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Cuba Explorer Tours / Cuba Education Tours
2278 East 24th Avenue
Vancouver, BC, Canada V5N 2V2
Request more information
Phone:
604-565-5647; Toll-Free: 888-965-5647
Email: Hello@CubaExplorer.com • Web: http://CubaExplorer.com
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Chart your island course on official Cuba Explorer Tours. We organize and host cultural, historical, environmental and educational programs to Cuba. Our focus is social tourism: people-to-people encounters for peace, friendship and understanding with islanders. Our tours are officially recognized in Cuba and have the support and assistance of island agencies and ministries. Since 1997, we've helped thousands of individuals, including high school and university students, witness Cuba. They've returned home having established enduring friendships with Cubans from all walks of life and lasting professional connections with urban organic farm collectives, women's organizations, educational institutions, historical and environmental restoration projects, museums, unions, and youth, arts, and ecology groups. We specialize in assisting Americans with legal Cuba travel. We design custom tours for NGOs, schools and private organizations. Visit our website at http://CubaExplorer.com
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Eco-Certification: 
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| Sustainable Policy: |
Our sustainability and social travel policy is available at http://CubaExplorer.com/whoweare/206tourism_for_peace.php |
| Ecological/Environmental
Impact: |
Cuba Explorer Tours uses modern fuel-efficient diesel buses for all of its island transportation. During tour free time, walking, cycling and public transport is encouraged, and taxi sharing suggested. Our island accommodations use long-life, low-energy compact fluorescent bulbs. All electrical draws from elevators to air-conditioning are kept to the minimum. Consumables are recycled. Towels and bedding requiring laundering are at the request of the traveler, not rote. Fabrics are most often air-dried. Food waste is fed to animals or composted for use by urban organic gardens (which supply 65% of fresh herbs and produce within the city of Havana). Packaging is minimal and recycled. Leftover toiletries are donated to schools. The use of high electricity consuming equipment is discouraged (hair blowers, irons, toaster ovens, etc.). Cuba's approach to conservation and reuse was initiated some fifty years ago by a fellow named Che Guevara. We constantly explore new approaches for conservation, reuse and recycling with Cuban innovators. Our operations in Canada and the States are small. As our travelers hail from every province and state, we connect via telephone and internet. We use the postal system for printed materials to reduce energy intensive courier services. We do not send our North American staff to Cuba so as to reduce costs and air travel. Our travelers benefit from better prices and more time with Cubans -- the reason for their journey. |
| Social/Cultural
Impact: |
Cuba Explorer Tours collaborates with many island organizations and institutions that provide rich social content for our island visitors. In turn, a portion of your travel dollars helps sustain non-governmental membership based organizations. Our island partners are: Association of Cuban Educators, Baseball Federation of Cuba, Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, Cuban Association of Handicapped and Disabled Persons, Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, Cuban National Center for Sex Education, Faculty of Foreign Languages of the University of Havana, Federation of Cuban Women, Federation of University Students, House of the Boy and Girl School, Institute of Superior Arts, Latin American School of Medicine, National Literacy Museum, Orientation Houses for Women and the Family, World Peace Council, and Workers Central Union of Cuba. Our list of Cuban partners expands annually. Many of our programs offer occasions for international guests to volunteer or contribute in other ways during their island stay. Learn more about our island partners at http://CubaExplorer.com/whoweare/206tourism_for_peace.php |
| Economic
Impact: |
A majority of accommodations and transportation dollars Cuba Explorer Tours remits on your behalf to the island contributes to: 1) the Cuban education system which is free and universal, 2) the Cuban health care system, also free and universal, 3) architectural and historical restoration and renovation projects, 4) environmental protection and reclamation efforts. Tourism is the second largest source of income and employment for Cubans. It is a critical industry for a nation that has been economically embargoed for over fifty years by the US government. Every service you enjoy on our tours is locally provided. The people of Cuba own every hotel in which you stay. While foreign interests manage some hotels, a majority of profits are returned collectively to islanders. Known as joint venture hotels, the latter are staffed exclusively by Cubans. It should be noted that foreign partners also contribute to Cuba's social services as a matter of policy, if not principle. Cuban workers in the tourist industry share their tips with coworkers and family thus spreading your generous gratuities far and wide. |
| Innovative
Best Practices: |
Cuba Explorer Tours guests are encouraged to bring donations to the island, including medical supplies and medicine for neighborhood clinics, books for libraries, toys for preschoolers, teaching aids and student supplies for schools, as well as computers, musical instruments, art supplies/materials, clothing and sports equipment for community organizations. Such donations given to a people deprived of most things travelers take for granted are received with the utmost appreciation. |
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Request more information
Phone:
604-565-5647; Toll-Free: 888-965-5647
Email: Hello@CubaExplorer.com • Web: http://CubaExplorer.com
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