NOVEMBER Salsa & Culture Cuba 

From 16/11/2024 to 27/11/2024

Overview & Accommodation

YOUR HOLIDAY AT A GLANCE 

Where else in the world you can dance to Latin rhythms and party non-stop, never short of a dance partner, while being immersed in incredible culture and surrounded by the most talented and beautiful people – the answer is… Cuba! 

A lo Cubano…the popular saying means ‘the Cuban way’ and it’s exactly what you will do on this holiday, experience the heart and soul of the country born to dance Salsa. You’ll be surrounded by locals, music, dance and culture in the lively, bamboozling and seductive streets of Havana. Of course you will experience some of the famous Cuban ‘must-sees’ but you will also get an ‘off-the tourist-track’ experience that lets you dig deeper into the Cuban culture.  

THE DANCE PART 

Whether you are new to Salsa or an experienced dance teacher or performer… this holiday is for you! You will have daily workshops focusing on YOU and YOUR dance ability. Everyone will have a dance partner at all times as we ensure equal numbers of male and female Cuban teachers. 

Your in-depth workshops will teach you technicality, musicality and the fundamentals and roots of Salsa such as Rumba and Son. You will also have in-depth body movement classes and styling. No Cuban style will go untaught on this holiday! 

But, most importantly, this holiday will see your confidence levels soar as you are swept off your feet both in class and every night by our wonderful, talented team of dancers who will spend the holiday with us. 

Once workshops are finished for the day you will have lots of options available to you or maybe you prefer to reserve your energy for the evening and rest those feet by the pool with a Cuba Libre in hand! 

Each night you will be dancing your socks off at the best parties in town…Some nights you’ll be front stage dancing to Cuba’s famous bands such as Havana d’Primera, Los Van Van, Maykel Blanco and many others as they perform live on home soil – What bands we see depends on which ones are performing during the time we are there.  

You will also have the option of a day visit to the spectacular UNESCO area of Viñales which give you another completely different insight into how diverse and beautiful Cuba really is.  Plus a day at the stunning Ancon beach (AKA crazy Cuban beach party) with our dancers! 

For the perfect finishing touch to your holiday, you will visit the stunning UNESCO town of Trinidad – the best -preserved Spanish colonial town in the whole of the Caribbean! Here we will slow down the pace and enjoy the magic of this beautiful area including the option to visit the national park and waterfalls on horseback or a Jeep Safari… and still go dancing in the evening! We have extended this holiday by one extra day to give more time in Trinidad due to popular demand from our guests! 

Cuba is a land full of contradictions, it plays with your senses, its authentic, addictive, exhilarating and one thing is certain… this holiday & Cuba will fulfil your dance potential and capture your soul. 

OUR DANCE WORKSHOPS 

Your dance classes will be almost every day while in Havana, taking place in a large, air-conditioned studio a short walk from your hotel. We have a full team of professional Cuban Dancers and Teachers who will be working with you closely. Workshops will be intensive but incredibly good fun. 

Our teachers will take you through all aspects of Cuban dance from Cuban Salsa, Rueda de Casino, 

Son, Rumba, Orishas, body movement & styling and some Reggaeton! 

It doesn’t matter about your experience because our levels will be split and our teachers will continue to work with you personally at your level. Whether you are an absolute beginner or super advanced it doesn’t matter!  

You’ll quickly realise your confidence is growing and your dancing progressing. No matter how much experience you may have at Cuban salsa, our team will continue to develop your Cuban style and body movement immensely.  

They will lead you in ridiculously fun and energetic warm-ups and cool-downs which will see you laughing and ready for more!  We believe that a fun environment is the best way to learn and achieve results! 

*Additional private workshops are available on request. 

TEMPERATURE IN NOVEMBER 

Cuba has a tropical climate. It is blessed with hot, sunny weather almost all year round. 

November is a great time to visit Cuba with mostly dry, hot days and slightly cooler nights. The average temperature is around 27-30 degrees during the day. You may experience an occasional rain shower which is nature’s way of cooling things down but those short bursts dry up as quickly as they came! 

It’s the perfect weather for dancing outdoors at night! 

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS:

Hotel Telégrafo 4 Star B&B 

Situated on Parque Central and the Prado this hotel has the perfect position to walk everywhere. It is very elegant in its design beautifully mixing colonial Cuban tradition with modern European influence.  

It recently underwent a huge renovation and now has a wellness area and gym and boasts a roof top pool, bar and relaxation area with undoubtedly the best views across the whole of Havana! 

 It is one of the oldest hotels to exist in Cuba and it’s the first hotel in Cuba to be LGBTQ friendly.  

Havana Casa Option  

If you like the idea of a real Cuban experience, perhaps you want to live with a Cuban family and practice your Spanish or maybe you prefer a private casa where a host is available if you need anything where you can also stay with others in the group.  Casas are a very affordable and safe way to experience Cuba and you are directly helping Cubans when you stay in a Casa. Every Casa has a host who will always be available for anything you need. This is a fabulous way to intergrate into local Cuban life. Hosts will offer the option of an amazing breakfast and often home cooked dinners too – you only need to ask – nothing is too much trouble. Each Casa provides private room with ensuite bathroom and shared living areas.  

If you would like to explore the casa option, please let us know and we can give you available options. 

THE UK & CUBA TEAM 

You will be thoroughly looked after by Lindsey & Abu who are our very experienced UK team.

Lindsey & Abu have been working in Cuba for 15 years with too many fabulous trips to count! They will be with you throughout the holiday from start to finish! 

Our Cuba Teachers & dancers will spend a lot of time with us, as well as our daily dance workshops they will join us every night at the clubs we go to and on some excursions and activities we do as a group. Some of our team will also join us in Trinidad. 

Many of our team are also bi-lingual so you won’t have any language barriers. 

What's Included

• 8 nights 4-Star Hotel B&B OR 8 nights Casa option (Bfast optional extra for casa stay)
• 3 nights Boutique Casa stay in Trinidad (Bfast optional extra)
• Private, luxury coach transfers 
• 15 hours intensive dance workshops  
• 1-1 intensive dance workshops (equal Cuban teachers to guests) 
• Nightly Salsa Clubs 
• Transport to and from evening venues where required. 
• Our Cuban teachers with us each night at all events 
• Cuban Teachers to accompany us in Trinidad 
• Private Walking Tour of Old Havana 
• Beach Day / Party 
• Opportunity to see the best Live Cuban Bands when in town! 
• Classic car tour* 
• Bicitaxi ride to San Jose Market* 
• Private percussion workshops available on request* 
• Private dance classes available on request* 
• Viñales experience day:  horse ride, tobacco plantation, caves, rum distillery, lunch* 
• Bi-lingual Eagle Salsa Tours UK representatives with you throughout your holiday. 

*Some options have a small additional cost. They haven’t been included into the holiday price to allow you the choice to take part. Often it is a small cost of shared transport for example. 

WHATS NOT INCLUDED 

Flight: Please see flight section for recommended options.  

Tourist Visa: These are a requirement to enter Cuba and cost £25 on average. You can easily purchase this along with your flight. 

Club Entrance: The majority of clubs will either be free entry or a small fee of approximately £1.50, If a famous band is performing, the entrance will be approximately £5-£8.  

Food: Breakfast will be included with hotel options but will be extra when staying in a Casa, breakfast costs on average 5€ which you would pay direct to your host.  

Eating out in Cuba is still very good value with a 2 course meal and drinks costing under £10 if you eat at authentic Cuban restaurants. Hotel or International / tourist restaurants will be more expensive.    

PACKAGE OPTIONS AND PRICES 

Due to a number of changes since Covid we have had to restructure the way we offer our packages to Cuba.  

We now suggest which flight you should book however it is your choice if you choose to take a different flight to the one we suggest. You can also add additional days to your holiday if you wish as you have the option to book what’s right for you. You are able to fly from London / Birmingham / Manchester / Glasgow and some other regional airports. 

We also offer you the option to stay either in a Hotel or a Casa while in Havana. This is something we can talk to you about to help you make the right choice for you. (In Trinidad everyone will stay in luxury boutique Casas). 

When opting for the Havana Casa option we will take into account the experience you want before carefully placing you in the right Casa. Unless you request it we will always aim to give you a casa with someone else from the group where you each have private bedroom with en-suite bathroom.  

We have used this structure for all our Cuban holidays since Covid and it has proven extremely popular.  

HOLIDAY COST:  

HOTEL OPTION: £1,549 pp based on two sharing.  

Single Supplement: £200 (hotel option only) 

CASA OPTION: £1,399 (price is the same whether sharing or taking a single room option)  

A deposit of £250 per person will secure your place. 

Destination

WHY VISIT CUBA? 

Cuba, most people know it for Salsa, Cigars, Rum and vintage cars. For us that just scratches the surface. Cuba is unique, some will say a little surreal. One of the last remnants of real socialism in the world without a McDonalds or Starbucks in sight. It is a country of contrasts and contradictions, and culturally fascinating. Cuban way of life is still very much as it was in the 1950’s. Due to years of shortages Cubans have learned to be resilient and savvy to survive; the things that thrive today are often a combination of ancient goods that have endured the decades. 

Cuba is an Island of diversity, tradition and surprises and no two areas are the same. On this holiday you will experience the contrast of 3 wonderful places … City, Beach & Country. 

HAVANA

When you wander around Havana you can be forgiven for thinking you have stepped into a film-set! Original 1950s American cars grace the streets with colour and vivacity while domino enthusiasts play on street corners creating a commotion, children ride up and down the streets on scooters made from bits of wood – that is just an average street in Havana! 

Walk along the Obispo and your ears will be spoilt for choice as Salsa spills out of street cafés and musicians strum classic Cuban tunes on old guitars as they wander, serenading passers-by – There is no mistaking Havana!

The magnificent yet crumbling buildings that frame the UNESCO old town (Habana Vieja) still hold clues to their extravagant past while oozing a dreamy charm. As you walk down the elegant Prado which splits Habana Vieja and Habana Centro, you will be greeted by the sea and the eight-mile stretch of Malecon – the local place to gather; where kids swim, lovers meet, fishermen wait patiently, musicians’ strum and others debate Cuba’s woes – the Malecon is the hub of activity and the perfect place to sip rum and watch the sun go down.

To appreciate Havana, you simply have to experience it first hand!

TRINIDAD 

A UNESCO World heritage site, Trinidad lies on the southern slopes of the Sierra de Trinidad Mountain range, on the coast of the Caribbean Sea. A quaint Colonial Town surrounded with mountains and beach!  

Trinidad is one of the most beautiful and authentic colonial cities in Cuba. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 as the best-preserved Colonial Town in all the Americas!  Today it is one of the favourite places to visit when in Cuba because you will step back in time as you wander down the narrow cobblestone streets with beautifully restored buildings, majestic churches and stunning courtyards which open out into vibrant Plazas. Trinidad wasn’t always so tranquil though with a turbulent history which has left its mark today of African slaves who sustained the sugar industry, pirate attacks which ravaged the city and hidden treasures.  

Nearby is the Parque Natural de Topes de Collantes a place full of outstanding natural beauty including some spectacular waterfalls, valleys and caves  – we will suggest a tour of the area to see the best of Trinidad during our time here.  

When night falls Trinidad comes alive with the sound of Salsa and you’ll find yourself dancing in the plazas with the locals! 

Getting There

RECOMMENDED FLIGHT  

Air Europa: 16-27th November 2024

You can book your flight here: www.aireuropa.com 

We highly recommend booking your flight as soon as possible as they are in demand and prices do increase.  

There are no direct flights from the UK to Cuba at present therefore the best option is the AirEuropa flight from Gatwick which has a short change in Madrid. We will have a coach waiting to meet everyone from this flight.  

Other flight options include: AirFrance, Iberia, Condor & SwissAir. These are all connecting flights into Havana but allow the option of flying from London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester or other European cities.  

Please note:  If you chose to fly into Havana at a different time or day to the recommended flight you can easily take a taxi to your hotel or we can organise pre-booked transport for you at an additional cost. 

If you are unsure about flights, please speak to us!