There is no place like Cuba. And you can get pictures in Cuba you can't get anywhere else. It is a photographer's dream. I've been to Cuba six times now and I hope to return in April of this year(2023). I've got the experience, the connections and the locations. I'm not a travel agency. I'm a working, professional photographer with experience over much of the world. A couple of times a year, I put together trips specifically for photographers. This is information as I know it today. If you are interested, please check back, or contact me directly; dh@douglashenderson.com, 918-688-9606 or chech in with me on Facebook. 

IMPORTANT FACTS         WHO CAN GO?         ITINERARY       THE PHOTOS     BACK TO DOUGLAS HENDERSON

What you would see, experience and photograph...

Havana
This may be the best place in the world for street photography. Havana's crumbling colonial architecture, the classic American cars, it's parks, monuments, the largerst cemetery in the world, the ancient Fort Morro, the very open friendly people, the dancers, the skyline. But Cuba is more than Havana. A lot more.

Malecon. Along the seawall of Havana is a highway and boardwalk where everybody hangs out. A people watchers smorgasbord.

Santa Clara. SC is a provencial capitol located more or less, in the center of the island. This is Che' Quevera's town, his mausoleum is there, maybe the most sacred place in Cuba.

Trinidad, an ancient colonial city on the southern coast. Built in the early 1500's, cobblestone streets, belltowers we can go up in for a bird's eye veiw of the city.

The Bay of Pigs, where at the height of the Cold War, an American-backed invasion of Cuba went wrong. In spite of being named "bay of pigs", this is a very pretty little fishing village. We stay right on the water.

Pinar Del Rio, where the finest tobacco is grown and the finest cigars are rolled.

the Mogotes, the unique geological formations that make this landscape so photogenic. These are laced with caves and tunnels. We may go in some of them.

Vinales, considered to be the most beautiful, scenic area of the entire island of Cuba.
             


THE IMPORTANT FACTS are:
     TRIP DATES; tenative dates are April 6-15(or there abouts)
     TRIP COST;  Several points are still being worked out, but in the ball park of $2, 600, not including air fare.Previous trips were approx $3,000.with airfare included. I'll update this as I know more. 
     COST INCLUDES;
               *Cuba Travel Visa
 *Insurance as required by the Cuban government
              *Lodging while in Cuba.
              *Transportation on the ground
              * an interpreter
              * entrance fees to several locations
              * some meals

WHO CAN GO?
It is important to me that this trip be a good fit for you. My trips are not... "luxury pleasure crusises" but are adventures for adventurious people. I won't put you in any danger, we won't be hang-gliding or bungee jumping. We may do some mild hiking, but not for great distances. There is nobody to carry your bag or rub your feet. The food is fine; but these aren't five-star restaurants. No massuse. No cruise ship, No luxury hotel. While these are planned for photographers, I have brought "non-photographers" and "photographer- spouses". Thus far, everyone has seems to have had a good time. 

Planned Itinerary:(subject to change: this IS Cuba!)
A few weeks before the trip; A pre-trip meeting, where you will get to meet your fellow travelers, learn a lot of details, learn what you need to take.

1st Day. We would fly from our perspective cities to Miami, Florida and then on to the small provincial city of Santa Clara, Cuba, where classic American cars will pick us up at the airport and take us into town. We will spend the night in "Casa Particulars"(something like a bed-and-breakfast). 

2nd Day. Our small, private (1954 Chevy Panel Wagon) bus will take us to several photogenic places around town, including Che Quevera's mausoleum. This bus is... authentic Cuban. We also plan to take a train trip(Cuba commuter train, NOT a dinner train)Later that day we will head south, through a national forest, to Trinidad,on the coast, spending the night there.

3rd Day, Trinidad is an ancient city, much of which has been preserved. We will shoot lots of streets scenes and go up into bell towers to shoot morning views over the city. There is also sort of a steam train graveyard on the edge of town which makes some very interesting photos. Mid day we'll leave Trinidad, working our way toward Artemisia. Near Artemisia there are the ruins of an ancient coffe plantation. We hope to spend the night in Artemisia, but planning things in Cuba is difficult. This is NOT a tourist destination and there are no facilities for tourists. But we'll see.

4th Day. We continue on along the coast to Bahia de Cochinas...."the Bay of Pigs". We'll spend the night at Playa de Largo, right on the water. Very peaceful. 

5th Day; Leaving the Bay of Pigs area we will go through Pinar del Rio, spending the morning in and around Pinar del Rio. We will visiting a cigar factory where dozens of workers roll the best cigars in the world. But this is iffy, the factory isn't always open. (?!)Then across the valley, checking out tobacco farms and farmers, horse- and ox-drawn carts and plows as we go. Since we are on OUR schedule... if we see something interesting... and we will...we'll stop and shoot it. However long we choose to be there.

6th Day. Vinales. The unique landscape around Vinales could occupy a photographer for days. We will check out the Mogotes, and the caves that run through them. We may hire horses to take us into the valley. Near here is a small tobacco farm. It's not a tourist location at all, it's just a small family farm. But I have become friends with the farmer, "Raoul" and I always like to stop and see him. He rolls us cigars made from tobacco he has grown on his farm. He is always very glad to see us and show us around.

7th Day. We will head on up the coast to Havana, . It's not too far, but we take a back road that takes longer, but provides more for us to see. We'll arrive in Habana (Havana) mid afternoon. We will stay in "Casa Particulars" (sort of like a bed-and-breakfast), in a building that's right on the Malecon, next to the sea. There is soooooo much to shoot there. We have reserved (subject to Cuban way of doing things) the rooftop apartment in this building. At night we will sit up there, smoke cigars( I'll teach you if you don't know how) and drink rum(not a requirement) and look out over one of the most vibrant cities in the world.

 8th Day. Full day in Havana. Lots to see, do and photograph in Havana, We'll use classic American cars for some of running around Havana.We will only scratch the surface of all the stuff there is to see and shoot in this city. I've become acquainted with the guy who is over the catacombs of the Havana cemetery(Necropolis de Columbia). You'll get to see the underside of the largest cemetery in the world. 

9th Day. We will Leave Havana mid-morning,returning to the US, arriving back in Tulsa, about 9 pm.

As to bringing back cigars and rum.... for years this was forbidden. Then Obama relaxed that restriction, the Trump rescended it.  Possibly Biden will again lift this restriction. But we'll just have to wait and see on that. 

I am happy to talk to you about the trip, no obligation to you.

Call or text me; 918-688-9606(CST zone)
Message me on facebook
Email dh@douglashenderson.com.