The 2020 annual Havana Jazz Festival will take place from January 13th – 19th. This will be the 35th anniversary of the famed event. As in the past it will feature well known musicians from Cuba and around the world. This will be the experience of a lifetime for Americans interested in music and the arts. Join us in supporting the Cuban people through meaningful interaction and carefully planned activities that include (but are not limited to) the Jazz Festival. As for the Festival, our package will include access to all the shows, as well as priority seating. These will occur throughout the city at different venues throughout the week.
Please note this itinerary is subject to change
Day 1 - Monday January 13th, 2020 - Depart New Orleans and Arrive Havana
- Southwest Flight SW559 6:45 AM departs New Orleans
- Arrive in Havana at 1:50 PM
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Upon arrival at Jose Marti Airport in Havana, you will be met by your tour guide, and transferred to the Hotel Melia Cohiba. On the way to the Hotel we will make a stop at the Plaza de la Revolucion. That evening we will attend a welcome dinner at the International Project Jazz Havana, in the Club El Tablao.
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Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Tuesday January 14th, 2020
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After Breakfast we will head to Havana for Pinal Del Rio, one of the most picturesque cities in Cuba. Founded in 1699, the westernmost province of Cuba is a land of good tobacco and friendly, spontaneous people. We will visit Quemado de Rubi (Tobacco Plantation & Cigar Factory) and experience sustainable farming with Cuban farmers.
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Lunch - enjoy a home-cooked meal at Quemado de Rubi’s family owned restaurant.
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Return to Havana
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Dinner on your own
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Jazz Festival - We will be supporting the Cuban musicians and attendees, as we participate in the Jazz Festival.
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Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Day 3 - Wednesday January 15th, 2020
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After Breakfast we will depart for a visit to a music school. Here we will engage in music activities with young Cuban jazz musicians. Afterwards we will walk around Old Havana and explore the popular markets as we engage with the independent proprietors.
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Lunch will be at a traditional family-owned paladar, where we will meet the owners and employees
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Return to hotel.
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Jazz Festival - We will attend opening night of the Havana International Jazz Festival. Our opening dinner will be with the Cuban and international musicians who will be performing in the Jazz Festival.
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Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 4 - Thursday January 16th, 2020
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After breakfast we will start our day by visiting the Instituto Superior de Artes, where we will exchange ideas with teachers and students in music and the arts. We will visit the Fusters Project, and visit the home of the Cuban sculptor Jose Fusters. His murals and sculptures decorate over 80 houses and parks in this community.
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Next we will visit Estudio Taller Santacana to explore the paintings, drawings, and sculptures of Beatrice Santacana, which depict everyday Cuban people in conflict with society.
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Lunch at a family-owned paladar, where we’ll engage with owners and employees.
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After lunch, we will tour Miramar - an upscale neighborhood in Havana. Then it's off to the Clave de Sol Project/Program. Here we will visit and interact with children attending this music education program, which encourages the disciplines of practice, cooperation, respect, and community.
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Return to hotel
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Dinner on own
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Jazz Festival - We will be supporting the Cuban musicians and attendees, as we participate in the Jazz Festival.
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Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Day 5 - Friday January 17th, 2020
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After breakfast we will depart for the Museum of Fine Arts and the Callejȯn de Hamel ( a vibrant and colorful 2 block alley in central Havana). Here we can appreciate the collection of Cuban paintings in the Museum and compare these traditional works to the Afro-Cuban inspired murals and artwork in Callejȯn de Hamel, all while engaging with local artists and musicians.
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Next we will head to Cojimar - a small fishing village that was the inspiration for Hewmingway’s ”The Old Man and the Sea”.
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Lunch at a family-owned paladar. Engage with the owners and employees.
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After lunch visit Finca Vigia to pay homage to Ernest Hemingway by visiting his home and memorial, and explore Cojimar’s streets, meeting Cuban residents along the way. Before returning to the hotel, we will visit the San Jose Artisan Markets engaging with local independent proprietors.
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Return to Hotel
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Dinner on own
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Jazz Festival - We will be supporting the Cuban musicians and attendees, as we participate in the Jazz Festival.
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Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Day 6 - Saturday January 18th, 2020
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After breakfast we will leave for Grupo Teatro Okan-tomi, to participate in dance with Okan-tomi, a grass roots dance company that re-envisions Afro-Cuban dance and music traditions.
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Continuing, we will next visit the Cemetery of Christopher Columbus.
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Lunch at a family-owned paladar, where we again engage with the owners and employees.
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Back to the hotel.
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That evening we will ride in classic American cars, privately owned by independent proprietors to our farewell dinner. We will stop enroute at the Bar Fama.
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Return to Hotel
- Dinner on own
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Jazz Festival - We will be supporting the Cuban musicians and attendees, as we participate in the Jazz Festival.
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Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Day 7 - Sunday January 19th, 2020
- After breakfast we will transfer to Airport for flight back to New Orleans
- Flight SW3929 2:55 PM
- Meals/Breakfast
- Airfare MSY/HAV/MSY
- 6 nights/ Meliá Cohiba
- https://www.meliacuba.com/cuba-hotels/hotel-melia-cohiba
- Includes access to all Jazz Fest headquarters and sub-headquarters with preferential seats
- Daily breakfast
- 5 lunches
- 2 dinners
- Transfer In/Out of the Airport
- Private air-conditioned motorcoaches and tour guides
- Cuban Medical Insurance
- Cuban Tourist Visa
- 6 Days entry to the Art Factory during the week
- The Inaugural Gala Dinner with Musicians
Flights included on Southwest!
Monday, January 13th, 2020
- New Orleans to Havana
- Depart 6:45 AM
- New Orleans (MSY) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Flight SW559
- Arrive 9:05 AM
- Depart 12:25 PM
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Havana (HAV)
- Flight SW3922
- Arrive 1:50 PM
- Depart 6:45 AM
Sunday, January 19th, 2020
- Havana to New Orleans
- Depart 2:55 PM
- Havana (HAV) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Flight SW3923
- Arrive 4:20 PM
- Depart 7:15 PM
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Havana (HAV)
- Flight SW3811
- Arrive 8:30 PM
- Depart 2:55 PM