#afrolatino travel

“AfroLatino Travel placed me in adventures and experiences that has forever changed me. I have memories of meeting amazing people, eating delicious local, affordable food, dancing the night away and pure laughter in Colombia and Brazil. I remember I rode on motorcycles into this maroon town where buses didn’t go. I’d never thought I’d do something like that! The team not only plans and covers popular historical sights but they center African heritage, which is very important to me. They are masters  of customizing and planning your experience” -Tee, Irving, California

“I had an amazing experience in Habana, greatly due to the local experience I received from the Afro-Cuba tour. AfroLatino Travel connected me with a local, who was there to answer any questions, help me navigate the city, help haggle to get the best prices for taxis, and find the best cheap, local food spots. He was awesome throughout the trip.

I felt like less like a tourist and more like a local on this trip.  I saw a great balance of the touristy Habana and the “real” Habana. I saw how people  actually live and would have regretted it had I not seen this, and not gotten a genuine experience.

I think the biggest highlight for me was seeing a Tambor, which is an Afro-Cuban religious ritual. It gives me great pride to see folks of all shades celebrating their African religion and seeing that they have maintained several African traditions.”

Blair, Chicago

#Havana #Matanzas #VaraderoAFRO Artist &Activist Talks Tambor Day Rumba Black #Cuba NYE 

INFO & Sign-up- Hola@AfroLatinoTravel

Meet Ryan, one of the AfroLatino Travel team members based in Rincon, Puerto Rico. A Mayaguez native, Ryan has always felt like the ‘Black Sheep” of the family and that experience was central in his identity as an Afrodescendant. He has whipped up some incredible Afro trips for 2016 in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

“My interests revolve around Afrodescendant communities in the Americas with a particular focus on Caribbean migrations and the interface between the environment and coastal populations. The work I am involved in is a direct result of my own family history and the multiple sites of departure and arrival across the Caribbean that is our story. As a Caribbean Black man born and raised in Puerto Rico, with roots in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nevis, South Carolina and Philadelphia and family networks across the Americas I delve into this work to continue to empower the communities I belong to.” 

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Check out his work with  INSTITUTE FOR SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH

“My husband and I traveled to Panama for a brief vacation. Before leaving, several people asked why we chose Panama over more popular destinations in the Caribbean or Costa Rica. I’m so glad we went with our gut! We went in July, which is the rainy season, but we were lucky and got great weather. We didn’t know what to expect, but had a really great time.   

AfroLatino Travel did a great job explaining the best way to get around the city. My favorite part of the trip to Panama was hands down the day trip to Portobelo and Isla Grande. I don’t think we would’ve made it without AfroLatino Travel’s help. The trip is easy, but some parts are informal and a bit tricky with limited Spanish. They explained everything we needed to know about how to rent a car, make the two hour drive, and where to catch the ferry to get to Isla Grande. The local people in Portobelo run the ferry and provide an inexpensive and reliable ride to the island. The beautiful beach is relaxing and truly worth the trip. We also got to see Panama’s beautiful countryside and met wonderful people along the way. 

If you are thinking about visiting Panama, go! The people are friendly, the food is great, and with AfroLatino Travel’s help, you can navigate away from the city and experience some great hidden treasures." 

-Ashley, Washington DC

“When I realized I would have a 22 hour layover in Panama for my flight from Quito, Ecuador to Chicago, I knew immediately who to contact in order to make the most of my first time in Central America, Afro Latino Travel! Dash Harris responded almost immediately with several different options based upon my interests in experiencing cultural, historical and culinary aspects of the African Diaspora in Panama. Upon landing in Panama City at 8:00AM on the Pacific Coast, we took an hour bus to Colón province on the Atlantic Coast, and from there made our way to the port city of Portobelo by bus.

Culturally I was most intrigued by the Black diversity of Colón, owing to generations of Black immigrants from Jamaica, Barbados and other Caribbean islands, who spoke English, patois, French and Spanish and brought the cultural traditions of the Antilles to the Atlantic coast of Panama. Historically, I was blown away by the rich history of Portobelo. Located in a natural bay, the small, beautiful and rural city features at least three Afrodiasporic sites of cultural heritage. The Church of the Black Christ, a colonial era fort overlooking the bay with a sobering hold where enslaved Africans were held, and an annual festival known as the Diablo Tun Tun representing Panama’s rich and sustained tradition of Afrodiasporic religion and secret Congo societies.

From strolling through the historic and majestic sites of Portobelo to lounging on the almost private beaches of  La Angosta, where fresh avocados fall from the tree and to your feet, I had such a rich and diverse experience traveling throughout Panama in less than 24 hours, thanks to the Afro Latino Travel, that I could not have done on my own, and doubt most mainstream travel agencies specialize in respectful Afrodiasporic cultural engagement.”

-Theo, Chicago

“Last December, my boyfriend and I traveled to Panama for a week to escape the brutal East Coast winter. Many of the things we enjoyed were thanks to the help of AfroLatino Travel and Dash Harris.

Dash helped us through the entire planning process and before we left the States we had four different itineraries we could choose from once we landed. She picked us up from the airport and gave us amazing tips and destinations that we definitely wouldn’t have found on our own––like the best places to eat (El Caribe!!!!!), what to see, and most importantly, how to get there. It was beyond helpful, and allowed us to have a really special experience. The best, and most adventurous part of our trip, was the bus ride from Panama City to Bocas del Toro. Without Dash, there’s NO WAY we would have made it to that gorgeous island.

If you’re looking for a memorable travel experience, that’s full of culture, history, great food, and amazing people, AfroLatino Travel will not let you down.”

Nexus, New Jersey