Cuban Yoga & Cultural Immersion Retreat (Feb 2019)

      Havana, Cuba

      LR
      Lotus Retreats
      • Email address verified
      • Facebook verified
      32 reviews
      Feb 2 - 9, 2019
      Group size: 8 - 24
      Cuban Yoga & Cultural Immersion Retreat (Feb 2019)
      Havana, Cuba

      Lotus Retreats
      • Email address verified
      • Facebook verified
      32 reviews

      Feb 2 - 9, 2019
      Group size: 8 - 24

      About this trip

      Have you ever wanted to experience the true cultural offerings of Cuba? Now you can!! Lotus Retreats is excited to announce our first ever Cuban Yoga & Cultural Immersion retreat in Playa Del Estes, Havana, Cuba this February 2-9th, 2019.


      Join Lotus Retreats for 8-days and 7-nights of exploration through yoga, immersion with the Cuban Yoga community, cultural trips to Havana and Vinales and an unforgettable heart-opening experience to connect with Cuba, the people, and a simplified way of life. 


      Retreat to Cuba’s first Yoga retreat center on the beaches of Playa Del Estes and retreat yourself in the warm Cuban sun. The peaceful and secluded atmosphere of Playa Del Estes, Tarará is perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation for  your mind, body and soul. Mhai Yoga is located only 15 minutes outside of Havana, affording you the opportunity to explore the city during the day or night, dining in one of the many newly opened restaurants, or soaking up salsa throughout the night, and always having our peaceful space to come back to. 


      Expect lots of time to rest and play, you’ll be given the opportunity to participate in these cultural offerings but also the option to sit back and relax, completely designing the retreat week you desire.


      Mhai Yoga provides an authentic experience to connect our retreat week with the true island lifestyle. The island culture, organic food movement and white-sand beaches are a few reasons you may never want to leave Cuba, but what will end up capturing your heart is the people.


      The lesson to take from Cuba, is that of happiness with the present moment, and you will see, the people, even though they don’t have much, they are always laughing, dancing, making the most of every situation, and hopefully after a week retreat to Cuba, you will too!

      Yoga & Workshops

      We will gather on the Yoga shala twice a day to practice Yoga, meditation and connection to Self, spirit. Hatha, Vinyasa, Restorative and Yin classes tailored to all levels will be offered by our team of Lotus Retreats teachers. However, this Yoga retreat and practice extends far off the mat and into our everyday life, actions and encounters. Our mission of practicing poses, breath and mindfulness on the mat, is to take this awareness and spread it beyond just the yoga shala and ourselves. Daily intentions, mantras and offerings will be encouraged to support your Yoga practice on & off the mat. 


      In collaboration with the Cuban Yoga community, we will share a day with the Cuban Yoga Association and Eduardo Pimentel, the father of Yoga in Cuba, to learn about the history of Yoga in Cuba and have the opportunity to practice Yoga with Eduardo and his students. 

      Excursions

      Exploring the culture and different cities & towns of Cuba will be a huge part of this retreat week! Each day will be paired with an activity or excursion to experience authentic Cuba and it’s offerings. Learn to Salsa dance with a professional Cuban dance team included in the first days of the retreat! We will discover the city of Havana, what it is and the history of what it was riding around in convertibles to site see it all. You’ll have the chance to explore the city, shop and admire its rich cultural taste with a group outing for lunch at the Paladar. Of course it wouldn’t be a trip to Havana without a sunset visit to the Malecon, which walls the entire city of Havana overlooking the ocean.


      This retreat also includes an overnight trip to Vinales, which are the organic farmlands of Cuba, to get a true taste of Cuba’s organic food movement! We’ll horseback ride through the farms, connect with local farmers, roll our own Cuban cigars! And practice yoga on the mountain top overlooking all of Vinales. In Vinales, you’ll have your own bed, breakfast, dinner with a Cuban family and we’ll practice evening & morning Yoga.

      Nourishment

      Nourish your soul with local handcrafted meals lovingly prepared by Mhai Yoga’s family staff. Mealtimes are a huge part of our retreat experience and Cuba offers all organic, hand prepared and nourishing meals for us to enjoy. Each meal is prepared with local foods that the staff purchases within the same day. The kitchen staff is so loving and caring during mealtimes that they’re always present and preparing special dishes for our groups. All meals are organic with pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. 

      Disconnect to Reconnect

      Disconnect with a digital detox. There will be no Wifi at the beach resort but there will be plenty of yoga, workshops, community talks and activities for you to connect with yourself and others!

      Daily trips to “Wifi parks” will be optional if you need this offering.

      Getting There

      Travel to and from Cuba has become much easier!


      Several airlines like United, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue fly direct to Havana Airport.

      For travelers departing from the United States, US airlines now offer the option to buy the Cuban tourist visa on the day of departure at the check-in counter or at the departure gate. Check the confirmation email from your airline to confirm this, as their policies are subject to change. Please allow some extra time at check-in if you plan to buy the Cuban tourist visa on your date of departure.


      Mhai Yoga will provide each retreat guest with a "reason for" visiting Cuba. Your travel is legally authorized as an educational people-to-people tour in "support of the Cuban people"


      Once you arrive in Cuba, and you have passed customs and retrieved your bags, it is advised that you pass by the currency exchange booth so that you have cash on hand to pay for a taxi. You will note that there are plenty of yellow taxis waiting outside of the terminal.


      Please find one and give them this address:

      Tarará, Playas Del Este, Villa Harmonia, Casa #309 Yoga


      Once you arrive to the gate of Tarará please let the guard know you are attending the yoga retreat.  Mhai Yoga is located in Tarará, a gated community located in Havana's Playas del Este region.


      We will create a Facebook group and shared google document for all attending guests to arrange transportation to the resort prior to the retreat start. We recommend connecting with others to share taxis from the airport to the resort. 


      No vaccinations are required to enter Cuba.


      Detailed travel instructions and guidance will be included in your confirmation emails after booking! 

      Packing List

      Passport

      Health Insurance

      Cash (to exchange at the airport, there are no ATMS in Cuba)

      Camera + charger

      Small umbrella (just in case)

      Reusable water bottle

      Comfortable clothes for practicing Yoga

      Swimwear, beachwear, sunglasses and a beach towel!

      Light sweater or shawl for evening in Havana

      Flip flops & sandals

      Comfortable walking shoes for sunrise hike

      Sunscreen & bugspray

      Yoga mat

      What’s included

      • Accommodations at Mhai
        8 Days & 7 Nights
      • Food
        3 Meals a day (pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options available)
      • Drinks
        Daily juices, coffee & tea
      • Welcome Ceremony
        Opening & intention setting ceremony
      • Daily Yoga Classes
        Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin and Restorative practices tailored to all levels
      • Salsa Lesson
        Professional salsa lesson with Havana's own Cuban salsa team!
      • Workshops
        Daily offerings like Acro and Partner yoga, pranayama (breath-work), meditation and various workshops
      • Closing Ceremony
        Closing cacao ceremony + ecstatic dance
      • Overnight in Vinales
        Overnight accomodations, transportation, food, horseback riding and excursions in Vinales farmlands
      • Daytrip to Havana
        Daytrip to Havana in convertibles with a group lunch in the city
      • Retreat Goodie Bag
        Lotus Retreats goodie bag with Yoga clothing, accessories and items from retreat sponsors!

      What’s not included

      • Airfare
        Roundtrip flights to Havana are ~$300-$500
      • Airport Transfers
        Taxi to the retreat center is ~$35 USD, up to 4 people
      • Cuban Visa
        ~$50 purchased directly through your airline or at the gate
      • Travel Insurance

      Available Packages

      Triple Occupancy *Early bird

      WAITLIST OPTION

      Shared room with individual twin beds, shared bathroom


      $2190

      Early bird pricing through Aug 2nd

      $2390 After Aug 2nd


      $2,190
      Deposit: $500
      Double Occupancy* Early bird

      WAITLIST OPTION

      Shared room with individual twin beds, shared bathroom


      $2490

      Early bird pricing through Aug 2nd

      $2690 After Aug 2nd

      $2,490
      Deposit: $500
      Single Occupancy*Early bird

      WAITLIST OPTION

      Private room with private bathroom


      $2990

      Early bird pricing through Aug 2nd

      $3190 After Aug 2nd

      $2,990
      Deposit: $500
      Triple Occupancy
      $2,390
      Deposit: $500
      Double Occupancy
      $2,690
      Deposit: $500
      Single Occupancy
      $3,190
      Deposit: $500


      Your Organizer


      LR
      Lotus Retreats
      32 reviews
      Expand and enhance your vision of the world with a Lotus Retreats experience! Lotus Retreats offers a combination of yoga & philosophy, workshops & ceremonies, plus nature excursions & cultural immersions to fully explore each location traveled. Each week is carefully curated with activities and optional excursions to deepen and benefit your physical, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing. Every retreat is unique to the location, the group & your hosts, who passionately guarantee an eye-opening & heart-awakening experience for all.

      Reviews

      AA
      A grounding expedition filled with genuine connection. A powerful mix of relaxing and nourishing yoga and wellness combined with expansive and exciting adventures.
      By Alexa A for Lake Atitlan, Guatemala NYE Reset Retreat (2024!) on Feb 27, 2024
      Amazing Yoga retreat in the Sacred Valley. Amazing healthy meals every day. Daily adventure to ruins and cultural events.I highly recommend this retreat and Ryann is an amazing teacher and facilitator!!!
      By Lynn E for Peru: Cultural Immersion & Yoga Retreat on Feb 27, 2024
      Fantastic trip and experience. It far exceeded my expectations. The accommodation and personnel are all top-notch. Tom Milton
      By Thomas M for Peru: Cultural Immersion & Yoga Retreat on Feb 21, 2024
      This was a wonderful retreat in a beautiful setting. I loved the yoga classes, food, and the cultural immersive experiences. I highly recommend a Lotus Retreat!
      By Kathy A for Lake Atitlan, Guatemala NYE Reset Retreat (2024!) on Jan 06, 2024
      Incredible cultural voyage through the sacred valley of Peru. This was an adventurous and beautiful retreat. More than just asana yoga. There were indigenous ceremonies, hikes through the mountains, and historical site visits. Lotus Retreats always forms a connected group and we had a blast in Peru. I would 100% travel with Lotus Retreats again
      By Spencer O for Peru: Cultural Immersion & Yoga Retreat (New Dates* May 2023) on Jun 20, 2023
      Show More Reviews

      References

      HC
      First and foremost, apologies for this super overdue review. I just realized that I haven't left a review for Loren Lotus, but periodically I have thought about this magical retreat I went on with Loren in 2018 to Colombia. Loren was very communicative about all the trip details beforehand, and planned very special programs; a small trip to the neighboring village with a local guide, interesting workshops with great guest teachers, etc. although she is an amazing instructor! The retreat venue was magical and was very accommodating about everyone's dietary restrictions. I spent possibly the best week of my life, and I am forever grateful for that experience. Highly recommend it if you are looking for something to nourish your mind, body, and heart. Thank you Loren. I hope you are doing well! Sending love.
      By Heisue C on 30 Nov, 2023
      KK
      I had an amazing experience in Colombia with Lotus Retreats in July 2023. Loren and Rachel are fantastic women who lead with love and light. They show so much care and respect towards each person's experience and offer each guest the opportunity to make their trip as busy or relaxed as they wish it to be. I highly recommend the excursions, as I got to experience more of Colombia and the history of its culture; however, they are optional, which is great on days when a guest would prefer some time spent in reflection. The daily yoga offerings were my favorite part, as they brought different styles of yoga, pranayama techniques, and sound healing into class. And finally, the freshly prepared, locally-sourced meals were INCREDIBLE. My body is still thanking me!
      By Katie K on 12 Aug, 2023
      TP
      I had the opportunity to deepen my practice / experience the beauty of Tulum Mexico with Lotus Retreats and would do it again in a heartbeat! The Lotus Retreats crew quickly created a space of loving community, increased awareness, and intentional practice within the first few hours of our retreat and it only got better from there! These retreats are special. Humanity in raw form. I'll be back for more, no doubt!
      By Travis P on 02 Oct, 2018
      Show More References