Music & Travel Blog
Stories, travel guidance, and music scholarship from our team and collaborators in Cuba
Explore articles about Cuban music, culture, travel, and the people behind the traditions we encounter on our tours. Contributions draw on the experience of musicians, musicologists, guides, and collaborators in Cuba. When you are ready to experience the music in person, explore our 2027 small-group tours.
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Yami Cabrera2026-08-17 15:47:502026-08-17 15:47:50A Musical Route Across Cuba: How the Island’s Regions Shaped Its Sound
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Yami Cabrera2026-07-21 11:32:192026-07-21 11:32:19Cuban Music Quick Guide: Son Cubano, Rumba, Timba, Jazz and More
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Yami Cabrera2026-05-08 00:55:032026-09-26 20:48:45Havana Jazz Festival 2027: Why Jazz Plaza Is One of the Best Times to Visit Cuba
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chaz chambers2026-05-04 16:30:402026-09-27 22:53:35May 2026: Travel, Cultural Exchange, and Our Work in Cuba
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chaz chambers2026-03-04 12:19:162026-09-27 22:53:32March 2026: Our Work and Travel News in Cuba
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Yami Cabrera2026-02-12 23:27:012026-05-12 23:49:56The History of Jazz Plaza: A Celebration of Music, Culture, and Unity
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chaz chambers2026-02-02 11:02:112026-09-27 22:53:28February 2026: A Personal Update on Cuba and Our Work There
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Yami Cabrera2026-01-21 16:55:372026-09-25 19:53:14Havana Jazz Plaza Festival 2026 Program: What to Expect This January in Cuba
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Editorial Team2026-01-02 07:30:112026-09-29 15:59:17Cuba Travel Checklist (Reviewed September 2026)
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Yami Cabrera2025-12-11 18:59:222026-09-29 18:53:15Son Cubano Is UNESCO’s Newest Heritage: Why It’s the Soul of Cuban Music
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Daniela Materano2025-11-13 18:48:072026-09-29 18:52:58Jazz Plaza 2026: A Week of World-Class Jazz in Havana
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Yami Cabrera2025-09-29 10:46:352025-09-29 10:46:35Cuba’s New Sound: The Abreu Brothers Take the Stage
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Yami Cabrera2025-08-08 18:06:362025-08-08 18:26:34Best Time to Visit Havana for Music: A Musician’s Guide to Planning Your Trip
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Yami Cabrera2025-07-01 22:47:222026-09-29 15:42:57Cuba’s Tourism Ban for U.S. Travelers Explained: What It Really Means for Your Travel in 2025
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Yami Cabrera2025-06-14 19:11:532026-09-29 15:52:52Yes, U.S. Travelers Can Still Go to Cuba in 2025—Here’s What You Need to Know
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Yami Cabrera2025-05-06 08:07:282025-05-06 17:32:1910 Must-Know Cuban Salsa and Timba Bands That Keep the Island Dancing
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chaz chambers2025-04-19 11:24:472025-05-05 23:12:18A Snowy Morning, a Spinning Record, and the Rhythms That Took Me to Cuba
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chaz chambers2025-01-08 13:03:572026-09-25 20:29:30Havana Salsa Festival 2024: Travel Impressions
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Yami Cabrera2025-01-03 15:11:562025-01-06 14:32:59Essential Donations for Cuba: Supporting Cuban Families
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Yami Cabrera2025-01-03 11:24:002026-09-27 22:49:16Supporting Cuban Music: Donations for Music Students and Local Musicians
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Editorial Team2025-01-02 08:15:322026-09-26 21:06:07Top 5 Best Restaurants (Paladares) in Havana, Cuba
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Yami Cabrera2024-12-18 19:05:412026-09-26 20:51:38The 40th Havana Jazz Festival (2025): A Look Back
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chaz chambers2024-09-23 12:41:012024-09-23 12:41:01Hidden Music Venues of Santiago de Cuba
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Yami Cabrera2024-07-24 17:05:392026-09-25 20:31:41Varadero Josone Music Festival 2024: A Look Back
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Yami Cabrera2024-07-15 17:42:302024-07-15 17:43:04Award-Winning Cuba Tours: Havana Music Tours Earns 2024 Tripadvisor Honor
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Yami Cabrera2024-07-11 11:55:072024-07-11 13:09:20Cuba: Celebrated as the Caribbean’s Cultural Hub for 2024
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Yami Cabrera2024-06-10 08:30:532026-09-29 18:52:55Why the Havana Jazz Festival Should Be on Your Bucket List
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Yami Cabrera2024-04-30 15:42:012026-09-29 18:52:48Tracing the Threads: The Integral Role of Cuban Music in the History of Jazz
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Editorial Team2024-04-04 14:40:542026-09-26 21:06:215 Popular Music Festivals in Cuba: Havana, Varadero & More
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Yami Cabrera2024-02-13 19:20:432024-03-18 12:15:26Santiago de Cuba: A Musical Journey Through Time and Tradition
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Yami Cabrera2024-02-12 12:54:482026-09-26 12:24:58Discover the Havana Salsa Festival 2024: A Guide to Your Next Unforgettable Experience
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Yami Cabrera2024-01-20 13:38:052026-09-26 12:25:13The Sound of Cuba 2024: Unique Tours by Havana Music Tours
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Yami Cabrera2024-01-08 23:43:532026-09-25 19:53:27Havana Jazz Plaza 2024: A Global Celebration of Jazz in Cuba
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Yami Cabrera2023-12-18 13:05:392026-08-07 22:00:41Cuba: TripAdvisor Top Trending Travel Destination of 2023
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Editorial Team2023-11-30 16:12:362024-03-09 13:34:055 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Cuban Music
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Yami Cabrera2023-11-01 17:26:142026-09-29 18:51:17Private Music Tour of Cuba: A Custom Music & Culture Experience
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Yami Cabrera2023-10-23 15:32:592026-09-26 12:25:57Cuba’s Vinyl Vibes: Havana Music Tour feat. Havana RPM 2024
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Yami Cabrera2023-10-20 10:25:152026-09-26 12:26:07Celebrating Cuban Culture Day with a New Santiago de Cuba Music Tour 2024
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Yami Cabrera2023-08-23 16:20:552026-09-26 21:06:53Cuban Jazz and Rumba Tour: A Musical Expedition to Cuba featuring Jazz Emprende 2023
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Editorial Team2023-07-20 18:30:232026-09-25 20:37:49Varadero Josone Music Festival 2023: Rumba, Jazz, Son & Festival Background
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Editorial Team2023-07-19 05:03:212026-09-29 14:29:41Cuba Travel Licenses for Americans: Current Authorized Categories
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Editorial Team2023-06-23 07:46:402026-09-30 10:11:05Legal Travel to Cuba for Americans: Current OFAC Rules (Reviewed September 2026)
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Yami Cabrera2023-05-02 12:33:332026-09-25 20:08:49Jazz Up Your Travel Plans: The Ultimate Guide to the Havana Jazz Festival
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Editorial Team2023-05-02 12:00:502026-09-29 14:30:59U.S. Travel Regulations for Cuba (Reviewed September 2026)
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Editorial Team2023-01-01 12:21:202026-09-25 20:07:18Chronicles of New Year’s Celebrations in Cuba
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Editorial Team2022-12-05 13:14:202026-08-08 00:59:58What to expect from the Havana Jazz Plaza Festival 2023
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Editorial Team2022-11-18 19:12:042026-09-25 20:07:14Cuban Music Celebration: Cuban Musicians at the 23rd Latin Grammy Awards
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Editorial Team2022-11-18 10:13:452026-09-29 14:46:10How to Travel to Cuba from the U.S. (Reviewed September 2026)
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Editorial Team2022-11-14 12:16:442022-12-05 13:24:42Back to Mambo with Toques del RÃo
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Editorial Team2022-10-18 19:36:372026-09-25 20:07:10The Chan Chan Route: Traditional Cuban Music from Alto Cedro to the World
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Yami Cabrera2022-03-28 11:50:242022-11-28 10:07:45Cuban Women in Music: Spotify Playlist Tribute to Women Artists – Part 2
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Yami Cabrera2022-03-10 21:28:472022-11-28 10:08:01Cuban Women in Music: Spotify Playlist Tribute to Women Artists – Part 1
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Editorial Team2022-02-22 16:09:402026-09-25 20:06:49What Is Cuban Dance Like? A Guide to Cuba’s Dance Traditions
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Editorial Team2021-11-14 10:55:442026-09-26 21:06:37Archive: Cuba Travel Updates — January 2022
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Editorial Team2021-11-08 09:37:502022-11-28 09:39:36Cuba’s International Salsa Festival in Havana – February 2023
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Editorial Team2021-07-01 08:42:032022-04-03 10:44:52The Modern Buena Vista Social Club (Part 3)
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Editorial Team2021-03-29 11:43:202024-03-15 18:40:04The 10 Most Influential Female Musicians in Cuban Music for 2020
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Editorial Team2021-03-13 21:42:172026-09-26 21:06:44Rumba: An Essential Style of Cuban Music
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Editorial Team2020-11-19 10:22:302022-11-28 03:21:20The Tonadas Trinitarias: The Folkloric Music of Trinidad, Cuba
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Editorial Team2020-09-28 11:32:562026-09-25 20:06:42An Approach to the Transverse Flute in Cuban Music