Small-group & private Cuba music tours
Experience Cuba through its music
Meet Cuban musicians, hear live jazz and rumba, and spend time with the artists and local hosts who make each tour possible.
Travelers’ Choice.
Four years running.
2027 small-group tours · Our 10th anniversary
Find your Cuba music tour
Maximum 10 guests. Three different ways into Cuba’s musical life. You don’t need to be a musician to join us.
Jazz Plaza · 7 days
Havana Jazz Festival
January 26–February 1, 2027
A week at Jazz Plaza, with festival performances, studio visits and a day in Matanzas.
$3,950 per person
7 days / 6 nights · Double occupancy
$650 single supplement
Havana culture · 5 days
Havana Music & Cultural Tour
January–June 2027 departures
For a first or deeper introduction to Havana: live music, neighborhood walks, art and Cuban food.
$2,985 per person
5 days / 4 nights · Double occupancy
$450 single supplement
Jazz & rumba · 6 days
Cuban Jazz & Rumba
April 28–May 3, 2027
For listeners drawn to jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythm: Havana, a studio session and rumba in Matanzas, timed around International Jazz Day.
$3,485 per person
6 days / 5 nights · Double occupancy
$550 single supplement
Musical knowledge.
Local connections.
Our team in Cuba brings together musicians, educators and local hosts who connect what you hear with the people and traditions behind it and help you feel at home along the way. HMT was founded by drummer Chaz Chambers and Cuban musicologist Yami Cabrera; our team brings that musical point of view to every tour.
Private & custom Cuba travel
Private Cuba tours for your group
Bring your family, friends, students, organization, or ensemble. We will shape the dates, pace, accommodations, music, and cultural experiences around the way your group actually wants to travel.
Tell us about your group’s interests and needs. Our team in Cuba will plan a practical itinerary with you and introduce you to the right local hosts.
What travelers remember
From first-time visitors to returning music lovers, guests describe the people, performances and personal connections that stayed with them. Selected excerpts below are followed by summaries of their Tripadvisor reviews.
Music and dance in Havana
Nine days of music and dance
“Our local guide, Ismelys, was exceptional. She was very knowledgeable about the music, dance and food scene in Havana.”
Review summary: Claudia and her adult daughter spent nine days in Havana with Ismelys and driver Alberto. Their itinerary included live Ernán López-Nussa and Los Van Van performances, private dance lessons in several Cuban styles, walking tours and a visit to Matanzas. She praised Ismelys’ knowledge of music, dance and dining, and Alberto’s flexible, resourceful transport during a fuel shortage.
Claudia C · April 2026Read the full review on Tripadvisor ↗
Jazz Plaza · 2026
Care when plans unexpectedly changed
“I cannot stress enough how much care this company took to make sure we were safe and having a great time.”
Review summary: On a family visit for Jazz Plaza, pre-trip guidance helped them prepare for Cuba’s practical complexities. When winter storms prevented Chaz from joining, Ismelys led the tour smoothly. The reviewer describes well-coordinated meals, venues and transportation, plus prompt relocation when seawall flooding affected their accommodations on the final morning.
rufoid · February 2026Read the full review on Tripadvisor ↗
Music education in Cuba
Young musicians learning together
“The artists we worked with weren’t just immensely talented—they were generous, warm, and deeply inspiring to our students.”
Review summary: JP traveled as a musician and educator with young student musicians and their families. Private lessons, concerts, dinners and jam sessions put students in contact with working Cuban artists. In Matanzas, the group collaborated with percussionists from Los Muñequitos and performed with a local student jazz ensemble. JP emphasizes the musicians’ generosity and the educational value of the exchange.
JP B · August 2025Read the full review on Tripadvisor ↗
Photographs are from the HMT archive and illustrate the experiences; they are not presented as photos of these reviewers.
Travel with purpose
Supporting Cuban artists and communities
Havana Music Tours contributes 5% of tour revenue to The CreatiVrole Project, our separate nonprofit supporting Cuban artists, musicians, and communities with practical resources and direct assistance. This is our contribution; no separate traveler donation is required.
Plan with confidence
Before you travel
The Complete Cuba Travel Checklist
Practical preparation, reviewed September 2026.
Cuba Travel Licenses for Americans
Our scheduled programs are designed around Support for the Cuban People: a full-time schedule of qualifying activities, meaningful interaction, and support for independent Cuban activity. Read the requirements and traveler responsibilities.
The Cuba Music & Travel Journal
Stories, context, and listening guides from our team.
Begin the conversation
Let’s plan your Cuba trip
Choose a small-group departure or tell us what you want to create. We will help you find the right starting point.