Havana Jazz & Culture Tour
ITINERARY: January 27 - February 2, 2026
The Jazz Festival has not yet announced its concert program for this year. Concerts listed in this itinerary are examples based on last year’s Festival and are similar to what we’ll be seeing. This itinerary is subject to minor changes during the trip. All meals and activities are included in the cost unless indicated by “cost not included.” The times listed for each activity are the start times. Cuba remains a developing country and guests traveling here should adjust their expectations accordingly. Traveling to Cuba on a cultural exchange is quite unlike journeying to other destinations. Delays commonly occur and flexibility and patience on the part of visitors is a must.
DAY 1: TUESDAY, JANUARY 27 | WELCOME TO HAVANA
Meet at Havana International Airport
The Havana airport can be confusing. When you exit the airport, you will be greeted by our Cuban tour guide, and/or U.S.-based tour leaders who will be holding a sign that says "Project Por Amor". We will gather outside the airport in groups according to arrival times and transfer to our Havana hotels.
A smooth arrival in Havana
Transfer to Havana
During the drive, our travel staff will introduce themselves and give you some important information about Havana, passing by Plaza de la Revolución where you’ll see ministries, a monument to José Marti, and the colossal famous image of Che Guevara.
Che Guevara in Plaza de la Revolución
Check in at Casa Calis boutique hotel
Nestled in the vibrant El Vedado neighborhood, La Casa Calis is a meticulously restored residence which combines the colonial historial roots on the 20th century with a contemporary flair. Enjoy free WIFI, 24-hour bilingual reception, smoking lounge, a breakfast courtyard, bar & restaurant, daily housekeeping, and room service and a welcome cocktail upon arrival.
Casa Calis Boutique Hotel
6:30 pm ~ Welcome dinner and introductions at Manteca rooftop in the Tribe Caribe
Ascend to Manteca, the stylish rooftop restaurant at Tribe Caribe in Centro Havana, for a private welcome dinner party accompanied by a fascinating conversation with renowned music producer and entrepreneur, Andres Levin. This unique experience offers not only delectable Pan-Caribbean cuisine crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, but also a privileged opportunity to delve into the innovative Tribe Caribe project. Over a delicious meal, Andres will share insights into his vision for this dynamic cultural hub, which encompasses the hotel, restaurant, and its commitment to supporting local artists and fostering community engagement. Gain a deeper understanding of the project's mission to promote cultural exchange and sustainable tourism in Cuba, all while enjoying panoramic views of Havana from this vibrant rooftop setting.
Welcome dinner party at Tribe Caribe’s Manteca rooftop
JAZZ FESTIVAL CONCERT ~ TBD~ : Síntesis, Camerata Cortés, and Orquesta Aragón
Welcome to Havana with the legendary Afro-Cuban fusion band Síntesis featuring Eme Alfonso, followed by the Camerata Cortés and Cuba's famous traditional son band, Orquesta Aragón perform at Cuba’s National Theater in Revolutionary Square.
Afro-Cuban fusion band, Síntesis at the National Theater
DAY 2: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 | HABANA VIEJA
Please note: To best experience the historic core of Havana, we will be walking--more today than any other day. Please wear your best walking shoes and anything else that will help you be comfortable such as a hat, sunglasses, a backpack, and sunscreen. Shorts and t-shirts are fine to wear. And make sure to grab some waters from the bus in the beginning of the day. There will be many interesting things to see while we walk but we ask you to please stay together as a group. There will be plenty of time to return and visit anything on your own. If the walking is too much please let our guide know and we can arrange an alternative accommodation that best meets your needs.
Breakfast at our villa
Your house will cook a traditional Cuban breakfast which usually includes café con leche, freshly squeezed tropical juice, fresh fruit, bread, cheese, eggs, and ham.
Cuban breakfast
9:30 am ~ Four Plazas Habana Vieja Walking Tour
Start our trip by getting to know the historic core of Havana. In this UNESCO World Heritage Site, one can find extraordinary Colonial architecture of Cuban baroque and art nouveau, both well preserved and decayed, many galleries, contemporary centers, boutique museums, and little shops. We'll start with the Plaza de la Catedral. Here, we’ll visit the collective graphic arts workshop, Taller de Gráfica. This public studio for local artists was established by Pablo Neruda and Che Guevara at the beginning of the Revolution as a co-op where artists living and visiting Havana could work on printmaking. We'll continue on to la Plaza de las Armas, Havana’s first square and the origin point of the city’s settlement. The next public square of our walking tour is the Plaza Vieja where two of Havana’s most important contemporary art centers, El Centro del Desarollo de Arte Contemporánea and la Fototeca de Cuba. Our final stop of the morning is the Plaza San Francisco where we'll see the Camerata Romeu perform in the beautiful Basílica San Francisco de Asís. Please note: walking tour varies depending on schedule
Four Plazas of Old Havana
11:00 am ~ Private concert with Camerata Romeu string orchestra
Visit the beautifully restored Basílica San Francisco de Asis to experience a private performance of the first all-women string orchestra in Latin America. Under the direction of Zenaida Romeu, Camerata Romeu is one of Cuba’s most extraordinary classical music ensembles. This non-governmental independent music group frequently tours internationally and performs new works of numerous Cuban and other Latin American composers.
12:30 pm ~ Light lunch at El Café
After a captivating morning, we'll pause for a delightful light lunch at El Café, a charming paladar tucked away amidst the historic plazas. Expect fresh, locally sourced ingredients prepared with traditional techniques, perhaps a flavorful ensalada mixta with grilled chicken or fish, accompanied by freshly baked Cuban sourdough bread and refreshing natural juices.
Lunch at El Café
2:30 pm ~ Recycling and Entrepreneurship at Ciclo EcoPapel
Step into the world of Cuban innovation at Ciclo EcoPapel, where we'll meet "Yuyú" Estrada Carpio, a remarkable entrepreneur who transforms necessity into opportunity in her intimate Old Havana workshop. Watch as she demonstrates her meticulous process of creating beautiful handcrafted paper from recycled newspapers and cards, using only rainwater and materials gathered through her community network. Through intimate conversation with this former accountant turned eco-entrepreneur, you'll discover how Cuba's economic reality has fostered extraordinary innovation in recycling and reuse, while learning about her evolution from making party decorations to building a thriving family enterprise that serves embassies and organizations throughout Havana. This authentic encounter reveals the Cuban ingenuity embodying the island's resourceful culture where nothing goes to waste.
CIclo Papel
4:00 pm ~ Time at Leisure
Stay in Havana to explore on your own or return to the hotel to recharge your batteries, or take a siesta.
El Malecón
6:30 pm ~ House tour of curator Pamela Ruiz
Pamela Ruiz and artist Damien Aquiles have invited us to their beautifully restored luxurious Havana mansion for a tour with cocktails. Read more about their home and story in New York Times Style Magazine.
8:00 pm ~ Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) jazz concert & dinner
Perhaps the trendiest address in Havana, the FAC is an expansive, multi-purpose venue housed inside a refurbished oil processing plant. It boasts a fairly dense cultural program which includes art exhibitions, shows and concerts, and is currently the hippest nightlife hot spot of the Cuban capital. Have dinner on your own at one of the on-site restaurants, Tierra, serving fine dishes of international origin, or the café for a lighter nosh (dinner not included) then stay for one of the many concerts scheduled tonight. Our hotel is only two blocks from the FAC so feel free to walk home at your convenience as it is safe or grab a taxi right outside the venue.
Fabrica del Arte Cubano (FAC)
DAY 3: THURSDAY, JANUARY 29 | HAVANA THROUGH MUSEUMS
Breakfast buffet at our hotel
Your house will cook a traditional Cuban breakfast which usually includes café con leche, freshly squeezed tropical juice, fresh fruit, bread, cheese, eggs, and ham.
10:00 am ~ Tour of Partagas Cigar Factory
The Partagás Factory is on the corner of Calle San Carlos in Central Havana, about a block down from the Romeo y Julieta factory. According to local histories, the factory has been home to other cigar brands over the decades such as the El Rey del Mundo Factory, La Gloria Cubana, Ramon Allones, Quai d'Orsay, and Bolivar cigars. The factory employs 400 people with space on the rolling floor for nearly 240 to produce about 20,000 cigars daily. Windows in a long row reach from waist height to the ceiling. Rollers receive their carefully portioned leaves for their blends from a storeroom at the front. A small quality-control area sits off to the side, where draw machines test the finished product for the day. As in all Cuban cigar factories, a podium is set up for a lector who reads the news to workers from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Two half-hour-long periods later in the day are devoted to novelas, or fiction books, of the workers' choosing.
Partagás Factory
11:00 am ~ Capitolio neighborhood walking tour
We’ll introduce ourselves to Havana by getting to know its most grand neighborhood. El Prado is one of the most exquisitely designed major avenues in all the Americas and home to the quintessential structures that define Havana, ranging from Colonial to Baroque to Neoclassical to Art Deco. Designed in 1772 by French landscape architect Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, El Prado runs for many blocks from the dramatic fountain, La Fuente de la India, to the iconic Malecon, marking the boundary between Habana Vieja and Centro Habana. El Paseo, a marble promenade lined with a natural canopy of trees, marble benches and bronze lions was chosen by the House of Chanel for one of the most dramatic runway shows in the history of fashion. It is home to El Capitolio (1929): El Gran Teatro de La Habana (1918), home to the National Ballet of Cuba; The Bacardi Building (1930), a testament to Art Deco and dozens of other structures immortalized in photography and film for decades. El Prado encompasses all the cultural wealth that Havana has offered from the 17th to the 20th Century.
Capitol tour
11:30 am ~ Tour of the Capitol building
Cuba’s stunning Capitol building was constructed after the forming of the Republic of Cuba and adopted the exact same architecture as the U.S. Capitol but made to be one meter taller. After the Cuban Revolution in 1959 the Castro government moved out of this building into new government offices built around the Revolutionary Square. The former capitol sat empty for decades until undergoing a massive restoration initiated of over ten years. It is now being used again as the seat of the Parliament and the National Assembly under Cuba’s first new president post-Castro. It is also a museum that is open for guided tours only. We may split into groups for guided tours.
Capitol building
12:30 pm ~ Lunch at Paladar Antojos
We’ll have lunch at a nearby new restaurant which has become the heart of Cuban cuisine for the locals. Set in the alley of callejón Espada, savor a delicious Cuban meal exactly how grandma used to cook it.
3:30 pm ~ Time at Leisure
Return to the hotel to connect to WiFi, recharge your batteries, take a siesta, or explore the city and jazz festival on your own.
Cuban leisure
7:00 pm dinner at Cinco Sentidos
Nestled in the heart of Old Havana, Cinco Sentidos restaurant is a culinary gem that promises a sensory journey like no other. Its charming colonial-era ambiance is transformed with a chic contemporary artist flare and a menu that pays homage to the vibrant flavors of Cuban cuisine. From succulent ropa vieja to ceviche or perfectly grilled seafood, each plate tells a story of Cuba's rich culinary heritage.
Cinco Sentidos Paladar
9:00 pm ~ TBD~ JAZZ FESTIVAL CONCERT: Jacky Terrasson Trio and Cecilia Krull Band
A concert not to miss! Start with the Jacky Terrasson Trio ‘Moving On” featuring Jacky Terrasson (France/US), Felipe Cabrera (Cuba), and Lukmil Pérez (Cuba). Followed by Cecilia Krull Band en La Habana featuring Cecilia Krull (Spain), Francisco López (Spain), Daniel García (Spain), and Pablo Gutiérrez (Spain).
DAY 4: FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 | CUBAN ARTS & ECONOMICS
Breakfast buffet at our hotel
Your house will cook a traditional Cuban breakfast which usually includes café con leche, freshly squeezed tropical juice, fresh fruit, bread, cheese, eggs, and ham.
2:00 pm ~ The Cuban Political Economy with Marc Frank
This is an opportunity to discuss the many questions about the Cuban system that you'll have at this point. Marc Frank is a well-known American author and journalist who has been living in Cuba with his family since 1993. He will tell us about how Cuba’s planned economy and political system works and doesn’t work and what changes the state is working on for the future with the new constitution, new currency system, economic reform, and many post-pandemic challenges. Marc Frank is the leading economic correspondent to Cuba for Thomson Reuters.
The Cuban Economy
11:00 am ~ Private Performance with Modern Dance Company "Mi compania"
Watch one of Cuba’s top contemporary dance companies under the direction of Susana Pous. We will visit a beautiful house transformed into her private dance school and company headquarters.
Mi Compañía
12:30 pm ~ Lunch at Grados Paladar
For a truly authentic culinary experience, we invite you to indulge in a delightful lunch at Grados restaurant in Havana. Nestled in a historic building, this under-the-radar new eatery offers a fusion of traditional Cuban cuisine reimagined by a new generation of talented and creative chefs. Their own fermentation practice of traditional Cuban sauces and drinks such as "pru oriental," ginger beer, and kombucha are not to be missed.
Grados Paladar
10:00 am ~ Visit with art curator Cristina Vives
We will attend an opening at the gallery of Cristina Vives, Cuba's most respected independent contemporary art curator. She has played a significant role in the success of many contemporary Cuban artists who are now active in the international art world. Cristina, along with her daughter Cristinita Figueroa, supports and champions a new generation of artists, some of whom you will see in their home. They have also established a collaborative relationship with the Norwegian Embassy, which is next door to their studio, and regularly hold collaborative art events. The opening will showcase “Obsessions and Accumulations: The artists' cabinet” with works by Alexandre Arrechea, Alejandro Campins, Javier Castro, Jacqueline Maggi, Fidel García, Alejandro Gonzalez, Lorena Gutierrez, and Fernando Rodriguez.
Curators Cristinita and Cristina Vives
3:00 pm ~ Afternoon free to relax or on your own
We'll take you back to the hotel to recharge your batteries, take a siesta, or explore Havana and the jazz festival on your own
Scenes of Havana
5:30 pm ~ A conversation with jazz artist and private performance
We will head over to Bar Abdala to enjoy pre-dinner cocktails and hear our friend “Coqui" Calzadilla talk about his local music spot, replete with a recording studio and artist museum, as well as his experience in the Havana Jazz scene.
Alejandro "Coqui" Calzadilla is a Cuban jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, flutist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and music professor from Havana. A graduate of the Amadeo Roldán Music Conservatory, he has performed at renowned festivals such as the Jazz Plaza Festival and the Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival. In 2023, he received a prestigious scholarship from the Preservation Hall Foundation in New Orleans. His debut album, Vía d'escape, features ten original compositions that blend concert music and jazz, highlighting the clarinet as a central voice. He lives in Havana with his two children and runs this after hours bar in Miramar where musicians head after their late night gigs are over for jam sessions.
Bar Abdala with Coqui Calzadilla
7:30 pm ~ Dinner at La Guarida
Anyone who has been to La Guarida will find it difficult to disagree that Enrique and Odeisys have managed to create their own magical home restaurant. The building, originally known as La Mansión Camagüey, shows its former grandeur from the magnificent wooden entrance door through the marble staircase up the two flights of stairs to the restaurant itself. The location is glamorized by Cuba's provocative and most iconic film “Fresa y Chocolate.” La Guarida has gone on to become one of the most popular restaurants in Cuba. On the menu is a choice of squash soup, eggplant caviar, or smoked marlin tacos for a starter; fish, chicken, or pork for the main course with sides of rice, black beans, fried yuca and plantains; and a cocktail, spring water, and coffee for dessert.
La Guarida
9:00 pm ~ TBD~ Rooftop concert of Ramoncito Valles at La Guarida Sessions
Above the restaurant, the hottest new music scene in Havana is happening on this rooftop patio on Saturday nights. Tonight, we’ll get to hear one of Cuba’s greatest jazz musicians, Ramon Valle, perform in a beautiful plein air setting with the city skyline all around.
“Valle is a more open, overly emotional piano – trio master than Brad Meldhau. Mcoy Tyner and Chick Corea are the musicians who come to mind as comparisons. He is a formidably sophisticated player rooted in Cuban jazz, but drawing on resources way beyond the usual suspects the idiom usually calls up.” - The Guardian
Ramoncito Valles
DAY 5: SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 1 | VIÑALES
Breakfast our accommodations
Your house will cook a traditional Cuban breakfast which usually includes café con leche, freshly squeezed tropical juice, fresh fruit, bread, cheese, eggs, and ham.
Typical Cuban breakfast
8:30 am ~ Check out and depart for Viñales countryside
The drive is two hours with a rest stop along the way.
11:30 am ~ Visit to the tobacco farm Finca Paco y Concha
On our way to Viñales we’ll stop by a 3rd generation tobacco farm that grows and prepares tobacco for the Cohiba brand. The farmer will show us the process of how the world’s finest tobacco is created.
Finca Paco y Concha tobacco farm
12:30 pm ~ Lunch at El Cuajaní
Tucked away on the road from El Mural de la Prehistoria to Viñales, this hidden gem offers a remarkable dining experience with beautifully presented, flavor-packed dishes. A whitewashed cottage in a field with a thatch roof overhung with mauve fausto flowers. The fresh country food, the beauty of the setting, and the warmth of the owners, Berta Carral and José Gómez, are unmatchable. Guests are welcomed with warm hospitality, invited to explore the lush garden where fresh ingredients are grown, and even have the chance to meet the talented chef, whose international experience adds a touch of sophistication to every plate.
Lunch at El Cuajuani
2:30 pm ~ Horseback ride through the Cuban countryside or walk with city historian
Enjoy a horseback ride through the small farms, stunning landscapes, geological wonders, and the world’s finest tobacco-growing region. Passing by mogotes (limestone karsts) and viewpoints, we'll explore the Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás (Santo Tomás Cave), one of the largest cave systems in Latin America.
Those who prefer not to ride a horse can meet with the City Historian of Viñales, Ricardo Alvarez, who will stroll with us on a shorter walking tour through the valley. He'll share information on the history and current events of the region.
Horseback ride through Viñales Valley
4:00 pm ~ Depart for Havana
The drive is two hours with a rest stop along the way.
6:30 pm ~ Arrive at the hotel and dinner on your own
Have dinner on your own at the hotel or we can make recommendations and reservations for you.
8:30 pm ~ TBD ~ Suggested Jazz Festival Concert: Hoy Como Ayer
It's time to hear some of Cuba's most legendary traditional bands such as Ecos del Tivolí, Orquesta Aragón, and Original de Manzanillo.
Havana Jazz Festival concert
10:00 pm ~ TBD Suggested Jazz Festival Concert: Ernán Lopez Nussa at Bar Fangio
We recommend checking out this fringe festival concert on the private rooftop Bar Fangio. Ernán Lopez Nussa is a good friend of ours and also one of Cuba's most legendary pianists (optional--cost not included).
Ernán Lopez Nussa
DAY 6: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 | GRAND FINALE
Breakfast buffet at our hotel
Your house will cook a traditional Cuban breakfast which usually includes café con leche, freshly squeezed tropical juice, fresh fruit, bread, cheese, eggs, and ham.
Traditional Cuban Breakfast
10:00 am ~ Visit with artists and curators Liudmila & Nelson at the Fototeca de Cuba
Liudmila Velasco & Nelson Ramirez de Arellano Conde have been working together for more than 25 years. The duo considers their artistic partnership—as Liudmila & Nelson—to be a “symbol of dialogue and teamwork.” Their projects focus primarily on understanding “Cuban reality” and include research about the history and uses of photography. Their collaborative work has been exhibited worldwide in international exhibitions and art biennials, including representing Cuba at the Venice Biennale in 2013.
Parallel to his work as an artist Nelson also works as Director of the Fototeca de Cuba, Cuban National Center for Photography in Havana. He was chief curator at the Fototeca de Cuba from 2001 to 2010, and created the Havana Photo Festival “Noviembre Fotográfico” that has been active since 2006. Nelson has been the director of the past two "Bienales" the famous Havana's biennial contemporary art festival organized by the Wilfredo Lam Center.
Art by Liudmila & Nelson
11:30 am ~ Almacenes San Jose Handicraft Market
The Almacenes San José is a huge artisan market of sprawling kiosks where hundreds of handmade souvenirs can be haggled for. It's the one stop shop for visiting pleasure cruisers looking for the largest possible selection of Cuban souvenirs, all under one roof on Havana's Bay.
Handmade souvenirs
12:30 pm ~ Brunch at Yarini
In the middle of the Havana port area, in San Isidro, is located Yarini Habana, a contemporary-style restaurant. Experience great food, drinks, live music, and outdoor atmosphere in this Havana hip artist enclave. It's is named after a mythical personality of the neighborhood a hundred years prior: a well-known young politician and islander pimp named Alberto Yarini Ponce de León.
Yarini Paladar
2:00 pm ~ Time at leisure
Explore Havana on your own on your last day. We'll recommend places to go and things to see.
Havana shopping
5:00 pm ~ Classic convertibles scenic car ride
Leaving from our hotel, we will travel to our final dinner “Havana-style” in a fleet of specially selected 1950s American convertibles that will take us on a scenic route through Havana’s most beautiful neighborhoods. Don't forget your cameras!
Classic convertible ride
6:00 pm ~ Dinner party at artist Kadir Lopez’s house and Habana Light Neon Studio
Celebrate with a home-cooked Cuban meal in a magical setting in the tree-filled Kohly neighborhood of Havana. In his home, gallery, and studio which includes a neon shop and studio for neon sign restoration, Kadir will discuss neon, some of the restoration projects in the city, and the efforts to restore the post-war heritage of Havana. Our trip will be wrapped up with a concert from a local Cuban jazz rock ensemble.
Dinner party at artist Kadir Lopez' house and neon art studio
8:30 pm ~ Jazz Festival Closing Concert: Roberto Fonseca
One of Cuba's greatest jazz pianists of all time, Roberto Fonseca, who is also the Artistic Director of the Jazz Plaza Festival, will be performing along with a plethora of invited guests at the National Theater. This is an annual tradition not to be missed.
Havana Jazz Festival concert
DAY 7: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2 | ¡HASTA LUEGO CUBA!
Breakfast at our villa
Wake up to a typical Cuban breakfast spread of eggs, fruit, breads, ham, cheese, juice, and many other selections. The buffet is open daily from 7:00 - 10:00 am. Tip: for a better coffee ask one of the servers for an "espresso" or "cappucino" if you prefer foamed milk.
Transfer to José Martí International Airport
We will bring people to the airport in groups according to departure times. You will be assisted through check in.
¡Adios, Cuba!