Power Yoga, Barre + Boxing
Yoga + fitness Retreat in Cuba
Our Yoga + FITNESS Retreats in Cuba have finally arrived! Kick-start your workout routine and tone up with our training program to reset your lifestyle with mindful exercise and eating routines.
We will start each day with a 2 hour workout depending on the teacher of Power Vinyasa Yoga, Barre, and Pilates and round out the days with relaxing beach time, dance classes, training at a local boxing gym, healthy eating, and exploring the amazing culture of Cuba to Havana and beyond.
Historically when any policy changes have been made towards Cuba travel, the US government has honored travel by any American who has already made payments toward their trip as a way to ‘set the wheels of your Cuba trip in motion’. US Airlines are flying to the island daily both direct and with layovers. IF anything is different and travel is banned we will refund your deposit in full, but this should not be the case. Please be brave and join us for these epic adventures to Cuba to SUPPORT THE CUBAN PEOPLE! They need it now more than ever…
About
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Our Yoga + FITNESS Retreats in Cuba have finally arrived! Kick-start your workout routine and tone up with a training program to reprogram your lifestyle with mindful exercise and eating routines.
We will start each day with a 2 hour workout depending on the teacher of Power Vinyasa Yoga, Barre, and Pilates. We will round out the days with relaxing beach time, dance classes, training at a local boxing gym, healthy eating, and exploring the amazing culture of Cuba from Havana and beyond.
Getting to Cuba couldn’t be easier with our retreats. Americans can legally travel to Cuba with us under the general license of Support for the Cuban People § 515.574. This license allows US citizens to travel with us as a group to Cuba and participate in a full schedule as outlined by the US government while we are in Cuba. You can read more in our Travel Tips Guide below about travel to Cuba. Join us for an insiders look at history, art, culture, music, and expression from a local’s perspective. Practice amazing yoga, connect with yourself and those around you. Cuba is unique and one of our favorite travel places to date. Join us for this unique adventure and kick start your workout routine in Havana!
Includes
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Retreat Includes :
– 5 nights accommodations in a Casa Particular
– Daily 2 hour Morning Fitness Classes (Power Vinyasa, Barre, Pilates depending on the teacher)
– Breakfast daily
– 4 dinners together as a group; 1 on your own
– 60 minute healing massage
– Two hour Cuban Dance Class with local instructors
– Beach day with lunch included
– Training at famous Cuban Boxing Gym with local boxers
– Classic Convertible Car ride along the Malecon
– Day trip to Viñales to visit an artisanal Cigar Maker & Tobacco Farm followed by lunch at an ecological Farm-to-Table restaurant with garden walk and agricultural discussion (lunch included)
– Night out at the Fabrica de Arte Cubano
– Cuban art experience
– Roundtrip airport transfers from Havana International Airport
– Donation offerings for families and working artists
What’s not included :
– Airfare, tourist visa, and health insurance
– Alcohol and bottled drinking water
– 1 lunch & 1 dinner
– Travel insurance
– Extras
– Staff Gratuities (suggested $8-10usd per day for all house staff to share)
Direct flights into Havana are available from several airports in the USA as well as most hubs abroad. Health insurance and a tourist visa is required by Cuba to enter the country and is available with the airline directly. Please let us know if you have any questions about travel details.
Pricing
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PRICING & DETAILS
PRIVATE ROOMS
1 Double Bed with private bathroom ensuite.
Double Bed 1,930 Euro private; 1,765 Euro shared bed* per person
*For shared bed options you must provide your own bedmate.
SHARED ROOMS
Double Bed 1,775 Euro + Twin Bed 1,730 Euro
Private bathroom ensuite.
All rooms are part of a beautiful Colonial style home in the neighborhood called Vedado which is close to a variety of restaurants, bars, nightlife, and art galleries.
Itinerary
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POWER Retreat ITINERARY*
DAY ONE : Tuesday
Arrival Transportation from Havana International Airport
2pm Casa Particular arrival and check-in
2-6pm Healing Massages
6:30-8pm Welcome circle & opening stretch
8:30pm Dinner together as a group at our host house
DAY TWO : Wednesday
7am Coffee, tea & fruit available
8:30-10:30am Power Class
10:45am Breakfast at Casa Particular
11-12pm Healing Massages
1-3pm Salsa Dancing & Music workshop at local dance school
3:30-5pm Lunch at private resto in Old Havana (not included in pack)
5pm Classic Car rides along the Malecon
6:30-8:30pm Healing Massages
9pm Dinner together at home
DAY THREE : Thursday
7am Coffee, tea & fruit available
8am Sorting donations and offerings
8:30-10:30am Power Class
10:45am Breakfast
12:30pm Donation drop for Artists; visit working studio
1-4pm Beach Day with clean-up & lunch included
5-8pm Healing Massages
9pm Dinner & gallery visit at La Fabrica de Arte Cubano
DAY FOUR : Friday
7am Coffee, tea & fruit available
9-10am Yoga Fusion
10:15am Breakfast
12-2pm Boxing Training with local instructors
2:30-4pm Lunch (included in pack) at private resto in Old Havana
5-9pm Healing Massages
Dinner on your own & Optional Night out with Cuban dance instructors
DAY FIVE : Saturday
8am Coffee, tea & Breakfast
9am – 7pm Day trip to Viñales to learn about local agriculture. Visit a local tobacco farm, roll and sample a real Cuban cigar Lunch at an ecological farm with guided tour of local plants and growth time tables for production as well as discussions with Cuban farmers and produce sellers about cooperative farming and agricultural practices.
8pm Closing Circle & Stretch
8:30pm Dinner together at host house
DAY SIX : Sunday
8am Coffee, tea, fruit & breakfast available
9am-3pm Healing Massages
Leave for HAVANA airport on your flight schedule
*Please note that our Itinerary is subject to change as necessary according to circumstances and any unforeseen changes in our plans. Our intention is to keep as close to this schedule as possible but this is Cuba and at times we could find ourselves at the mercy of the powers that be. We will adjust and accommodate as best as possible if this occurs. Havana operates on a later schedule which is why our days are running later than our typical retreat schedules.
Stay
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AMAZING CASA PARTICULAR JUST FOR OUR RETREAT!
Casa Particulares are private homes that rent out a few rooms to travelers. Staying in a Cuban home is an incredible way to get a real taste of the culture and to experience this Caribbean lifestyle. Our homes for the retreat are particularly charming and hosted by amazing families. Each house we choose is unique and we are sure you’ll love the experience of staying in a Cuban home!
Payments
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Payments :
Historically when any policy changes have been made towards Cuba travel, the US government has honored travel by any American who has already made payments toward their trip as a way to ‘set the wheels of your Cuba trip in motion’. US Airlines are flying to the island daily both direct and with layovers. IF anything is different and travel is banned we will refund your deposit in full, but this should not be the case. Please be brave and join us for these epic adventures to Cuba to SUPPORT THE CUBAN PEOPLE! They need it now more than ever…
Deposits* of $500usd are due to secure your space in the retreat.
The balance of your retreat (minus your $500usd initial deposit*) is due in cash in Euro in Havana. All details for this will be emailed to the group two weeks before the retreat. You can order Euros from your local bank branch or most of the time they have them in stock if you call in advance.
If cash is not an option for you, you may pay with a credit card via PayPal (4% fee applies). We also accept Bitcoin.
MAKE YOUR DEPOSIT HERE :
Please check availability with us for accommodations before making your $500usd deposit*
Roommates should book together. If you would like to share a room and do not have a roommate we will provide one for you if possible. In the case that there is no one to share a room we ask that you take a private economy room instead.
To make your deposit, please click the link below. You will be directed to Paypal.com
POLICIES
CANCELLATION POLICY
All initial deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Please note that with the ever-changing policies with travel to Cuba we will adjust our Humanitarian trips as necessary to make it possible to carry out our retreats as planned. By making deposits towards your trip you accept the risk that alternative routes may become necessary in order to join. We will do all we can in order to assist you in your travel needs. All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable in these cases. Thank you for your understanding.
CLIENT RESPONSIBILITY
The acceptance of a verbal or written confirmation from YOGA & ADVENTURES WORLDWIDE (Y&AWW) constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions listed herein. Participants are responsible to be adequately insured, therefore Traveler’s Insurance is strongly recommended*. Y&AWW and its staff assume no responsibility nor liability for any delay, loss, damage, injury or accident with regards to persons or property which may be caused by fault or negligence of any third party vendor. This includes hotels, transportation providers, and local operators participating in part for our services. YAWW shall be held harmless for any expense caused by injury or accident, to any participants as well as any loss or damage of personal items while on our tours. We reserve the right to make any changes to services and itineraries, with or without notice, which may become necessary. Y&AWW are not to be held responsible for changes in itinerary beyond our control, this includes bad weather or hurricanes; any inconvenience or complication caused by a hurricane’s direct hit, near miss, or significant threat of a hurricane strike. There are no refunds due to flight cancellations or changes, strikes, labor disputes, lockouts, threats or acts of terrorism, acts of war or declared war.
We highly recommend that you purchase trip insurance to protect your investment. AIG offers Travel Guard at affordable rates. You will be asked if you have chosen to purchase insurance or declined at final balance due.
By submitting payments toward your retreat you accept these terms and conditions.
If you have any questions regarding the details of this retreat please feel free to contact us to set up a Skype conversation or to receive further info via email.
Video
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Our unique People to People Yoga Retreat in Cuba as captured by Anna Fishkin and edited by Reed Rickert of Modern Maya : Nomadic Media Collective
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Some of our ‘intermediate’ salsa dancers showing their moves after a retreat.
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An adorable short film about our adventures in Havana and beyond as created by our friends and local artists.
Travel Tips Guide
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What to expect on your cuban adventure
Travel to Cuba for US Citizens is legal with our yoga retreat programs. We operate under the US Department of the Treasury, Division of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Support for the Cuban People general license § 515.574. This license allows us to travel as a group to Cuba and participate in a full schedule as outlined by the US government while we are in Cuba.
What exactly does ‘Support for the Cuban People’ mean? This is a category of license set up by the US gov’t that encourages connection between the people of Cuba and the people of the US (and beyond so don’t worry if you are from another place! It is really for everyone). We discuss everything from Democracy to Privatization together with locals. This means we will only be directly supporting the Cuban people with our activities and plans while on the island.
Flights are available directly from the USA to Havana and are very affordable. We send you with all the legal documents you need to travel in and out of Cuba as required by US law.
Once travel plans have been made, regardless of any future changes in regulations you are still allowed to follow through with your original plans as they were when set in motion. That said, we do not anticipate any further setbacks in this area of the government.
You will travel to Havana with your own tourist visa just like any country. You purchase this on your own through your airline at the airport in the city in which you are flying into Havana from. Your airline can offer further guidance in this area. The visa costs between $30-50usd in addition to your flight (note that flying through Miami you’ll see a visa rate of $100usd so try to avoid that if at all possible). There is also a way to obtain your travel visa in advance online but shipping costs apply so it might not be cost effective to order in advance. Please contact your airline directly for options and pricing once you have your flights.
You are required to hold onto this visa throughout the duration of your time in Cuba as they ask for it on your departure from the country. There are no departure taxes leaving Cuba.
Please feel free to contact us with any other specific questions or concerns you have regarding travel. We are here to set your mind at ease and help you in any way possible. We have been running retreats in Cuba for more than three years now with much consistency and have not had any problems thus far whatsoever and do not anticipate any to come.
DONATIONS AND WHAT TO BRING FOR OFFERINGS
Please plan to bring a duffle or suitcase full of items to be donated to children, women, men, and families in need in Havana. Plan to bring a variety of items of clothing (remember the climate is hot and hotter but chilly in winter so a hoodie and long pants also could serve especially this time of year), toys, books (in Spanish if you can find them or basic workbooks in English), hygiene products, underclothes, and any other items you feel appropriate or that you have to offer. Sizes can range from babies to teens, both boy and girl please as well as adult clothing and other items that you may have around. If you have items in your own closet that you can forego feel free to add those in. Think basics as those tend to be the most treasured. Last time I was there white sheets and towels were being suggested as they are hard to come by as well as clothes hangers and wax for marble! It’s the little things I guess…so if any of those are overflowing from your cabinets feel free to toss them into your bags!
We also will be supporting local artists with hard to get supplies so please drop by your local art store or your own studio and pick up oil paint tubes. A variety of brushes, palettes, and canvas rolls if you can fit them into your suitcase (you could roll up some canvas and fit it inside your yoga mat or fold up both when packing. They can iron out the creases later!) These are a few suggestions. We will separate them out on opening night and distribute them throughout our stay. We are very close with a leader in the Cuban art community who will accept our offerings and distribute them as needed throughout the city and beyond.
Thank you so much in advance for your generosity. Keeping in mind the recent hurricane that pummeled the island, Caritas Cubana the organization we work with on the ground distributes their accumulated donations across the island far and wide to reach those most in need.
COMMUNICATION AND WHERE TO FIND YOU IN CUBA
Getting online in Cuba is tricky. If you need to check in there is a place you can do so a couple blocks away at a wifi park. You need to get a scratch off card from a guy on the corner (hopefully he is around) and enter it into your phone or computer. Bringing a laptop seems excessive so I think it’s best to embrace the idea that you are literally ‘offline’ and enjoy that. It’s kind of fabulous and freeing!
In case of any emergency have your people send an email to us with URGENT in the subject and we will get the message to you. Also we have a Cuban cell phone if you or your people need to reach me directly there. We will provide that in our group email the weeks leading up to the retreat.
MONEY : HOW MUCH AND WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING
Cuba operates on 2 currencies: CUC, the Cuban Convertible Peso which is for tourists and CUP, the Cuban Peso which is for national use only.
You should bring EUROS if possible to spend in Cuba as they take 10% of US Dollars when exchanging to CUC. There is a currency exchange desk at the airport in Havana (one inside upstairs and one outside when you exit from customs). You will need your passport to make these transactions. Just let your driver know that you have arrived before your exchange and he will wait for you to do so! Please keep in mind that the items not included in your retreat are :
– Alcohol or any nightlife you’d like to enjoy and taxis getting to and from
– A few Lunches, bottled drinking water
– Any extras like souvenirs, cigars, art, or rum
– Staff Gratuities which is always much appreciated (and well deserved!)
We recommend that you start out exchanging the equivalent of $200usd and then if you need to exchange more there wil be opportunities in Old Havana to do so during the retreat.
For Americans, your bank card will not work in Cuba (and shouldn’t be used anyway) so you want to make sure to bring enough money with you. Cuba is not as inexpensive as you might think so plan to spend what you would in say Manhattan or San Francisco daily for food and other purchases. With that in mind you’ll have enough and likely go home with some cash.
We will be taking balances in Euro upon arrival at the daily rate IN CUBA for the Euro. Typically it is around 1cuc/usd : 0.869 Euro so around 85 cents to the Euro. We will email you the details of the rate with your balance due email a few weeks prior to the retreat. Rates don’t tend to fluctuate too much from day to day.
NAVIGATE THE CITY AND BEYOND OFFLINE :
Before you leave home please take the time to download maps.me for Havana so you can navigate the city in your free time!
