British People to People

Viva la Revolucion - A musical New Year in Cuba

30th August 2014

Songlines Music Travel has created the ultimate 16-day trip to Cuba to experience a New Year’s Eve like no other, partying in a local bar in Havana, away from the tourists; New Year’s Day is also the island’s National Day when you will be able to join in the celebrations in the capital city.

Leaving Havana, you will commence a musical journey around the large Caribbean island accompanied throughout by Music Travel leader Philip Sweeney, author of the Rough Guide to Cuban Music; the itinerary will take you from Santiago de Cuba, through Manzanillo, Camagüey, Trinidad and Matanzas before finally arriving back in Havana.

Cuban music is a melting pot of African and Spanish ingredients, a legacy from the days of slavery, when Africans were brought to the sugar and tobacco plantations by the island’s Spanish colonisers.

Highlights will include:

Three full days exploring Havana, including a walk along the Malecón, the Necropolis and the Capitol Building, a visit to the rum museum and the Museo de la Revolución and a delve into the music of the capital to pick up on the mix of son, salsa, hip-hop and reggaeton that drives the city's music scene

A flight to Santiago de Cuba with a city tour and evening visit to the Casa de la Trova which make the Calle Heredia a musical hotspot of Cuba

A journey to Manzanillo, rarely visited by tourists and home to three of the most important bands in eastern Cuba (who you may well meet), stopping en route in the provincial capital Bayamo

Exploring Manzanillo's unique Moorish-influenced architecture and continuing the discovery of a music scene that the other musical tourists never make it to

The remarkably preserved town of Trinidad with a walking tour of the old town, and an exploration of the religious musics from Africa which are the basis of the Cuban cult of Santeria (and a special private reception by the Cabildo de Congos Reales)

Throughout the itinerary there will be visits to bars, restaurants and other places to listen to bands with opportunities to meet musicians thanks to Songlines’ extraordinary contacts.

Departing 29 December, the holiday costs from £1935 per person (two sharing) which includes 12 nights’ B&B (plus two nights’ HB in Trinidad), entry to selected music events, all sightseeing and transfers and the services of a Songlines Music Travel leader

For more information, visit songlinesmusictravel.com.

*Songlines Music Travel is a joint venture between Songlines magazine, the leading World Music publication and The Tailor-Made Groups Company, one of the most experienced specialised operators in the business. The expert tour leaders on each trip are handpicked by Songlines Music Travel.