Dear Friends,
Thanks very much for your inquiry about traveling to Cuba.
In 2009 President Obama opened travel for Cuban Americans to freely visit relatives in Cuba. Last year, the President opened several other new categories of legal travel to Cuba.
Finally, the US has also authorized direct charter flights from a number of additional cities (in addition to Miami, Los Angeles and New York). As more flights are scheduled from these new cities, Marazul will include them in our Flight schedule.
The current U.S. restrictions on travel apply to all citizens and permanent residents of the U.S. no matter from what country you travel to Cuba and no matter if you hold citizenship from another country as well.
Marazul is licensed by OFAC to make travel arrangements for those individuals and groups who either (a) have obtained a Specific License from OFAC authorizing their travel to Cuba, or (b) are traveling under the general authorization given by OFAC for certain categories of persons without any need for them to apply for a Specific License. This general authorization is called a General License.
For a complete description of each of the categories of permissible travel and for the Guidelines to apply for a Specific License, go to:
http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_tr_app.pdf
Thank you,
Bob Guild / Mayra Alonso
bguild@marazul.com
www.marazul.com
People to People Educational Exchange
Educational, cultural and other organizations have begun to receive “People to People Educational Exchange” licenses from the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) which will allow anyone to travel who agrees to participate in that organization’s program in Cuba.
Here are the websites or telephone contacts for some of the organizations that have already received this license. They each list many programs available for 2012:
We will add to this list from time to time. If your organization is interested in applying for this license, or if you already have a license and need our assistance to arrange your program, please contact our office.
Professional Research Programs
In addition to assisting in the educational People to People category of travel, Marazul also helps organize Professional Research Programs in several different fields which may be open to you if you are a full time professional in this field.
Marazul works with Professionals Abroad, a division of Academic Travel Abroad, Inc. which develops professional research programs in a variety of focus areas. To find out if you can join a trip with others from your professional association, or for information on other available programs, please contact them at:
Marazul also works with MEDICC as our consultant for professional research programs requested by professionals in medical and public health related fields. Participants can include full time professionals whose work relates to the focus of the research (physicians, nurses, psychologists, health advocates, health administrators, etc.). Here is their website as well as some professional research opportunities available in the coming months:
MEDICC
www.medicc.org
- April 15-22, 2012 – Integrative Medicine
In the US many health professionals are working to establish integrative medicine as a legitimate and useful approach to health. In Cuba, “natural and traditional medicine” (NTM) has been systematically and scientifically incorporated into the country’s national public health system. Participants will meet with colleagues in Cuba and visit centers of NTM to observe the integrated of NTM into clinical practice, medical education and research. Interested participants can refer to the article “Natural and Traditional Medicine in Cuba: Lessons for US Medical Education”, published in Academic Medicine, December 2006 http://www.medicc.org/mediccreview/articles/mr_50.pdf
- April 22-29, 2012 – Healthy Aging
According to the United States Nations Population Fund, Cuba will head the list of Latin American and Caribbean countries with the most elderly population by 2015. Citizens of Cuba are not only living healthier and longer, but they have a higher level of education than 40 years ago. Addressing the needs of a highly educated aging population presents new challenges, requiring innovative programs. Participants in this research program will observe Cuba’s comprehensive national program for older adults – unique in the developing world. Researchers will determine if Cuba’s low-cost working models of programs for the elderly have relevance in their own work settings.
- May 13-20, 2012 – Gender and Health
WHO Member States and international agreements stress that gender differences in terms of biological make-up, power, status, norms and roles in society must be acknowledged, analyzed and addressed through gender analysis and actions. Without due attention to gender equality, health services, programs, laws and policies will have limited effects. The focus of this research will be on health policies and programs in Cuba which addrfess gender issues. Participants will examine women’s health related to oncology and cardiology; reproductive and sexual health of men and women; sexual education; and health in relation to sexual diversity. The program will include a site visit to the National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX), an organization which has pioneered LGBT rights in Cuba.
- May 27-June 3, 2012 – Community Partnerships for Health Equity (FULL) Health Equity group from Albuquerque, NM
- September 16-23, 2012 - Health and Environment
The World Health Organization estimates that 24% of the global burden of disease and 23% of all deaths can be attributed to environmental factors. Effects are projected to progressively increase in all countries and regions. By focusing on reducing environmental risk factors, nearly a quarter of the global burden of disease can be prevented. Participants will include health professionals, scientists and environmental advocates who will explore the relationship between environmental policies and public health practice in Cuba. Through site visits and exchanges, they will examine how the Ministry of Health intersects with other agencies and local communities to monitor and improve the quality of water, air and other environmental elements in Cuba. The program will include visits to National Center for Environmental Pollution and the Latin American Center for Disaster Medicine (CLAMED)
- September 23-30, 2012 – Nutrition, Agriculture and Health Cuba has been experimenting with organic gardening since the 80’s, when the Soviet Union discontinued its imports to Cuba and the embargo tightened. Currently there is a network of urban and rural producers across the country, which provide 80% of Cuba with predominantly local, organic produce. Cuba has developed one of the most sophisticated sustainable means of organic gardening in the world, turning them into an unintentional leader of the green movement. Participants will include nutritionists, health professionals and leaders from community garden collaborates and local public agencies. The program will include exchanges with agronomists at Cuba’s universities, and visits to local community gardens, which provide access to job opportunities, a fresh food supply to the community, neighborhood improvement and beautification of urban areas.
- December 2-9 – Integrative Medicine * In the US, many health professionals are working to establish integrative medicine as a legitimate and useful approach to health. In Cuba, “natural and traditional medicine” (NTM) has been systematically and scientifically incorporated into the country’s national public health system. Participants will include leaders of Integrative Medicine centers and health professionals practicing integrative medicine. The program will include meeting meet with colleagues in Cuba and visiting centers of NTM to observe the integration of NTM into clinical practice, medical education and research. Interested participants can refer to the article “Natural and Traditional Medicine in Cuba: Lessons for US Medical Education,” which was published in Academic Medicine December 2006 http://www.medicc.org/mediccreview/articles/mr_50.pdf
Additional Research Programs
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April 14 – 23, 2012
June 28 – July 5 / July 10
Our dance and music research programs provide in-depth research programming for professional musicians and dancers, as well as for professionals in other fields who use dance and music in their work in education, health arts, and social services.
For a dance and music professional research program from April 14 – 23, 2012, contact Marazul’s consult for professional research in the area of culture, Metamovements, at www.metamovements.com
- June 2-10, 2012 Social Work in Cuba
Marazul Charters, with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) as its program consultant, is pleased to advise you of an exciting research opportunity in Cuba from June 2 – 10, 2012 for full time social work faculty and administrators. The program, entitled Social Work in Cuba: What the Social Work Profession in Cuba and the United States Can Learn from One Another, will provide a comprehensive view of the development and the present state of Cuban social work education and practice. The objective of this program is to provide participants with the opportunity to learn about social work education and practice on the island and to establish contacts for possible future collaboration with the Cuban social work community. Dr. David Strug, Professor Emeritus of Social Work at Yeshiva University who has traveled to Cuba and has written about social work on the island, will participate in this event. The estimated cost of the program is $2650 in double occupancy and $2775 in single occupancy. This includes RT air Miami/Havana, hotel accommodations for eight nights, breakfast daily, welcome and farewell dinners, a bilingual guide, daily bus transportation and all program activities. Final cost may vary depending on number of participants enrolled. A non-refundable $200 per person deposit is due no later than two months prior to departure via credit card, certified check or money order.
Academic Travel to Cuba
President Obama also opened Academic Travel to Cuba, allowing short term study programs for undergraduate and graduate students. Marazul can provide complete assistance for travel, accommodations, visas, and most important, the study programs themselves.
Religious Travel to Cuba
Religious Travel to Cuba is easier to do now. A General License allows any religious
organization to send its members and/or staff to engage in religious activities in Cuba without the need for a special license from OFAC.
However, Religious Travel still requires a religious visa from Cuba. Please contact us and we can help.
Forms for Individuals and Groups
Everyone traveling under a General or a Specific License must review, complete and mail us the following downloadable forms together with a copy of their Passport and License, and their Letter of Authorization, if applicable.
• Individual Application Form
• Cuba Travel Advice
• Currency Advice
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• Family Travel
• Consular Services |
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