Afro-Cuban Arts & Culture in Havana

About the Study Leader

Reena Goldthree, Assistant Professor of African American Studies

Professor Goldthree is affiliated with the Program in Latin American Studies and the Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies. A historian of modern Latin America and the Caribbean, she studies social and political movements from the final decades of the nineteenth century to the World War II era (1880s-1940s). Her scholarship documents forgotten histories of black activism in the English- and Spanish-speaking Greater Caribbean and reveals the transnational currents that linked black communities across the Americas. Professor Goldthree has traveled to ten Caribbean countries and has made three previous trips to Cuba. On this journey, she will discuss the rich history of black activism in Cuba and the Cuban diaspora.

Professor Goldthree received her B.A. from Columbia University and her M.A. and Ph.D. from Duke University. She has served as Chair of the Caribbean Studies Section of the Conference on Latin American History and has been a member of the Executive Board of the Coordinating Council for Women in History. She joined Princeton’s faculty in 2017.

About the Journey

Join your fellow Princetonians in Havana for an inspiring look at contemporary life that few visitors have the opportunity to witness, with a special focus on Afro-Cuban arts and culture. Discover a land of fascinating contradictions: vintage automobiles fill the streets as if the 1950s never ended, yet the country stands on the cusp of significant change. An emerging private sector now provides Cubans with opportunities that were once unimaginable.

On this people-to-people tour, connect with a diverse range of local personalities, including an architectural historian, social psychologist, dancers, artists, and a Santería high priest. Go behind the scenes at gallery tours, enjoy private receptions, and venture into the homes of local people. A highlight of the tour will be a journey to the captivating seaside city of Matanzas, renowned as a birthplace of rumba and numerous Afro-Cuban folkloric traditions.

With the increased demand for accommodations in Havana, Princeton Journeys is delighted that our group will have exclusive use of one of the most charming hotels on the island for the duration of the journey. As with all past Cuba programs, this tour is focused on people-to-people exchange.

View photos from our 2024 journey.

Accommodation

Paseo 206 Havana, Cuba

A member of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” collection, Paseo 206 is a beautifully restored historic boutique hotel nestled in Vedado, the economic and cultural heart of Havana. In this family home dating to 1933, ten cozy and comfortable rooms and suites offer free Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, Hermès bathroom amenities, Marshall speakers, and hypoallergenic king-sized beds with luxurious Frette linens.

Reservations

Please register online or contact the Princeton Journeys team at journeys@princeton.edu / 609.258.8686 with questions.

Trip Details

Dates

December 28, 2025 - January 03, 2026
Activity Level

Moderate
Cost

from $5,699 per person, double occupancy
Deposit

$1,000 per person
Contact

journeys@princeton.edu
609-258-8686