Stories about Cuban music, culture, travel and the people behind the traditions. Browse artist profiles, listening guides, historical reporting and practical trip-planning advice from the Havana Music Tours archive.
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Dear Music Traveler Friends, Historical context — reviewed September 2026: This post reflects conditions and commentary at the time it was written. Travel rules, schedules, and conditions can change. For current planning, see our current U.S.–Cuba travel guide and September…
Past festival archive — reviewed September 2026: This article covers an earlier edition of Jazz Plaza. For current information, see our Havana Jazz Festival 2027 guide and 2027 Havana Jazz Festival Tour. The official program for the 41st Havana Jazz…
Cuba Travel Checklist (Reviewed September 2026) What To Bring And How To Prepare For Your Cuba Trip Passport & Cuban eVisa The first thing you need to add to your Cuba Travel Checklist is your passport. Current U.S. State Department…
UNESCO has officially inscribed the practice of Cuban Son on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. For Cuba, this recognition affirms a truth musicians, families, and communities have carried for generations: Son Cubano is not merely…
Past festival archive — reviewed September 2026: This article covers an earlier edition of Jazz Plaza. For current information, see our Havana Jazz Festival 2027 guide and 2027 Havana Jazz Festival Tour. Every January, Havana becomes the heart of Latin…
ABC News recently profiled Fabio and Diego Abreu, two teenage musicians from Havana who are already reshaping the landscape of Cuban jazz. For me, their recognition on an international platform is both exciting and deeply personal. As a colleague of…
Havana is a city where every corner carries a melody. From traditional son and rumba to modern jazz, salsa, and timba, music flows through plazas, clubs, and living rooms. If you are deciding the best time to visit Havana for…
Historical update — reviewed September 2026: This article explains the July 2025 policy announcement in its original context. For current requirements, see our current U.S.–Cuba travel rules guide and September 2026 Cuba travel checklist. However, U.S.-Cuba policies are evolving, and…
Historical update — reviewed September 2026: This article documents the June 2025 policy discussion. For current travel requirements, see our current U.S.–Cuba travel rules guide and September 2026 Cuba travel checklist. However, U.S.-Cuba policies are evolving, and new announcements continue…
Cuba doesn’t just play music — it breathes it. Especially when it comes to salsa and timba, the pulse of the island is in the basslines, the brass, and the call-and-response between singer and crowd. Whether you’re deep into the…