Day 1
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Fly direct to Cuba with Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick On arrival in Havana airport, a warm welcome by the Key2Cuba team and an ice cool Cuba Libre. Check into a stunning all-inclusive beach resort just 20 minutes outside of Havana. Take a dip in a turquoise blue sea and chill out before dinner. After dinner, dancing at a local Salsa club 5 minutes away where there are few tourists and the whole club is full of Cubans partying.
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Orientation meeting, followed by Salsa Class and introduction to Cuban style and technique - let the Cuban dancers warm you up with Reggaeton.
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Free afternoon: to sunbathe around the huge pool or hit the beach. Take a massage, a private salsa lesson, or enjoy all the free water sports.
After dinner and cocktails in the bar, we'll have a night of Salsa dancing in Havana with all the dancers (just a short trip away) at the open air Salsa club by the sea, overlooking the port and all of Old Havana.
Day 3
Salsa Class with the dancers. (In April, we have celebrity guest teacher Tania - lead singer from Bamboleo to show us all the latest moves from Havana.) After lunch, a huge afternoon Salsa party on the beach with all the dancers, lots of rum, and a 7 piece live band. We will Rueda in the sand and sea.
After dinner, a night of Salsa dancing in Havana at the club with the best band in town.
Free afternoon: to sunbathe around the huge pool or hit the beach. Take a massage, a private salsa lesson, or enjoy all the free water sports.
After dinner, and free cocktails in the bar, a night of Salsa dancing in Havana with all the dancers (just a short trip away) at the open air Salsa club by the sea, overlooking the port and all of Old Havana.
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Day 4
Free morning:
to enjoy your last day at the beach
4.30pm we head into Havana for the
Salsa Matinee to party with
the fabulous Tania, Bamboleo and all our dancers from Raices Profundas
Company.
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Day 5 After breakfast, we head back to Havana to check into Hemmingway’s favourite residence, the Ambos Mundos Hotel, situated in the heart of Old Havana and next door to all the restaurants, live music bars, and the Cathedral Square. Enjoy your welcome cocktail on arrival in a stunning reception with live piano music, a fountain and a 24hr bar. 7pm we meet to dine at the famous Bene More Restaurant with a live Son band. We then meet all the dancers for a night of Salsa dancing to a live band in the local Salsa club just two minutes from the hotel |
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Day 6 Take breakfast on the rooftop terrace with stunning views overlooking the sea, the port and Old Havana. Salsa Class: 11am – 2pm with the Director of Raices Profundas, the infamous Juan de Dios. First hour: Technique and an especially themed warm up, second hour: Partner Work, third hour: Rueda, plus warm down. 3 - 5 levels of tuition depending on the group. Free afternoon: to relax or take a historical tour of Old Havana which concludes with a dram of rum and a dance in the Rum museum. Dinner at a private residence – authentic home Cuban cooking, with beans, rice, Chicken, plantain and Mojitos! |
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Evening dancing at an
amazing 1950’s style Salsa Club - usually Los Van Van (if not touring) will be playing.
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Day 7 Salsa Class
11am – 2pm
Afternoon - a local
salsa club with a top live band.
After dinner in a local Palador, we chill out with drinks on the rooftop
of a historic colonial hotel, frequented by Graeme Green, followed by
late evening dancing at the
famous La Floridita with fabulous live music.
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Day 8
After breakfast we visit the home and studio of renowned mural artist
Salvador Gonzalez on ‘ Evening dancing at an amazing open air Salsa club with all the dancers on an island made of shells. |
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Day 9 Salsa Class as above: 11am – 2pm Meet for a late lunch and a hot decadent afternoon Beach Party with all the dancers and a live band. 10pm rendezvous for more, juicy Salsa dancing with the dancers.
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Day 10 Salsa Class as above: 11am – 2pm Later in the afternoon we visit the home of Amado and his Rumberos of Clave Guagaunco - one of Cuba’s most celebrated Rumba groups, and they play for us to dance and party in their home with all the neighbours and Grandma in attendance. Walk home along the sea front followed by dinner in a local Gypsy restaurant and Salsa dancing at the local club for those still up for a dance.
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Day 11 Salsa Class as above: 11am – 2pm Meet in the afternoon for the Salsa Matinee to dance to one of Cuba’s top bands with all the dancers. Dinner at a local Spanish restaurant and late evening drinks at the atmospheric ‘El Bodeguita Medio’, Hemmingway’s favourite watering hole, with a stroll through the Cathedral Square on the way back to the hotel to the end the evening.
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Day 12 Free morning: to relax, take a private lesson, visit the museums with our tour guide, or catch up on your shopping. Meet in the evening to take a coach to a private house just outside of Havana where the dancers cook for us and dance the Dances of the Orishas - celebrating their Cuban Gods - in a special ceremony with live drumming. Then we have a wild Salsa party with all the locals and their friends. A very unique Cuban experience and one totally off the tourist track. |
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Day 13 The last Salsa Class, as above: 11am – 2pm with a short ceremony to say Thank you and to take photos together. We then head for the Salsa Matinee and a late dinner in Old Havana, close to the Capitola building.
Day 14 Free morning: to catch up and pack. We meet for our final dinner at the leading Cuban restaurant then go for a last night of Salsa dancing at the best Club in town. If there is a special Matinee this day we do both Clubs – both with live bands. |
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Day 15 Meet in reception for the coach to the airport and fly back to London with Virgin Atlantic, arriving 6 am the next morning. Once in Gatwick we'll have a coffee and say our final goodbyes.
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This is a sample itinerary based on the events of the December 2007 Holiday. Each holiday differs slightly in order to make the most of what is happening in Cuba in every season.
