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

Reserve your spot!

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.