Cuba

Old Havana

Your main base will be in the heart of Old Havana, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site BTW due to its utterly stunning shabby chic architecture. You’ll live in the Jakera House right in the centre of a myriad of gorgeous neoclassical buildings, buzzing with music, bars and impromptu dancing. Utter heaven.

There is so much to do and see here that we are mixing it up and interweaving volunteering, cultural outings and of course dancing...so take your strictly shoes.

Volunteering

Pre-covid the Cuba team supported three main community initiatives: The Arco and Barrio Vieja Community centre, the El Gimnasio boxing gym and the Escuala y Instituto de Musica Cubana – all iconic centres which supported the well being of families and children.

Sadly, everything came to a grinding halt in March and is only just beginning to open up again.The Cuban team are slowly working their way round to re-order their focus. Closer to your arrival time we know what your project is going to be, but it will involve a refurbishing element in one of these centres.

Exploration

There is so much to see and do here and so much to learn about the history. Our local guides will steer you off the beaten track to lots of interesting places, but this week will focus on the Plaza de la Revolution and the walk on the Malecon.

Dancing

Ok, for all those familiar with Strictly Come Dancing – this is your moment to get in tune with your inner self and let your hair down whilst learning to Salsa, Rumba and Merengue!

Your evenings will range from grabbing a bite to eat in one of the many cheap and cheerful eateries in your neighbourhood to chilling along the Malecon with local Habeneros or a trip to Vedado to enjoy the music and nightlife of this incredible city.

Accommodation

You will live in a large Cuban apartment in a neoclassical tenement building in Old Havana. Like most of Old Havana, the architecture, exterior and communal stairs, are safe but in an overall dilapidated condition (call it shabby chic!). Inside however, the apartment is very comfortable, with views across the neighbourhood from the terraces where you can chill.

Expect dormitory style bedrooms sleeping six, with bathrooms providing hot and cold water showers and western style toilets.

Food

Breakfast and lunch included.
Dinner is extra and can be in one of local cafes or you can cook in the Casa kitchen.

Colonial Masterpiece

This week starts off with a few days in Trinidad, which is one of the Caribbean's best-preserved examples of the Spanish colonialism era. Expect to find lots of pastel coloured houses, pretty churches and cobbled streets but it has a big music vibe to it – cool open-air bars and salsa dancing on tap.

On one of the days you will be taken to explore the Valle de los Ingenious (Valley of the Sugar mills) which is another World Heritage Site.

Back to Havana to keep going with the volunteering.

Week overview:

Day 1: Travel to Trinidad / guided night tour of colourful plazas and salsa bars
Day 2: Guided historical walk of Old Trinidad / dance class.
Day 3: Full day tour of the Valle de los Ingenious (Valley of the Sugar mills) / beach time.
Day 4: Travel back to Havana. Volunteering in the afternoon.
Day 5: Volunteering

Accommodation

You'll live with a local family, in a ‘Casa particular’. Expect 2-4 Leapers per family.

Food

Breakfast and lunch included in the house.
Dinner will be extra at one of the local cafes.

Roll yourself a cigar

Another little road trip out to explore Viñales, (another UNESCO World Heritage Site!) owing to the stunning karst valley landscape and rolling tobacco plantations.

Whilst here we will take you into the valley to see the tobacco drying houses where you will learn about the art of curing tobacco and rolling cigars, along with an early morning hike to see the spectacular sunrise.

You will also visit the ‘Cueva del Indio’ and take a boat trip learning about the ‘Guanajatabey’ Indians who built primitive homes hollowed out of the limestone mogotes.

Week overview

Day 1: Travel to Vinales/welcome walk around town
Day 2: Sunrise hike to local farmstead / guided visit a tobacco farm
Day 3: Guided visit to Cueva del Indio and Muro Prehistorico
Day 4: Travel back to Havana. Volunteering
Day 5: Guided Tour of Tobacco Factory

Accommodation

You will stay in a ‘Casa particular’, essentially translating to a government approved ‘individuals house’ where foreign guests can stay. This gives you the opportunity to live with a Cuban family for a full cultural immersion. Expect about 2-4 Leapers per house.

Food

Breakfast and lunch included.
Dinner will be out in a local cafe - please budget about $10 per meal.

Back into Havana

Your last week will be back in Havana to continue your exploration, dance moves and history lessons whilst completing your project.

Week overview:

Day 1: Volunteering / guided tour of Castillo El Morro
Day 2: Volunteering / dance class
Day 3: Volunteering / visit to War Museum to learn about Fidel and the Cuban Revolution
Day 4: Volunteering / dance class
Day 5: Free time to go souvenir shopping / final night out

Food

Breakfast and lunch only in the Casa.
Dinner will be extra at one of the local cafes.

The Social Bubble
The Leap team and staff in the camp will create a social bubble.Handwash and cough and sneeze protocol as stipulated by WHO will be respected. There will be foot baths and handwashing stations around the Casa, plus lots of alcohol gel.

Any staff members not living in the Casa will be considered outside the bubble and will have to socially distance and wear facemasks when addressing those inside the bubble. They will also have clean / work clothes to change into after washing and disinfecting themselves upon arrival at the Casa.

When outside the Casa everyone will have to respect the social distancing rules and wear masks when they are shops, cafes and supermarkets.