This spring, we had the privilege of hosting Johns Hopkins University’s MS Field Course on Nature Conservation and Sustainability in Cuba. From coral restoration in the Guanahacabibes Biosphere Reserve to sea turtle conservation at La Barca Beach, students engaged in hands-on learning while exploring Cuba’s rich ecosystems. Guided by expert lecturers, this immersive experience highlighted the country’s innovative approaches to environmental stewardship. Read more about this inspiring journey and how Cross Cultural Journeys is fostering global education through experiential travel.

Cuba is more than its postcard-perfect images—its true essence lies in its people, traditions, and deep sense of community. From sharing home-cooked meals to exploring spiritual traditions, this journey offered a glimpse into the heart of Cuban culture.

Tour guides develop a preference for certain destinations. As a local tour guide, with 20 years in the making, I have one: The eastern region of Cuba.

The trio that was entertaining us at “La Ferminia” restaurant got emotional when a member of our tour stood up, walked to where they were and handed over a bag containing guitar strings. “This, said the lead singer, is more important than the tip we could get from this whole month”…

AmaTierra is one of the first yoga and wellness centers in Costa Rica. Owners Bob and Jill Ruttenberg told CCJ that one of the reasons they chose Costa Rica as the site for their center was “because of its friendly and helpful people…

Santiago de Cuba, located along Cuba’s Southeastern coast, is a vibrant port city rich in Afro-Caribbean culture and revolutionary history. Known as the birthplace of the Cuban Revolution, Santiago offers a unique blend of traditions and influences, with a scenic backdrop of the Sierra Maestra mountains and the Caribbean Sea. This city, home to over half a million people, is a must-visit for travelers looking to explore Cuba’s past, present, and diverse cultural heritage. Next year, Cross Cultural Journeys will offer trips to Santiago, including visits to historic sites like the Moncada Barracks and immersive experiences with the local community.

Summer travel is in FULL swing! Our recent journey to Italy with Eleven Winery took us from Milan in the North, through Piedmont and Genova to Emilia Romagna, and ended in Siena and Florence in Tuscany. Italy in the summertime, post-pandemic, post-flooding, and during an excessive heat wave (we just made it out before it got really hot), is not for the faint of heart! As with every tour, we learned a lot and will make a few adjustments to the planning of tours of this kind…

Since 1998, Cross Cultural Journeys has offered in depth cultural experiences in Cuba. During this time we have built meaningful relationships with local organizations, NGOs (non-governmental organizations) artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, doctors, architects and everyday citizens. This is what makes our journeys there so special.The arrests picked up both sides, and some even non-violent protesters will face as much as one year in prison…

CCJ and CCJF has at its core to always support the local communities we visit. Angermeir tells us about one of the first projects we sponsored: "For many years CCJF supported the women weavers of Omunity, a project started by Putu, a Balinese woman living in Sudaji, a Balinese village at the base of Mt. Agung. Her husband, ZanZan is the former manager of the Arma Resort in Ubud, where we worked with him on the Quest For Global Healing conferences…

Our Cuba travel group on the dock in Cienfuegos Bay, November, 2022.I am deeply sad to learn about CCJ Journey Leader and "co-pilot" Robert Bush's passing. My heart goes out to his family and everybody who loved him in is local community in Charlotte, NC. Robert was a special human being who had chosen Cross Cultural Journeys as his international travel companion for the past decade…