By now most of you have probably heard the news. President Barack Obama is planning to travel to Cuba in March. That will make him the first (sitting) American President since Calvin Coolidge to visit Cuba.

For you history buffs, Coolidge’s trip took place in 1928. He traveled there via battleship. Jimmy Carter has also visited Cuba, but not while President.

Obama announced his Cuba travel plans on Twitter; “Next month, I’ll travel to Cuba to advance our progress and efforts that can improve the lives of the Cuban people.” But as we have learned through years of facilitating journeys in Cuba, North Americans have as much to learn from Cubans as Cubans do from North Americans. It is in that spirit where true relationships are built.

The President (@POTUS) also tweeted, “We still have differences with the Cuban government that I will raise directly. America will always stand for human rights around the world.”

About the trip, The White House issued this statement; “Today’s announcement marks a huge step toward successfully rejecting failed policies that are rooted in the Cold War and creating opportunities that will engage and empower the Cuban people.”

In an email, the International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity shared:

“The announcement this morning by the governments of Cuba and the United States that President Obama will be visiting Cuba on March 21-22 is a positive development and signals another step on the road to normalization of relations between the two countries.”

The President’s Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes has played an integral role in the process of restoring the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba, according to White House. Rhodes outlined how the U.S. got to this point in the Medium article, “President Obama is going to Cuba. Here’s why.” In it he wrote:

“Yes, we have a complicated and difficult history. But we need not be defined by it. Indeed, the extraordinary success of the Cuban-American community demonstrates that when we engage Cuba, it is not simply foreign policy — for many Americans, it’s family.”

In December 2014 the U.S. and Cuban presidents announced plans to set a new course on the path towards normalized relations. Since then, not only has Obama revealed plans to travel to Cuba, but the President also disclosed his intention to close the detention center housed on the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

For more about Obama’s upcoming visit to Cuba:

You can travel to Cuba too! President Obama and the First Lady will travel to Cuba on March 21. Craving a trip there yourself? We have a tour group that will be in Cuba from March 5-24, 2016. Limited space is still available for those last minute travel planners!

Here are the trip details: 

23738428893_b4d2493b5e_mAloha CUBA! Peace and Sustainability Tour
Cubanakoa Foundation teamed up with Altruvistas to create this unforgetable trip. Cubanakoa is dedicated to promoting communication and cooperation amongst cultural organizations and communities in the Caribbean, Oceania, and Southeast Asia.