Dear Friends of UCBG:
We invite you to come with us to Cuba in 2016. On this unique and inspiring program, we will travel on a General License from the U.S. Treasury Department to take friends and members of the UC Botanical Garden on a People-to-People Exploration of Cuba.

Our tour of Cuba begins in Old Havana and continues to the Escambray Mountains, the colonial cities of Trinidad and Cienfuegos, and Zapata National Park. We will explore the island’s diverse landscapes and habitats, from the plains or llanos to mountain forests and coastal wetlands.

The Cuban natural world is reflected in the national symbols: Roystonea regia, the royal palm; the white mariposa, Cuba’s national flower; and the colorful national bird, the tocororo. More than 8,000 species of plants are native to Cuba, including many orchids, palms, and ferns. Cuba is also home to the world’s smallest bird, the bee hummingbird.

As we travel around this amazing island, the largest in the Caribbean, we will meet with Cuban naturalists, botanists, horticulturalists, and local experts. Throughout our journey, we will engage Cubans directly in discussions about their lives and work, culture, and traditions.

Tour Highlights:

• Explore the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Old Havana and Trinidad.
• Visit several botanic gardens and see their amazing plant collections.
• Discover the mountain station at Topes de Collantes.
• See the extraordinary plant life in the Sierra de
  Escambray.
• Learn about Las Terrazas reforestation project.
• See the orchid collections at Orquideario Soroa.
• Visit Vivero Alamar, a project for sustainable agriculture.
• Observe the plants and wildlife of Zapata National Park, Cuba’s largest wetland.

We hope you will join us for this fascinating tour of Cuba.

Katherine Greenberg, Tour Escort
and Advisory Board member of
the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley

$4,295 Plus Air

Brochure (Requires an Adobe pdf reader to view)