Key2Cuba - Why

WHY CHOOSE KEY2CUBA?

Your holiday is secure

All Key2Cuba holidays are ATOL protected under ATOL number 5770, recognised by the Civil Aviation Authority, with whom our supplier Explore Cuba Ltd has been a member for seven years. Your flights, accommodation and transfers are safeguarded with Explore Cuba. Out of all last year’s trips, 99% of clients rated all aspects of the holidays as "Outstanding" or "Excellent"

Experience the Real Cuba!

The Key2Cuba holidays have been lovingly and carefully researched by me, in person, down to the last detail and with a passionate love of Cuba! Over the past ten years I have led over 40 trips and have developed strong relationships with Cuba’s top salsa teachers, performers and musicians to create a world class salsa holiday. I personally guarantee the quality of each trip and have a 17 strong Cuban team of teachers, assistants and production managers working as a team to give you the most authentic, heart-warming and magical experience. Ask anyone who has been with us!
Not only will you have the opportunity to transform your dancing, but you will see a Cuba that people rarely see. With Key2Cuba you will have the opportunity to go beyond the tourist trail and discover what really makes this extraordinary culture tick! I invite you to join me, and my team in Cuba, to experience for yourself all that this amazing country and its people have to offer. You will be moved!

Your Holiday includes…

A life-long love affair with the culture of Cuba
Direct flights with Virgin Atlantic
Colonial hotels with panoramic sea and city views and breakfast included
A world class, 21 hour dance course in Salsa, Rueda, Son, Rumba and Reggaeton movement technique
A professional team of 17 dancers from the leading Cuban dance company Raices Profundas led by founding dancer and director Juan de Dios & Kerry Ribchester
1-2-1 coaching with Kerry Ribchester or Rohan Brown
Cuban dancers with us in the class, on the dance floor and travelling to each location
2 stunning locations; one at the beach in Havana, one in the heart of Old Havana
2-3 nights accommodation at an all inclusive hotel with free drinks, food and alcoholic beverages
An optional extra programme which includes sailing, diving, Spanish lessons, drumming tuition and private parties with Cuba’s top rumba and Salsa bands
A bi-lingual tour leader and a translator to help you around Cuba
A Key2Cuba guide book

Thinking of going independently?

Most tourists who visit Cuba have a great time. However, it is also true that without prior experience of Cuba, you may be following out of date guide books (Cuba changes daily) and it is easy to waste time and energy searching for restaurants, venues and clubs that don’t live up to expectations. It is easy in Cuba to go to a Salsa club that on a particular night is playing Pop, Rap and Reggaeton music, or has an hour long comedy cabaret. You may be missing out on the best band in town if you don’t know who is playing and where. If you don’t speak Spanish, it may be hard to find out where the place to go is, and if you are a single woman, or guy, you may find the attention you receive in the street or clubs quite challenging.
The Key2Cuba programme takes the hard work out of travelling, leaving you free to enjoy every single minute to the full with a great bunch of like minded travellers and a genuine dance team of specialists. We also take care that you are not paying tourist inflated prices for meals and club entrances.

Being Part of the Clan

Being with a party of like-minded travellers with interesting backgrounds from all over the world can be a lot of fun. This, coupled with the Cuban clan encouraging you on the dance floor to show off your latest moves, is a very warm and exciting way to experience Cuba.

Who comes on the holiday?

Most people come alone, some come with a friend, and often there are one or two couples. Age range: 21-70
Experience: Complete beginners to teachers and performers. Other frequently asked questions

THE KEY2CUBA PROGRAMME EXTRAS

As well as 21 hours of salsa lessons and hours on the dance floor perfecting your moves, our unique Key2Cuba programme will bring you closer to the heart of the Cuban culture and people.

1. Best Clubs, Best Bands, hit the Jackpot!
The salsa matinees are not to be missed. Our Programme Manager finds out who is playing where, reserves the best table in the club and the Cuban dancers come with us in the afternoon to shake our booties to the best live band in town. No queuing outside! We ensure a smooth entrance.

The matinees are packed full of Cubans and few tourists. The buzz when Bamboleo play at a matinee is breathtaking. We have often had clients on stage with the band. We make sure you see the top bands that are in town at the time such as Los Van Van, Pupy, Michel Maza, Charanga Habanera, Haila, Azucar Negra, and Bueno Vista Social Club. Key2Cuba clients often get to meet the artists in person, go back stage or hang out in the VIP area. Check out this photo taken by Kerry on stage at New Year with Los Van Van on the Malecón. 20,000 Cuban in attendance and our clients are safely enjoying dancing in the VIP area with our dancers.

2. Private Rumba Party
Cuba’s most respected, celebrated and internationally famous Rumba band play for us and perform all the different types of Rumba and Cuban dance at an amazing colonial house in Old Havana. Practice your latest rumba moves to the thrilling drums and dance with their principle dancers. It is a rum fuelled baptism of the rumba. Make sure you are not "vacuna'd"!

3. Beach Party
At a beautiful location down the coast from Havana, we salsa the afternoon away in the sand, sun and sea to a lively live nine piece salsa band. Accompanied by Cuban dancers who know how to party, we eat fresh fish, admire the white sand, palm trees and turquoise sea and throw the wildest party on the beach.

4. Tour of Havana
See Havana from a completely new perspective. Visit El Morro or El Cristo and salsa the afternoon away in a restaurant with a panoramic view of the city and port. Meet the artist, Salvador Gonzalez, see his private collection of paintings in his home, visit the studio and dance rumba in the street at the famous Calle Jon de Hammel.

5. Meet the Cuban Gods
Visit the Museum of the Orishas (Cuban Gods). Discover more about the African heritage and the meaning of dances. Who is Changó? What are the qualities of the Goddess of the sea Yemanja and the goddess of love, Oshun. Understand more about the Santeria religion as you experience first hand a ceremony and Bembe! Visit an authentic temple, dance to a live percussion band and join in with the dancers as they lose themselves in the dances of the Orishas. This full on Cuban experience will bring you closer to the origins and heart of the Salsa rhythms.

More reasons to travel with Key2Cuba...here are 13 Good Reasons