In April 2025, the annual spectacular dance festival Ritmo Cuba will be held in one of the most fascinating destinations in the world, the Cuban capital, Havana!
For anyone who loves to dance to Latin rhythms or wants to learn to dance, this is the place for salsa, bachata, rhumba, kizomba, semba, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and a lot more – a place to experience pure joy!
I have traveled regularly to Cuba for five-plus years, and one of the reasons I love traveling to Cuba is the music and the dance.
If there is an ounce in you who feels energized by this event, this is for you!
This article contains affiliate links. That means that if you like my recommendations and use the links to make your bookings, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you!
Once A Year Ritmo Cuba Festival Shakes Havana To Life
21-27 of April 2025, 7 days of dance classes, workshops, social dancing, tours, and a lot more are happening in Havana, Cuba.
If that is an idea that makes your heart jump – now is the time to start doing your research and planning.
To get your energy flowing, let us start out by checking out this YouTube video from a few years back (it is just a few minutes long) if you want to get a feel for what the vibe is like this one week per year in Havana!
One Of The Most Vibrant International Dance Festivals
I have danced at dance schools and social dancing venues in Havana since my first visit in 2019, and I can testify that when it comes to Love for Dance and Rhythms, there is no place quite like Havana, Cuba.
And Ritmo Cuba is one of the world’s most vibrant, fierce international dance festivals out there, in an iconic destination!
Here are the details for Ritmo Cuba 2025 that you need to note down immediately:
- Place: Havana, Cuba
- Dates: 21-27 April 2025
- What: Dance classes, workshops, social events, tours and excursions
- Important information:
- You need to buy a Cuban tourist card (tourist visa) before you travel to Cuba
- NB: US citizens traveling to Cuba need to comply with the Cuba Restriction List and travel under the pre-approved reasons for Cuba travel. More about this below.
You can read more about how to travel to Cuba from the US here.
Ritmo Cuba Program 2025
The program is still in the making, but you can check out the Ritmo Cuba web page, where updates will come on the program for the entire week, little by little, as everything comes into place.
The preliminary program looks like this:
- 09 – 13: Dance classes
- 14-17: Dance tours
- 21 – 01: Parties and shows
📍 Follow Ritmo Cuba on Instagram
Planning Your Cuba Trip
Here are the most important things you need to start preparing if you want to be a part of this adventure!
- Get your Cuban tourist card, you can get at Easy Tourist Card online provider, at the Cuban Embassy in your country, or from selected airlines and airports
- Check if you need any vaccines before traveling to Cuba
- You are required to have travel insurance for visiting Cuba that includes health insurance
- If you are a US citizen, make sure you comply with the rules and regulations, in short, these are the main points:
- Travel under the rule: “Support of the Cuban people.”
- US citizens need the PINK tourist card (not the green one or the e-visa)
- You can not stay in government-owned hotels. Most casa particulares are privately owned, and there are thousands of them.
- You can not shop in governmentally owned stores. There are more and more privately owned establishments in Cuba, so this is not a problem.
- US credit cards are not accepted in Cuba due to the ongoing sanctions. Book selected stays, tours, and activities online beforehand, and bring cash for your stay. US dollars and euros are still widely accepted (and preferred).
- Not all travel apps offer Cuba travel. You can find and book your stay on Expedia or Airbnb, where you can find plenty of casa particulares for rent.
- Most tour operators are unable to operate in Cuba. The UK-based tour company Civititis is not, and I have great experiences with their tours. They employ locals as guides and drivers and help you “support the Cuban people.”
Click here to read more about traveling to Cuba.
Traveling Solo To Ritmo Cuba
If you are wondering whether traveling to Ritmo Cuba solo is a good idea, let me put your mind at ease.
After traveling regularly to Cuba for five-plus years solo, as a woman, I can confidently say that you will not just be fine; you will most likely thrive if you travel to Ritmo Cuba on your own.
You will probably not be alone a lot of the time, though, unless you choose to!
So, unless you prefer to stay in solitude after classes and workshops, you will not have any problems making dancing friends that you can hang with at social dancing, shows, and whatever happens after the daytime program is over.
Also, Cuba is a very safe destination, including for solo female travelers. There is a bit of machismo in Cuba, though, and what you will notice is that you will get a lot of attention on the streets (and that can get a bit much, to be honest).
You can read more about solo female travel safety in Cuba here if you are interested.
Epic Nomad Life has more than 70 articles about Cuba travel!
Whatever information you need about Cuba, you will likely find it in my Cuba hub, which I have created over more than 5 years, which you can enter by clicking here:
Epic Nomad Life Cuba Content Hub
And if what you need to know is NOT there for some reason, send me an email with your question, and I will make sure you have it answered!
Travel Resources You Will Need
When I travel to Cuba, I always get my e-visa through Easy Tourist Card, a safe and reliable online visa provider.
Air Canada has a tourist visa included in their ticket. You can also buy a tourist card for Cuba at selected airports, like Miami International, from American Airlines or Delta Airlines.
Not all online accommodation providers serve Cuba travel. Two that do are Expedia and Airbnb. Here, you will find plenty of amazing casa particulares and homestays for rent, which support the Cuban people directly.
For amazing day trips in Cuba, check out Civitatis, one of the world’s biggest tour operators in Spanish-speaking countries, including Cuba, with tours to more than 4000 destinations!
It is also smart to download a VPN before you travel to Cuba. The best one out of those I have tested is ExpressVPN, which I used to get online in Havana for two years.
And to find amazing casa particulares in Havana, of course, I have a list of the best casas for you.
I generally find the best flight deals on Skyscanner, so I recommend you go there and search for the best option for you.
FAQ Ritmo Cuba Dance Festival
What Is The International Dance Festival Ritmo Cuba?
The Ritmo Cuba Festival is an annual dance festival where some of the world’s most passionate dancers, students, teachers, and choreographers (and you!) meet to celebrate the soul of dance in the iconic city of Havana, Cuba.
It’s a fiery, rhythm-filled week-long fiesta where salsa’s heart beats loudest (but you can also dance bachata, rhumba, cha cha cha, kizomba, semba…you name it).
If you go there, bring your most comfortable dancing shoes and prepare for a whirlwind of a dancing week.
What Is The Most Popular Dance In Cuba?
Cuba is super famous for its Cuban salsa; the salsa casino. However, among local Cubans, dancing reggaeton is actually more popular, especially in the nightclub scene.
That said, (almost) all Cubans are better than almost any American or European in salsa dancing, and bachata is also very common on the social dance scene.
What Is Cuban Salsa Called In Cuba?
The Cuban salsa is called Salsa Casino.
What is particular in the Cuban form of dancing the salsa, is the rhythm that follows the son clave (which is a slight “delay” in the movement), and that they dance in circles rather than on a straight line.
What Is The Native Dance Of Cuba?
Danzón is the name of the official musical genre and dance of Cuba. It evolved from the Cuban contradanza (which is also known as the Habanera).
Wrap-Up: Are You Ready For Ritmo Cuba?
I hope you feel inspired to start planning and booking your Havana dance adventure for next year! Time flies, and you need to plan and prep a few things so watch your procrastination on this one..!
It is time to start planning if you want to be a part of it! 💃👯♂️💃👯♂️
This looks like an incredible solo experience, especially if you get involved with the dance classes.
How fun is this?! I love immersing myself in the local culture when I travel, and this looks like an amazing way to get to know Cuba better!