The Drummer’s Cuba & Music Tour – Fiesta del Tambor 2024
Annual Cuban Drum Festival in Havana, Cuba Music Tour Featuring Fiesta del Tambor (Cuban Drum Party!)
2024 TBA (Save your spots now!)
Fiesta del Tambor, the drum party, is Cuba’s annual Percussion festival. This Cuban Drum 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 (Villa or Hostal) and have a fresh Cuban breakfast each day. 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!
Why should you travel with us?
If your goal is to enjoy a smooth, authentic, and musical travel experience to Cuba without missing any important bucket list detail we think our Cuban Drum Festival Tour is your best option. More than the amazing accommodations and exceptional cultural experiences, we really believe that our most valuable thing is our people. We are very proud of our talented team of musicians (unique within the Cuba Travel industry) from Cuba and the United States, excellent professionals who graduated from prestigious music schools like Universidad de Las Artes de Cuba.
Our wonderful musician-only team will make sure that you are part of a very special Cuba Tour, without any awkward moments or unfulfilled expectations. We make it possible and easy for you to explore Cuba and its culture through the local community.
But, don’t take our word for it… We are grateful for the beautiful and motivating testimonials that our previous clients have shared with us through our Tripadvisor profile, like the following:
Also, we are a U.S.-based tour agency, and this tour fulfills all of the legal OFAC travel rules for United States Travelers. You will be given a legal travel affidavit and a full-time itinerary to confirm your tour is permitted under the OFAC guidelines. For more info about Cuba and your trip preparation, check out our Cuba Travel Checklist.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
What to look forward to during this Havana Music Tour?
VIP access/tickets and reservations to music events during Havana Salsa Festival 2023.
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 a luxurious villa with our wonderful traveler friends.
Taste of the best Paladares around Havana, Cuba (Private restaurants).
Transportation from 11 am to 11 pm (which includes most evening music).
Free time to shop and explore.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Your tour includes the following:
- Accommodations: Casa Particular, Villa, or Hotel
- 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 (Dinner each night except one on your own)
- 1 lunch
- Interactions with professional musicians and Cuban artists.
- 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.
- O.F.A.C. General License. (U.S. Citizens)
Cuban Visas are to be purchased at your last airport before departing for Cuba. They are typically around $50-100. If you were born in Cuba, please contact us as you may have different Cuban visa requirements.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
DAY 1:
-Early morning arrival in Havana, including transportation to your Casa/Villa.
-Driving a tour of Havana with your local tour guide.
-Check-in to Casa/Villa.
-Welcome dinner in one of the best paladares in Havana, such as Atelier, El del Frente, or La Guarida.
-Best music of the Fiesta del Tambor festival.
DAY 2:
-Breakfast
-Havana Day Tour (Old Havana walking tour, car tour, etc.)
-Lunch
-Participation in the daily activities of the Drum Festival (Master Classes, Musical Workshops, Percussion Contest, etc.) *Optional with guide included
-Dinner (not included, but we can make good restaurant recommendations and help you coordinate a reservation at the desired time)
-Best music of the Fiesta del Tambor festival.
DAY 3:
-Breakfast
-Dance or music lesson (any genre or instrument, including arrangements and composition of Cuban music)
-Lunch (not included, but we can make good restaurant recommendations and help you make a reservation at the desired time)
-Participation in the daily activities of the Drum Festival (Master Classes, Musical Clinics, Percussion Contest, etc.) *Optional with guide included
-Art and Food Experience at Fábrica de Arte Cubano, including dinner at La Tierra Restaurant, an art gallery tour, and live music at Havana’s coolest music and art space; Fábrica de Arte is a multi-level complex with various music exhibits and art exhibits. VIP entrance and dinner included, drinks not included.
DAY 4:
-Breakfast
-Transportation to the airport or to Matanzas for guests joining us on our Matanzas-Varadero Add-On.
VARADERO / MATANZAS - ADD ON
March 5th-8th, 2023
Group Villas/Casas – All guests will have a Private Room and Bathroom
Hotel option available
Inclusions:
- Private Roundtrip Transportation from Havana to Varadero/Matanzas.
- Transportation (as needed to each included event. At times we may just walk a few blocks to dinners, music, etc.)
- Accommodations in your Casa Particular (Private guest house) or Hotel
- 3 Breakfasts (Each morning)
- 1 Dinner
- 2 Lunches
- Musician Tour Leader and Local Cuban Guides
- Unique musical and cultural experiences
- Day walking tours
- Workshop with Latin grammy award winning rumba group Los Muñequitos de Matanzas
Highlights:
- Music, art, and cultural tours
- Beach Experience, one of the beaches of the Caribbean
- Dinner reservations at prime restaurants
- Tour guides and workshops
- The best music events during tour dates
- Unique musical experiences unlike any other tour
- Included transportation
- Detailed itinerary of events
Sample Itinerary:
Day 1 (Havana —> Varadero)
- Early morning breakfast, then check out from your Casa or Hotel in Havana
- Private transfer with your tour leader to Varadero, Matanzas (Apr 2-3 Hours)
- Included Lunch
- Check-in to Casa Particular in Varadero
- Welcoming dinner (included)
- Late-night music in Varadero, Matanzas, Cuba (Folklorica, Son, Salsa, and more)
Day 2 (Matanzas – Day tour and Folkloric Music Experience)
- Fresh breakfast at your Casa (Eggs, Fruits, Juices, Coffee, Tea, Bread, Veggies, and Meats)
- Walking tour of Historic Matanzas. Learn about history, architecture, and culture.
- Included Lunch
- A unique immersive experience with the Grammy Awarded Winner Rumba Group “Los Muñequitos de Matanzas”. See why this group is so unique to Cuba, featuring rumba and Afro-Cuban style percussion.
- Free time to relax or explore on your own before dinner.
- Dinner on your own. (We can help you make reservations)
- Optional evening music event.
Day 3 (Varadero – Optional morning experiences, return to Havana)
- Fresh breakfast at your Casa (Eggs, Fruits, Juices, Coffee, Tea, Bread, Veggies, and Meats)
- Optional experiences: Beach Time, massages, and more
- Afternoon Transportation back to Havana
- Lunch included
- Evening on your own in Havana
Day 4 (Havana – Airport Transfers)
- Fresh breakfast at your Casa (Eggs, Fruits, Juices, Coffee, Tea, Bread, Veggies, and Meats)
- Included Airport Transfer
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