Cuba Explorer

What Cuba Explorer does

Cuba Explorer is a privately held, Cuban-American travel company founded in 1997 that arranges legal Cuba travel for American citizens under OFAC license 31 C.F.R. §515.572(a)(1). The business is operated by Zunzun Education Services Inc (US-domiciled in Florida) with a full-time, all-Cuban professional staff in Havana, supported by offices in Miami (PO Box 961261) and Vedado, Plaza, La Habana. The company offers a portfolio of pre-packaged small-group tours (Weekend in Havana from $1,329, Havana Extravaganza from $1,899, Old Havana and the Sea from $2,049, Wild Cuba Adventure from $2,099, Western Cuba Culture from $2,649, and Havana Jazz Festival tours from $2,549–$2,849), custom private tours priced at $350–$550 per day, study-abroad programs for high-school and university groups, plus ancillary eVisa sales ($69) and travel insurance referrals. The technology stack is non-proprietary, relying on standard travel booking and customer management systems. Distribution runs through direct website and toll-free phone sales (1-888-965-5647), direct educational-institution sales, and the OurCuba.com travel-agent affiliate platform that arms independent US agents with free branded reseller websites on commission.

Cuba Explorer earns revenue via one-time tour package fees and per-day custom-tour pricing, supplemented by per-transaction eVisa fees and affiliate commissions from travel insurance. The GTM is sales-led and event-driven: customers are acquired through the company's website, TripAdvisor reviews, quarterly email updates, travel-agent affiliates, and event-anchored packages around the Havana Jazz Festival. Customer segments include American individual travelers (typically 35–70), students/educational institutions, private family/friend groups, and special-interest travelers (jazz, bird watching). The company positions itself as an affordable, legally compliant, humanitarian alternative to premium competitors — explicitly branding itself the "Levi's of Cuba tours" — and is officially sponsored by the Office of the Historian of Havana, with tour proceeds supporting Old Havana restoration. After 27 years of continuous operation through multiple US-Cuba regulatory cycles and the pandemic, the business remains bootstrapped with 9 employees and no disclosed external funding.

Name

Cuba Explorer

Legal name

Zunzun Education Services Inc

Website

https://cubaexplorer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cuba Explorer is a privately held, Cuban-American travel company founded in 1997 that sells OFAC-licensed group tours, custom private tours, and study-abroad programs to American travelers seeking legal Cuba visits, distributed direct-to-consumer and through a travel-agent affiliate platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Tourism Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Travel Agencies (56151)

akta.pro primary industry

Escorted Coach & Bus Package Tour Operators (THAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student & Youth Educational Tours (THAKAGAA), Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB), Luxury Travel Agencies (THAKAFAA)

Keywords

• Cuba travel tours
• Legal Cuba travel
• Guided group tours
• Study abroad Cuba
• Private Cuba tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Havana

HQ country

Cuba

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Group Tour Packages: Pre-packaged group tours including Weekend in Havana ($1,329 for 4 days), Havana Extravaganza ($1,899 for 6 days), Old Havana and the Sea ($2,049 for 5 days), Wild Cuba Adventure ($2,099 for 7 days), Western Cuba Culture ($2,649 for 8 days), and Jazz Festival tours ($2,549-$2,849 for 7-9 days). Tour prices include accommodations, most meals, transportation, activities, and Cuban Tourist Visa.
2. Custom Private Tours: Bespoke private tours designed around individual client preferences for families, friends, schools, and organizations. Pricing tiers: Economy from $350/day, Cozy from $450/day, Best of Cuba from $550/day. Includes boutique accommodations, fine dining, private guides, and customized itineraries.
3. Student/School Tour Programs: Custom study abroad trips for high school, college, and university students with educational focus areas including Cuban culture, Spanish language, arts, music, and political economy. Pricing varies based on student count, duration, and program customization.
4. Cuban Tourist Visa (eVisa): Cuba Explorer sells Cuban Tourist/Visitors Visas for $69 to independent travelers. All tour package guests receive the visa included free of charge.
5. Travel Insurance Services: Referral commission from TravelInsurance.com for trip cancellation and interruption insurance recommended to all travelers.
6. Travel Agent Commission (OurCuba): Commissions paid to travel agents who sell Cuba Explorer tours through the OurCuba.com platform. Agents receive free website, monthly commission payments, and access to custom tour design tools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cuba Explorer sells legally licensed Cuba travel experiences to American citizens under OFAC license 31 C.F.R. §515.572(a)(1), offering pre-packaged group tours (4–9 days from $1,329–$2,849), custom private tours at $350–$550/day, study abroad programs for schools and universities, a $69 Cuban eVisa service, and travel insurance referrals. All tours include accommodations, most meals, transportation, guided activities, and a Cuban Tourist Visa, with 24/7 in-country support from Cuban staff in Havana.

Product overview

Cuba Explorer is a travel company offering legal Cuba travel for Americans since 1997, operating under OFAC license 31 C.F.R. §515.572(a)(1). The company provides a portfolio of small-group guided tour packages centered on Cuban culture, music, dance, history, and nature experiences. Core tour products include Weekend in Havana (4 days from $1329), Havana Extravaganza (6 days from $1899), Old Havana and the Sea (5 days from $2049), Wild Cuba Adventure (7 days from $2099), Western Cuba Culture (8 days from $2649), and specialized jazz festival tours (7-9 days from $2549-$2849). The company also offers Custom Private Cuba Tours with tailor-made itineraries and Study Abroad Tours for students. Add-on services include travel insurance facilitation and Cuban eVisa processing. The company operates the OurCuba platform enabling travel agents to sell Cuba tours through free branded websites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OurCuba: A free instant website program for travel agents to sell Cuba Explorer tours with their own unique Cuba travel website and URL

Products and services

• Weekend in Havana A four-day, three-night pre-packaged group tour of Havana featuring culture, music, dance, art, and vintage 1950s cars, priced from $1,329. Includes accommodations, most meals, guided activities, and a Cuban Tourist Visa. Rated 4.9 stars. Target audience: American individual travelers and small groups.
• Havana Extravaganza A six-day pre-packaged group tour offering culture, music, dance, nature, and beach experiences with local engagement, priced from $1,899. Includes 5 nights of accommodation, full itinerary of activities, most meals, and Cuban Tourist Visa. Rated 4.9 stars.
• Old Havana and the Sea A five-day pre-packaged tour combining stays at Varadero white sand beaches with Havana's authentic culture, food, and nightlife, priced from $2,049. Includes 4 nights accommodation, activities, most meals, and Cuban Tourist Visa. Rated 4.8 stars.
• Wild Cuba Adventure A seven-day adventure tour featuring hiking, biking, sailing, nature experiences, music, dance, and local interactions, priced from $2,099. Rated 4.7 stars. Target audience: nature and adventure-loving American travelers.
• Western Cuba Culture An eight-day pre-packaged tour visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites in Havana, Trinidad, and Cienfuegos with cultural, music, dance, and arts experiences, priced from $2,649. Designed as a social and natural history expedition.
• Just the Havana Jazz Festival A seven-day focused tour of Havana's jazz festival experience with musicians and cultural immersion, priced from $2,549 (January 26 to February 1, 2027). Limited to festival activities. Target audience: music enthusiasts and special interest travelers.
• Havana Jazz Festival Plus A nine-day extended jazz festival tour with acclaimed musicians, great food, and island culture experiences, priced from $2,849 (January 24 to February 1, 2027). Premium cultural immersion for music enthusiasts.
• Custom Private Cuba Tours Tailor-made private tours for individuals, families, friends, and organizations with custom itineraries co-designed by clients with Cuban experts in Havana. Features boutique accommodations, fine dining, private guides, and flexible scheduling. Three pricing tiers: Economy from $350/day, Cozy from $450/day, Best of Cuba from $550/day. Minimum 2 travelers.
• Study Abroad Tours to Cuba Legally compliant academic travel to Cuba for high school, college, and university students with custom itineraries covering AfroCuban culture, Spanish language, music, art, and educational seminars. Pricing varies based on student count, duration, and program customization.
• Cuban eVisa / Tourist Visa Low-cost electronic Cuban tourist visa service at $69 for independent travelers, approved and delivered instantly. Free e-Visa included in all Cuba Explorer tour packages.
• Cuba Travel Insurance Facilitation Trip interruption and cancellation insurance referral facilitated through TravelInsurance.com, which aggregates quotes from America's top nine insurance providers. Recommended for all travelers to protect their travel investments. Cuba Explorer earns referral commissions.
• OurCuba Travel Agent Affiliate Program A free instant website program allowing travel agents to promote and sell Cuba Explorer tours through their own unique branded URL. Agents earn commissions, receive monthly commission payments, and have access to custom tour design tools for clients. No costs or minimum sales requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% legal travel guarantee - full refund if regulations change
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)coreOthersCuba Explorer operates under OFAC License 31 C.F.R. §515.572(a)(1) which authorizes legal people-to-people travel to Cuba for Americans. This regulatory license is fundamental to the company's business model and provides legal authorization for all tour operations.
• Office of the Historian of HavanaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuba Explorer is officially sponsored by the Office of the Historian of Havana, a prestigious Cuban governmental organization. Their travel project serves as a global model for urban renewal, heritage conservation, and citizen engagement. Proceeds from tours support restoration of Old Havana and improvement of local inhabitants' lives.
• American AirlinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmerican Airlines operates daily commercial flights from the United States to Havana, Cuba. Cuba Explorer partners with American Airlines for flight arrangements for their tour guests, providing seamless air travel integration with tour packages.
• TravelInsurance.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCuba Explorer recommends TravelInsurance.com to customers for trip cancellation and interruption coverage. TravelInsurance.com aggregates quotes from America's top nine insurance providers, offering competitive rates without middlemen. Cuba Explorer earns referral fees from this partnership.
• National GeographicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCuba Explorer is featured in National Geographic paid content about cultural tours to the Americas. National Geographic has recognized Cuba as a top travel destination, providing credibility and exposure for Cuba travel options.
• OurCuba Travel AgentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOurCuba.com is Cuba Explorer's affiliate channel partner program for independent travel agents. Agents receive free branded websites to promote and sell Cuba Explorer tours. The program provides commissions, custom tour design capabilities, and full operational support. Agents can start selling immediately with no costs or minimum sales requirements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: Global education and study-abroad company with cultural travel programs. Comparable to Cuba Explorer's study abroad segment on curriculum-aligned experiential travel for students.
• G Adventures: Large small-group tour operator with global reach including Cuba programming. Comparable on group-tour mechanics, multi-day packages, and price-tiered offerings.
• Road Scholar: Not-for-profit educational travel organization offering learning-focused group tours. Comparable to Cuba Explorer on educational small-group tours, cultural immersion, and older-adult traveler segment.
• Intrepid Travel: Global small-group adventure tour operator. Comparable to Cuba Explorer on small-group escorted format, cultural immersion focus, and adventure-tour product positioning.

Direct peers

• InsightCuba: US-based Cuba tour operator offering legal people-to-people and cultural tours for American travelers under OFAC authorization. Closely comparable to Cuba Explorer on destination focus, customer base, and group-tour product mix.
• Holbrook Travel: Specializes in educational and natural-history travel to Latin America, with Cuba as a flagship destination. Comparable to Cuba Explorer on small-group cultural tours, naturalist guides, and study-abroad programming.
• Central Holidays: Diversified tour operator with a substantial Cuba program alongside broader Latin America and Mediterranean offerings. Comparable on escorted multi-day package tours and Cuba specialization.
• Cuban Adventures: Adventure-focused Cuba tour operator offering small-group cultural and active tours. Comparable to Cuba Explorer's Wild Cuba Adventure product and small-group tour format.
• Cuba Educational Travel: Specializes in academic and people-to-people travel to Cuba for US schools, universities, and organizations. Directly comparable to Cuba Explorer's study abroad segment.
• Marazul Tours: Long-standing US-to-Cuba tour operator and air consolidator offering legal Cuba travel, flights, and group tours. Directly comparable on US-targeted Cuba tour packages and customer profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cuba-explorer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cuba Explorer