sun, 2 Feb) Arrive Havana and transfer to the Hotel Memories Miramar and dinner.
- Day 2: Havana (Mon, 3 Feb) Walking tour through Old Havana, seeing the restoration of Havana and hearing some tales of the city. The ornate wood panelled Taquechel Pharmacy in old Havana offers a tantalising glimpse into Havana’s former grandeur. Visit this this restored pharmacy, which still serves the local population, as well as being a small museum, and hear a talk on healthcare in Cuba. Welcome dinner at Doña Eutimia in the Havana Cathedral.
- Day 3: Havana (Tues, 4 Feb) Visit the Latin American Medical School. Lunch in a local paladar. Return to the hotel via a visit to a city farm. Cuba's capital city Havana is cited as a world-leading example of good practice in urban food cultivation, producing up to 100% of its fresh vegetables. Optional Parisian cabaret show at the Nacional Hotel.
- Day 4: Havana / Viñales (Wed, 5 Feb) Drive to the Sierra del Rosario Reserve, Visit a coffee plantation. Drive to the commune of Las Terrazas in the mountains, meet the family doctor (the GP), visit the local artist houses and have coffee at Maria’s house. Continue to Viñales and check into the hotel.
- Day 5: Viñales (Thurs, 6 Feb) Visit Viñales Valley, including a tobacco farm and take a cave boat trip. Lunch at Wilfredo’s Organic Farm, where you will learn about organic farming in Cuba. Afternoon at leisure. Walk into Viñales town for a local dinner (not included).
- Day 6: Viñales / Cienfuegos (Fri, 7 Feb) Drive to Cienfuegos visiting Bay of Pigs and Playa Giron museum en route. Check into Hotel Jagua and at leisure until dinner at Piñeiro House.
- Day 7: Cienfuegos (Sat, 8 Feb) Visit Cienfuegos Hospital. Visit the grand Tomás Terry Theatre, with its Carrara marble, hand-carved Cuban hardwoods and ornate ceiling frescoes, and take a walking tour of Cienfuegos, the only city in Cuba to have been founded by French settlers.Take in the picturesque buildings and colonnades of Cienfuegos and see every day Cuban life, looking at shopping, the food market, nail salons, a bodega store and moneda nacional shops. Dinner at Palacio del Valle.
- Day 8: Cienfuegos / Trinidad (Sun, 9 Feb) Drive to the Sierra del Escambray Mountains, visit Topes de Collantes National Park with a naturalist guide, examining medicinal plants used in Cuba today. Continue to Trinidad and check into Alberto and Osmary’s attractive casa particular.Walk into Trinidad for a cocktail-making class and dinner in Esquina 373 restaurant.
- Day 9: Trinidad (Mon, 10 Feb) Explore the beautiful town of Trinidad, including Plaza Mayor, Holy Trinity Church, and theRomantic Museum. Return to the hotel for lunch. At leisure with options to further explore Trinidad or visit the beach. Optional salsa class in the evening.
- Day 10: Trinidad / Havana (Tues, 11 Feb) Head to Santa Clara, the final resting place of Che Guevara, and visit his memorial and museum. Return to Havana and check in to the hotel. Have dinner in a local paladar to experience Cuban fusion food.
- Day 11: Havana (Wed, 12 Feb) Set out for a walking tour of Havana, including a community centre for the elderly offering a range of activities and classes. Explore the many new artisan workshops and businesses that have sprung up in Havana over the last few years, renowned for their distinctive local style and high standards (eg Clandestina, D Brujas handmade soap shop, Dador). Afternoon at leisure. Drive in 1950’s US classic cars to a farewell dinner at La Guarida.
- Day 12: Havana (Thurs, 13 Feb) Depart Havana after breakfast.
Varadero Beach Extension
- Day 12: Havana / Varadero (Thurs,13 Feb) Transfer to Varadero for a beach extension.
- Day 13: Varadero (Fri, 14 Feb) At leisure.
- Day 14: Varadero (Sat, 15 Feb) Transfer to the airport for return flight.
Tour cost
The cost of the tour is USD $3,626 per person sharing (excluding international flights and transfers). The cost of the tour with a room to yourself is USD $4,026.
Our online booking system is temporarily unable to accept payments. If you would like to book this tour please call our office on:(Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764.