TRAVEL WITH the exit zero jazz TO THE 39th ANNUAL havana jazz festival
January 23-29, 2024
The 39th annual Havana Jazz Festival will be held from January 21 - 28, 2024, with events occurring mostly in the evenings. The EXIT ZERO HAVANA JAZZ FESTIVAL dates are January 23 – 29, 2024. Based on previous experience, we prefer to arrive just after the program is underway and depart the morning after closing ceremonies. A detailed schedule of events has not yet been published but will be forthcoming.
The 2024 festival will mark the 5th year of collaboration with Exit Zero Jazz and Cuba’s largest and longest running musical event. Each year marks an increased connection between Cuban origin artists performing in Cape May, as well as Exit Zero attendees visiting Cuba to attend theHavana Jazz Festival. Our most recent visit to the 2023 festival featured more than 125 world renowned artists and groups from the United States, Europe, Cuba, and other Latin American countries performing at various established music venues throughout Havana.
OLD HAVANA, A UNESCO World Heritage Site
On our first full day in Havana, we will enjoy a city tour of various points of interest, including a walking tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most unique destinations in the Caribbean. Old Havana is among the most well preserved and dynamic colonial cities in the New World. This district of the city is undergoing rapid change, which fortunately includes ambitious historic restoration combined with modern improvement of what are in many examples UNESCO World Heritage Site restored and protected buildings. Lunch in a high quality paladar, or privately owned (as opposed to Government run) restaurant. is included.
Opening Night Dinner in Old Havana
Through our previous trips to Havana, and with a lot of suggestions from Cuban born artists who have performed at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival, we have been able to put together a long list of culinary experiences to give you a quintessential taste of Cuba.
Your experience in Havana will include both structured and unstructured time.
Your first days will include an introduction, after which you may explore on your own, or with the help of professional guides that we can help arrange for small group and individual excursions. Or you can find a great chair, some fine rum and a good cigar. Or take a salsa lesson!.
Havana Program package
Price: $ 2,850.00 per person in a shared room. Single supplements are an additional $ 400.00. Room upgrades are dependent upon availability: Jr. Suite – add $ 275.00 per person for 6 nights. Suite – add $ 400.00 per person for 6 nights. If you have traveled with us previously for the Havana Jazz Festival, you are entitled to a $ 100 per person discount! Program fees also include a per person donation of $250 to the non-profit Cape May Jazz Festival Foundation.
Package: includes all accommodations, airport transfers, all breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners, guide services as described, bottled water, some drinks, admission fees to all scheduled Havana Jazz Festival performances, U.S. Department of Treasury authorization, and program management services that include the provision of all pre- trip materials, a Cuban bilingual guide for your Havana orientation tour (Day 2), Administration of all program-designed Havana options, with further details and pricing to be provided in advance of departure. Most music performances occur typically after 5 pm each evening of the festival. You may attend any music event you choose, but preferential seating is only available for performances in Teatro Nacional, the Main Stage of the Festival. Seating in other Festival venues is may otherwise be limited depending on the event venue, performance, and timing.
Please download and complete the 2024 Registration form below to begin your Havana experience!
Jazz Festival venues range from modern (post Revolution, 1959) to Colonial era buildings and include a range of architectural styles. Primary performance venues include but are not limited to:
Teatro Nacional, Main Concert Stage. Cuba’s National Theater was started in 1959, completed in 1979, and renovated in 2012.
Teatro Mella & Jardines del Mella Pabellon (Mella Theater & Gardens Pavilion) 1,500-seat theatre has a Gaudi-esque feel–a meringue shaped balcony wraps around the auditorium.
Casa de Cultura, Municipio Plaza (Cultural House, Plaza Municipality)
Fabrica de Arte Cubano, cutting edge art gallery and mutli-stage club venue. One of Havana's premier nightclubs and art galas.
Havana Flights
Participants are expected in Havana by late afternoon on January 23rd . The most reliable Direct flights (nonstop) to Havana are available from Miami, FL on American Airlines. We will provide all information necessary to make booking these flights and obtaining your Cuban visa simple and secure. Airport transfers to/from Jose Marti airport are included for an early afternoon arrival (on the 23rd ), and 1 morning departure (January 29th ), timing to be determined based on the arrival and departure times of the majority of participants.
AMERICAN AIRLINES offers the most (6) daily fights between Miami and Havana. It is best to book your entire flight on the same airline so that you can include checked bags from your ‘home’ airport to and from Havana and ensure that you have adequate time to make connections from your home city.