Spanish Language – Community & Boxing Cuba

This 4 week programme is without doubt one of our most ambitious ever, and will see you begin your journey in the world famous capital city, Havana. You won’t be staying in a hotel though, but in a casa particular, charming guesthouses run by local people and which are one of the only examples of legal capitalism in the country.

This accommodation will allow you to immerse yourself in the local culture, as you share breakfast and lunch with the owners, as well as fellow travellers. You can even practice your Spanish on them, and they’ll certainly do their best to help you understand the country as a whole.

Highlights:

• Exploring this wonderful Caribbean country
• Learning Spanish with up to 80 hours of Spanish lessons
• Cruising through Havana in 1950s cars
• Exploring the culture and history of this incredible country
• Seeing what life is like living in the world last Communist states
• Gaining impressive Cuban salsa moves with included dancing lessons and other cultural activities
• Giving back: Help out at the local Boxing school for kids in Old Havana
•  Trips to the Caribbean beaches

Photos

Xtreme Cuba Gap Year Experience

Havana

Much of the time in Havana will be spent learning Spanish, and you will be given 4 x 45 minute lessons every weekday. Don’t worry though, it’s not like school – the lessons are informal and delivered by local teachers! The lessons are tailored to your level as well, with a test at the beginning of the program used to established what you need to be taught. You’ll be in small classes too, with about 6-8 pupils being the maximum.

You won’t just be learning the language in Havana though – you’ll be learning the culture and traditions as well, and what is more Cuban than throwing your hair back and taking to the dance floor? Cubans love to dance, and you’ll get a couple of dance lessons each week to learn the basics of dances such as the cha cha cha, rumba and, of course, salsa. Okay, you won’t be an expert when you leave, but you’ll impress everyone when you get back home! You might even impress some of the locals with your moves when you head to one of the many different vibrant music venues throughout the city in the evening!

Throughout your time in Havana, you’ll also get the chance to head out on a number of excursions, taking in the different aspects of the history, culture and politics of this island. All tours are curated by a scholar from the University of Havana, meaning that you’ll only get the very best information. Once you head home, we hope that these excursions allow you to answer one simple question, a question that has baffled many people before you: what, exactly, is Cuba?

You will also return to Havana for two weeks after volunteering, and will continue learning Spanish and exploring – even after a total of a month, you’ll still only have scratched the surface of this city and will be itching to come back once the trip is finished!

Cultural Exchange at Punta Perdiz ‘Campismo’

Once your two weeks in Havana has been completed, you’ll move onto beach side settings – the time when many people say that they get to see the “real Cuba”.

The setting is Punta Perdiz, just outside the seaside town of Playa Giron 200km directly southeast from Havana.

Playa Giron is world renowned because of the ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion in April 1961 that led to the first US military defeat in Latin America.

It is in the heart of the Zapata Swamp, the largest wetlands of the Caribbean islands and one of many UNESCO World Heritage sites in Cuba.

There is an abundance of plant, bird and other wildlife, many of them endemic to the area. During your time here you will explore the area with our expert guides to find out more about this unique habitat and its history.

You will visit Laguna del Tesoro (‘Treasure Lake’), Hatiguanico River basin, Montemar Great National Park, Playa Giron Museum, a crocodile farm and some of the best beaches in the Caribbean!

Despite misconceptions about Cuban way of life, Cubans do enjoy ‘holidays’. All over Cuba are to be found ‘Campismos’ – state concessions/hostels run for the benefit of Cuban holidaymakers.

Foreign tourists are not usually permitted to stay at these properties – in much the same way as Cuban’s are not permitted to stay in holiday resorts operated for visiting tourists.

We have negotiated a special status for our volunteer students and you will be living in Punta Perdiz ‘Campismo’.

While there you will be engaged in several conservation and eco-tourism based volunteer initiatives. In conjunction with the local International Dive School and Cuban Red Cross you will be involved in beach and reef conservations efforts while onshore you will spearhead a renovation project to rejuvenate the local basketball court and other sporting and recreational based facilities.

The Boxing Programme - Volunteer at Rafael Trejo ‘Gimnasio’

In week 5 & 6 it’s back our familiar surroundings in old Havana. But this time we will apply skills developed working as a team in Punta Perdiz to another important community based volunteer project – the legendary boxing gymnasium ‘Rafael Trejo Gimnasio’.

Hidden around the corner from our ‘Casa’ this is the oldest boxing club in Havana and has trained and formed numerous Olympic champions.

Cuba has an incredible Olympic boxing pedigree, having won 32 gold medals in the sport. Boxing is the country’s second favourite sport surpassed only by Cuba’s well-documented passion for baseball.

Here the niños begin their training very young, many of them have no shoes or even enough food, but they keep going to the gym every day.

While the facilities are threadbare, the instruction received is world class. Two-time Olympic gold medal winner Hector Vinent Charon runs the gym, teaching the children how to throw and take a punch.

Our role here is multifaceted and on going – we will improve the infrastructure of the property, for example animating the exterior and interiors walls, as well as donating equipment.

Spanish lessons will resume during these final two weeks in Havana while at the weekend we will take another trip to a nearby beach to top up the tan before returning home!

Accommodation

While in Cuba, you will be staying with real Cuban families, understanding what it is like to live in this country on a day to day basis. As already mentioned, you’ll stay in a casa particular while in Havana, and some of the main features of these are:

• Run by local families, therefore providing a window into the life of Cubans
• Twin rooms with air conditioning
• All rooms have on en-suite bathroom
• Breakfast and lunch included within the price
• Located in Habana Vieja, the most “authentic” part of the city
• Owner of the casa particular is a doctor, should any medical problems arise
• Family speaks some English, making the transition to Cuban life easier

Trip Frequently Asked Questions

Price

• 6 Weeks  £1579

Dates

• First Monday of January, April, July and September from 5th January 2015