Cuba FAQ

This retreat is perfect for you if you are an active person ready to get out for an amazing island adventure with like-minded people.  We will experience most places by walking, and you can expect daily yoga practices in the morning and dance practices in the afternoon.  We have planned the days with plenty of downtime and options so that you can enjoy many activities from art studios to beaches that make this your perfect time away!   You don’t need any yoga or dance experience, just an open mind, open heart, and a reasonably good fitness level.  

This trip may not be right for you if you have conditions or injuries that limit your ability to participate in these kinds of activities.  Please consult with your physician to make sure these activities are safe for your body.  We will make every effort to accommodate your needs.  

What’s Included:

• Round Trip Air from Miami to Havana.
• Travel Visa
• All transportation to and from the airport, Cienfuegos, and scheduled daily activities
• 5 nights in Hotel Cohiba Havana
• 3 nights in Hotel Jagua Ceinfuegos
• 25 mouthwatering meals for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner each day
• Entrance fees to all the sites on the itinerary
• Day use at Ancon Beach
• Local Guide services
• Daily yoga practice
• Daily dance practice
• All programming and special evening activities such as astronomy night, and local musical experiences
• A lasting sense of wonder, joy, and tranquility

What’s NOT Included:

• Round trip air to Miami
• Hotel in Miami on November 24th, 2023
• Meals in Miami
• Baggage fees or additional baggage fees
• Trip Insurance
• Any covid or other testing requirements that may be in place at the time of the trip.
• Travel document fees including passport; travel visa is included
• Water, snacks, or personal items from the shops and markets
• Optional Museum or activity fees not listed on the itinerary
• Optional hotel services such as massage and other personal services
• Alcoholic Beverages

A 10% deposit is required at the time of registration except to receive early bird pricing which requires payment in full.   Deposit is refundable up to 120 days from the start of the retreat.  Payment in full is required 120 days prior to the start date or the retreat.  Cancellations between 90 and 119 days of the start date of the retreat will result in a 25% loss of the full trip price.  Cancellations made between 60 and 89 days of the start date of the retreat will result in a 50% loss of the total trip price.  Any cancellation made between 59 days and the date of departure will result in the total loss of funds.  Reservations made within any time window above will immediately subject to the cancellation policy in that time window.  We reserve the right to cancel the trip at any time and for any reason including, without limitation, force majeure or for no reason at all, and in such an event we will refund the full price of the retreat.  We always recommend that you purchase trip insurance whenever making travel plans and strongly suggest you consider trip insurance that includes covid coverage.  You can use our suggested insurance provider and choose a policy option that is best for you.

Payment in full for this retreat is Due July 25th, 2023.

If you are a solo traveler wishing to book the lower double occupancy rate, simply check the box on the registration form requesting a roommate.  We will make every effort to pair you with a roommate based on gender however if that is not possible there will be a single occupancy surcharge.  Gender disclosure is required when requesting a roommate pairing. 

Each family member will need to complete a separate reservation process.  This retreat is for adults only and Children under the age of 18 are not allowed.

Miami, Florida.  We will fly as a group to and from the Miami International Airport.

All transportation to and from the Havana airport is included. The transportation to and from group activities within the country is also provided. You will be responsible to get to and from the Miami International Airport where the trip will begin and end.

Most parts of Cuba are considered safe, and the people are very friendly; however, crime does happen in all parts of the world so you should always exercise caution to avoid getting into a situation where you may be a target for pick pocketing, robbery, or assault.  

• Always arrange for a taxi through your hotel or restaurant and never hail a cab on the street or accept rides from solicitating cabs.
• Always travel in groups of 2-3 after dark and avoid dark or vacant streets.  
• Never leave your drink unattended in a bar and use caution when ordering mixed drinks in some kinds of places.
• Don’t carry more cash than you need and be discreet with it.
• Only bring your credit card and passport with you when you will need them.
• Avoid using ATMs after dark.
• Use common sense and ask the hotel staff if you are unsure about the safety of an area or activity.  

You should always exercise caution when traveling at home or abroad and check with the State Department website for any updates.  

Yes, it’s difficult on your own but we will be handling all of the paperwork to do so. You will be required to complete several documents when you finish your booking. These will be used to acquire your Visa for you and we will work with you through this process. You will also need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the end date of the trip.

The most difficult diet to accommodate in many parts of the world is the vegan diet, at many places vegans are only able to eat a salad with bread. All the meals on this trip are planed for plant based diets and we have arranged to accommodate other dietary restrictions.  

Meat and vegetarian options are available at every Paladar as well. Please be sure to note your specific dietary requirements on your registration form so that we can work with our local paladars to make sure we can accommodate your needs.  If you do not inform us of your dietary restrictions during the booking process, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate once we are in country.

Drinking unfiltered tap water is not a good idea in any foreign country.  Most parts of the island will have chlorinated tap water, but there may be risks of other pollutants from aging infrastructure, heavy metals, and the like. 

Bottled water is readily available in all the towns we will be visiting.  Brewed beverages such as coffee and tea are fine.  

You can bring a water filtration bottle to reduce the use of plastic bottles. Do some research to make sure the one you choose will filter everything you need to remove.  And it’s always a good idea to have purification tablets in your personal travel pharmacy.

One of the most complete water bottle filtering options is the Grayl Geopress.  It’s a go-to option for many international travelers and adventurers.  Grayl is more expensive but it filters out more pollutants than others on the market.

You can also fill your personal water bottle to carry with you. 

We recommend using hydration packs for longer days out.  They are an easy way to carry 2-3 liters with you while beaching, hiking and exploring.   

Cuba primarily operates on 110V power with the standard 2 prong outlet like the US.  Some places may also offer round European plugs with 220V power.  Your cell phone chargers and laptops can handle 110V and 220v power supply directly so you can use those in either type anywhere you travel. 

February is a perfect time of the year in Cuba.  The daily highs will run between 72 and 85 degrees and the lows run between 55 and 72 at night.  On average expect mid 60s at night and upper 70’s during the day. 

At this point, proof of covid vaccination is no longer required for travel. Most of the commonly recommended travel vaccinations apply to Cuba including Typhoid.  Please consult with your doctor for recommended vaccinations based on your medical and vaccination history.  Travel clinics are a great resource as they will be able to consult with you about which vaccinations are recommended at the time of travel and make sure you are up to date on things like TDAP.  

Travel Documents

• Passport with at least 6 months left before expiration.  You will need this throughout the trip.
• Visa You will be issued a visa prior to travel and will need to carry this with you at all times. 
• Covid Test:  This will be updated based on the conditions prior to travel. Currently testing is not required for the US or Cuba.
• Proof of Covid Vaccination:  This will be updated based on the requirements prior to the time of travel. Currently proof of vaccination is not required for the US or Cuba.  
• Document holder.  It’s very handy to have a thought-out place to keep your documents safe and with you. 

We will update these requirements if there are any changes prior to departure for US based flights.  If you are joining us from another country, you will need to check the regulations of travel from your country to and from Cuba although we can also help with that if you post a question in our private Facebook group as well.

Clothing

• Travel clothes.  Comfortable for airplane rides, site seeing, shopping and dinner. The islands are always casual, and comfort is the key even for evenings out.  A light sun dress or shorts will be perfect for the days.  Evenings can be cooler so slacks or jeans may be more comfortable and a light jacket or sweater.  Polos, Tshirts and tank tops are appropriate but you may want to consider a thin long sleeved sun shirt if you need an added layer of sun protections.
• Yoga clothes.  Comfortable practice clothes for the yoga center.       
• Walking shoes.  You will want a good quality pair of shoes for walking around town and something with good tread for exploring the nature preserve.  They need to be broken in but with good tread its never a good idea to break in a new pair of shoes on a trip.  
• Other Shoes.  Flip Flops, Birkenstocks, and similar shoes are great for the beaches, hotels and spas and feel good on your feet at the end of the day. 
• Swimming suit.  For the spas, beaches, etc.
• Underwear.  Whatever you prefer here.
• Socks.  Don’t forget something comfortable for hiking too.
• Hat.   Highly recommended as the sun is very intense in the Caribbean especially in the afternoon.
• Sunglasses.  Critical, the sun is very intense, and we will be around a lot of water.
• Masks.  We recommend bringing a supply of KN95 masks with you.  We will update you on current requirements or mandates as we get closer to the departure date

Yoga Gear

• Travel Yoga Mat.  These are thin and easily fold up to stow in your bag.  Manduka makes a line of ultra-lite travel mats and Jade has a good quality travel mat as well.
• Studio Yoga Mat.  Most of our practices will be in a studio with hard studio floors so having your regular yoga mat may be more comfortable than the travel ones depending on your personal needs.  
• Comfortable practice clothes.  

Personal Care and first aid

• Moisturizer. The air is dry from the altitude and your skin may dry out quickly, so body lotion and lip moisturizer are important.  
• Shampoo and conditioner.  
• Hair care items.  There will be blow dryers at the hotels, but you will want to bring anything else you want.
• Hair ties
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Prescription medications
• Pain reliver.  Aspirin, Advil, or Tylenol 
• Stomach irritation.  Both Pepto-Bismol and Imodium should be in your bag for different reasons. 
• Cold relief.  Allergies might make your throat or sinuses irritated so throat lozenges and medication such as Dayquil and Nyquil can be handy to have in addition to an allergy relief medication.
• Aquaphor.  This should be in every traveler’s arsenal
• Antibiotic Ointment.
• Anti-Itch Cream.  Such as Benadryl, for the breakthrough mosquito bites.   
• Travel First Aid Kit.  These are handy with a variety of band aids and other items for small cuts or scrapes.
• Sanitizing wipes.  These are great to carry to clean your hands if needed and antiseptic wipes should also be in your first aid arsenal.  
• Hand Sanitizer.  A must for travel.  Be sure to get one with a high enough alcohol content to be effective.
• Sunscreen.  An absolute must.  
• Bug Spray.  We will be on an island surrounded by lush vegetation and water.
• Manicure items
• Ear Plugs.  Great for catching some sleep on the plane or ride to Rainbow Mountain…or for a snoring roommate.

***Consult with your doctor, pharmacist or traveler’s clinic about optional or necessary prescriptions such as:

• Antibiotic Z-pak
• Prescription stomach medication

These kinds of things are nice to have on hand just in case.  

Important miscellaneous items

• Carry On Luggage. Its important when traveling internationally to spit your luggage up so that you have a carry on with everything you need for a couple of days in case your luggage is lost or delayed.  A change of clothes, medications, and personal care items should be in your carry on luggage.
• Luggage zipper locks.  You will want these for luggage left in your room and for luggage stored or sent with porter services.  You have an option to put one on your day pack to keep wandering hands out in crowded spaces.  
• Transformer.  See the electrical situation FAQ.  Probably not necessary if you are just bringing your cell phone, laptop or similar devices that are equipped to regulate the voltage. 
• Snacks. It’s always good to carry snacks with you in case you need to refuel along the way.  Delays can happen in mealtimes so come prepared. 
• Water Purifier.  When traveling internationally a water filtration bottle is a must.  Grayl Geopress is one of the best on the market in terms of ease of use and the things it filters.  You should research what is filtered from different manufactures to make sure you are covered against all the potential pollutants.  This is also more environmentally friendly than constantly using single use plastic bottles.  
• Cash.  You will want to bring cash for souvenirs, tips, and snacks.  US Credit Cards and Bank cards do not work in Cuba.  You will be able to exchange your money in Havana.  We recommend $100 per day but you can certainly bring more, or less depending on how much you like to spend.  
• Credit Cards and Debit Cards from US banks do not work in Cuba.

US Credit and debit cards will not work in Cuba. You will need to bring cash for souvenirs and incidental items or any extra activities you would like. See the What’s Not Included section to get a handle on what you think you may need. You will be able to exchange your money in Havana.