Cultural Cuba Travel for US Citizens It is possible for US citizens to travel to Cuba legally after the publication of the new amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (31 CFR Part 515) on June 9, 2022. US Professionals interested in conducting Professional Research in the traveler’s profession, professional background, or area of expertise can travel to Cuba under the General License for Professional Research among others. US citizens can also go to Cuba under the Support for the Cuban People General License, General License for Educational Activities; and other authorizations still in place. None of the existing 12 categories of Cuba legal travel have been eliminated, the US embassy in Havana will remain open and commercial flights will continue to Havana only.
Learn more at our website about US Cuba Travel Authorizations
Cuba Tours
Whether you want to go to Cuba for Professional Research, Support for the Cuban People, Professional Meetings, Religious Activities, Public Performances, Exhibitions or Workshops, chances are you can find a Cuba tour that matches your interest in our 2024 rooster. Here’s our full roster of Cuba tours:
Authentic Cuba Travel
Cuba Cultural Festivals
 Travel to Santiago de Cuba for the Fiesta del Fuego Festival 2024 (Fire Festival 2024) that highlights the cultural expressions of the region. The annual Fire Festival is a very well-known street party taking place in the month of July in the city of Santiago de Cuba.
 International Ballet Festival of Havana 2024. Organized by the Cuba’s National Ballet, the International Ballet Festival of Havana draws dancers, choreographers and companies from all over the globe.
 Jo Jazz Festival of Havana The Jo Jazz Havana is the result of music education in Cuba. As talented young jazz musicians emerged from Cuban music schools every year, they are eager to showcase their talents in Havana’s most popular jazz venues.
 The Havana Art Biennial 2024 is an exciting celebration featuring not only the best of Cuban visual artists, but also artists from other countries from Latin America, the Caribbean, and from developing countries.
 Cuba Festival of New Latin American Cinema. The Havana Film Festival is a cultural event with no parallel for the promotion of Spanish language filmmakers. It draws thousands of movie goers and cultural buffs from all over Cuba each December.
 Authentic Cuba cultural travel goes to Havana for the 40th Jazz Festival of Havana 2025 organized by renowned Cuban jazz musician Chucho Valdes will run January 19- 26, 2025 at several locations in Havana.
 Travel to the festival with the highest attendance in Cuba: the 33erd Havana International Book Fair 2025 that will begin in Havana City on February 2025, and then it will spread east and west of the capital. The book fair will end in Santiago de Cuba.
 The Habano Cigar Festival 2025 is considered by experts as the biggest world party to promote the Premium type cigar. It only competes with this one, without surpassing its quality, the Big Smoke of Las Vegas in the United States.
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Cuba Festival Tours, Authentic Cuba Travel® Flagship
Featured Cuba Tours & Travel 2024
Cuba Festival Travel, Your Doorway to Authentic Cuba
Authentic Cuba Travel® escorted tours to Cuba's international Festivals & Events, Cuba Jazz Festival, Cuba Book Fair, Havana Art Biennial, Jo Jazz Havana, Fire Festival, Habano Cigar Festival, Havana Film Festival and more...
Every year Cuba’s International Festivals brought travellers to Cuba from all over the world. Every year Authentic Cuba Travel® makes sure that those attending international events such as the Havana Jazz Festival, the Havana Book Fair, the Havana Film Festival, the Havana Art Biennial, the Fire Festival, the Havana Ballet Festival or the Habano Cigar Festival get the most out of their Cuba travel experience and get to know the authentic Cuba.
Our authentic Cuba tours are fully hosted by Cuba’s ministries and organizing committees, giving the Cuba travellers official status and the opportunity to enjoy backstage tours, rub shoulders with renowned personalities, stay well-informed and have unlimited access to festivals’ happenings.
There are many things that help set Authentic Cuba Travel® apart from the crowd when it comes to Cuba festival travel. For starters, our Cuba festival tours include more than just tickets and premium seats; our Cuba tours offer stops at some of the most picturesque and authentic cities, towns, villages and neighborhoods in Cuba fully escorted by Cuba’s best tour guides
While festivals and events may be the main draw of our Cuba tours, we make sure that every aspect of the Cuba travel experience is perfect. We are Cuba’s doorway to Cuba’s Festivals and Events; we offer you the best value for your money and we show you the authentic Cuba like no one else can.
Authentic Cuba Travel® provides legal travel services to Cuba for authorized US educational institutions and organizations (including religious organizations). We also facilitate travel arrangements for American travellers looking to go to Cuba under the authorizations of the General License for Professional Research, the General License for Semi-Professional & Amateur International Sports Competition, the General License for Support for the Cuban People, the General License for Educational Activities, and others.
We take care of flights to Cuba’s main destinations departing from USA ports (Miami, Tampa, New York) or through third countries like Canada and Mexico. Authorized US travelers can travel through a third country subject to the same restrictions and requirements as those flying directly from USA.
Notice to US Arts Organizations, Foundations and Institutes; US Ballet Theatre Companies; US Centers for the Performing Arts; US International Centers of Photography, US Museums of Photography Arts, and other Cultural Organizations and Associations from US:
US Arts Organizations, Foundations and Institutes; US Ballet Theatre Companies; US Centers for the Performing Arts; US International Centers of Photography, US Museums of Photography Arts, and other Cultural Organizations and Associations from USA can organize a trip to Cuba under the provisions of the General License for Educational Activities, the General License for Group People-to-people Educational Travel, the General License for Support for the Cuban People, the General License for Professional Research, the General License for Semi-Professional & Amateur International Sports Competition, the General License for Humanitarian Projects, the General License for Activities of Private Foundations or Research or Educational Institutes among others. Certain conditions are to be met to comply with OFAC General License requirements for each category of USA Cuba travel though.
The mission of your organization and the objective of your trip to Cuba determine under what general license you can travel to Cuba legally. In general, most trips should consist of a full-time schedule of activities intended to promote the exchange with the ordinary citizens of Cuba. This full-time schedule must also include educational activities that result in meaningful interaction in between U.S and Cuban nationals. Free time in excess or regular tourists' activities are not permitted.
We take care of all details both in North America and in Cuba, including VISA and flight arrangements to Cuba's main destinations via USA ports (Miami, Tampa, New York, Los Angeles, or other) or through third countries like Canada and Mexico. Authorized US organizations can travel through a third country subject to the same restrictions and requirements as those flying directly from USA.
At Authentic Cuba Travel®, we have been organizing such educational and cultural travel experiences from the United States of America for years with great success.
Why Authentic Cuba Travel®?
Authentic Cuba Festivals
Fire Festival of Santiago de Cuba
In Santiago de Cuba every July, locals and visitors alike take part in the annual Festival del Fuego.
During the Cuba Fire Festival, events start during the morning hours and last well into the nighttime hours. The main streets of the city are lined with temporary bars and stalls comprised of palm fronds and bamboo, and Santiago residents and travelers alike gather together to take part in one of the island’s largest parties.
Havana Film Festival
The Havana Film Festival promotes the cinematographic works of Spanish- language filmmakers from Latin America, Spain and Cuba mainly and it is sponsored by the Cuban Institute of the Cinematographic Art and Industry, ICAIC. The Festival draws thousands of film buff from all over Cuba to Havana during the first two weeks of December each year.
Jazz Festival of Havana
Started in 1979 as a number of concerts by Cuban jazz master Bobby Carcasses and other famous Cuban musicians, the first official Cuba Jazz Festival took place in 1981 in the Casa de la Cultura in Havana’s Plaza municipality (from which the festival was named).
The 2024 Havana Jazz Festival, or Jazz Plaza 2024, which is organized by famed Cuban jazz artist Chucho Valdes and is sponsored by ICM, or the Cuban Institute of Music, will be held at many locations throughout the capital city.
Havana's International Book Fair
Every February, the International Book Fair of Havana serves to turn the ancient Spanish fort known as San Carlos de la Cabana into one of the largest book events on earth.
The International Book Fair of Havana will use “To Read Is to Grow” as its theme and will work to celebrate the interrelations, cultural heritage, and traditions of the many Caribbean nations.
Habano Cigar Festival
Considered by many to be the world’s biggest premium cigar celebration, the Habano Cigar Festival has competition in only one other festival- Las Vegas’ The Big Smoke. It is often said, however, that The Big Smoke cannot surpass the Havana Cigar Festival in quality largely because American regulations prevent the festival from importing and showcasing the many premium cigars made in Cuba.
Havana Ballet Festival
The Cuba Ballet Festival is held every two years. Dancers, ballet companies, and choreographers from across the world look forward to taking part in the event, which is hosted by Cuba’s National Ballet. The International Ballet Festival of Havana offers the unique opportunity to witness some of the world’s biggest talents as Cuba’s capital city briefly becomes a mecca for talented dancers from all across the globe.
Havana Art Biennial
As the name implies, the Havana Art Biennial is held in the capital city every other year. For Cuban artists hoping to make their works famous on an international level, the Havana Art Biennial is a major event. For a brief time, the entire capital city becomes a giant art gallery where multiple mediums, themes, ideals, and genres come together.
US Cuba Cultural Travel
Authentic Cuba Travel® offers escorted cultural tours to Cuba in the fields of arts, photography, dance & music, ballet, performing arts for US travellers under the provisions of the General License for Support for the Cuban People.
For example: an American individual plans to travel to Cuba on his/her own (or with a group of friends) to learn about the Cuban culture and support the Cuban people in order to 1) launch a new privately-owned business venture; or 2) volunteer with a nongovernmental organization; or 3) carry activities aimed at strengthening civil society; or others with similar intent.
During this Cuba trip the US traveler stays in a Casa Particular (private rental accommodation owned by a Cuban family or individual) or in a hotel (not on the OFAC restricted list of Cuban entities); the American individual or group of individuals does eat most of his/hers meals in Paladares (family restaurants owned by a Cuban family or individual) and shop at stores owned by Cuenta Propistas (self-employed Cuban entrepreneurs); all while engaging with the Cuban owners of these entities in conversations about their day-to-day life, way-of-living, and entrepreneurial challenges and dreams.
The full-time schedule of activities of the American individual traveler (or group of travelers) will result in a meaningful interaction with the Cubans and; therefore, it may qualify for the General License for the Support for the Cuban People.
Here’s a shortcut to our main Cuba Festival Tours for 2024 & 2025.
Havana Film Festival 2024 Cuba Tour.,
Havana Jazz Festival 2024 Cuba Tour,
Havana Book Fair 2024 Cuba Tour,
Santiago de Cuba Jazz Festival Cuba Tour,
Fire Festival 2024 Cuba Tour.
Cuba Travel NEWS
On June 9, 2022, the Department of The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published the new amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 CFR part 515. The existing 12 categories of Cuba legal travel remain in place. The General License for Group People-to-people Educational Travel has been reinstated while the General License for Individual People-to-people Educational Travel has been eliminated. The US embassy in Havana will remain open and commercial flights are allowed to Havana and other regional cities.
Read more...
More Authentic Cuba Travel® Escorted Tours
Notice to US Schools of the Arts; US Schools of Photography; US Ballet Schools; US Schools of Music & Dance; US Schools for the Performing Arts; and other Academic Institutions from USA:
In January 2016, the US Government announced further enhancements to the 12 categories of authorized travel to Cuba that previously required a specific license (this is, lengthy applications to OFAC). Now travel to the Caribbean island is allowed under a general license (this is, self-completed paperwork with no application to OFAC needed).
After President Biden’s policy change on USA Cuba travel on June 9, 2022, the General License for Educational Activities remains in place. Accredited U.S. graduate or under graduate degree-granting institutions; U.S. Academic Institutions; and U.S. Schools can organize and sponsor an educational trip to Cuba for their students, faculty and staff under the General License for Educational Activities, provided that the trip meets OFAC guidelines; and that an employee or other representative of the organization escorts the trip to make sure such guidelines are followed by all participants.
US Schools of the Arts; US Schools of Photography; US Ballet Schools; US Schools of Music & Dance; US Schools for the Performing Arts; and other Academic Institutions from USA can organize and sponsor a trip to Cuba for educational activities. The purpose of the Cuba travel should be for:
_ the participation in a structured educational program offered for credit as part of a course of the sponsoring institution;
_ educational exchanges sponsored by Cuban or U.S. secondary schools involving secondary school students’ participation in a formal course of study or in a structured educational program offered by a secondary school or other academic institution, and led by a teacher or other secondary school official are authorized. This authorization allows for participation of a reasonable number of adult chaperones to accompany the secondary school students to Cuba.
_ attendance at non-commercial academic seminars, conferences and workshops related to Cuba sponsored or co-sponsored by U.S. academic institution.
_ non- commercial academic research related to Cuba for the purpose of obtaining a graduate or undergraduate degree;
_ the participation in a formal course of study at a Cuban academic institution provided that credits will be accepted toward the student’s graduate or undergraduate degree;
_ participation in a 10-week structured educational program in Cuba as part of a course offered at the U.S. institution;
_ participation in a formal 10-week course of study at a Cuban academic institution, provided the formal course of study in Cuba will be accepted for credit toward the student’s undergraduate or graduate degree at the U.S. institution;
We take care of all details both in North America and in Cuba, including VISA and flight arrangements to Cuba's main destinations via USA ports (Miami, Tampa, New York, Los Angeles, or other) or through third countries like Canada and Mexico. Authorized US organizations can travel through a third country subject to the same restrictions and requirements as those flying directly from USA.
At Authentic Cuba Travel®, we have been organizing such educational and cultural travel experiences from the United States of America for years with great success.
Check Our Most Popular Cuba Study Trips
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Authentic Cuba Travel's festival tours are sanctioned, hosted and fully sponsored by Cuba’s key Culture Ministries, Organizing Committees and Cuban personalities. Travel with the peace of mind of knowing you are in the best hands!
