The CaledoniaWorldwide.com Travel Blog …

Reading Time: 2 minutes After his recent retirement, Caledonia pays a tribute to Idalberto Bandera Sido, former director of Ballet Folklorico Cutumba in Santiago de Cuba.

Reading Time: 6 minutes Based in Scotland, Mara, our Travel Coordinator here at Caledonia, has grown up bouncing between here and Havana, and has a lot to say about the latter. Read more about Mara’s experiences and sentiments of the beautiful city of Havana here.

Reading Time: 3 minutes Caledonia Worldwide director and founder, Kath Bateman, recently visited the greens hills and sunny shores of Baracoa, Cuba. Having been before, this visit really cemented Kath’s love for the town and wants to share just what makes this place so special. Read more about this nature haven and its best attractions here.

Reading Time: 7 minutes Hear more about our ever popular group dance holidays through the eyes of our most recent addition to the Caledonia team, Mara. Mara joined our dance holiday back in April to be able to experience the trips we cater to our clients. Read all about the whirlwind of activity she enjoyed here.

Reading Time: 3 minutes The Pepe Sánchez Festival de la Trova is celebrated every year in Santiago de Cuba from 15-20 March 15th till March 20th.  José ¨Pepe¨ Sánchez, recognised as the father of troubadour song in Cuba, was born on 19th March 1856 and this is the reason that the festival has his name. It is also the reason why the Day of the Cuban Troubador is celebrated on March 19th each year. Pepe Sánchez was a tailor and then started in business as co-owner of a copper mine and with no formal training in music he became famous as a talented musician, composer and singer.

Reading Time: 2 minutes We are recruiting! Are you familiar with Cuba and would love to share your knowledge? Are you organised, articulate, enthusiastic and a Spanish speaker? If so, we would love to hear from you.

Caledonia is looking for a Travel Coordinator to join our small team ASAP, on a part time flexible working basis. Are you familiar with Cuba, a competent Spanish speaker, organised and articulate? Then get in touch!

Reading Time: 2 minutes After over two years of being on hold, our popular small group Cuba dance holidays are back in 2023, celebrating our 25th anniversary year of running dance trips in Santiago de Cuba

Reading Time: 3 minutes After over 20 months of waiting patiently for travel to be resumed again, we are delighted to confirm that Cuba is officially welcoming international travellers back to the island from today, 15 November 2021. Read on for details of our Cuba holidays for 2022!

Reading Time: 2 minutes Cuba is to open for tourism from 15 November 2021 and we are getting ready to run our Cuba holidays from the end of this year. Read on for more information.

Reading Time: 4 minutes Greetings everyone!  The continuing Covid situation in Santiago de Cuba has meant we have postponed our plans to start operating over there again by the autumn, and so we are still biding our time.   In the meantime, we wanted to provide information on how you can provide practical support for  Santiago de Cuba based friends and colleagues.

Reading Time: 6 minutes If you have been to a live salsa gig in Scotland in the last 20 years, the chances are you will have heard the formidable sax playing of Scottish based musician Sue McKenzie. She has played with all our best loved homegrown salsa bands – Salsa Celtica, Rumba Caliente, Grupo Magnetico and others – and she also teaches and writes music.

Reading Time: 3 minutes Well, here we are approaching the tail end of February 2021 already!  In this 2021 Cuba update, we bring you news of recent changes in Cuban currency, the latest travel update; how you can send money to friends and family in Cuba. Read on….

Reading Time: < 1 minute Our latest Cuba travel update (Oct 2020) confirms that we are still in business but just waiting for travel restrictions to be lifted so that we can start running all our tours and holidays again. Watch this space….

Reading Time: 2 minutes Please read our coronavirus update and message of support during this unprecedented time.

Reading Time: 5 minutes Want to know our top places to eat and drink in Old Havana?  On a recent trip to the capital city of Cuba, we visited some of the coolest and newest places to quench your thirst and taste top traditional cuisine with a twist. Read on for more information.

Reading Time: 4 minutes Santiago de Cuba is the birthplace of various Cuban music genres including Cuban son and trova and every March the popular Pepe Sanchez Trova Festival takes place.
Read on to learn more about The Pepe Sanchez Trova Festival and how to best experience this amazing music event.

Reading Time: 6 minutes Colombia offers a warm welcome to visitors keen to explore and learn more about its history, people and landscapes. From the Andean capital city, to the vast desert, the thriving metropolis of Medellin and the Caribbean coastal city of Cartagena there is plenty to experience. Find out our top 6 recommendations of what to include in a two week trip.

Reading Time: 4 minutes We’ve created a short guide to help you plan your journey to Santiago de Cuba for our dance holidays! Whether you’re travelling from Europe or from the United States read on for our suggestions.

Reading Time: 5 minutes You don’t have to be a seasoned hiker or an adrenaline-junkie to enjoy Cuba’s wilderness. There are many national parks in Cuba that offer amazing hiking trails for different levels. So if you’re planning to go hiking in Cuba, here are some of the best places to visit.

Reading Time: 4 minutes Cuba is home to some of the most stunning tropical landscapes, beautiful beaches, turquoise sea, lush green mountains and tropical plains. What better way to experience this than cycling through it under your own steam; living and breathing each and every sight, sound and smell of the journey?

Reading Time: 7 minutes Find out what to expect on our Cuba Dance Holidays; a beginners perspective.

Reading Time: 4 minutes Cuba’s two largest cities, Havana and Santiago de Cuba, are always bustling with activity. Both cities act as hubs of Cuban culture, hosting several music shows, art exhibitions and other cultural events throughout the year. If you’re into Cuban dance and music then visiting Havana and Santiago de Cuba is a must. Here are some of the best festivals in Cuba based in these two cities.

Reading Time: 7 minutes If you want to experience Cuba’s two different sides, the urban and the rural, we’ve rounded up a list of places you must visit, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Reading Time: 4 minutes Cuba is home to several beautiful national parks, which include biosphere reserves and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Many of these places remain largely well-preserved and untouched by mass tourism, so if you want to explore Cuba’s natural wonders, you’re spoilt for choice.

Reading Time: 5 minutes Whether you want to get off the beaten path in Cuba, explore some of the country’s most scenic rainforests, or just want to wind down in a quiet, non-touristy city, here are 5 main reasons why you should visit Baracoa.

Reading Time: 6 minutes If there’s one place in Cuba that is sure to steal your heart, it’s Santiago de Cuba. This bustling city is a melting pot of cultures, boasting a rich Afro-Caribbean heritage and a diverse music scene. The second largest city in Cuba, Santiago is regarded as the cradle of the Cuban Revolution and one of the most significant revolutionary sites in the country. Its colourful streets are pulsing with life – there’s music everywhere you go, and the city’s revolutionary spirit is still very much alive

Reading Time: 5 minutes Founded in 1513, Bayamo is one of the oldest cities in Cuba. It is also one of the largest cities in eastern Cuba (Oriente Province), which is the island’s lesser-explored region. Brimming with history and culture, Bayamo offers plenty of fun experiences. Whether you want to explore Cuba’s colourful past or enjoy Cuban cuisine and live music, here are 5 top things to do in Bayamo.

Reading Time: 4 minutes Camaguey is one of the most overlooked places in Cuba, yet this charming city has a lot to offer. Here are some of the best things to do in Camaguey.

Reading Time: 5 minutes From dancing to live music to hiking through lush green forests and exploring old sugar plantations, here are some of the best things to do in Trinidad.

Reading Time: 4 minutes Visiting Santa Clara is a must if you want to learn more about the Cuban Revolution & explore local culture. Here are 5 great things to do in Santa Clara.

Reading Time: 5 minutes Whether you want to spend a few days in Cienfuegos or visit the city on a day trip, there are several must-see attractions besides the famous historic centre.  Here are some of the best things to do in Cienfuegos.

Reading Time: 6 minutes The beautiful nature reserve of Las Terrazas is often overlooked by visitors to Cuba. Nestled deep among the evergreen mountains of the Sierra del Rosario range, Las Terrazas lies between two major tourist destinations, Havana and Vinales. Despite being home to stunning scenery, a vibrant art scene and possibly the best coffee in Cuba, this small rural community remains a lesser-explored site, overshadowed by the popularity of nearby attractions. However, this is what makes Las Terrazas a truly hidden gem.

Reading Time: 3 minutes Get to know our new Assistant Travel Manager, Helen, who started at Caledonia this month. She is excited to be heading out to Cuba next week!

Reading Time: 5 minutes Whether you want to smoke authentic Cuban cigars or venture into the Cuban wilderness, there are plenty of amazing things to do in Viñales. Here are our top picks.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Given the recent tightening of travel to Cuba from the US (announced on 4 June 2019), we would like to reassure you that you can still travel legally from the US to Cuba, or from a third country via a US airport to Cuba.   You can still have your dream trip in Cuba!  

Reading Time: 8 minutes Want to get off the beaten path in Havana? From cycling through urban areas to taking music classes, here are 5 ways to explore Havana beyond the guidebook.

Reading Time: 5 minutes Cuba is known for its beautiful classic cars, world-famous revolutionaries and remarkable cigars, but there are many other things that make this Caribbean island such a fascinating place.Here are 8 interesting and little-known facts about Cuba.

Reading Time: 5 minutes Want to take dance classes in Cuba? Learn salsa, rumba and other Cuban dances with professional dancers from Ballet Folklorico Cutumba and learn to dance like a Cuban!

Reading Time: 6 minutes Music is the heart and soul of Santiago de Cuba. It fills the air day and night. You can hear music pulsing from open doors and windows as you walk through the city’s colourful streets, and on every corner you are likely to come across a group of musicians entertaining spectators with upbeat rhythms and hypnotic beats. Many passers-by stop to enjoy the music, while others sing along or move their body to the drum beats.

Reading Time: 7 minutes Eastern Cuba is a hidden paradise. While the dreamy beach resorts of Varadero and the photogenic streets of Havana are teeming with tourists almost all year round, Cuba’s eastern region remains largely untouched by mass tourism. Here are six good reasons to visit eastern Cuba.

Reading Time: 4 minutes With almost twenty years experience of running Salsa holidays in Santiago de Cuba, we have had hundreds of people travelling with us over the years to learn how to dance salsa and other Cuban styles. Based on the questions we most get asked by people enquiring about our Salsa holidays in Cuba, we hope the following might be useful!

Reading Time: 2 minutes Caledonia Worldwide has been operating since 1996 and is a small specialist tour operator focusing on cultural and educational travel. Over the last 5 years the business has seen steady growth, particularly for bookings to Cuba, and we are now looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our team in our bright, sunny offices in Leith, Edinburgh.

Reading Time: < 1 minute Some of you will remember that we recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of Caledonia Worldwide in Cuba with a big party in Edinburgh. Many thanks to everyone who participated in the event, whether on or off the stage.  We all had a fantastic night and here’s the official video with highlights from the evening:

Reading Time: 4 minutes The Gibara Film Festival is off the beaten track in Cuba, in a small friendly town located at the end of a winding road heading northeast from Holguin. We have been intent on visiting this small town for several years after hearing about the popular annual film festival hosted each May, and it was definitely worth making the effort!

Reading Time: 3 minutes All those years ago, in February 1998, we launched the very first of our Cuban dance holidays, hoping that they would appeal to people who wanted to  learn to dance and also experience a slice of authentic Cuban culture. And here we are, 20 years on, celebrating 2 decades of  Cuban dance (and music) holidays with hundreds of happy travellers.

Reading Time: 6 minutes Are you looking for a more culturally immersive holiday? Val recently travelled to Cuba on a tailormade holiday organised by Caledonia. Read on to find out more about her trip in search of the real Cuba and why escaping the from the gates of the beach resort is more rewarding.

Reading Time: 3 minutes If you love to sing and love to travel to exotic locations, this is the trip for you!  Santiago de Cuba, the second city of Cuba nestling in the foothills of the Sierra Maestra mountain range, is the undisputed home of choral music in Cuba and hosts this well respected choir festival every two years. Join us from 28 Oct – 3 Nov 2019 for a musical experience of a lifetime.

Reading Time: 5 minutes Are you ready for a cultural adventure in Cuba? Read our latest blog post by Patty who along with her husband Bob, took a tailormade trip to Cuba arranged by Caledonia. Both musicians, they became immersed into the world of Cuban music and fascinated by it’s presence in everyday life and culture.

Reading Time: 6 minutes Have you ever fancied going on holiday to Cuba and learning Spanish? Read our guest blog post by Val who enrolled on a Spanish course in Havana and gained much more than a new set of language skills!

Reading Time: 4 minutes Interested in diving into the world of Cuban music? Bob and his wife Patty recently joined our Cuba Music Holiday in Santiago de Cuba. Both passionate musicians, their visit proved to be an experience of a lifetime. Read on to find out more about their trip…

Reading Time: 5 minutes Caledonia recently took a school group out to the Austrian Tirol for a German language and culture trip. With its dramatic mountains, strong cultural heritage and easy access using flights into Innsbruck, read on to find out how the Tirol offers students a culturally immersive language learning experience.

Reading Time: 5 minutes With internet access scarce in Cuba, check out our top 5 pick of offline travel apps which can help you on your Cuban holiday to navigate around the country, it’s economy and culture.

Reading Time: 5 minutes Want to get off the beaten track in Cuba? Travelling to Baracoa in the Eastern province, a lesser-known region with a strong individual character offers beautiful hiking trails and surrounding nature with a distinctive cuisine. Read on to discover our top 5 picks for Baracoa.

Reading Time: 4 minutes Ever fancied going to Cuba to learn salsa from scratch? Read on about Leanne’s trip of a lifetime and her experience as a complete beginner in Cuban dance.

Reading Time: 5 minutes Tempted to explore the Central and Western regions of Cuba? Our newest team member Caron shares her experience of La Isla Bella.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Last two places left for our Cuban dance holiday in July coinciding with annual Carnival in Santiago de Cuba! Direct flights from London Gatwick to Holguin included, 18 July – 1 August (14 nights), single room accommodation, half board meals, dance lessons, nights out and cultural excursions, all for just £2, 265. Colourful and lively celebrations for 7 days and nights. Not to be missed!

Reading Time: < 1 minute Planning a holiday to Cuba? Virgin Atlantic have just announced their Easter weekend sale on flights to Havana with return fares starting as low as £399 return including taxes.

Reading Time: 2 minutes “Absolutely fantastic trip! For anyone reading this, I highly recommend going!! In preparing for the trip Caledonia was very responsive to emails and questions. Once in Cuba, it was definitely a trip of a lifetime.”

Reading Time: 3 minutes There are several factors to take into consideration when considering when to go to Cuba, including flight costs, weather conditions and special events and festivals. The following is intended to guide you with some useful information about when is the best time to go to Cuba.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Fast and Furious with Chanel supermodels dressed to kill in Havana, hot on the heels of other international superstars, making Cuba the most fashionable backdrop of the year

Reading Time: 2 minutes Havana in March this year is in a whirl, with the first US presidential visit in 88 years, the Rolling Stones free concert and the Bay Rays baseball match all in one week!

Reading Time: 2 minutes December in Cuba, forget Rudolph and think movies and jazz. You might imagine a Cuban Christmas to be non-stop merriment and mojitos, yet the festive season here is a relatively recent phenomenon. From 1959-1997 it didn’t officially exist: the island’s Revolution was atheist.

Reading Time: 2 minutes We are delighted to have been appointed as the official travel partner for the forthcoming MANANA 2016 festival in Santiago de Cuba, on 4/5/6 May 2016

Reading Time: 2 minutes Our Woman in Havana, Sue Herrod, will be contributing a monthly blog for Caledonia providing a unique insight and personal commentary on life in Cuba.

Reading Time: 4 minutes After visiting Colombia’s coffee cultural landscape, Rachael posts some of the highlights of her trip.

Reading Time: 3 minutes Top 5 must –do activities in Santiago de Cuba

We love all of Cuba, but Santiago de Cuba is probably our favourite and is where we have been operating for over 15 years! Here is our list of the top things to do in and around the city:

Reading Time: 2 minutes After months of planning, soul searching and organising, we have our new website! The planning and organising elements are clear enough, but soul searching?? Well, since the company started 18 years ago on a kitchen table in Edinburgh, the core theme of Caledonia trips had always been language learning. Hence our original name, Caledonia Languages Abroad Ltd.

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