Cuban Jazz and Rumba Tour
A Cuba Tour for the music fans of Latin-Jazz, Afro-Cuban Rumba, Jazz Fusions, and more
Interactive and unique experiences with real Rumberos!
The Cuban Jazz and Rumba Tour is the perfect Cuban music tour combination of Latin Jazz and Afro-Cuban Rumba music. We will take you on a journey of the history of Cuban music with our team of musician tour guides and Cuban musicologists. We will discover historic styles of music as well as modern fusion and the relation between Jazz and Rumba. This is the perfect tour for the jazz and Cuban music lover. We max this tour out at only 8 people! So, this is a super small group, which gives a few VIP options and more privacy privileges.
Each night will be packed with live music centered around Jazz and Rumba. We will go to famous Jazz clubs like La Zorra y El Cuervo, Jazz Café, and Fabrica de Arte Cubano. These clubs are home to some of the best music groups in all of Havana.
We will enjoy the best private restaurants (Paladares) in Havana. Famous and award-winning places like La Guarida, El Del Frente, Atelier, Cafe Laurent, and more. The perfect mix of classic Cuban cuisine and international culinary fusion.
We will visit a small private studio in Old Havana dor a unique private studio performance by a Latin-Jazz group. We will listen closely with headphones and precise instrumental clarity. Just like those Snarky Puppy videos!
This tour includes a day trip to Matanzas and Varadero. In Matanzas, we will have a unique immersive workshop experience with one of Cuba’s most famous Afro-Cuban Rumba groups, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. We will get to learn about their history and even watch them rehearse!
We will attend at least one “Tambor” during your visit. This is the historic cultural gathering for Afro-Cuban religious music. We will explore how “Rumba” and “Palo” are also historically related to Afro-Cuban religions like Santeria.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Your tour includes the following:
- Accommodations: Casa Particular (Luxury Villa, Private BnB)
- Bilingual musician tour guides and musicologists
- Support for the Cuban people interactions and itinerary content
- Interactive and immersive workshop with popular Rumberos like Los Muñequitos de Matanzas
- Live studio performance of some of Cubas’s best Jazz artists.
- Detailed Itinerary
- Breakfast everyday
- Dinner every night except for one night at your leisure
- 3 Lunches
- Entry and reservation into each scheduled event, concert, workshop, clinic, or museum
- Salsa Dance lesson or Music Instrument lesson (your choice!)
- Airport transport to and from José Martí international airport
- Transportation to all scheduled events.
- Flight concierge (flights are not included, but we help you book the best one).
- Restaurant reservations and recommendations.
- O.F.A.C. General Travel License. (U.S. Citizens)
Cuban Visas are to be purchased at your last airport before departing to 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
- Afternoon arrival in Havana and included transportation to your Hotel.
- Check in to Hotel
- Group meeting and tour orientation
- Cuban Music and History Introduction
- Welcoming Dinner at the famous Atelier (Private Paladar)
- Jazz Set @ Jazz Café
- Late-night jazz fusion with Interactivo @ Cafe Teatro Bertolt Brecht
Day 2
- Enjoy a wonderful breakfast at your hotel
- Walking Tour of Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
- Visit local craft shops, art stores, talk with locals, learn about Cuban culture
- Lunch at La Vitrola
- Back to the hotel to rest before dinner
- Group dinner at the famous El Del Frente in Old Havana
- Late-night Jazz at Havana’s most famous Jazz Club, “La Zorra y El Cuervo”
Day 3
- Enjoy a wonderful breakfast at your hotel
- Afternoon studio Latin-Jazz Session at a local music studio in Old Havana. (Snarky Puppy Style)
- Dance or music lessons with local musicians and dancers
- Free afternoon to explore Havana Vieja on your own or go to hotel
- Group Dinner at La Tierra inside Fabrica de Arte Cubano
- VIP Entry and tour of the famous Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC)
- Late night music and art at FAC (A lot of times there is a Jazz Jam on Friday nights)
Day 4
- Enjoy a wonderful breakfast at your hotel
- Early transportation to Matanzas
- Immersive Afro-Cuban Rumba experience and rehearsal with the famous Los Muñequitos de Matanzas
- Afternoon lunch in Matanzas
- Quick beach visit and craft beer in Varadero (One of TripAdvisor’s highest rated Cuban beaches)
- Dinner on your own
- Optional late night music on your own
Day 5
- Enjoy a wonderful breakfast at your hotel
- Afternoon “Tambor” (Afro-Cuban Rumba) Experience at Callejon de Hamel
- Percussion workshop with professional Rumberos
- Afternoon free to shop, explore, or add additional experiences
- Final group dinner at Cafe Laurent
- Optional late night music event
Day 6
- Enjoy a wonderful breakfast at your hotel
- Transportation to Airport
*Flights arriving on Day 1 of the itinerary must arrive between 12pm-2:30pm EST to have included transportation. All flights arriving must come into Havana and depart from Havana. If you book a departing flight from another city and/or stay extra days the transportation will not be included. Please contact us if you would like to add extra nights. We would love to help plan your entire trip.
*All breakfasts are included. Other meals are on a per-day basis. We will include two lunches and four dinners. One night you will have the freedom to have dinner on your own.
*All music entry and reservation are also included.
*This is just a sample itinerary, you will receive a detailed itinerary with confirmed events closer to your trip departure. Some events and restaurants are subject to change based on reservation availabilities. We also may exchange music venues and dates if better music performances become available.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Musician tour guides and musicologists on your tour
- An interactive and immersive experience with Los Muñequitos de Matanzas
- Taste of the best Paladares around Havana, Cuba (Private restaurants)
- Live studio experience with the best Cuban Jazz musicians
- Live music every night
- Included dance or music lessons
- Real interactions with the Cuban people and professional musicians.
- Time off to shop, go to the beach, and explore.
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT
PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINATION
For the protection of other participants and residents of the destinations we travel to, each group tour participant must present us with proof of vaccination against Covid-19. You will upload this to our intake form at least 14 days before your tour departure date.
Our top priority is safety. Making sure everyone is fully vaccinated will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep our small group tours safe and filled with stress-free fun!
Acceptable vaccines based on information from the World Health Organization
Moderna (mRNA-1273)
Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2)
Janssen (Johnson & Johnson – Ad26.COV2.S)
Oxford/AstraZeneca (AZD1222)
Serum Institute of India Covishield (Oxford/AstraZeneca formulation)
Bharat Biotech (Covaxin)
Sinopharm (Beijing BBIBP-CoV – Vero Cells)
Sinovac – CoronaVac
EXCEPTIONS FOR PRIVATE TOURS:
If you aren’t vaccinated, we are able to create a private tour with your own group. We will need everyone to sign an additional waiver accepting the risks. We will also need a PCR test from each guest within 72 hours before departing for Cuba. Please contact us if you have any questions.
SIGN UP NOW
[wpforms id=”1505″ title=”false” description=”false”]
