ABOUT
Irma – Cuba and Mexico Producer
Producer of our Mexico and Cuba Destinations
Irma grew up in Havana before moving to the US as a teenager, giving her a first-hand perspective on both US and Cuban culture.
She returned to Cuba to finish high school. A graduate of the University of Havana with an undergraduate degree (Summa Cum Laude) and Master’s degrees in Psychology, Irma is currently working on her Ph.D. She has worked on several major productions, including the U.S. blockbuster Fast and Furious 8, the Chinese reality show, Encounter, and the television series, Patria, both currently in development with Pictou Twist.
She has worked as a producer and translator for Vedado Films, and was production co-coordinator for Madonna’s 2017 trip to Cuba to celebrate her 58th birthday. She has also served as personal assistant, translator and coordinator for actor Joe Manganiello and racing driver Rodin Younessi during their visits to Cuba.
Irma has extensive experience in the music field. She produced the release event for Chew Entertainment to celebrate the production of the album Two Beats One Soul with Cuban and American musicians during the Havana Jazz Festival in 2018, and has worked on music videos for the band FCuba.
In addition to her considerable work in the entertainment industry, Irma has served as a translator for several organizations and she has provided written translation of all material filmed during the production of the documentary, Royal Caribbean CUBA. She also translated scripts for Pictou Twist and Cuba’s film agency.
She joined Cultural Island Travel as a tour producer, she continues in the productions business, only when her free time from our groups allows it. In her own words ¨nothing compares to the joy I get when I make our travelers smile and enjoy what we have prepared for them.¨ She loves exploring and planning every detail of our itineraries. She loves people, history and to have fun with all of her groups. She is great in paying attention to detail and will go out of her way to put smiles of joy in her clients face and all of her reviews confirm.
In 2017 she started to visit and explore Mexico as a tourist and she felt in love with the culture and people of the country. Because of her experience as a general producer and her knowledge and affection for the place together with the whole CIT team we launched this destination with her as our main producer.
Motherhood, family and her profession are her life purposes.
TESTIMONIALS
What Our Customers Say About Cultural Island Travel
Custom Central Mexico Tour – June 2022
This is our first Cultural Island Travel trip and certainly won’t be the last. They were very receptive to our group suggestions and input, adding a few attractions,cities and days to accommodate our requests. Our tour lead, Irma was fabulous and ensured pre-trip communications, inquiries and requisites were clear and timely. Same with the company owner, Shabi on pricing and payments. Upon arrival, we met our driver Raymundo and assistant guide Amado. Ray kept us safe, on time and well connected to the internet on his van; even on some narrow roads. Amado ensure our safety on tour, facilitated entry, questions to locals, and so many other little details that really made this tour work seamlessly. We functioned like a unit and this was due to the hard work and extreme attention to detail from Irma and Amado. No one was left behind even when tired and in need of a little rest.
Our custom trip included Mexico City, Teotihuacan, Coyoacán, Xochimilco, Val’quirico, Cholula, Puebla, San Miguel de Allende and Cuernavaca. Irma and Amado are excellent guides and make a very good team. Irma arranged all details of the visits and experiences, including the local guides at each location. Our local guide in Mexico City, Monse, is outstanding and very friendly. There were some unique experiences like: Xochimilco, lunch at La Gruta restaurant, visits to Frida Kahlo museum, Museum of Anthropology, visit to a market in Coyoacan, Slim museum, Park of Thermal Waters and Chapultepec. These are just a few of the sights and experiences, the tour was well curated and planned.
The hotels were all safe, comfortable, with good service, convenient locations and quiet. Some were outstanding like Gran Hotel Ciudad and the L’Perla Boutique in Puebla. Included lunches were excellent and great venues to learn more of Mexican culture.
Irma had many suggestions for dinner and additional sights at each of the stops, providing good directions and tips to ease the extra explorations on our own. Im summary, this was a very special experience for us, you don’t always get that family environment on organized tours, Irma and Amado certainly pulled this off effortlessly, always caring and truly interested in our group having a great experience. AAA+ to this team and looking forward to our next trip with CIT.
Jorge
Edwin Baldoni, June 2018
Hi Irma,
We both had a great time.
I don’t know if you noticed but when we left you at the airport Mary Kay started crying because she said she was going to miss you and Cuba.
Also, I want to thank you for going out of your way to take us to see Fernando and his work shop. He is so proud of what he does, as he should be. I’m sure I will never ride in a model T again!
Best regards,
Edwin Baldoni
Sandy & Barbara 2017
“Most important was having Irma as our travel guide in Cuba. We have traveled extensively throughout the world and Irma’s ease of connecting with our group made for a perfect beginning. She also was able to connect with other guides we met as well as many local people to set the tone for a rich experience.
In addition, her knowledge of history, culture, and everyday life in Cuba was priceless. We had discussions that lasted the whole day without realizing how much time had passed. This will stay with us for a long time. Her enthusiasm made us appreciate the music and dancing on a daily basis.”
Barbara O
I just wanted to let you and CIT know what a great experience I had in Cuba! My tour guides, Irma and Ari were superb, and the drivers — Victor in particular — were great! Above all, the people of Cuba were warm and friendly. I enjoyed every site we visited in particular, Vinales! The tour group was fun to be with also. I will definitely visit Cuba again — possibly next year — to pick up where I left off. I left my heart (mi corazon) in Cuba!
