Spanish Language Immersion in Cuba

Arrive into Jose Marti International Airport in Havana (HAV) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to your homestay and settle in, relaxing after your long flight, and join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. Go out for dinner at one of Havana’s new privately owned restaurants, Paladares, before heading off on your adventure throughout the “Pearl of the Antilles”!

Head to the University of Havana where you will enroll in your intensive Spanish language program course. Begin with a linguistic level placement test. Throughout the week you’ll have a total of 20 hours of classes, averaging four to five hours a day.

After your first class, you will visit Cuba’s former Presidential Palace that now houses the Revolutionary Museum to learn more about historical events leading up to, during, and after the triumph of the Revolution in 1959. Spend time along the Malecón (also known as Havana’s “sofa”) before heading to see the Cañonazo de las Nueve ceremony at the Fortaleza San Carlos de la Cabaña across the bay. This cannon firing ceremony dates back to 18th century, signifying the closing of the city walls.

Enjoy a cafe cubano before heading to language class for the morning and then have lunch along Vedado’s (one of Havana’s four main neighborhoods) busy thoroughfare, Calle 23.

Get to know Habana Vieja. Start at Plaza de las Armas and continue on a walking tour that will teach you about the history and importance of the old town’s four main plazas. Explore and marvel at the eclectic architecture and vibrant characters that make Havana so unique. After an early dinner at a local paladar, join your classmates and local dance instructors for a salsa dancing class.

After your language course, head to Centro Habana or Habana Vieja, where you’ll participate in an exchange with a local primary or secondary school and learn more about the importance of the educational system in Cuba. Return to the capital in time for dinner and the cabaret show, Parisien, at the iconic Hotel Nacional.

After class, head to Las Terrazas, Cuba’s only eco-village, for a zip line canopy tour! Experience Cuba’s natural beauty as you hike among pristine falls, spot endemic and exotic bird species, and learn about the island’s important conservation efforts since the triumph of the Revolution. Join your group for a mid-trip discussion where you will begin to reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned so far.

Make the most of your last day of language classes. After class, work alongside local farmers at an organopico (urban organic garden) planting, weeding, maintaining, and sorting produce as you learn the importance of these urban gardens to local food security issues. After a group dinner, head to the Casa de la Música de Havana or Miramar where you’ll listen to live music and then finish the night at Coppelia, Cuba’s famous ice cream chain.

Celebrate the end of your trip by touring the city in a classic American automobile from the 1950s. You’ll be dropped off at the Plaza de la Revolución to learn the historical significance of Havana’s largest square and the importance of the monuments dedicated to José Martí, Camilo Cienfuegos, and Che Guevara.

Visit the Jose Martí Memorial and ride to the top of one of Havana’s tallest buildings. Then head to the Mercado de San Jose and shop for artisan goods and souvenirs to take back home to family and friends. End the evening with a goodbye meal and salsa dancing at a restaurant in Habana Vieja.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.