6 Days / 5 Nights
Havana – Matanzas
Join us for an exclusive behind the scenes encounter with Havana’s vibrant and internationally renowned music scene. Celebrated musicians welcome guests to a private session in one of Havana’s music enclaves used by salsa and other music innovators. Guests enjoy butler passed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while becoming immersed in the inner workings of the music industry. Our salsa encounter continues with an exclusive Q&A with some of Cuba’s foremost choreographers, followed by a steamy combination of salsa lessons and mojitos. Optional enhancements include a post-tour hosted website that captures your experience, along with a Cuba-inspired library of songs on SoundCloud.
Havana’s sizzle is second to none, and the city is emerging as a creative hub for the fashion and modeling industry. From independent designer boutiques to outdoor street vendors, Havana is a cultural paradise. TOCA Trips offers customized experiences to include high tea with private fashion show and designer talk, a refresher break with DJ and mimosas, and private guides to help you find that special something. The sky’s the limit…
Celebrate the vibrant spectrum of Afro-Cuban traditions through its music, dance and cuisine as we journey to Matanzas. We welcome guests into an intimate blackbox theater where they become part of a live rehearsal and join in chanting, dancing and playing percussion along with professional artists. A live performance by Santeria musicians and dancers is followed by an exquisite traditional lunch comprised of African-inspired favorites. And returning to Havana, guests bask in the timeless sounds of jazz artists and vocalists within one of our intimate paladares where they enjoy an elegant meal of French-Cuban fusion cuisine.
Inclusions:
- One night in 4-Star Miami Hotel including breakfast and airport transfer
- Exclusive welcome reception and pre-tour overview
- Airport meet & greet and private luxury ground transfers In Cuba
- Superior accommodations and all meals in Cuba
- U.S. Department of the Treasury license and TOCA Trips letter of authorization
- Group size not to exceed twenty-four (24) guests
- Travel health insurance
- Refreshments including fresh juices, snacks and waters while touring
- TOCA Trips exclusive programming and custom designed cultural encounters
- Expert logistical staff, tour guides and cultural docents
- All entrance fees to scheduled activities and events
- Flight package (cost additional) including: round-trip charter air from Miami to Havana, Cuban visa, priority check-in at Miami International Airport, and baggage fee for first checked luggage
- TOCA Trips staff on-call 24 hours
- Gratuities for luggage handling, restaurant services and programmed activities
NOTE: All tours based on minimum group enrollment. Final tour itinerary distributed two (2) weeks prior to travel and subject to change. Extensions and customized itineraries available upon request.
Additional information
| Tour type | Music |
|---|---|
| Destination | Cuba |
| Month | Apr, Aug, Dec, Feb, Jan, Jul, Jun, Mar, May, Nov, Oct, Sep |
Day 1: Miami
Your journey begins in Miami where you and your fellow travelers join us for a cocktail reception and pre-tour discussion of our cultural program.
Day 2: Miami - Havana
Guests are transported to Miami International Airport following breakfast and escorted to their charter flight check-in to Havana. Once guests have cleared Cuban immigration and customs, they are greeted by our Havana-based tour staff. Guests enjoy a late morning visit through the Museum of Decorative Arts followed by a private jazz performance and lunch at the Instituto Cubano de la Música featuring a conversation with the musicians. The day culminates with a cocktail reception and dinner at the hotel where guests experience the lush sounds of classical Spanish guitar and dance.
Day 3: Havana
Join us for an eclectic journey through Unesco World Heritage site Old Havana. From museums and architectural points of interest to Hemingway’s literary hot spots La Bodeguita del Medio, and El Floridita for lunch and daiquiris, TOCA Culture gives you the insiders entree to the rich and diverse history of this magical city. Our fleet of vintage sedans transport guests from one area to the next, and we enjoy refreshments and photo opps with the mechanics who maintain the period cars that have come to be associated with the island.
Day 4: Havana - Matanzas
An incredible interactive experience awaits our guests in our black-box theater situated in the city of Matanzas. Throughout the transfer, guests enjoy a selection of refreshments including fresh exotic fruit juices and indigenous snacks. Once in Matanzas, guests experience the intersection of African and Cuban traditions as we explore the deep roots and diverse manifestations of AfroCuban music, dance and ceremonial rituals. Our multi-dimensional encounter involves representatives from the visual, performing and culinary arts who share their mystical association with Santeria, and explores how these vital traditions are being embraced by younger generations.
Day 5: Havana
Havana is quickly becoming one of the most sought after locations by the fashion industry for photo shoots and editorial work. Fashion is today an integral cultural component used by many Cubans as a form of expression. Join us as we observe a fashion shoot in progress, and meet some of Cuba’s foremost emerging designers and taste-makers who will discuss their interests and concerns in a new era of independent, private entrepreneurs. Our private guides lead us through an eclectic mix of boutiques, street markets and artist studios where guests can find that perfect Cuban souvenir or gift. An afternoon mixology class showcases the fine art of mojito making with a contemporary twist, set to the backdrop of our experimental performance art space where salsa meets hip hop and jazz. Our farewell dinner is hosted in La Guarida—the set of the 1994 Academy Award nominated film Fresa & Chocolate—where guests enjoy breathtaking views of Havana.
Day 6: Miami - Havana
A morning trip to the Museum of Fine Arts includes a private tour hosted by curator and art historian Julie Portela. The museum sojourn is followed by an open-air picnic in Havana’s National Botanical Gardens. From the gardens, guests are transported to the airport for their return trip to Miami.
