Corazon Cuba

I booked a 2-week Spanish course (60 hours) in Havana Vieja, the old part of Havana. My teacher was Laritza, a young, highly motivated, professional and funny teacher. Apart from giving me a hard time in learning grammar (irregular verbs ARE a nightmare), she allowed several deep dive into Cuban history, culture, traditions and much more. This was extremely interesting! All people at the casa particular where I stayed are extremely helpful and friendly - within 2 hours and despite the jetlag they made me feel at home! They will do everything to make life as easy for you as possible - and this is really difficult given the continuous power cuts, the incredible head and air humidity. So having an aircon in your room is nice but does not help very much if there is no electricity ... At the end, you will turn to take your matress and take it out on the terrace, sleeping as everybody else outside. All in all a positive experience I will never forget.

Learning Spanish with a view of Old Havana is a unique experience. Due to the U.S. oil embargo, there were only about 8 students on average at the language school, and we all had one-on-one lessons. My lessons with Pablo always took place on the rooftop terrace. I learned a lot about Cuba, its people, and the country itself, and I significantly improved my Spanish. Breakfast and lunch were served in a small dining room. My wife and I had a clean room in a casa particular 500 meters from the language school. A highly recommended language school with very friendly staff and teachers.

I decided to treat myself to some time at a language school in Cuba, combining a fascination for a culture I knew little about with a love for the Spanish language and an interest in salsa dancing. I had taught myself Spanish using Duolingo and this program was my treat for having completed the app. Surprisingly I really knew a lot of Spanish before arriving, but the school was able to put me into an advanced class and was also wonderful in adapting group activities to make sure that I had ample opportunity to speak Spanish even when mixed with students at more beginning levels. The staff really care about the students and it all feels like one big family. Yes, there were sometimes the normal issues that unfortunately come with Cuba - electricity shortages or (temporary) no hot water - but I honestly didn't notice them at all. I had so much fun and would recommend this program to anyone - it is a great way to learn Spanish, see and learn about the country, and be instantly in a group of like-minded people all looking to explore.

I spent around 3 weeks in January in Cuba and I fell in love with every minute I spent in Cuba. New friendships formed at the hostel, amazing staff, fun classes and, of course, amazing Havana! I can't wait for my second trip!!

I've always wanted to know Cuba, but as an American, I had a lot of fear and concern for my safety. That's where Corazón Cuba helped me the most. Having a "home base" with friendly, amazing people to help me navigate the cultural differences and become confident to walk alone in the streets of old Havana. It was an invaluable month-long experience for me and I made amazing friends from all over Europe, friends for life. Salsa classes, cultural tours of the city, trips to Viñales and Trinidad, we did so many things that pushed me past my comfort zone. It was an amazing experience. I do recommend a month-long stay to truly start to understand Cuban life and feel more at home. I recommend bringing antibiotics, medications, deodorant, mosquito spray, etc, as those things are not available in Cuba. Pack 1/2 your suitcase with gifts and donations... You will be glad you did. The Cuban people are so lovely, but you must remember the country is in difficult times and you are there to understand and have a better awareness about how you can help. It was a life changing and humbling experience. I highly recommend going to see Cuba for yourself!

I went to Cuba in August this year and stayed to weeks in Habana. It was a great experience. Language course was amazing as well as dance lessons. I had a nice room with my own bathroom not far from school. I met a lot of new great people. Would do it anytime again

My wife, two kids ages 10 and 12, and I studied at Corazon Cuba for 3 weeks in June and July this past year, and we absolutely loved it. As Americans, there were obstacles to visiting Cuba, and the office was timely and supportive in helping us navigate the requirements. Airport transfer was easy. The accommodation was exactly as described, near to the school, and serviced as needed throughout our stay. The teachers were professional and experts in their field. Our family placed into three different Spanish levels, and we all strongly progressed in our language proficiency. The teachers adapted to our levels and interests and prepared to meet our language needs. Food at the school was exceptional. As a vegetarian, I was well-accommodated and our kids particular requests were fulfilled when they could be - the kitchen staff created a family environment that was second-to-none. The office and management of the school had an always-open door and had our well-being and satisfaction at the forefront of their minds and work. The cultural tours and events were well-designed and flexed to the composition of the participants. We loved the salsa dancing and noted the community partnerships created by the school. We traveled around the country after our time at Corazon Cuba and maintained some contact with the school and teachers - they cared about us and our experience in their country. The school and experience they provide receives my strongest recommendation because of their professionalism, accommodating flexibility, and value. A great way to visit Cuba!

Thank you to all the wonderful team in Havana for the most interesting and exciting adventure. Loved the dancing meeting local people and our kids leant such good Spanish. The international crowd were amazing. One that our family will never forget !

The Spanish lessons and the provided meals were the best. Me gustaron mucho las clases y la comida. I was met exactly where I needed to ne met. I plan to go back ASAP. I don't like to be away from home too long but the time flew.

I searched for a language school and I found Corazon Cuba. The booking was very easy and Tim Patterson told me everything about the price and sent the detailed program. I arrived later then I should in Cuba, because me plane was late. A Taxi was waiting for me with my name on a sign and brought me to my apartment. The living situation is in the middle of Havanna. In the night I had the opportunity to change money and to buy some water. At the next morning Carlos brought me to the school. After an introduction and made a test for my language skills. My teacher was Laritza and I was with her for the next 5 days. The learning situation is outside on the terraces of the school, which is new to Euopeans, but it was very nice. Also all the people from the school were nice and helpful. I loved being there and i am sure, that I will come back:) Thank you for everything.

I had an amazing experience with Corozon Cuba Language School! Delvis was mi Maestro (my teacher) and he was the best! So patient, kind, friendly and made our small class feel so comfortable! Leo was exceptional and so were the rest of the staff! Food was incredible and the Salsa lessons were such a fun experience! I made friends there I’ll never forget and I just wanted to say thank you!

I was really lucky to have chosen Corazon Cuba for my trip to Cuba. As an American it is especially important to have a properly prepared stay. Tim was super responsive, flexible for special requests and clarified everything before my departure. Considering that Cuba has various challenges, my itinerary was well organized and everything went smoothly. The hosts in Havana and Vinales were wonderful and very helpful. I'm frankly amazed that Corazon Cuba provided such a rich program of activities, good accommodations, taxi collectivo transfers, breakfast and lunch as well as Spanish lessons for such a good value! I returned home full of great experiences, memories and fun stories to tell.

A friend and I booked the course through Tim of Corazon Cuba. Tim showed a lot of patience and good humor as we send a lot of mails correcting mistakes of previous emails and reasking question (traveling through india is mentally not a good time to book anything I learned...). But in the end we arrived in La Habana, got picked up by a nice taxi driver and had two amazing weeks. The course was on the rooftop of the school, so sunscreen and a cap were mandatory materials for class. Jose was an incredible teacher, also showing us La Habana and giving us tips where to go after class. The class itself was very intense (most of A1 and A2 in two weeks) but also very interesting and funny. The whole crew was amazing and most evenings we spent relaxing on said rooftop and just enjoying life with the other very cool students.

Honestly, best decision I ever made. Not only I improved my Spanish, I made friends for life and was able to dive into a new culture above the tourist level. And all of this was simply possible because of the AMAZING Team working at Jakera. They make you feel that you are exactly in the right place from the first second you arrive. They are a huge family and they will make you feel as you are a part of it. They try to make everything possible for you. They are all locals and they don´t just work there, they mostly spend even all of their freetime there to hang out with you, show you around or accompany you to parties. My reccomendations: Book the trips to Vinales and Trinidad! Do the dance classes! Try to speak as much Spanish as you can! Join the nights out to Fabrica del Arte! Visit the beautiful beaches! Just keep in mind a few things, before you go: bring ENOUGH cash! (its not possible to pay by credit card and you cant get cash out of ATMs); Spotify/Netflix etc. are not working there so download what you need offline in advance; No wifi! but use it as digital detox and to spend time with those wonderful people; don´t get offended by catcalling just smile about it and go on; bring donations such as useful medication If I could go back in time, I would always book the programm again to have this unique experience again. Thank you all for having me! <3

Excellent way to experience Cuba in a very friendly atmosphere. I stayed two weeks in Havana and one in Trinidad. Intensive Spanish courses in the mornings, salsa classes and city tours in the afternoon. Leo and his team's contribution to such a well-structured atmosphere for intercultural dialogue is amazing. I have met wonderful fellow students from all over the world, age range was 20-70.

I did 2 weeks of language and culture class. It was a lot of fun. We had large group and did many things together. Every day we were eating breakfast and lunch together, so it always gave us a chance to catch up. I will defiantly suggest to my friends and co-workers to be part of this program.

From our first contact with Tim through the final day of our two week stay, we were delighted with Corazon Cuba. We went for the Spanish lessons and they did not disappoint. After taking a quick assessment of our language knowledge so far, we were assigned a class. Surprisingly, the classes had only 1 - 3 students and personalization was a big benefit. Both of us felt our teachers were superb - mine was Daniela, and Jamie's was Delvis. They kept us on track with pre-planned daily lessons but we also had plenty of time to learn about Cuba and the people of Cuba (all in Spanish, of course.) All the staff were fun and helpful. Miguelito, the chef, prepared plenty of tasty vegan food for us and we were so grateful. Andy was our tour guide for the culture portion of our program and he is a history buff who enjoys sharing stories. We spent many pleasant afternoons walking abound old Havana with Andy. The salsa dance program is held in a lovely dance studio with a student/teacher ratio of 1:1. I didn't know it was possible to learn so many steps in a one hour class. Rather than stay at the hostel, we chose a home stay. Accommodations were pretty basic but clean and included a refrigerator. The airport transfers were excellent. And, again, everyone we encountered was so welcoming and gracious. We highly recommend Corazon Cuba and hope you will have the same positive vibe and experience we had.

I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the Corazon Cuba experience. What stood out the most were the exceptional friendliness of the staff and the effective leadership and coordination provided by Leo, which included arranging excursions, taxis, and restaurant recommendations. The central location, and Havana Vieja was perfect. The quality of the food and coffee was excellent, and I particularly appreciated the casual dining atmosphere. The teaching staff was also excellent, being patient and relatable. I highly recommend Corazon Cuba, and I have already suggested it to others here in the United States. The only areas of improvement that I can think of would be to provide Wi-Fi/Internet access, and improving the cleanliness of the bathrooms.

I was joining this group to learn spanish. I cam with zero language skills and it was no problem. The teachers are really great so the time is flying during learning. Also the Management of the School was amazing, i had to shift my days twice and it was not at all an issue. They supported me an all belongings. Thanks a lot - highly recommend to everybody who wants to learn spanish or one of the other programs. Will come definitly another time again.BR, Chris

I booked the the learn spanish, clulture and volunteer program. I already had a good grasp of the Spanish basics. The teacher placed me with basic beginnners -- which I didn't mind because we were the only class that week (If I did I would have spoken up to the director). I was having so much fun with the other students I didn't want to be alone in a class!. The teacher also showed me/taught me some of my weaknesses in Spanish. I enjoyed his teaching method with the other students -- the pace that we progressed was great. He helped them be more conversational--which as travelers we want. The city tours provided were wonderful -- informative. I was slightly disappointed with no hands on for the volunteer part -- I know my donations I brought went to worthy cause "for the good of the Cuban people". The housing was good -- liked being apart for the main school -- I gave a 9 only because my water wasn't very hot. I loved my room and got accustomed to walking 4 flights of steps!. The room was spacious, clean and losts of storage --bathroom clean and modern. Also, I was assisted in making arrangements after my time at the school. I can't say enough about that. I loved what was provided to me in Vinales (despite the minor housing mix-up) and Trinidad was lovely too. The activities arranged for me in Vinales was beyong my expectations. I was on my own in Trinidad but the casa particular there assisted me with arranging any activities I wanted. Oh, the meals provided at the school -- breakfast and lunch --plenty of food! Then, I don't want to forget all the other people working there -- sorry I am bad a names but so friendly and happy to socialize or answer any questions help me with currency exchange. Leonel the directory of course a big thanks for making my additional arrangements