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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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…
By Chaz Chambers, Founder of Havana Music Tours It’s a snowy spring morning in Colorado—the kind that makes you pause, sip your coffee a little slower, and let the moment unfold. My six-month-old son is hanging out with me in…
Looking Back, Looking Ahead at the Havana Salsa Festival Historical festival reflection — reviewed September 2026: This article looks back at the 2024 Havana Salsa Festival. We can build a private custom itinerary around a future festival edition when dates…
Donation guidance reviewed October 1, 2026. Ask the receiving organization for its current needs before packing; the Hurricane Oscar account below describes work in 2024. Cuba is a nation rich in culture, community, and resilience. However, many families face daily…
Cuba is a country where music flows through every street, home, and heart. Its vibrant rhythms, from son and salsa to classical and jazz, have earned global admiration. However, behind this rich cultural tapestry lies a reality where many musicians…