Cuba Percussion Festival — Private Custom Music Tour
A private custom Cuba percussion and cultural itinerary inspired by Fiesta del Tambor.
October 16th–20th, 2025 — Past Tour Archive • Future Dates by Request
Private/custom availability: We can build a private itinerary around this festival or music focus when dates and availability allow. If you prefer an open-signup 2027 small-group departure, see our Havana Jazz Festival Tour, Havana Music & Cultural Tour, or Cuban Jazz & Rumba Tour.
Fiesta del Tambor, the drum party, is Cuba’s annual Percussion festival. This Cuba Percussion Festival features some of the greatest drummers, percussionists, and other musicians from all over Cuba and the world. This is the perfect mix for a music tour of Cuba. We will enjoy the best aspects of our other tours and the music festival.
Your tour includes entry into the scheduled tour events. Not only will we see all of the shows, but the tour will feature interactive drumming workshops and clinics. We will stay in a Casa Particular. We will also infuse other cultural day tours. We will be immersed in Cuban music and drumming the entire trip! If you are a drummer or musician, YOU HAVE TO GO! Not a musician? No worries, it will still be a blast! Lots of dancing, good music, and food.
In the past versions of Fiesta del Tambor, there have been artists and percussionists such as Ruy López-Nussa, Horacio Hernández, Dennis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Mark Guiliana, Ketama, Giraldo Piloto, Kilmax, Rodney Barreto, Oliver Valdés, Falete, Emilio Frías, Laura de Los Ángeles, Irene Rodríguez, José Montaña, Cantes de Ida, Piraña, Alain Pérez, Caramelo and many more!
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Sample Percussion Festival Experience
DAY 1: Introduction to Havana
- Arrival in Havana: Start your Cuba tour and get a first taste of Havana’s music on your way to your accommodation.
- Accommodation: Check into your private Casa Particular or villa.
- Havana Driving Tour: See the key sights like Plaza de la Revolución, El Morro, El Paseo del Prado, and more, familiarize yourself with the city.
- Dinner: Enjoy a unique meal during our welcoming dinner at Paladar Atelier.
- Fiesta Del Tambor: Attend the night’s concerts and experience the Cuba percussion festival.
DAY 2: Havana’s Highlights
- Breakfast: Start with a traditional breakfast in your private Casa Particular or villa.
- Old Havana Exploration/Walking Tour: Dive deeper into Old Havana’s rich history and music.
- Lunch: Head to Paladar La Vitrola for a midday meal.
- Percussion Festival Activities: Engage in the Fiesta del Tambor events, including workshops. Optional guide available.
- Evening: Continue with Fiesta del Tambor concerts or explore our recommended music venues.
DAY 3: Drums and Art
- Breakfast: Another round of Cuban breakfast at your private Casa Particular or villa.
- Afro-Cuban Cultura & Religion Experience: Private Afro-Cuban Religion Tour in Callejon de Hamel and the Cayo Hueso neighborhood in Centro Havana – Learn why religion in Cuba is important for Cuban music history.
- Drum Workshop: Participate in a hands-on session with Cuban drums.
- Lunch not included but recommended at Paladar El del Frente: Enjoy local Havana music and food on your own.
- Evening: Continue with Fiesta del Tambor concerts or explore our recommended music venues.
DAY 4: Wrapping Up in Havana
- Breakfast: Enjoy your breakfast at your private Casa Particular or villa.
- Free Time: Optionally explore Havana’s streets and music scene.
- Art, Food & Music Experience: Visit Fábrica de Arte Cubano and Cuba Farewell dinner at La Tierra Restaurant.
- Evening: Last Night of Fiesta del Tambor concerts.
DAY 5: Departure
- Breakfast: Have your last breakfast in Havana.
- Tour Conclusion: Your Cuba tour ends here. Optionally extend with the Matanzas-Varadero Add-On.
Join us to explore, learn, and experience Havana’s vibrant music scene and the renowned Cuban drum festival.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
What to look forward to during this Havana Music Tour?
- Festival access, tickets, and reservations when Fiesta del Tambor dates and availability allow.
- Bilingual musicians tour guide from Cuba and the U.S (a tour from musicians for music lovers).
- Real interactions with the Cuban people and professional musicians.
- Dance or music lessons.
- Authentic music and cultural experiences almost every day of your tour.
- Fresh breakfast and authentic Café Cubano each morning in your private Casa Particular or villa with our wonderful traveler friends.
- Private Afro-Cuban Religion Tour in Callejon de Hamel and the Cayo Hueso neighborhood in Centro Havana – Learn why religion in Cuba is important for Cuban music history.
- Taste of the best Paladares around Havana, Cuba (Private restaurants).
- Transportation to all schedule events.
- Free time to shop and explore.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Your tour includes the following:
- Accommodations: private Casa Particular or group villa
- Fiesta del Tambor Entry to All Itinerary Events
- Bilingual musician tour guides
- Drumming and General Music Clinics and Workshops
- Day tours of Havana (Old Havana walking, driving, etc.)
- Educational experiences
- Detailed Itinerary (Culture, Music, Art, Food, Education, Free time, Beach time, etc.)
- Breakfast everyday
- 2 dinners
- 1 lunch
- Interactions with professional musicians and Cuban artists.
- Private Afro-Cuban Religion Tour in Callejon de Hamel and the Cayo Hueso neighborhood in Centro Havana – Learn why religion in Cuba is important for Cuban music history.
- Entry and reservation into each scheduled event, museum, etc
- Airport transport from José Martí International Airport in Havana for our tour group.
- Private transportation to all scheduled events.
- Flight concierge (flights are not included, but we can help you book the best one).
- Restaurant reservations and recommendations.
- U.S. travel compliance: itinerary and documentation structured around the applicable OFAC authorization; qualifying cultural itineraries are commonly designed around Support for the Cuban People (31 CFR § 515.574).
Cuban eVisa: Cuba now uses an electronic visa linked to your passport. It should be obtained online in advance before departure. Visa procedures and fees can change, and Cuban-born travelers may have additional passport or entry requirements. We provide current instructions before travel; contact us if you were born in Cuba or have questions.
PRIVATE DATES & RESERVATIONS
Private dates by request
- Casa Particular (Group Villa/Hostal) – Contact us for current private/custom pricing.
- Private Premium Casa Particular (All Yours! – minimum of 2 travelers) – Contact us for current private/custom pricing.
Reservations and Payments:
Private tour pricing depends on your dates, group size, itinerary, and available independent accommodation. We confirm the options, private room and bathroom arrangements, and total price in a written proposal.
This percussion-festival itinerary may be arranged as a private custom tour. Contact us for current pricing, deposit details, and available dates.
The prices on our website are all in US Dollars and based on an ACH/Wire bank transfer from our 3rd party merchant or directly from your own bank. If you wish to use a credit or debit card, a 3.5% fee will be added. We do not accept cash or checks.
We have plenty of individuals, couples, groups, and families that travel with us, and everyone has a blast. If you have any special requests, please let us know. We will work with you to make sure you have the perfect space and feel comfortable during your stay.
If our dates do not work for you, keep in mind that we also do personalized tours with custom dates and group sizes. More info here.
VARADERO / MATANZAS - ADD ON
Email us for pricing
Inclusions:
- Private Roundtrip Transportation from Havana to Varadero/Matanzas.
- 1 Lunch
- Musician Tour Leader and Local Cuban Guides
- Unique musical and cultural experiences
- Day walking tours
- Workshop with Latin Grammy-winning rumba group Los Muñequitos de Matanzas
- Beach Experience, one of the beaches of the Caribbean
- Extra night of accommodations
- Airport transfer in Havana
Sample Itinerary:
(Matanzas – Day tour and Folkloric Music Experience)
- Fresh breakfast at your Casa (Eggs, Fruits, Juices, Coffee, Tea, Bread, Veggies, and Meats)
- Discovery tour of Historic Matanzas. Learn history, architecture, and culture with your local musician tour guide.
- Included Lunch
- A unique immersive experience with the Grammy Awarded Winner Rumba Group “Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.” This group is unique to Cuba, featuring rumba and Afro-Cuban-style percussion.
- Free time to relax or explore Varadero Beach.
- Optional evening music event.
October 21st: Airport departure
- Transportation to the Airport
We spent six days in Cuba on a private tour with Havana Music Tours. This is a great personalized tour, specializing in authentic, non-touristy music experiences. Chaz Chambers, the owner, did a great job of putting together our itinerary, informing us what to expect and providing a wealth of information to prepare us for our trip. Read More
My wife and I went on the Jazz Plaza 2024 tour. Really excellent. Chaz and Yami have put together a great team of Cuban guides and facilitators: Rocio, Ismelys… were all wonderful. They go out of their way to personalize the experience and provide any support that is needed. Jazz Plaza is an incredible experience, and Havana Music Tours did a great job curating the adventure. Read More
Absolutely fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime custom-built musical and cultural tour around Havana! Chaz and Yami took all of our requests and constraints into consideration while planning and customizing our tour, which included mouth-watering dining in paladares, musical experiences & concerts, and walking & driving city tours. Read More
First off, It’s very easy to recommend any tour with Chaz and Yami. Period. Honestly, I was a little skeptical about so many glowing TripAdvisor reviews. Here comes another glowing review, haha. I can say easily, without hyperbole, that the experience with Havana Music Tours was life-changing! The trip exceeded expectations. Read More
