Itinerary

The summary itinerary is below. Remember, all of the shoots and trips are optional, so you can mix and match between what's on the itinerary and doing your own thing.If you have any questions, or would like more detail on any of the shoots or trips, just follow the link to Pricing & Booking, and fill in an enquiry form - we'll be happy to call or e-mail you to answer your questions.

Day One - London to Havana

Virgin Atlantic flight from London Gatwick to Havana, departing late morning, arrive Havana late afternoon
Transfer on private a/c bus to 5* NH Parque Centrale hotel in central Havana
Welcome dinner (provided free) in the hotel

Day Two - Welcome to Havana

Tour of the hotel
Meeting to go through the first week itinerary in detail
Welcome to Cuba talk from Holiday Place, providing lots of background info
Lesson - basics and refreshers (see What You'll Learn for more information)
Lunch in the world famous "Bodeguita del Medio" restaurant (provided free)
Walking Tour and Shoot of Old Havana, covering key sights such as Old Cathedral and Plazas
Dinner in the world famous "Floridita" restaurant (provided free)

Day Three - Old Buildings, Old Cars, Beautiful People

Lesson - Flash, Tungsten and Ambient Lighting (see What You'll Learn for more information)
3 hour shoot with Cuban male and female models in old building (where Leona Lewis recently shot a video)
Lesson - posing models (see What You'll Learn for more information)
Old Cars, beautiful people shoot. Male and female models and old cars provided in a stunning location at sunset

Day Four - Cigars and Rum

Visit and guided tour of Cigar Factory in Central Havana
Visit and guided tour of rum factory including sampling flaming cappuccinos
Lunch in El Alijibe restaurant with typical Cuban cuisine (provided free)
Lesson - shutters speeds, movement, composition (see What You'll Learn for more information)
Sunset shoot on the Malecon (seaside promenade where the locals hang out)

Day Five - A Daytrip To La Moka

Lesson - shooting landscapes, rule of thirds, composition (see What You'll Learn for more information)
Transfer by private a/c coach to La Moka, approx 90 minutes from Havana, taking in some sights on the way
Visit to La Moka hotel which is literally built into the forest, with trees growing in the rooms.
Lunch in the hotel (provided free)
Afternoon, visit to ruins Buena Vista coffee plantation for a photoshoot, then on to a number of stops in UNESCO Biosphere Las Terrazas nature reserve (described as "The Garden of Eden with cold beer and no snakes") for some amazing nature photography.

Day Six - Cuba for Real

Morning at leisure - time to wander around Havana on your own maybe? Or just sit by the pool?
Lesson - shooting movement, using speedlights (see What You'll Learn for more information)
Afternoon visit to a Cuban dance school in a poor suburb of Havana, for a private dance photo shoot
Walk around the area of Marianao, one of the poorest parts of Havana, taking in a food market and children leaving the local school for some amazing reportage style shots
Private Hog Roast dinner, cooked by a Cuban family, including free drinks (payable locally 15 CUC)

Day Seven - Body Painting

Critique session to go through best shots, everyone is invited to provide constructive criticism
Body painting with male and female models. Jonathan will teach how to do this. The shoot takes place in the historic old building again, and a range of props and different lighting types are provided.

Group dinner in La Meson de la Flota restaurant with Flamenco cabaret (payable locally 20 CUC)

 

Day Eight - Journey To Cienfuegos

Leave Havana for journey to city of Cienfuegos by private a/c coach
Late Lunch at the Yacht Club in Cienfuegos, a beautiful building built in 1920, and still used as the base for a marina
Walking tour of Cienfuegos, taking in the main square, a UNESCO Heritage Site
Tale of Two Cemeteries Shoot. Towards sunset, we head for the Cemeterio de Reina, the last remaining cemetery of its type in Cuba and then move onto the beautiful Tomas Acea cemetery, a National Monument.
Overnight stay in central Cienfuegos

Day Nine - To Trinidad

Leave mid morning for transfer to the Unesco Heritage city of Trinidad, arriving early afternoon.
Check into Iberostar hotel for a two night stay
Late afternoon walking tour and shoot of Trinidad centre, taking in an old Palace.
Group dinner in a local Paladar restaurant, run by a Cuban family payable locally (20 CUC)

Day Ten - Trinidad and Nature

Morning at leisure, more time to explore Trinidad, or maybe just soak up the sun at the hotel
Afternoon nature and landscape shoot. The countryside around Trinidad is particularly beautiful and we visit a number of beauty spots where you can shoot landscapes, birdlife and waterlife

Day Eleven - Santa Clara

Leave after breakfast for trip to Santa Clara, the place where a battle marked the turning point in the revolution in 1958
Walking tour and photo shoot of Santa Clara
Visit and photo shoot at the mausoleum of Che Guevara
After lunch (payable locally) we continue with our journey to the beach resort of Varadero, arriving early evening
Group dinner in Aguas Azules hotel (provided free of charge)

Day Eleven - Welcome to Varadero

Varadero is one of the premier beach resorts in Cuba. The beach is constantly ranked one of the top 10 in the world, and the sea is a particularly beautiful colour.
Morning tour of the hotel
Lesson - Travel Photography (see What You'll Learn for more information)
Barbecue lunch in Aguas Azules hotel (provided free of charge)
Lesson - Family Portraits (see What You'll Learn for more information)
Dinner in the A La Carte Italian restaurant (provided free of charge)

Day Twelve - Models and Fashion

Lesson - Working with Models (see What You'll Learn for more information)
Lunch in the hotel (provided free of charge)
Lesson - Shooting Fashion (see What You'll Learn for more information)
Shoot of a Fashion Show in the hotel
Sunset shoot with models on the beach
Dinner in the A La Carte International restaurant (provided free of charge)

Day Thirteen - Sunrise, Speedboats and Stock

Meet at 6.30am for a Sunrise Shoot
Optional Speedboat trip (one boat between two, payable locally 60 CUC)
Lunch at the hotel (provided free of charge)
Lesson - Shooting Stock (see What You'll Learn for more information)
Lesson - Shooting Work for Publication (see What You'll Learn for more information)
Farewell Dinner in the A La Carte Cuban restaurant accompanied by a musical trio (free)

Day Fourteen - Return to London

Morning at leisure
Lunch at the hotel (provided free of charge)
Lunchtime depart Varadero for private a/c transfer back to Havana airport
Early evening Virgin Atlantic flight to London Gatwick, arriving the following day early morning

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