Salsaville Dance Studios

Salsaville's epic two-week plus Music & Dance People-to-People Tour of Cuba - Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Baracoa

The plan is to first spend 6 nights taking in the big city and salsa capital, Havana. We will explore the salsa scene in depth (parties, concerts, local dance clubs, and more), meet locals, and take in the architectural splendor that is Havana.

Then, we all fly onto Santiago de Cuba to spend 5 nights in this more provincial setting, which is known as the cultural capital of Cuba. "Son" music, the root of all salsa music (e.g., Buena Vista Social Club), is from here, and you will live and breathe it during our stay there.

Havana and Santiago are very different and both provide amazing experiences. Havana has more striking city sights, is close to spectacular beaches, and has internationally famous salsa bands playing live every night. Santiago is more compact with a somewhat laid-back smaller-town feel, is easy to get around on foot, and has so many easily accessible and wonderful music & dance experiences.

Finally, we all take a ride seeing gorgeous countryside, coast, and mountains to arrive in charming Baracoa, Cuba's oldest town, located in the most isolated region of the island. Baracoa has its own set of music & dance culture and has among the most abundant natural beauty on the island, which we will explore extensively during our 4 days there. Click here to read a good article about this area.

There are three options:

1. Havana, Santiago, and Baracoa: Leave Friday, January 11th(*) and return Sunday, January 27th.
On Thursday, the 17th, we all fly to Baracoa, and then bus to Santiago on Monday, the 21st.

I do recommend this first and longer option, as you will get to experience the two most important places for music & dance culture in Cuba. Each city is so different, and seeing both will provide a much more balanced & complete view of Cuba.

* Depending on where you are coming from and how early you are willing to get up, you may be able to arrive to Havana the same day and thus leave on Friday, January 11th. Otherwise, you will need to leave the afternoon before, spent the night in either Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, or Houston, and then fly to Havana the following morning/early afternoon.

This trip will be run under a legal people-to-people educational license for travel in Cuba.

The group size will be limited to 16 or so travelers.
Please note that this will be run as a "semi-boutique" tour, meaning that the group size will kept on the small side, each member of the trip will receive individual attention, and the tour can be somewhat customized to your desires & interests. In addition, we are staying in upscale accommodations, but as a home-stay, not in a hotel. The group will be able to move around more efficiently and do more than a larger group could. This way we can all achieve my goal of making sure that each person has an amazing experience.

Included in the package price is:

Basic Travel:

• All airline travel, including:
  • Flight from your home airport to Havana, Cuba (this may involve an overnight stop in a connecting city such as Miami)
  • One-way domestic flight from Havana to Santiago de Cuba
  • Very comfortable bus transportation from Santiago to Baracoa
  • Flight back to your home airport
• All airport transfers in Cuba
• One night in a hotel in the connecting city such as Miami if an overnight stay is necessary
• Cuban tourist visa, departure tax, medical insurance, educational people-to-people license
• Every night at a fancy B&B in Havana, Santiago and Baracoa with a private room and bathroom
• Full time chauffeur-driven car available in Havana for the group every day & night to take us wherever we need to go. At times we will have a second or third car available to transport the entire group at once.

Music & Dance Activities:

• Welcome dinner & dance parties at our Cuban dance schools - one in Havana, one in Santiago
• Group dance lessons for 3 hours per day for 8 days. And each student will have his/her own Cuban professional dance assistant/partner during each class.
• Two private one-hour dance lessons. (With options to take additional private lessons, time permitting, at only a nominal extra cost.)
• Ten nights out dancing in authentic Cuban nightclubs. This includes going out to the best-known clubs of Havana and Santiago to hear and dance to live famous international acts (such as Los Van Van, Havana De Primera, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Manolito Simonet, Elito Revé, etc.) of Havana, and the most well-known Son/Salsa bands of Santiago.
• For about 4 of these 9 live dance concerts we will go out with a group of teachers and professional dancers to the clubs, and you will be able to dance with all of them to practice and enjoy dancing all night long.
• Visit to rehearsal of a famous salsa band with a private performance and lecture about music.
• In Santiago, a home-style neighborhood party with a local but internationally known Son/Salsa band. Local specialty food is served for all.
• Dance shows of the various genres of Cuban dance. (Rumba, Afro-Cuban, Son, Salsa (Casino), Rueda de Casino, Cha-cha-cha, Mambo, etc.)

Additional activities:

• At least one afternoon trip to "Playas del Este" -- a 30 minute drive to the most beautiful beaches in the Havana area.
• Guided tour through Havana for two or more afternoons -- one with a professional English-speaking Cuban guide, and the others with Eric.
• Guided tour through Santiago for one morning - with a professional English-speaking Cuban guide.
• Wandering around the streets of Havana and Santiago and encountering live son/salsa bands, and people to speak with.
• Visit to "El Morro" and other famous sites in the area of Santiago de Cuba
• Visit to a couple of Cubans' homes - on both sides of the economic spectrum - and hear them speak on life in Cuba today.
• If you have a special interest, such as seeing a Cuban school/university, baseball game, tobacco or coffee farm, etc., just ask and we will help to arrange this.
• Group dinners every night, including at some of Havana's and Santiago's best restaurants. (Cost of meals to be paid on your own.)
• Two day tours of the region around Baracoa with an expert local guide. This will include visiting an organic cacao farm, a canoe ride and walk in the famous "Boca de Yumurí", visiting local musicians, a local beach, all while driving through the beautiful countryside.

The only things that are not included in the package price and you should bring money for are:

• Meals:
  • Breakfasts: usually available in your casa/apartment. $5 is the typical price. Can go out for breakfast as well for a similar price.
  • Lunches: $2 to $10.
  • Dinners: $5 to $20. (We will usually go to fancier places, which will cost $10-$15 without drinks. A couple of nights we can eat for just $5.)
  • All above mentioned prices are for Havana. For Santiago and Baracoa, prices are generally about one third less.
• Phone calls, internet use (Internet is between $1 to $2 per hour.)
• Drinks at clubs: alcohol, etc.
• Medical care if needed (However, likely any medical care needed will be covered by your included medical insurance.)
• Gifts and souvenirs
• Excess baggage fees for airplane flights: One free checked bag is included on all flights, plus a carry-on.
• Laundry services (However, for $10 you can have a entire load of laundry done along with ironing of the clothes right from your casa.)

Trip cost:

• The cost of the full trip is $3,400 (double occupancy), $3,650 (single occupancy) per person.
• The price for the Havana-only trip is $2,800 (double occupancy), $2,950 (single occupancy).
• The price for the Santiago & Baracoa-only trip is $2,800 (double occupancy), $2,950 (single occupancy).
• We may have some extra pricing options for deluxe rooms in Havana:
  • Room with ocean view: additional cost of $10 per day for the room
  • One room in penthouse apartment: additional cost of $20 per day
  • One spectacular room in penthouse with king-size bed with total ocean view: additional cost of $40 per day.
  • These prices are per room, not per person. So if you are doing double occupancy, then the additional cost is only half that per person.

Payment schedule is as follows:

• $1,000 up front to reserve your spot on the trip.
• Another $1,000 due on October 7th.
• The remainder of the total trip cost minus $500 due on November 7th.
• Final $500 due upon arrival in Cuba.
• Late fees are $50 per day for any late payment.

If you need to cancel for whatever reason, I'm afraid none of the payments are refundable, except for a partial refund if we can find a replacement traveler and transfer the plane tickets into their name.

Why travel with Eric "El Cubanito" Freeman?
Eric has been traveling to Cuba since 1995. He has traveled there 20 times, and spent a total of 24 months there. He has studied dance there extensively and has developed numerous connections over the years. Join him to explore and experience the amazing things Cuba has to offer. The focus of the trip will be dancing and music, but the tour includes exploring Cuba's history, architecture, beaches, and their fascinating people.

APPLICATION FORM:

Please copy & paste the below text into an email to eric@salsaville.com and fill in:
(Please avoid printing out this form and writing in answers by hand.)

1. Which dates are you signing up for:
Option #1: January 11th to 27th (Full trip)
Option #2: January 11th to 20th (Havana only)
Option #3: January 17th to 27th (Santiago & Baracoa only)

2. Would you like single or double occupancy?
If double occupancy, tell me the name of the person you are sharing a room with, or, if you would like me to attempt to match you with another traveler to share a room.
Note: For Havana, rooms usually have one bed only. For Santiago, rooms usually have two beds.

3. Please indicate your preferred origin and return airports:
For example if you live in Boulder, CO, then normally DIA (Denver) would be the airport for both leaving and returning. If you want to return to a different airport, or perhaps stay in Miami on your own for a few extra days on the way back, please indicate this.

4. Your email address:
(If you do not check your email at least once every 24 hours, please let me know that.)

5. Your cell phone number with the ability to receive text messages:
(If you do not have a cell phone that you regularly use, please provide an alternate phone number, and let me know that you cannot receive text messages.)

6. Do you have Facebook?
We tend to use Facebook for group communications (mostly before the trip), but this is not at all required.

7. Fill in the info below as it appears on your passport. (Needed to book airline tickets).
First name:
Middle name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Gender:

8. Contact info for any emergency:
Name of person:
Relationship:
Phone number:

9. Your mailing address:

10. Attach a good quality scan of your passport. (You can take a photo with a smartphone camera instead.)

11. Do you have any physical and/or psychological issues that could impede your ability to successfully participate in this trip?

12. Understand that this tour will involve walking at a moderate pace of up to 1-3 miles per day. This will be in, depending on the weather, fairly hot, humid conditions. In addition, we will be doing (on about 8 days) 2 to 3 hours a day of dance lessons in well-ventilated, but non-airconditioned rooms. In most evenings we will be going out dancing for 2-3 hours. All activities are optional. If you are tired at any point, you can always opt-out and go back to your B&B to relax, rest, etc.

13. You will need to sign a fairly standard liability waiver to sign which will be delivered to you upon accepting of your application.

14. From time to time you will be asked for your input on some aspect of planning the trip. You will sometimes be asked to respond in as little as 24-48 hours. Do you agree to do your best to respond in a timely-manner? (Examples include RSVP'ing to a propsed group orientation meeting time, and getting your go ahead in purchasing specific airline flights.) I will need your timely response in order to help effectively plan the trip.

15. What are your expectations for participating in this trip? (Two sentence minimum here please.)

16. Any dietary restrictions that could be relevant to this trip - like if you don't eat red meat, poultry, fish, dairy, etc.



Eric "El Cubanito" Freeman
Owner, Salsaville Dance Studios
www.Salsaville.com
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