Havana Jazz & Art with LeRoy Downs
Jan 28 - Feb 3, 2025
VIDEO SPECIAL:
We invite you to a life-changing music, contemporary art, food, and cultural experience of Cuba hosted by “the Jazzcat” LeRoy Downs. Immerse yourself in a spectacular selection of art by day and live Latin jazz by night during the Havana Biennial Art Festival and Jazz Plaza Festival, which coincide during the same week. This insider cultural tour is fully licensed by the US Treasury. Don’t miss out on this unique adventure to an iconic Latin American cultural capital 90 miles from our border.
Host LeRoy Downs
LeRoy Downs has been an icon in the jazz industry for the past twenty years as a Los Angeles jazz radio program & festival host, journalist, television producer, curator, and concert series producer. Listen to his interviews, radio programs, and more on his jazz app, blog, and foundation Just Jazz.
“My vision is to bring an eclectic sonic experience of jazz to my listeners. A blend of music, style, culture, love and a voice for the unsung. A mix of old and new dreams that bridge generations, colors, cultures, and politics while letting the natural vibrations of the harmonies and melodies inspire new visions of self-discovery!”
Program Details
Double occupancy: $3,850 (per person)
Single occupancy: $4,585
PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Non-refundable deposits of $750 are due to Project Por Amor upon signing up to secure a space. Full payment of the final balance is due by December 1, 2024.
Spots will be given on a first-come-first-serve basis, 14 travelers need to make deposits by September 28th in order for this program to go. All funds will be refunded if the minimum is not reached. We encourage you to sign up while there is still availability.
NOTE: Airfare is not included. A number of flights on major airlines flying to Havana are available. You can purchase online or through your preferred agent. Staff at Project Por Amor are available to offer guidance ahead of you making your own arrangements.
Program Price Includes:
Cuban Visa and U.S. licensing paperwork for support for the Cuban People travel
Flight purchasing guidance, pre-trip information on preparing for Cuba, orientation meeting, and trip app
Accommodations for six nights at privately owned luxury boutique hotel Casa Italia
Five lunches and five dinners at select paladares (Havana’s best private restaurants) and daily breakfast buffets
Excursion to Matanzas
Activities with local experts including visits, San Severino Castle, Ediciones Vigía Publishing house, National Museum of Fine Art, FAC, Hemingway’s house, private dance performance with Mi Compañía, and a discussion on Cuba's current political economy with Reuters correspondent Marc Frank (see itinerary for details)
City tours of Old Havana, Centohabana, Four Plazas, Matanzas, and Capitolio neighborhoods
Admission to five premium festival performances throughout Havana
Select visits to the Biennial Art Festival exhibits (tba)
Curated shopping activity to Fería San José, Alma Shop, and Clandestina
Free time to relax or explore individually with guidance to music concerts and other happenings like the concurrent art and jazz Festivals
Discussions with Reuter’s journalist Marc Frank and the Jazz Cat LeRoy Downs with Cuban musicians (tba)
Closing dinner party at Havana Light Neon workshop & gallery of artist Kadir Lopez with live private music concert
Scenic ride in 1950s American convertibles and luxury motor coach transportation with chauffeur for the whole program in Cuba
Hosted by jazz expert LeRoy Downs and 24-hour program management by U.S. tour manager Nadine Erickson and professional Cuban tour guide Gretell Sintes
Program price does NOT include:
Airfare to and from people’s home cities in the US to Cuba
One dinner on your own
Tips for Cuban guide, chauffeur, and chambermaids
Third-party trip interruption insurance
All other items not listed in ‘PROGRAM PRICE INCLUDES’
About Project Por Amor
Project Por Amor is an artist-run organization that builds meaningful experiences through the arts, culture, and travel. We specialize in Cuba and Iceland, two unique islands on opposite ends of the Gulf Stream. Our extensive knowledge and close relationships with these two countries has allowed us to design specialized production and travel programs for organizations and individuals since 2009.
Legal Travel to Cuba
Our itinerary is designed to fully adhere to the US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) §515.574 General License for Support for the Cuban People category of legal travel to Cuba. Each traveler will engage in a full-time schedule of activities that result in meaningful interaction with individuals and professionals in Cuba, enhance contact with the Cuban people, and support civil society in Cuba. Eating at privately owned Cuban restaurants (paladares), staying in privately owned hotels, shopping at stores run by self-employed Cubans (cuentapropistas), and professional exchanges with the Cuban people are an important part of this program.
A trip of lifetime.
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"Our experience in Cuba met and exceeded expectations. If we’d visited Cuba on our own we wouldn’t have had the opportunities and adventures afforded us. Every day was packed with fascinating education, beautiful music, connection with the people, architecture and art, and so much good healthy food!"
Melinda Soules
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"Five star all the way. Superb planning, timing and interests. Great leaders, lectures, sights, food, hotels experiences and transportation. Cannot imagine a better introduction and understanding of Cuba than we were able to attain from this travel opportunity. The other travelers in the program were an integral part of making the tour such a memorable experience. Thank you!"
Loren Rice
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"This trip to Cuba was honestly the best travel experience I've ever had. The itinerary was thoughtfully planned, the activities were all amazing, and the leaders were beyond expectations. I can't recommend this tour enough. It was a great honor to participate in this once in a lifetime adventure. Thank you!"
Kathleen Elliot