Education Abroad Programs
Support For The Cuban People
Since 2016, CHACO Travel has been committed to legal travel that directly supports Cuba's private sector. Our guests always stay at privately-owned accommodations, eat at privately-owned restaurants, and engage in a full-time schedule that supports private sector businesses, entrepreneurs, artists, and musicians. In other words, we offer our guests the very best that Cuba has to offer.
• High School & University Trips
CHACO Travel's university education abroad programs are well-organized, safe, engaging, academic experiences that offer students a new perspective on life and the world.
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CHACO’s study abroad programs are typically professor-led, short to medium-term, ranging from a few days to several weeks. The programs are customizable to meet the specific needs of each university, the lead professor(s), and the academic discipline.
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CHACO founder and university professor Dr. Grant Cohen will work closely with the lead professor and other relevant personnel such as members of the education abroad office to build the perfect itinerary. Unlike those working at other study abroad providers, Grant is a university professor who teaches courses on Cuba, Latin America, and many other topics at the University of Colorado (CU).
Grant also leads an annual, two-week education abroad program to Cuba every year n the political science department at CU. So, he has a keen understanding of good academic programming and what professors seek to achieve, and is constantly expanding CHACO’s reach in these areas. Grant also spends an extensive amount of time on the ground in Cuba, with and without his students, so he is aware of the realities of travel in Cuba and knows how to plan a well-oiled program that eliminates common inefficiencies.
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CHACO Travel has experience organizing and operating programs for professors in various academic disciplines, including:​
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Music/Jazz Studies
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Art/Art History
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Political Science
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International Studies/International Affairs / International Relations
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History
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Sociology
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Anthropology
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Economics
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Communications
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Ethnic Studies
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Latin American Studies
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Spanish
All of our education abroad programs include a local experience manager, clean and safe accommodations, in-country transportation, all meals, and a full-time educational itinerary. The experience manager serves multiple roles as a full-time local guide, event and transportation coordinator, and point-person for anything that professors and students need to be comfortable and safe.
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Our student accommodations are extremely safe, clean, and conveniently located. In Cuba, our guests stay at privately-owned, government-regulated homes/bed & breakfasts. Not only will students get a more authentic experience, these casas provide excellent service that government-owned hotels don’t match.
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​Providing meals depends on the requirements and desires of the lead professor, but participants will always receive quality, nutritious meals at their accommodations, local restaurants, and home-cooked meals and family homes. We have experience meeting the needs of students with various dietary restrictions, including vegetarians, vegans, religious restrictions, and gluten-free requirements.
• Music & Jazz Programs
CHACO Travel has extensive reach in Cuba’s vibrant, world-renowned music and jazz communities. These programs take on different forms based on the desires of the lead professor(s). CHACO’s programs can be more or less intensive in terms of instrument-specific workshops and ensembles, and designed in accordance with the experience, skill-level and goals of each particular university program.
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Intensive jazz programs involve daily of frequent workshops with some of Cuba’s best musicians and jazz professors, as well as at least one cultural activity each day. It also includes at least one public performance, often in conjunction with the Cuban musicians you work with throughout the week. In the evenings, CHACO will make reservations at the best venues to see live performances, and organize a few private performances.
Less intensive jazz programs are more focused on meeting and hearing musicians perform with fewer workshops. These programs are particularly attractive for students such as music business majors and others who are integral members of the music department, but not necessarily aiming to become professional musicians.
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Learn more about CHACO Travel’s music and jazz offering here.​
​Check out this video of an intensive jazz program that CHACO organized and operated for the Thompson School of Music at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
• Four Reasons to Study in Cuba
Cuba is particularly well suited for educational travel. First, and most importantly, Cuba is a very safe country. Safety is the number one priority for CHACO Travel, and Cuba's exemplary reputation for safety gives us extra peace of mind.
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Second, Cuba is truly unique. There is no place like it in the world. Thus, it serves as an unparalleled laboratory, a vacuum, and an alternative reality to enhance the study of many diverse fields, including history, economics, music, art, religion, sociology, architecture, African diaspora, Spanish, and more.
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Third, travel to Cuba is an essential experience for American students. The two countries share an intertwined history full of shared experiences and geographic proximity, and yet have also been politically isolated from each other for generations. Cuba simultaneously parallels and juxtaposes almost every aspect of the United States; unmistakably similar, yet distinctly foreign.
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​Fourth, Cuba is a perfect opportunity to unplug and disconnect. Internet is available in Cuba, but it can only be accessed from certain specific locations. While this can sometimes be an inconvenience, it also provides a perfect chance to disconnect from the constant connectivity of social media and email. Students will spend more time connecting with those around them and being present in the moment, a rare opportunity for many young people.
