Washington, June 25 (RHC) – Apple Vacations, the U.S. tourism company, will begin offering tour packages to Cuba starting this fall, with the first departures leaving in September and October.
U.S. travelers who fall under the 12 approved categories licensed by the U.S. Department of Treasury will be eligible for the tours, USA Today reports.
The packages are classified under "educational activities" or "people-to-people" tours, which U.S. citizens have been able to take since 2011, when President Barack Obama took the first steps to ease travel restrictions to Cuba.
A five-night "Havana Getaway" package will include sightseeing tours, musical performances, a look at the antique American cars that many Cubans drive, a cigar rolling demonstration and opportunities to taste Cuban cuisine. The cost of the trip is $2,233 per person, based on double occupancy. The departure dates are September 5th and October 17th.
A seven-day "Colors of Cuba" program will take travelers outside of Havana to the colonial town of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Travelers will spend two nights there in addition to five nights in Havana. The tour starts at $2,733 per person, based on double occupancy, with departure dates on September 11th, September 25th and October 8th.
The prices include Cuban health insurance, fare for the charter flights departing from Miami, the Cuban tourist visa processing fee, and U.S. taxes and fees. A Cuban departure tax of $25 will be collected separately.
