Visit Che Guevara's Mausoleum!
This mausoleum houses the body of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara and some of his fellow combatants who were killed during the Bolivia campaign in 1967.
The mausoleum stands in the otherwise quiet town of Santa Clara. This location was chosen because it was the site of the Battle of Santa Clara – the final battle of the Cuban Revolution that forced dictator Fulgencio Batista into exile.
A visit here will help your students to understand the importance of the revolutionary leader who, although a contentious figure, has become an icon of rebellion. You’ll be able to discuss the complex history of Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution.
Did you know? Despite being a Cuban icon, Che Guevara was, in fact, Argentinian with Irish and Basque roots.
Visit Vinales and the Vinales Valley!
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most beautiful places in Cuba and a must-see on your school trip!
This is an agricultural area, where traditional methods are still used to farm crops such as tobacco, fruit, vegetables and coffee. And this is the best place to get a taste for traditional, rural Cuba, away from the politics.
Here the classic cars of Havana are replaced with horses and carts. The buzz of the city is replaced by the quiet of the countryside, occasionally interrupted by the calls of the local wildlife. And the crumbling magnificence of the capital’s architecture is replaced by a spectacular landscape that wouldn’t look entirely our of place in South East Asia.
Did you know? The Viñales Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the traditional agriculture, architecture, crafts and music here, as well as the spectacular karst landscape.
Visit Partagas Cigar Factory!
One of the most ‘Cuban’ things to do on a school trip to Havana is visit a cigar factory and this is one of the most famous in the city!
Founded by Spaniard Jaime Partagás in 1845, the Real Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás, to give it its full name, is one of the oldest cigar factories in Havana. A visit here will help your students to understand the importance of tobacco in terms of Cuba’s history, economy and culture.
And the building itself is worth a visit as a fantastic example of colonial architecture. A landmark in Havana, production of cigars has now moved to a newer factory building, leaving the original factory free to tell the story of cigar production here.
Did you know? There is a tradition here of reading to the factory workers. The day typically begins with a reading of the day’s newspaper, before moving on to works of historic literature. And that’s why many of the factory’s cigars are named after literary figures.
7 nights' half-board accommodation
.jpg)
