600 young people from the US attend the World Youth Festival in Havana: Meeting in Havana, representatives of Cubans living abroad in the United States, Spain, Puerto Rico, and Mexico establish a Dialogue with the Cuban Government. Cuban American leaders establish the Committee of 75 to help push forward the dialogue. This same year, Francisco Aruca and other Cuban Americans take part in a dialogue with the Cuban government. Upon returning to the United States, the idea for Marazul was born!

Marazul was founded by Francisco Aruca with three purposes:

1.  Help Cuban Americans reunite with their Cuban Families
2. Bring as many groups and people as possible from the US to Cuba to see Cuba firsthand, and to experience it personally.
3. End the restrictions on travel to Cuba, leading to an end in the blockade

First-Time regular charter service is established between Miami and Havana.

In response to the founding of Marazul Tours, the Cuban government founded the land operator Havanatur to provide the arrangements for Cuba Americans travelers, returning to Cuba for the first time since the revolution.

During this time, Marazul was the only travel agency sending groups and individuals to Cuba!

President Ronald Reagan re-imposes the travel restrictions. (Marazul continued to send group legally to Cuba, while always maintaining compliance with US and Cuba law.)

Marazul is subpoenaed by the US Treasury Department for the names of all Marazul Tours clients who had traveled to Cuba. Marazul refused and with the crucial assistance of the Center for Constitutional Rights, the National Lawyers Guild, and the National Conference of Black Lawyers fought back and won in court.

Marazul is bombed for the first time — It would happen again in 1989 & 1996. Many other Cuban travel agencies would, unfortunately, experience that same fate as well.

Due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba faced an unprecedented economic crisis, referred to as the “special period.” In order to grow the economy and continue their commitment to social programs, Cuba invested heavily in the tourist industry. New hotels such as the Melia’s & Parque Central were built. Under the leadership of City Historian Eusebio Leal, a massive restoration of Old Havana was undertaken, Cuba also opened the Latin American Medical School, providing free medical education to people across the world.

The Cuban Friendship Institute’s travel agency; Amistur, opens its doors! Marazul is their 1st US partner.

The World Festival of Youth and Students is an international event, organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), a United Nations-recognized international youth non-governmental organization, jointly with the International Union of Students since 1947. In 1997 Marazul Tours worked with the prep committees for the 14th iteration of the festival which was taking place in Cuba, assisting those interested in traveling legally under a license.  The licenses were unjustifiably denied, but 900 unlicensed young people defied the restriction and attended the festival. It was the largest single travel challenge in US history. None of the 900 students were fined.

President Clinton modifies restrictions allowing increased travel – but only under licenses.

Hundreds of universities, colleges and high schools, professional and cultural organizations, religious institutions and groups, and thousands upon thousands of individuals flood the Treasury Department with applications for travel – many enlisting the aid of their congressional representatives. Over 750 universities and colleges receive licenses.

OFAC under the direction of President George W. Bush, eliminated the People to People travel category, the 2nd largest category after family visits. Marazul applied for specific licenses for all remaining categories of legal traveled and continued sending groups to Cuba.

President Obama’s OFAC decides to issue a General License for Cuban American travel once every 12 months to visit ‘close’ relatives. This is the first action to broaden travel to Cuba in 10 years. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus led by Congresswomen Barbara Lee visit Cuba and meet with President Raul Castro and former President Fidel Castro. Call for an end to the embargo and the travel ban and respect for Cuba’s sovereignty. Marazul Tours coordinated the travel of the Congressional Black Caucus.

In 2009, prior to meeting with Latin American heads of state – excluding Cuba – President Obama announces ‘new beginning’ of US-Cuba relations and orders the opening of unrestricted travel by Cuban Americans to visit their close relatives. Revised restrictions are finally issued in September. In 2014, President Obama & President Castro announce the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US & Cuba.

President Trump announces the return on regime change policy towards Cuba. Announces the elimination of the individual category of travel, as well as announcing that the OFAC regulations would be updated later in the year. Despite a change in US travel regulations, Cuba experienced a surge of tourism in 2017. They surpassed their goal of over 4 million travelers from around the world… Marazul continues to send hundreds of groups and thousands of people to Cuba on educational, academic, professional, religious, health and cultural groups.

Marazul Celebrates 40 Years of Supporting Travel to Cuba!!!