Fitness retreat to Havana, Cuba!

Run Havana 2016

Get to know the sites, sounds, tastes, and people of Cuba on this amazing adventure led by one of Ketanga's trusted partners for the second year in a row! Expect a unique experience in a country that few Americans have been able to visit due to long-standing travel restrictions combining touring, running, and exploring!

The fitness:
A trip of a lifetime for runners who love to travel, the Run Havana trip is timed around the Marabana Havana Marathon. Participants may choose to run the 10K, half marathon, or full marathon through the streets of Havana. (Non-runners are welcome, too).

Throughout the trip, we will be accompanied by the legendary Boston Marathon champion, Jack Fultz, as a special guest and running coach. Jack will provide a training program for runners before the trip, and he will be on site with us in Cuba offering tips and answering questions before the big race.

The retreat:
Between learning about the country's history to exploring the architecture to gazing back in time at 50's cars, and more, you will make the most of your time in Cuba with our action-packed itinerary. In your down time, you can relax at the hotel, explore Old Havana, and shop for cigars, art, and rum!

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Highlights / What's included

Accommodations in Havana's finest hotels near the Start / Finish line of the Marabana or in the exclusive Miramar District
Post-Marabana private luncheon at the famed Club Habana
Running 26.2 miles, 13.1 miles, 10K. or 5K through the streets of Havana (+ official race shirt & entry fee)
Coaching by Running Ambassador, Jack Fultz!
Visit Ernest Hemingway's Finca Vigia
Certification of travel to Cuba under the U.S. Treasury Dept
Daily schedule of cultural activities with Cuban people designed for both running and non-running guests
Most meals included with some meals being held at some of Havana's finest upscale restaurants and paladars
English-speaking Cuban guides
Option to join private charter flight to/from Havana (+$600)

Meet Coach Jack Fultz

In 1976, Jack won the hottest Boston Marathon in history when temperatures soared above 100 degrees before the start. Over the 26.2 mile course, the marathon's amazing fans used garden hoses to spray down the runners to keep them cool. He set a personal best in Boston two years later when he ran 2:11:17, just 2 seconds behind 3rd Place. In addition, Jack qualified for three Olympic Trials marathons in 1972, 1976, and 1980 though he did not run the Trials in 1980 due to the Olympic Boycott.

He is currently a member of the Georgetown University Hall of Fame, the DC Road Runners Hall of Fame, and also served as an Instructor of Sport Psychology at Tufts University for 26 years. Today, Jack serves as a training consultant for the Dana Farber Boston Marathon Challenge and occasional motivational speaker.

Trip itinerary options

Havana Marabana 5-day / 4-night itinerary

November 17 - Welcome to Cuba! Introductory meeting and group dinner in Plaza de San Francisco.
November 18 - Discover Cuba's history in Revolution Square, local artists in the four major squares of Old Havana, & Hemingway's home, Finca Vigia. In the evening, witness the "Firing of the Canons" ceremony over dinner.
November 19 - 3K Fun Run, Marabana registration, & free day (non runners visit Bacardi Building and explore local art) + dinner at one of Havana's finest paladars and last-minute race tips from Jack Fultz.
November 20 -2016 Marabana! Celebrate the race with lunch and beach time at Club Havana after crossing the finish line. (Non runners will watch the Marabana and support the runners before enjoying a walking tour to The National Art School and Havana University to visit with local artists. Our final dinner will be in Old Havana overlooking Cathedral Square.
November 21 - After breakfast, depart for Jose Marti International Airport, or stick around for the 2-day extension to the villages of Trinidad and Cienfuegos!

Trinidad & Cienfuegos extension for a total of 7 days and 6 nights
Includes all of the above, plus:

November 21 - Say goodbye to the group leaving today while departing for the south coast of Cuba. We'll make a stop at Cienaga de Zapata, the site of the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961. Then, we'll visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinidad. We'll explore the villages, visit the Valley of the Sugar Mills, and have a drink at La Canchanchara Bar. We'll check in to our 4-star hotel, enjoy a group dinner, and then have free time to explore the village.
November 22 - Enjoy breakfast overlooking the ocean before leaving for Cienfuegos, the city protected by Jagua Castle. We will visit the Thomas Terry Theater, take a tour of Jose Marti's home (Cuba's most beloved writer), and visit the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. After lunch, we'll head back to Havana and check in to the same hotel you were in earlier in the week. Dinner and evening plans are up to you!
November 23 - After breakfast, depart for Jose Marti International Airport.