With limits, U.S. opens a travel portal to Cuba

Anyone and everyone who wants to visit Cuba can now do so legally, as long as they play by the government's new rules and conditions.

Travelers still must go in groups and be accompanied by authorized, U.S.-government licensed operators.

What's different, under a travel policy change issued by the Obama administration, is that the definition of group travel to Cuba has broadened from strictly religious, academic and cultural travel to include U.S. travelers who want to mix, mingle, meet and share experiences with local Cubans under the people-to-people category of travel.

U.S. tour operator Insight Cuba is ready -- more than ready, actually -- to jump back on the bandwagon.

Insight Cuba received its license on June 28 from the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control to relaunch its popular people-to-people educational and cultural tours.

But the operator had already run these programs from 2000 to 2003, taking 2,500 travelers to Cuba in 2003 alone, according to the company's director, Tom Popper.

Travel restrictions imposed by President George W. Bush in 2004 brought a halt to the programs. Those restrictions were reversed by the Obama administration on Jan. 28, allowing the resumption of the people-to-people educational programs.

Once the revised travel regulations were posted, Insight Cuba immediately submitted its application to operate the programs.

"We've been preparing for this day for seven years," Popper said. "Now that we have our license in hand, anyone and everyone can reserve a spot on one of our six travel programs, with more than 130 departures through September 2012."

Popper hopes to take between 5,000 and 7,000 travelers to Cuba on these programs in the next 12 months. Its inaugural seven-night Havana & Colonial Trinidad trip departs Aug. 11.

While waiting for the license to arrive, Insight Cuba canvassed its database of former people-to-people participants to gauge their level of interest in a return run to Cuba.

What it discovered, Popper said, was that "There was much interest. We had hoped for 10 to 20 responses. We got 186 immediately."

He credited the success of Insight Cuba's programs to the firm's long-standing relationships with various Cuban agencies.

"We defer to them for their on-the-ground experience," Popper said. "Through many of these contacts, our participants visit places the average tourist does not see and meet locals in communities, neighborhoods and in all walks of life, from musicians to farmers.

"Often it is the people you meet while traveling that create the lifetime memories. A sharing of experiences is what these programs are all about, and we can maximize opportunities for our travelers to do just that."

Each of Insight Cuba's trips will be limited to 16 participants and will be led by an in-country host/escort.

Prices will cover all meals, double-occupancy accommodations in four- and five-star hotels, motorcoach transport, domestic flights within Cuba if required, all entry fees, guide services, travel insurance and U.S. Treasury Department license and letter of authorization. Single supplements are priced at $300 ($200 for the Weekend in Havana package). Most programs run seven nights.

Air travel is not included in the package price. Insight Cuba has reserved seats on charter flights from Miami to Havana through Marazul Charters, a licensed operator to Cuba since 1977.

"The flight situation is different regarding air to Cuba," Popper said. "The Department of Transportation regulates charter flights offered by authorized charter companies out of specific airports."

Charter flights currently are permitted from Los Angeles, Miami and New York.

Earlier this year, eight more airports were approved, including Chicago, Baltimore, Dallas, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Tampa, Atlanta and San Juan.

However, charter companies that want to offer flights from the recently added airports must go through an application and licensing process.

"Our travel specialists handle the air arrangements," Popper said. "Before departure, customers receive a copy of our specific license and a letter of authorization, which legalizes their travel to Cuba. They carry these documents along with their passport."

Insight Cuba also has a separate custom group department that tailors Cuban itineraries for groups of people who share specific interests, such as veterinarians, women's groups and the like.

"The group size on these programs is larger than our specific people-to-people programs," Popper said. "There is huge interest. We have 33 such groups just raring to go."

Other tour operators are expected to offer people-to-people programs once their licenses are granted.

"I don't know how many others applied," Popper said. "We have ours, and we are ready to roll."