Varadero Josone Music Festival and Cultural Cuba Tour
“Rumba, Jazz, Son”
Havana, Matanazas, Varadero
7 days & 6 nights
Varadero Josone Music Festival: “Rumba, Jazz, Son” is a newer festival near the best beach in Cuba at Josone Park in Varadero, Cuba. This music festival features some of the greatest and most famous Cuban performers, previously including artists such as Alexander Abreu y Havana D’ Primera, Isaac Delgado y su Orchesta, Alain Pérez y La Orchestra, Formell y Los Van Van, Yoruba Andabo, Eme Alfonso, and many more!
Our tour starts in Havana exploring the music scene, culture, food, and experience. Originally prepared Cuban breakfasts each day and famous private restaurants (called Paladares) in the evenings. We will eat at fine restaurants like El Del Frente, Atelier, and Café Laurent. After a couple of days in Havana, we will make our way only a couple of hours east to the stunning beach town of Varadero, Cuba.
“Varadero Josone Music Festival. Rumba, Jazz, Son” is the international music event that Cuba deserves. The undisputed quality of jazz, made in Cuba, determines that the Island is one of the strongest places for both interpreters and audiences for the genre. The son, the rumba, the salsa, the timba, and the Cuban music in general, are part of the imagination about Cubanness.
“Varadero Josone Music Festival. Rumba, Jazz & Son” invites you to enjoy the sound of the Greater Antilles plagued with fusions and musical mixtures from all corners of the world, in an ideal location for the expansion of the sounds that vertebrate Cuban music.”
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- Accommodations: Casa Particular – Group Luxury Villa, or Private Luxury Casa (Bed and Breakfast style)
- VIP Entry into Varadero Josone Music Festival 2022
- Bilingual musician tour guide from the U.S.
- Support of the Cuban people
- Detailed Itinerary (Culture, Music, Art, Food, Education, Free time, Beach time, etc)
- Breakfast everyday
- 5 dinners (one on your own) – The finest paladares in Cuba! (El Del Frente, Atelier, Cafe Laurent, and more)
- 3 lunches
- Interactions with professional musicians and Cuban artists.
- Walking tour of Old Havana
- Vintage car tour of Havana
- Entry to live music events in Havana
- Rumba experience in Matanzas
- Airport transport to and from Havana Airport. *For Canadians and others, You can potentially book a flight directly from Varadero. Contact us and we can help you make the best arrangements.
- 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 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.
THE FOOD
We give you more than a tour of the music and culture of Cuba… we also include some of the best restaurants all over the island. The private restaurants are called Paladares. We feature famous restaurants such as La Guarida, El Del Frente, Cafe Laurent, Atelier, La Tierra, and many more!
SAMPLE ITINERARY
DAY 1 (HAVANA)
- Airport arrival in Havana
- Lunch or Brunch (Orientation during lunch)
- Check in to Casa/Villa/Hotel
- Relax or explore near your Casa with your guide
- Welcoming Dinner at one of the best Paladars in Havana
- Sunset, introduction to a ritual, cultural discussion
- The best late-night music event in the city(Places like FAC: Fabrica de Arte Cubano, La Zorra y El Cuervo, Jazz Cafe and more)
DAY 2 (HAVANA)
- Breakfast with the group at the casa/villa or hotel
- Vintage car tour of Havana
- Walking tour of Old Havana (History, Art, and more)
- Free time to visit craft shops, art stores, etc.
- Back to the casa or hotel to rest before dinner and music
- Group dinner at another fine Paladar in Havana
- The best late-night music event in the city(Places like FAC: Fabrica de Arte Cubano, La Zorra y El Cuervo, Jazz Cafe and more)
DAY 3 (TRAVEL TO VARADERO)
- Breakfast with the group at the casa/villa or hotel
- Early travel to Varadero, Cuba (Private car or Van)
- Lunch included
- Musicology workshop about Cuban music and history.
- Dinner with the group.
- The first night of the Josone Music Festival – Transportation is included from Dinner to the Festival, but you will need a taxi home. Everything is very close to the hotels and there are always official taxis outside the festival waiting.
DAY 4 (VARADERO, MATANZAS)
- Breakfast with the group at the casa/villa or hotel
- Day trip to Matanzas
- Authentic Rumba experience
- Lunch in Matanzas at a famous Paladar
- Return to Hotel or Casa/Villa
- Dinner with the group
- The second night of the Josone Music Festival – (Transportation is included from Dinner to the Festival. You will need a taxi home. Everything is very close to the hotels and there are always official taxis outside the festival waiting. We will help with everything, as you need.)
DAY 5 (VARADERO – FREE DAY)
- Breakfast with the group at the casa/villa or hotel
- Free time to explore Varadero or relax
- Dinner on your own
- The third night of the Josone Music Festival – Transportation is on your own this night.
DAY 6 (VARADERO – PARTIAL FREE DAY)
- Breakfast with the group at the casa/villa or hotel
- Free morning and afternoon to explore Varadero or relax
- Final group dinner… Cheers!
- Last night of Josone Music Festival
DAY 7 (VARADERO)
- Breakfast at the casa/villa or hotel
- Transportation to Airport in Varadero or Havana.
(*US Citizens must arrive and leave from the Havana Airport Jose Martí. Canadians and others can fly home directly from Varadero. In either case, we include your transportation to the airport. This is a sample itinerary, actual music events may vary based on the best available performances the week of your tour…)
ACCOMMODATION: CASA/VILLA EXAMPLES
These are various casa particulares, BnBs, or villas we have used on previous tours. We maintain a certain quality with each accommodation booking.
ACCOMMODATION: HOTEL EXAMPLES
TOUR DATES & PRICES
2022
August 16th-22nd, 2022
- Group Luxury Villa – $2,795 per person
- Private Luxury Villa – $3,565 per person
- Deluxe Hotel Room – $4,345 per person
- Premium/Suite Hotel Room – $4,960 per person
Hotels:
Havana: The Grand Aston
Varadero: Mystique Casa Perla
If our dates do not work for you, keep in mind that we also do personalized tours with custom dates and group sizes. Contact us directly for assistance.
Pricing and Payments:
Prices are per person based on one private room and bathroom. If you are a solo traveler we would love to have you! We do not have any single supplement fees.
The price stated above is in US Dollars and based on an ACH bank transfer from our 3rd party merchant. If you wish to use a credit or debit card there will be a 2% fee added. We do not accept cash or checks.
Prices vary for different tours and accommodations styles such as Casa Particulares, Villa, Hotels, Suites, etc. We have plenty of individuals and couples that travel with us and everyone has a blast. If you have any special requests please let us know. We will work with you to make sure you have the perfect space and feel comfortable during your stay.
If our dates do not work for you, keep in mind that we also do personalized tours with custom dates and group sizes. More info here.
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.
