Frequently Asked Questions about our trips to Cuba
I thought it was illegal to travel to Cuba?
We will be travelling under the “Support for the Cuban People” travel license, as stipulated by the U.S. Department of Treasury. § 515.574 Support for the Cuban People requires a full time itinerary of people to people contact and meaningful exchange. This is one of the 12 General Licenses for 31 CFR O.F.A.C./ C.A.C.R. used for legal travel to Cuba.
Support for the Cuban People, which exists as part of the educational activities category, allows any American to legally travel to Cuba, provided they engage in a full-time schedule of activities. Travel must be for the purpose of engaging, while in Cuba, in a full-time schedule of activities intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities. Sandunga Dance School, LLC was createdto provide full-time educational, people to people contact in Cuba. We have developed an itinerary that promotes educational exchange activities and meaningful interactions between the traveler and individuals in Cuba.
Where is Santiago de Cuba?
Santiago de Cuba is on the eastern side of the Island. It is the second largest city in Cuba and at one time was the capital. It is 539 miles to the east of Havana. Santiago de Cuba sits on a bay and is surrounded by the Sierra Maestra mountain range.
Why are we going to Santiago?
Santiago is often referred to as Cuba’s “cultural capital.” It is the birthplace of many Cuban rhythms (and Rafael Martinez) and it is home to Sandunga Dance School. Santiago is geographically closer to Haiti and the Dominican Republic than Havana, contributing to its reputation as the Afro-Cuban cultural epicenter.
How do I sign up?
If you are interested in traveling with us, please read, sign and email this waiver back to us at sandungadanceschool@gmail.com
Once we receive your waiver and confirmed with you that you have booked your flight (see instructions below), we will contact you about your preferred payment method.
How do I purchase my Airline Ticket for the 2020 Trips?
Please click the links below for information on how to purchase your airline tickets:
What are we going to do all week?
There will be classes each morning at Sandunga Dance School that will teach us Cuban movements and rhythms. Each participant will have a Cuban teaching assistant and partner to promote learning and cultural exchange. There will also be two guided tours of Santiago’s historical sites. In addition, we will have two day trips outside the city to the Villa Consuela and Finca El Porvenir. In the evenings, we have several outings planned with Sandunga Dance School to experience Santiago’s rich music scene, practice your new dance skills and immerse yourself in the community. The week will culminate with a final dinner and party at Sandunga Dance School to celebrate with everyone you have met on your trip during the week.
What if I don’t know how to dance?
The classes are beginner classes and you will be guided gently through the beginning moves to give you a foundation. Rafael Martinez, the owner of Sandunga Dance School, has been teaching dance to beginners for over 14 years. He also has a degree in Physical Education and is very patient ;)
What if I have been dancing for years and I don’t want a beginner class?
We will make arrangements to make sure that every person’s level of dance is assessed and their needs are met. Intermediate and advanced students will have classes for their level.
Where am I going to sleep?
Everyone will be staying in a Casa Particular, which is similar to Airbnb. Each person will have a private room and bathroom for the duration of their stay. The system of Casa Particular in Cuba is very regulated by the Cuban government and is safe. Cubans have been “airbnbing” for about 20 years longer than us. Staying in a Casa Particular also helps to support our Support for the Cuban People travel license, as you will get to know the families you are staying with. This promotes small business in Cuba and cultural exchange. A majority of the homes have terraces, offering an additional space to relax on your trip. All of the Casa’s are located within 3-4 blocks of Sandunga Dance School and have air conditioning.
Can I share a room?
You are always welcome to share a room with a partner or trusted friend, however, we do not offer a special price based on double occupancy. It is a flat rate per person.
Where will we eat?
Daily Breakfast is included in the package and will be provided each morning by your Casa. We encourage you to let your Casa owner know what works best for you. For example, if you prefer to eat before the dance classes or after. There will be a few other meals included in the cost of the package, including a welcome dinner, lunch on our Monday outing to Villa Consuela and the final dinner/party. There are many Paladars (private restaurants) and cafes for other meals. Additional meals can be negotiated with your Casa owners for approximately 10-15 CUC (for a very lavish meal). On past trips, participants have rotated through each other’s homes to share meals on the terraces. This is a great way to support the families and to eat some great food.
What if I am a vegetarian/vegan?
Please let your Casa owner know if you have any dietary needs. They will do their best to accommodate you based on availability. Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance communicating with the owner if language is a barrier.
What if I don’t speak Spanish?
That’s ok. Rafael does and many people speak English. Some of the best fun we have is finding ways to communicate with the new people we have met. We will always be available to assist people if they find themselves in need of help.
Can I use my Credit Card?
Cuba is a cash only, dual currency economy. At the moment, American credit and debit cards do not work in Cuba. We will assist you in exchanging money when you arrive. To ease this process and ensure the best possible rate, Please bring your money in $100 dollar bills that are not torn. In addition, money can be changed at local banks or casa de cambio. Please note that the Cuban government charges an additional 10-12% fee when changing American dollars to Convertible Cuban Pesos or CUC (pronounced “cook”). The CUC is the currency that tourists use in Cuba. There is a second currency called “Moneda Nacional” that is used primarily by Cuban nationals. Western Union is available in the event that you spend all your money on souvenirs and art.
How much money should I bring?
People's spending habits vary quite a bit. On average people bring $500-$1000. What we do say is that it is better to leave with extra than to run out of money while you are in Cuba because you will not have access to ATMs or banks, just Western Union. A bottle of water, beer or soda can be 1-2 CUC. A mojito or mixed drink can be 3-5 CUC. Entrances to music venues can be from 2-10CUC. A meal can be 10-20 CUC depending on where you go. Internet access is 1-2 CUC for about an hour. Phone cards can be 15 CUC. I have seen people run out of money buying souvenirs, rum, cigars and art. I have also seen people not buy anything but food and go home with extra. If you find that you have extra CUC, We will do our best to assist you in changing it back to dollars.
I heard that I should change my money here in the U.S. to Euros or Canadian dollars to avoid the penalty for exchanging US currency. Should I do that?
We will assist in exchanging US dollars, but other foreign currencies must be exchanged at a bank or cadeca. If you bring US dollars, please bring them in $100 bills for the greatest exchange rate. We will make it very easy for you and allow you to skip the transaction fee you would pay here exchanging your money to Euros or Canadian dollars.
How much should I tip the teaching assistants and casa owners?
Tipping, of course, is optional but it goes a long way in Cuba and is not included in the cost of your package. Examples: bartenders, waitresses, taxi drivers, etc. Also, it is customary to tip casa owners or your personal dance teacher (not Rafael) at the end of the week if you feel the service warrants it. We generally do not recommend an exact amount of money to tip. It depends on how you feel about your instructor/casa owner and the service provided.
Can I buy toiletries, sunscreen or ibuprofen there?
Be sure to bring any over the counter or prescription medications you may need. At minimum, please bring an OTC pain killer/fever reducer and Imodium. Also, sunscreen and common toiletries (deodorant, toothpaste, etc.) can be hard to find and when you do find them, the quality is not comparable to our products in the U.S. It is important that you bring what you need with you.
Should I bring my own towel (or yoga mat)?
Towels will be provided in your casas for bathing. Please bring additional towels/hand towels/handkerchiefs if you think you will need them for yoga or dance class. If you are coming on one of our yoga and dance trips, yoga mats will be provided at the school if you do not want to travel with your personnel mat. Many past participants have brought their own yoga mat and donated it to the school on departure. This is always very much appreciated by the Santiagueros who are practicing yoga at our school
Can I drink the water?
Bottled water will be available for purchase in your casas. It is recommended that you only drink bottled water. Many Cubans have water filters in their homes, but they are not entirely safe for non-Cubans. Most hotels and paladars make ice cubes with bottled water for foreigners.
Is there Internet?
Internet access in Cuba is controlled by the government and can be VERY SLOW. It is more widely available in the last 2 years, but please be prepared to wait in line to buy an access card. Most of the Casas have Internet in the house, but a card is required to log on. The cards are available at several locations within a 10-minute walk of the dance school and your casas. About 2 CUC will buy approximately an hour of Internet access. You can also purchase a phone card to make calls from landlines. Most of your casas have landlines that you can use and you are always welcome to use your phone card at the school. It is recommended that you only buy your cards from a trusted source, i.e. an Etecsa store or other authorized seller.
Can I go to Havana?
Sandunga Dance School, LLC is only providing licensed travel to Santiago de Cuba at this time. If you are interested in traveling to other parts of Cuba before the week begins or after the week is over, please be advised that the itinerary provided by Sandunga Dance School, LLC is for your legal stay in Cuba during the 7 days you are traveling with us. You are responsible for creating your own itinerary for additional travel. Also, please be advised that obtaining a domestic flight in Cuba from outside the U.S. is not impossible, but can be very challenging. Cuban airlines do not accept U.S. credit cards and these flights can be unreliable and sometimes cancelled with no explanation. Most people make the trip to Havana to Santiago by bus.
I’m still a little nervous about travelling to Cuba. Can we talk on the phone?
Absolutely! Email us at sandungadanceschool@gmail.comand we can arrange a time to speak on the phone. We would be happy to answer any additional questions you have.
Additional Tips:
Laundry can usually be done in your casa for a small fee.
Please be sure to bring comfortable shoes for walking and dancing.
Bring a small packable umbrella.
Additional private dance classes and/or percussion classes can be arranged if you are ambitious.
Water is a very precious commodity in Cuba. Please be sure to conserve water when showering, brushing your teeth, etc. Also, you may notice a garbage can next to the toilet. The plumbing in Cuba cannot handle toilet paper and it is customary to place your used tissue in the trash rather than in the toilet. Toilet paper in public restrooms is almost non-existent and it never hurts to carry some extra tissue, wipes and a hand sanitizer when out and about.
Some phone service providers are now offering roaming service in Cuba, but it is very expensive. Check with your provider. Calling from the United States to Cuba can also be very expensive, approximately $0.50/minute depending on the service provider. Most people use “whatsapp” or “Imo” for texting or face timing with people outside of Cuba.