For many people, it is a dream come true to learn Spanish, dance or music in Havana, Cuba’s cosmopolitan capital city. It is undoubtedly one of the most impressive cities in the Caribbean, and is a vibrant, lively place to explore. Highlights are the restored colonial architecture, the famous seafront promenade El Malecon and historic Old Havana. El Prado avenue runs from Parque Central down to the sea and has shady areas to sit and watch the world go by.
Colourful artisan markets selling handcrafts and clothes and second-hand bookstalls are dotted around the city too. There are plenty of live music and dance venues to practise what you have been learning. Further information about the schools and the courses we offer can be found below.
Colourful buildings in Havana, Cuba
Plaza de Armas, Havana, Cuba
Havana, Cuba
Central Havana street, Havana, Cuba
Muraleando, Community Cultural centre, Havana, Cuba
Havana streets, Cuba
Cuban pizza cafe
AC, Wales
Our Schools
We have two partner schools in Havana. One offers group Spanish courses with supplementary dance lessons. The other offers individual tuition for dance and percussion. Both schools are small, family run and provide friendly, personal attention to all students.
National Cuban Holidays
1 January; 15 April; 1 May; 26 July; 10 October; 25/31 December 2024.
The school offering group Spanish tuition will be closed on these national holidays and no classes will be held. Any missed lessons cannot be rescheduled.
Transfers
Upon arrival at Havana International Airport, you can take an airport taxi to your accommodation or you can book a private transfer with us. Your driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals area for a direct transfer to your accommodation – please contact us for more info.
Entry Visa
Most visitors to Cuba require a visa to enter the country known as a tourist card. We can provide this to any UK address at a cost of £30 plus postage to any address in the UK. The visa is valid for 90 days from the date you enter Cuba.
Please note that we are not able to send the tourist card to other countries and you will have to apply direct to the nearest Cuban Consulate. Anyone flying direct from or via the US to Cuba (whether a US citizen or not) will have to purchase a special tourist card from a US registered travel company. Ask us for more information!
Flights
Flights are not included in the cost of these holidays and should be booked independently. All you need to do is confirm when and where you are arriving so that we can organise your transfers on arrival and departure.
This school is located in downtown Old Havana within easy walking distance of the main historic sites, bars, shops and the famous seafront Malecon. It offers individual and group tuition all year round for Spanish, with supplementary dance lessons. The school is housed in a medium sized former colonial house using the first and second floors. Minimum age is 18 years.
Cultural activities and excursions are offered each week to encourage students to discover the city and meet other students. Activities include a guided city tour of Havana, beach trip, evenings out to local dance venues, visits to museums and other places of local interest. These activities are optional and should be paid for at the school.
Please click on the plus signs (+) below for further details about course details and prices.
These group courses are designed for those who wish to learn communicative Spanish skills, ideal for use in everyday life. If there is only one student enrolled for a particular level at any one time, they will receive a reduced number of individual lessons instead of group tuition. Course fees include:
Intensive Spanish Course with local homestay accommodation, single room with breakfast and lunch at school
Course duration: | 1 or more weeks |
Consists of: | 20 group lessons per week |
Class timetable: | 09.00 – 13.00 (Mon-Fri) |
Lesson duration: | 45 minutes |
Maximum class size: | 6 students |
Minimum language level: | beginner |
Minimum age: | 18 years |
Cost: | 2 weeks £1215 /3 weeks £1860 / 4 weeks £2520 |
Intensive Spanish Course with residential accommodation, shared dormitory room with breakfast and lunch
Course duration: | 1 or more weeks |
Consists of: | 20 group lessons per week |
Class timetable: | 09.00 – 13.00 (Mon-Fri)+ 2 afternoons |
Lesson duration: | 45 minutes |
Maximum class size: | 6 students |
Minimum language level: | Beginner |
Minimum age: | 18 years |
Cost: | 2 weeks £995/3 weeks £1530 / 4 weeks £2065 |
2024 Start dates: Any Monday throughout the year
Supplementary dance lessons are scheduled during the week.
Accommodation is provided from Sunday night until Saturday morning, and extra nights are available on request. (1 week = 6 nights / 2 weeks = 13 nights)
This dance school is located in Old Havana, just 5 minutes on foot from Cathedral Square in a bustling, historic area of the the city. The tuition is all individual, and is offered 6 days a week for dance and percussion (no classes on Sundays). There are 6 bright dance studios, all with large wall mirrors and wall mounted fans; a cosy cafe area for coffee and other drinks; a small roof terrace and other areas where you can sit and relax. The school is a renovated former colonial style mansion built over 2 floors and is ideally located for local bars, restaurants and accommodation.
Please click on the plus sign (+) bullet points below for further details about course details and prices:
Cuban dance (Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Reggaeton, Rumba, Merengue and Son) lessons can be taken for a minimum of 10 lessons. Individual dance lessons are taught by qualified and experienced teachers, all of whom speak reasonable English. Lessons can take place from 0900-1900, Monday – Saturday. We can also arrange for you to be accompanied by your dance partner at night to practise what you have been learning.
Course duration: | 1 or more weeks |
Consists of: | 10 or 15 lessons per week |
Class timetable: | flexible (mornings or afternoons) |
Lesson duration: | 60 minutes |
Minimum level: | beginner |
Minimum age: | 18 years |
Start dates: Any Monday throughout the year (other start days on request)
Package: | Cost: | ||
Dance | + Accommodation | 1 week (6 nights) | 2 weeks (13 nights) |
10 individual dance lessons per week | + homestay accommodation – single room with breakfast | £545 | £1,100 |
15 individual dance lessons per week | + homestay accommodation – single room with breakfast | £645 | £1,325 |
10 individual dance lessons per week | + 1 bedroom self-catering apartment | £605 | £1,230 |
15 individual dance lessons per week | + 1 bedroom self-catering apartment | £705 | £1,455 |
We can also arrange for a taxi dancer to accompany you in Havana to venues in the evenings. The cost is £30 per person for up to 3 hours of your dancers time. Entries, transport and drinks should be covered by you for both your dance partner and yourself.
Cuban music lessons can be taken with or without a dance course. Lessons are held in our school in Old Havana and all tuition is with experienced, qualified tutors. Percussion lessons focus on drumming techniques and basic Cuban rhythms and most tuition will be in Spanish although some tutors may be able to speak some English.
Course duration: | 1 or more weeks |
Consists of: | 10 or 15 lessons per week |
Class timetable: | flexible (mornings or afternoons) |
Lesson duration: | 60 minutes |
Minimum level: | Beginner |
Minimum age: | 18 years |
Start dates: Any Monday throughout the year (other start days on request)
Package: | Cost: | ||
Percussion: | + Accommodation: | 1 week (6 nights) | 2 weeks (13 nights) |
10 individual Percussion lessons per week | + homestay accommodation – single room with breakfast | £485 | £1,010 |
15 individual Percussion lessons per week | + homestay accommodation – single room with breakfast | £565 | £1,165 |
10 individual Percussion lessons per week | + 1 bedroom self-catering apartment | £515 | £1,075 |
15 individual Percussion lessons per week | + 1 bedroom self-catering apartment | £595 | £1,230 |
Accommodation is available in homestays or hotel accommodation, all year round in Old Havana.
This type of accommodation is ideal for those who would like to practise their Spanish and have an insight into Cuban life. Rooms are available in various parts of Old Havana and include breakfast. Additional meals can be requested direct with your host although there are plenty of good restaurants and cafes in this part of the city. Single or double rooms (twins only available for two people travelling together). All rooms have air conditioning, a private bathroom with hot/cold water and the use of a fridge
Self-catering Apartment
A self-catering 1 bedroom apartment is perfect for those who would like complete independence. Apartments include air conditioning in the bedroom, private bathroom with hot and cold water and a small kitchen.
2 bedroom apartments are also available on request for those travelling together.
“I had a great time in Havana. [My homestay host´s] place was in a really convenient location, a couple of minutes walk from the Comodoro Hotel where the transfers to the school picked up and dropped off. They were very friendly and I had a nice en-suite room to myself. The [school] were very well organised and even though timings of pick-ups and drop-offs could be a little hit and miss (adjust expectations a little for Cuba of course!) we were all well informed and well looked after. Our language teacher was lovely, fun and professional, with an immersive style of teaching that seemed too much to start with but started to work by the end of the week, and my dance teacher was very patient (she had too be!!) with me. Again, this was all very well organised at the school with breaks and basic refreshments available to purchase and a good choice places to eat in the vicinity. Very happy with the whole trip, from dealing with you guys to the fab experience that this type of holiday provides; love Havana as well!! I should have booked 2 or 3 weeks though as 1 week was only enough to learn the very basics of dancing and language. Next time maybe…!”
DH, Surrey (Nov 2013)
“I have just returned back from Cuba, and I had a wonderful time. The course that I did was truly helpful, and gave me a good foundation to build upon throughout my trip. I also was able to go on some of the excursions and meet other students there, which was lovely. Cuba is such an interesting country, and the people are so nice.”
AC, Wales (Sep 2013)