69TH ANNUAL ERNEST HEMINGWAY INTERNATIONAL ANGLING TOURNAMENT
ANGLERS & COMPANION PROGRAMS
JUNE 9-16, 2019
ABOUT the hemingway angling tournament
Join us in Havana for the 69th Annual Ernest Hemingway International Angling Tournament, held at the Hemingway Marina, just west of Havana!
This marina is the largest on the island and has been hosting the event since its inception in 1950. The tournament is based on teams of up to four anglers, and the target species for the tournament are blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish and spearfish. Prizes are awarded for the following categories: first catch of the tournament; first catch at the second, third and fourth sessions; youngest angler; largest dorado; largest tuna; and female anglers who catch marlin.
Be a part of a storied tradition of fisherman who have sailed the northern coast of Cuba in search of the largest marlin. These waters were the inspiration for Hemingway’s story The Old Man and the Sea. Fish by day and enjoy all the cultural and culinary offerings of Havana by night!
ABOUT CUBA EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL
Cuba Educational Travel (CET) is a leader in cultural travel to Cuba. CET unlocks the best of Cuba by providing access to the country’s top artists, academics, tastemakers, and cultural figures. CET’s tailor-made programs enable clients to experience Cuba’s vibrant culture and gain a deeper understanding of the island, while ensuring full compliance with all U.S. regulations.
CET has been on the frontlines of cultural collaboration, helping to bring Cubans to the U.S. and Americans to Cuba. From Yoga retreats to concerts to dance performances, CET has wide-ranging experience and contacts. Recent highlights include organizing the Diplo Major Lazer concert in Havana, which drew a crowd of over 500,000 people and bringing Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba, the country’s top dance group, to perform at the Latin Grammys.
OUR VALUE PROPOSITION
By leveraging this expertise and curated travel capabilities, Cuba Educational Travel offers a product that is unrivaled. Our strong presence on the island and in important cultural circles gives us unparalleled access and knowledge. This combined with the beauty and intrigue of Cuba and its people make for truly unforgettable experiences.
ITINERARY FOR ANGLERS PROGRAM
Sunday, June 9
Arrival to Havana (pending flight information).
Check-in at local accommodations.
Socio-economic discussion with urban planner Miguel Coyula, whose presentation will touch on housing, infrastructure, investment, and restoration programs in the city. It’s bound to leave you with a better understanding of why Havana looks the way it does today and possibilities moving forward.
Dinner Reservation at Río Mar, located in the luxurious Miramar neighborhood, it has a whole terrace overlooking the where the Almendares river flows into the sea. 3ra y Final #11, La Puntilla, Miramar. (not included – to be paid on the ground).
Monday, June 10
Walking tour of the Old City. Wander through the Plaza Vieja, the oldest plaza in Havana, dating from the 16th century. See the Plaza de San Francisco, a cobbled plaza surrounded by buildings dating from the 18th century, dominated by the baroque Iglesia and Convento de San Francisco dating from 1719. Visit Plaza de la Catedral and the Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana. Visit the Plaza de Armas, a scenic tree-lined plaza formerly at the center of influence in Cuba. It is surrounded by many of the most historic structures in Havana as well as important monuments.
Lunch at Doña Eutimia paladar. Famous for its ropa vieja and frozen mojitos, this cozy paladar made Newsweek Magazine’s top 100 restaurants in the world in 2012. The restaurant’s location in the beautiful cathedral square is unbeatable.
Explore on your own and take part in activities that support the Cuban people, such as visiting art galleries, eating at private restaurants, speaking with artisans, or hiring private cars and bicycle taxis. CET representatives will offer guidance on ensuring legal compliance with OFAC regulations.
Registration and opening ceremony for the 69th Annual Ernest Hemingway International Angling Tournament, including a welcome cocktail. Marina Hemingway.
Welcome Dinner at Paladar Atelier. This restaurant is equally known for its atmosphere and exquisite cuisine. The lighting and textures of the house, which was home to a pre-revolutionary senator, coupled with walls adorned in modern art, create a cozy, but modern setting.
Tuesday, June 11
Hemingway Finishing Tournament. Marina Hemingway.
Dinner Reservation at La Guarida paladar, famous not only for its delectable dining, but also as the location for the film Strawberry and Chocolate. It is housed on the third floor of a large, old town house carrying the charming ambience of the early 1900s. Concordia e Gervasio y Lealtad, no. 418 altos, Centro Habana (not included – to be paid on the ground).
Wednesday, June 12
Hemingway Finishing Tournament. Marina Hemingway.
Dinner Reservation at Mediterraneo Havana, a modern, family run paladar in the Vedado neighborhood. This cozy paladar produces much of what it serves at a nearby farm in Guanabacoa Cuba, including the vegetables and dairy products. Calle 13 #406 entre F y G, Vedado. (not included – to be paid on the ground).
Thursday, June 13
Tournament rest day
Visit to La Finca Vigía. Formerly the home of Ernest Hemingway, today it still houses his expansive collection of books. It was here where he wrote two of his most celebrated novels: For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea. The beautiful grounds and bizarre tales from Hemingway’s many years in Cuba are captivating.
Optional: Head to Eastern Havana for a tour of Alamar, a Soviet style housing project, and Havana’s eastern beaches. Alamar, one of Havana’s largest neighborhoods, is filled with prefabricated buildings completed by the popular micro brigade movement in Cuba in which neighbors constructed and worked on building their own homes. Meet with local residents and visit a farmers’ market and ration store to get a feel for local living. Visit Playas del Este (eastern beaches), where Habaneros go to escape the city heat. Take a stroll in the white sand and a dip in the turquoise water.
Rum and cigar tasting at Café Madrigal. A local expert will explain the qualities and traits of fine Cuban rum and cigars, pairing them together for the perfect match. Café Madrigal, owned and run by film director Rafael Rosales, is housed on the second floor of a beautiful Vedado home, where the walls are lined with captivating art work.
Dinner Reservation at Tierra, Havana’s newest international dinning spot. Located inside a container in the Fábrica de Arte Cubano, the restaurant mirrors the eclectic crowd, serving dishes from around the world. Calle 26, between Calle 11 and 13, Vedado (not included – to be paid on the ground).
Following dinner, enjoy live music, art and dancing at La Fábrica de Arte Cubano. Rock star X Alfonso has turned this into meeting spot for a young, eclectic crowd of Cubans and foreigners.
Friday, June 14
Hemingway Finishing Tournament. Marina Hemingway.
Check out sister restaurants: El del Frente and O’Reilly 304. These two paladares are some of the trendiest and hippest eateroes in Cuba at the moment. Stylish, unassuming ambience, spectacular food and a sprawling cocktail menu, this paladar is a rising star of Havana’s culinary scene. O’Reilly #304, entre Habana y Aguiar.
Saturday, June 15
Hemingway Finishing Tournament and closing ceremony. Marina Hemingway.
Farewell dinner at Paladar San Cristobal. Located in the heart of Central Havana, this paladar has a reputation of excellence in both atmosphere and local cuisine. Enjoy great food while the local takes you back to the 1940s and 50s.
Sunday, June 16
Check out and depart for the airport (2 ½ hours before your flight departs).
ITINERARY FOR COMPANION PROGRAM
Sunday, June 9
Arrival to Havana (pending flight information).
Check-in at local accommodations.
Socio-economic discussion with urban planner Miguel Coyula, whose presentation will touch on housing, infrastructure, investment, and restoration programs in the city. It’s bound to leave you with a better understanding of why Havana looks the way it does today and possibilities moving forward.
Dinner Reservation at Río Mar, located in the luxurious Miramar neighborhood, it has a whole terrace overlooking the where the Almendares river flows into the sea. 3ra y Final #11, La Puntilla, Miramar. (not included – to be paid on the ground).
Monday, June 10
Walking tour of the Old City. Wander through the Plaza Vieja, the oldest plaza in Havana, dating from the 16th century. See the Plaza de San Francisco, a cobbled plaza surrounded by buildings dating from the 18th century, dominated by the baroque Iglesia and Convento de San Francisco dating from 1719. Visit Plaza de la Catedral and the Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana. Visit the Plaza de Armas, a scenic tree-lined plaza formerly at the center of influence in Cuba. It is surrounded by many of the most historic structures in Havana as well as important monuments.
Lunch at Doña Eutimia paladar. Famous for its ropa vieja and frozen mojitos, this cozy paladar made Newsweek Magazine’s top 100 restaurants in the world in 2012. The restaurant’s location in the beautiful cathedral square is unbeatable.
Explore on your own and take part in activities that support the Cuban people, such as visiting art galleries, eating at private restaurants, speaking with artisans, or hiring private cars and bicycle taxis. CET representatives will offer guidance on ensuring legal compliance with OFAC regulations.
Dinner at Paladar Atelier. This restaurant is equally known for its atmosphere and exquisite cuisine. The lighting and textures of the house, which was home to a pre-revolutionary senator, coupled with walls adorned in modern art, create a cozy, but modern setting.
Tuesday, June 11
Driving tour of Havana. Visit the Miramar neighborhood, a residential district of the municipality of Playa, where many embassies are located including the landmark Russian embassy. Drive along the famous Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) and see the mansions that used to belong to many of Havana's upscale residents prior to the Revolution. Visit the Vedado neighborhood and its main landmarks, including the Christopher Colon Cemetery and the University of Havana.
Visit to the home and studio of plastic artist Fuster, who has converted his neighborhood into an art project featuring murals, plastic art and other designs.
Visit a centuries-old mansion in Vedado neighborhood. Step inside this stately residence to discover what lies behind the crumbling facades of Havana’s impressive mansions. Josie, who has lived in the house for over 60 years, will show us around and explain its rich history.
Lunch at La Makina Gastro Bar, located near the Museum of the Revolution and the Museum of Fine Arts in the heart of Old Havana, it is known for the exquisite cuisine dishes and a charming ambiance.
Visit to the Lizt Alfonso Academy, a women-led dance company and school for local youth, specializing in various types of dance. We will watch a private performance by the adolescent dance group and sit with the dancers afterward to discuss how they came to join the school and the impact it has had on them. The talent and work ethic at this school is impressive.
Dinner Reservation at La Guarida paladar, famous not only for its delectable dining, but also as the location for the film Strawberry and Chocolate. It is housed on the third floor of a large, old town house carrying the charming ambience of the early 1900s. Concordia e Gervasio y Lealtad, no. 418 altos, Centro Habana (not included – to be paid on the ground).
Wednesday, June 12
Dinner Reservation at Mediterraneo Havana, a modern, family run paladar in the Vedado neighborhood. This cozy paladar produces much of what it serves at a nearby farm in Guanabacoa Cuba, including the vegetables and dairy products. Calle 13 #406 entre F y G, Vedado. (not included – to be paid on the ground).
Thursday, June 13
Tournament rest day
Optional: Head to Eastern Havana for a tour of Alamar, a Soviet style housing project, and Havana’s eastern beaches. Alamar, one of Havana’s largest neighborhoods, is filled with prefabricated buildings completed by the popular micro brigade movement in Cuba in which neighbors constructed and worked on building their own homes. Meet with local residents and visit a farmers’ market and ration store to get a feel for local living. Visit Playas del Este (eastern beaches), where Habaneros go to escape the city heat. Take a stroll in the white sand and a dip in the turquoise water.
Rum and cigar tasting at Café Madrigal. A local expert will explain the qualities and traits of fine Cuban rum and cigars, pairing them together for the perfect match. Café Madrigal, owned and run by film director Rafael Rosales, is housed on the second floor of a beautiful Vedado home, where the walls are lined with captivating art work.
Rum and cigar tasting at Café Madrigal. A local expert will explain the qualities and traits of fine Cuban rum and cigars, pairing them together for the perfect match. Café Madrigal, owned and run by film director Rafael Rosales, is housed on the second floor of a beautiful Vedado home, where the walls are lined with captivating art work.
Dinner Reservation at Tierra, Havana’s newest international dinning spot. Located inside a container in the Fábrica de Arte Cubano, the restaurant mirrors the eclectic crowd, serving dishes from around the world. Calle 26, between Calle 11 and 13, Vedado (not included – to be paid on the ground).
Following dinner, enjoy live music, art and dancing at La Fábrica de Arte Cubano. Rock star X Alfonso has turned this into meeting spot for a young, eclectic crowd of Cubans and foreigners.
Friday, June 14
Explore on your own and take part in activities that support the Cuban people, such as visiting art galleries, eating at private restaurants, speaking with artisans, or hiring private cars and bicycle taxis. CET representatives will offer guidance on ensuring legal compliance with OFAC regulations.
Check out sister restaurants: El del Frente and O’Reilly 304. These two paladares are some of the trendiest and hippest eateroes in Cuba at the moment. Stylish, unassuming ambience, spectacular food and a sprawling cocktail menu, this paladar is a rising star of Havana’s culinary scene. O’Reilly #304, entre Habana y Aguiar.
Saturday, June 15
Farewell dinner at Paladar San Cristobal. Located in the heart of Central Havana, this paladar has a reputation of excellence in both atmosphere and local cuisine. Enjoy great food while the local takes you back to the 1940s and 50s.
Sunday, June 16
Check out and depart for the airport (2 ½ hours before your flight departs).