Puerto Rico - Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Puerto Rico
Presented by
Puerto Rico—Gardens of Paradise
December 3 - 7, 2009
Air, Hotel & Tour Package
From $1,600.00 per person
Price is based on double occupancy. Single supplement from $400 per person. Airfare
from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is estimated at this time and is subject to
change. Non-members of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum add $100 to tour price or
become a member of the Landscape Arboretum at $35.00 for a single and $55.00 for a
dual membership.
In Puerto Rico you will find exotic hideaways, miles of white, sandy
beaches, mountains, rainforests, and a host of other natural wonders.
In addition to the amazing landscapes, you will find yourself surrounded by warm and friendly people.
Our tour to Puerto Rico will focus on the lush, tropical flora and fauna
of this island paradise. You will also have the opportunity to tour the
outlying areas of the island as well as experience the charm and history of the old quarter of San Juan.
We will be visiting Puerto Rico’s many hightlights. Puerto Rico has the
only tropical rainforest in the United States — El Yunque. We will visit
unique gardens that blend the Puerto Rican culture with nature and
tropical agriculture. We will explore the historic center of San Juan as
well as visit the historic Galeria Inn, which boasts a spectacular botanical garden and art gallery.
Call the Experts—Macy’s Travel
Toll Free 800-533-0324
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
At the end of our journey, you will have the option to visit a destination
that has long been restricted to most U.S. citizens—Cuba. This oncein-a-lifetime opportunity will be an amazing travel experience for
American tourists. Within our 3-night/4 day or 5 night/6 day program
in Cuba you will see a world that has only been viewed on documentaries such as The Buena Vista Social Club. You will also learn how a
country cut off from the world has managed to feed their people without chemicals and big farm equipment.
Don’t miss this fantastic, warm-weather, educational journey! Sign up
today to ensure your place on this marvelous tour!
www.macystravel.com
Our own unique travel experiences that offer exceptional value,
quality and attention to detail. Only from Macy’s Travel.
About Our Hotel
Sheraton Old San Juan
About El Yunque
The Sheraton Old San
Juan is a delightfully captivating, upscale hotel in the
heart of picturesque Old
San Juan, a city as rich in
history as it is in culture.
A completely unique location highlights spectacular
views of the bay and puts
you mere cobblestones
away from 16th century Spanish fortresses, fascinating museums, art galleries, restaurants and worldclass shopping. From its Spanish-colonial architecture to its comforting in-room amenities, the Sheraton
Old San Juan Hotel offers guests the perfect blend of
Old World charm and New World elegance.
Included is unlimited use of the Health Club/Fitness
Center, recreational facilities, and in-room coffee.
About the Galeria Inn San Juan
The Galeria is the private residence of well-known
local artist,Jan D’Esopo and her husband Manuco
Gandía, who is also the teacher of the Puerto Rico
Olympic Equestrian Team. The home was built in the
1600s, and is the oldest residential structure in Old San
Juan. Originally built as the
officer’s quarters for the
Spanish Artillery, Galeria is
located midway between Fort
San Cristobal and Fort El
Morro on the very highest hill
of old San Juan. Its brick patios, antique arches, ausubo
beams, sculptured fountains
and nineteen glorious gardens are among the Inn’s
charming details. Here you’ll be warmly greeted by
your hosts, have a tour of the galleries and their spectacular gardens, and enjoy a welcome reception at
one of San Juan’s finest venues.
Thanks to receiving 100 billion
gallons of rain per year, the El
Yunque rainforest is able to
sustain some 250 species of
trees, 50 types of ferns and as
many as 20 varieties of wild
orchids. In addition to the
flora, El Yunque is also home
to an array of Puerto Rican
wildlife.
Within the forest, there are many trees known to be over
one thousand years old as well as trees reaching
heights in excess of 100 feet. The forest also includes
stands of giant hardwoods and bamboo groves. El Yunque is home to a variety wildlife, but perhaps the most
famous is the Amazona Uttata and the Coquí. The former is better known as the Puerto Rican Parrot. It is an
endangered species, very near extinction, so to see this
red, blue and green beauty is a rare treat. The latter, El
Coquí, is not only the national mascot, but also a source
of national pride. This bird grows to only a maximum of
one inch and it gets its name from the cricket-like mating call that literally sings his name, Co-Qui-i-i-i!
About the Caguas Botanical & Cultural Garden
This park is designed to
illustrate the relationships
between the Puerto Rican
culture, nature and tropical
agriculture. It is located in
the small city of Caguas,
just 30 minutes from San
Juan, and consists of 60
acres on the grounds of
an abandoned sugar mill.
Here you will see many traditional structures (some
overrun with plants, making them a thing of beauty)
as well as a number of endangered trees, a butterfly garden, and unique Caribbean flowers.
Our own unique travel experiences that offer exceptional value,
quality and attention to detail. Only from Macy’s Travel.
Travel Itinerary
Thursday, December 3
R
Morning departure from Minneapolis/St. Paul for
San Juan, Puerto Rico. Upon arrival you’ll transfer
to the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel, located in
the Old Quarter of San Juan. After checking in at
the hotel, you will have time to relax before walking
to the Galeria Inn San Juan for a delightful evening
of gardens, art, great appetizers and drinks. Return to the hotel afterward. Dinner is on your own
this evening.
Friday, December 4
B
This morning we will visit the Botanical Garden of
the University of San Juan. The garden includes
several themed collections of tropical and subtropical plants, as well as a fine collection of modern
sculptures by renowned artists of Puerto Rico and
Hispanic America. The garden is a living laboratory for informal instruction in all aspects of the native flora and other plants.
We will then return to our hotel. You will have two
hours to relax, have lunch, and get ready for our
walking tour of Old San Juan.
Our walk along the picturesque cobblestone
streets, patios, hanging balconies, plazas and
chapels of Old San Juan will show us the marriage
of the past and the present. We will marvel at the
colorful colonial buildings and centuries-old fortresses while enjoying the tropical breezes of the
Atlantic Ocean. We will explore the World Heritage
sites of Fort El Morro and the Fort of San Cristobal.
Along with historic cathedrals, plazas and museums. After this tour you can explore on your own
the shops, boutiques and art galleries that have
made this historic area their home.
We will return to our hotel, where the balance of
the day is at leisure. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Saturday, December 5
BL
Today we journey to the El Yunque Rainforest
where we’ll spend time touring the rainforest and
visit the El Portal Visitor’s Center. After lunch we
will have a nature hike. The guided hike is a lowimpact, half-hour walk where hikers will be able to
take a closer look at the various types of flora and
fauna and see some of the local birds. You’ll enter
the Palo Colorado Forest on your hike, one of the
four distinct forests in the rainforest.
Afterwards, we’ll return to San Juan, where the
balance of the day is at leisure. Tonight you can
venture out on your own to enjoy some of the
nightlife in the historic city. Dinner is on your own.
Sunday, December 6
BL
This morning we will depart for the Botanical and
Cultural Garden in the small city of Caguas. Here
we will visit many areas of the garden, which will
allow us to understand the interaction between the
Puerto Rican culture, nature and tropical agriculture.
We will enjoy lunch in the town of Caguas and
have time to explore this city.
Afterwards, we will return to our hotel where you
will have the balance of the day and the evening
to enjoy your last night in Puerto Rico. Dinner is
on your own.
Monday, December 7
B
This morning, you have time to relax and get
ready before transferring to the airport in San Juan
for your return flights home, or to Havana, for
those taking the optional extension to Cuba.
B = Breakfast
D = Dinner
L = Lunch
R = Welcome Reception
Our own unique travel experiences that offer exceptional value,
quality and attention to detail. Only from Macy’s Travel.
Not a Member? You can still Join us!!
Non-members will need to add $100 per person to the
tour price. To qualify for the Arboretum member’s
price, each traveler must be a member of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Please contact the Arboretum at 952-443-1440 for information on membership.
What’s Included:
Roundtrip airfare between Minneapolis-St. Paul
and San Juan
Four nights hotel accommodation at the
Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel
Breakfast daily
Two lunches
Welcome reception
Sightseeing and transfers as indicated in itinerary
Hotel taxes, fees, and service charges
A contribution to the Minnesota
Landscape Arboretum
Expert host throughout the tour
What’s Not Included in the tour:
Any airline imposed fees for checked pieces of
luggage
Optional sightseeing activities
Meals not included in itinerary
Travel insurance
Any other items not specifically
mentioned as included in the itinerary
Airline taxes and fuel surcharges
Cuba extension program costs
How to Book Your Trip
Contact Robin Fox at Macy’s Travel
800-533-0324 toll free
612-375-2881
Monday– Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Presented by
Cuba Educational Extension
Optional three-night or five-night Cuba educational
tour extensions are now ready. Please go to the next
page for all of the exciting details.
In 2009, the Arboretum will offer a wide variety of
destination tours. We will visit countries we have not
visited in a while, explore more of the World's fabulous
gardens and meet some of the people who created those
gardens. Come along and explore!
Chile
October 27 - November 4, 2009
Our own unique travel experiences that offer exceptional value,
quality and attention to detail. Only from Macy’s Travel.
Presented by
Cuba—Educational Tour!
December 7-10, 2009 (3 nights)
Air, Hotel & Tour Package
From $1,225.00 per person
December 7-12, 2009 (5 nights)
Air, Hotel & Tour Package
From $1,425.00 per person
Price is based on double occupancy. Single supplement from $100 per person for the 3
night program and $130.00 for the 5 night program. Airfare from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is estimated at this time and is subject to change.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is excited to offer an educational trip to Cuba focused on the opportunity to study natural botanical gardens, landscape design, organic farming, urban horticulture,
alternative gardening pest control, and general horticulture of this Caribbean island.
A highlight of the trip is a cross-educational experience with an expert
from the National Botanical Garden of the University of Cuba. Cuban
educational specialists and certified guides will be able to exchange
information on how Cuba, with little access to modern chemicals and
technologies, has been able to adapt and develop their own methods
of horticulture and agriculture.
The educational tour will also include exciting tours and experiences
that will teach you about Cuba’s rich culture, unique political history,
music, arts and continued survival through ongoing economic hardships.
Call the Experts—Macy’s Travel
Toll Free 800-533-0324
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
www.macystravel.com
During the educational tour you will see a mix of Spanish and Soviet
architecture. You will see 1950s automobiles in prime condition and
cars that have been patched together. You will see Old Havana
emerging as it once was due to the influx of money received as a result of its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Seeing the best of Cuba means grooving to its intoxicating music,
marveling at how Cubans improvise on a daily basis to make ends
meet, and visiting a land where time seems to have stalled in the
1950s.
Our own unique travel experiences that offer exceptional value,
quality and attention to detail. Only from Macy’s Travel.
About Soroa
About Our Hotels
Hotel Telegrafo—Old
Havana
The Hotel Telegrafo is an
authentic and luxurious 4star hotel in Old Havana. It
is located on Havana’s
most popular spot—the
corners of Prado and Neptuno Steets. It has recently
been renovated and has all the modern conveniences
you expect: air conditioning, safety deposit box, telephone, satellite TV, 110 voltage, Internet access, and
a beautiful courtyard and swimming pool.
Hotel Villa Soroa
Hotel Villa Soroa is
nestled in a World
Biosphere Reserve
in the Sierra del
Rosario Mountains
in Pinar del Rio
Province Cuba
(about 45 miles
west of Havana).
This area of Cuba
is referred to as
“the rainbow of
Cuba” for all of its natural beauty and this is a great
starting point to explore. The hotel is an eco-lodge
with modern conveniences: air conditioning, telephone, satellite TV,
safety deposit boxes,
three restaurants, five
bars, a pool, a massage
room, and a boutique.
Soroa is a site of breathtaking natural beauty with a 22meter waterfall that invites
visitors to take a refreshing
swim any time of the year.
The region’s unspoiled lush
environment is perfect for
cycling, mountain climbing
and excursions to unique
baths at the so-called “Pond
of Love”. One of the big attractions is the nearby botanical gardens, which contain an excellent orchidarium, home to more than 700
different types of orchids. For bird watchers there are
several viewing stations. For photographers it is
heaven.
About Havana
Havana is a mixture of Caribbean, African, Spanish,
American and Russian influences. You see the interplay
in every aspect of old and
new Havana and in the life of
the Cubans. Where else will
you find vintage American
cars running off Russian
Lada engines, ration shops
juxtaposed against gleaming
colonial palaces and revolutionary sloganeering drowned
out by all-night parties?
Enjoy the colonial monuments, experience the pizzazz of late-night cabaret
shows, stroll along the Malecon and
hear the waves crashing. Don’t forget
about their beautiful organic, urban gardens.
Our own unique travel experiences that offer exceptional value,
quality and attention to detail. Only from Macy’s Travel.
Travel Itinerary
Monday, December 7
B
Morning departure from San Juan, Puerto Rico to
Havana, Cuba. Upon arrival you’ll transfer to the
Hotel Telegrafo, located in Old Havana. After
checking in at the hotel, we will have a short orientation of the area close to the hotel. Dinner will be
on your own this evening. The hotel restaurants
are good and there is an excellent Italian restaurant across the street.
Tuesday, December 8
BD
After breakfast we will embark on a walking tour of
Old Havana. Highlights will be the many historical
squares, the Ambos Mundos hotel where Hemmingway lived for a time, and the Capitol Building.
After returning to the hotel, we will have lunch on
our own. This afternoon, we will visit farm Cojimar
(an organic research farm). The town of Cojimar is
where author Ernest Hemingway kept his boat and
from where the “Old Man” from Hemingway’s Old
Man and the Sea lived. We will stop at one of Hemingway’s local hangouts and then return to the
hotel where you can freshen up before dinner. After our dinner at a popular restaurant, we will walk
to the house of Elsa Maria. From the roof-top patio
we will learn to play local instruments and dance
popular Cuban dances led by the charismatic band
leader, Elsa Maria.
Wednesday, December 9
BL
This morning a local expert will guide us through
the National Botanical Garden at the University of
Cuba. Here you will see a variety of Caribbean
flowers. We will then have lunch, followed by a
tour of Modern Havana, which will include the areas of Vedado and Miramar. These areas were
developed during the 1940s and 50s when Havana experienced a large influx of American investments and people. Highlights will include the
Revolution Square and the famous Hotel
Nacional, which was formerly owned by the American Mafia, and Meyer Lansky’s home. Dinner will
be on your own. After dinner we will gather to see
the legendary “Tropicana Show”.
Thursday, December 10
BLD
This morning, those who signed up for the 3 night
extension will depart for Minneapolis. The rest of
us will depart for the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere
Reserve and Villa Soroa. We will stop along the
way to visit the town of Las Terazas, a self sustained community. Our local guide will review the
history of the area and describe the efforts that
have gone into developing it. We will also walk
through the “terraced” town enjoying the craft
shops and its history and have lunch here. We
then board the coach and travel to the nearby historical Buena Vista Coffee Plantation ruins and
learn how coffee was harvested and baked nearly
a century ago. The original hacienda and the remains of the slaves’ living quarters can be seen as
well. We will then check in to the Villa Sora resort
and enjoy dinner.
Friday, December 11
BD
This morning we enjoy an interpretive hike along
the “Maravillas de Sora” trail . Your guide is a
naturalist and an expert on the flora and fauna in
the area. He is also an expert birder. This will be
followed by a soft trekking tour of the Orchid Garden located a short hike from the hotel. This garden hosts an amazing display of tropical plants
and trees; there are over 20,000 plants representing 700 species, 250 of which are indigenous to
Cuba. Lunch will be on your own and the afternoon is at leisure. We will meet for our farewell
dinner at the restaurant.
Saturday, December 12
B
This morning we transfer back to the Havana Airport for our flight home.
B = Breakfast
D = Dinner
L = Lunch
R = Welcome Reception
Our own unique travel experiences that offer exceptional value,
quality and attention to detail. Only from Macy’s Travel.
Not a Member? You can still come along!
Non-members will need to add $100 per person to the
tour price. To qualify for the Arboretum member’s
price, each traveler must be a member of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Please contact the Arboretum at 952-443-1440 for information on membership.
What’s Included: 3 Night Extension
Roundtrip airfare between San Juan and Havana
Three nights hotel accommodation at the
Hotel Telegrafo
Breakfast daily
Two lunches
One Dinner
Sightseeing and transfers as indicated in itinerary
Hotel taxes
A contribution to the Minnesota
Landscape Arboretum
Expert host throughout tour
What’s Included: 5 Night Extension
Everything included in the three night extension
Plus
2 nights at the hotel Villa Soroa
Breakfast daily
One additional lunch
Two additional dinners
Sightseeing and transfers as indicated in itinerary
How to Book Your Trip
Contact Robin Fox at Macy’s Travel
800-533-0324 toll free
612-375-2881
Monday– Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Not included in the tour:
Any airline imposed fees each way for checked
pieces of luggage
Airline taxes and fuel surcharges
Optional sightseeing activities
Meals not included in itinerary
Travel insurance
Any other items not specifically mentioned
as included in the itinerary
Presented by
In 2009, the Arboretum will offer a wide variety of
destination tours. We will visit countries we have not
visited in a while, explore more of the world's fabulous
gardens and meet some of the people who created those
gardens. Come along and explore!
Chile
October 27 - November 4, 2009
Our own unique travel experiences that offer exceptional value,
quality and attention to detail. Only from Macy’s Travel.