Pharmacy 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 character, kept intact by a half century of economic isolation. It also has 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 this exciting country. Still in a time warp from the embargo from which it's only now emerging, Cuba is poised at the beginning of a creative wave of new culture. Experimentation is in the air. This CPD eligible tour follows in the footsteps of previous successful medical tours to Cuba, providing real insight into Cuban society and healthcare.
This tour is eligible for CPD and all participants will be provided with a CPD attendance certificate after the tour. It could also be tax-deductible – please clarify with your accountant.
Download our brochure Pharmacy in Cuba
Your tour leader
Hemant Patel
Since 1995, Hemant Patel has served on the local, national, European, Commonwealth and world pharmacy bodies.
Before retiring, he served the profession of pharmacy as President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain for four terms and was awarded in 2011 the first ever Charter Award for his contribution to the profession. He also previously served as the Secretary of North East London Pharmaceutical Committee, Chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, and Vice Chair of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.
Hemant has contributed to the role of pharmacists in medicine's safety and effectiveness in use, the introduction of public health services in community pharmacy, and the innovation of SelfCare Pharmacy practice.
Hemant is well known for his personal commitment to improving the profession of pharmacy and the changing needs of patients and the public.
Need more information?
- Tel: (Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764
- Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Itinerary at a glance
- Day 1: Havana (Sun, 15 Jan) Arrive Havana and transfer to Memories Miramar hotel, Havana.
- Day 2: Havana (Mon, 16 Jan) Walking tour through Old Havana, seeing the restoration of Havana and hearing some tales of the city. Visit the Havana University Faculty of Pharmacy. Talk: "Background to health care and pharmacy in Cuba". Welcome dinner at Doña Eutimia in the Havana Cathedral.
- Day 3: Havana (Tue, 17 Jan) Visit the Museum of Pharmacy in Old Havana followed by a visit to the Taquechel Pharmacy. Lunch in a local paladar. Visit a centre for pharmaceutical products research and a pharmaceutical production plant.
- Day 4: Havana / Viñales (Wed, 18 Jan) Drive to the Sierra del Rosario Reserve and visit a coffee plantation. Drive to the commune of Las Terrazas in the mountains, meet the family doctor, visit the local artist houses and have coffee at Maria's House. Continue to Viñales and check into Hotel La Ermita.
- Day 5: Viñales (Thur, 19 Jan) Walking tour starting with visit to bodega and pharmacy in Viñales village. Explore Valle del Silencio with stops for coffee at local farm and a talk about farming in the area. Organic lunch at Wilfredo's Farm to learn about organic farming in Cuba. In the evening walk into Viñales town for an optional local dinner.
- Day 6: Viñales / Cienfuego (Fri, 20 Jan) Early start and drive to Playa Larga, en route to Cienfuegos. Lunch on the beach at Caletón. Drive to the Bay of Pigs and visit Giron Museum. Arrive and check into Hotel Jagua. Option for group dinner at a local paladar.
- Day 7: Cienfuegos (Sat, 21 Jan) Visit Cienfuegos Hospital Pharmacology Department followed by a visit to Tomás Terry Theatre. Walking tour of Cienfuegos focussing on everyday 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, 22 Jan) Drive to the Sierra del Escambray Mountains, visit Topes de Collantes National Park with a naturalist guide for exploration of Codina Park. Open air roast pork lunch. Continue to Trinidad and check into Casa Osmary Alberto. Walk to the centre of Trinidad for cocktail making class and dinner in Esquina 373 Restaurant.
- Day 9: Trinidad (Mon, 23 Jan) Explore Trinidad including Plaza Mayor, Holy Trinity Church and the Romantic Museum. Afternoon at leisure before a local dinner.
- Day 10: Trinidad / Santa Clara / Havana (Tue, 24 Jan) Drive to Santa Clara. Visit the Che Guevara Museum, Mausoleum and the Train Museum. Continue to Havana and check into the Hotel Memories Miramar. Dinner in a local paladar to experience new Cuban fusion food.
- Day 11: Havana (Wed, 25 Jan) Walking tour of Havana including visit to the Rum Museum, an arts centre and visits to workshops and businesses of the new Cuba (Clandestina, D Brujas soap shop, Dador). Afternoon at leisure. The in evening, drive by in 1950's US classic cars with farewell dinner at La Guarida.
- Day 12: Havana (Thur, 26 Jan) Depart Havana or join Varadero beachfront extension.
Varadero Extension
- Day 12: Havana / Varadero (Thur, 26 Jan) Transfer to the Starfish Cuatro Palmas Varadero for three nights.
- Day 13: Varadero (Fri, 27 Jan) At leisure.
- Day 14: Varadero (Sat, 28 Jan) At leisure.
- Day 15: Varadero / Havana (Sun, 29 Jan) Return to Havana to connect with your return flight.
Tour cost
The cost of the tour is USD $3,741 per person sharing (excluding international flights and transfers).