22nd International
Jazz Festival Plaza
Havana

We can use two main poles to locate ourselves, based on the hotels we are offering as part of the package. Towards the west, on the Malecon, or ocean front wall, you will notice the Riviera Hotel. The other pole is the area around the Habana Libre, to the east, on the right of the map, also not far from the Malecon.

The Riviera Hotel is our first suggestion for accommodation as it is the virtual headquarters of the Jazz Festival. Even though the transportation to the daily concerts is included in the VCC package, most of the concerts (all included), and jazz clubs where the jam sessions take place, are very close to the Riviera hotel. In fact, it is in the Riviera hotel where most of the international jazz star guests are lodged. One of the main venues of the concerts, Teatro Amadeo Roldan is located only a few blocks (about 7) from the Riviera hotel. The famous Casa de la Cultura Plaza where it all started in 1978 is the scene of some concerts as well as jam sessions. It is also located about seven blocks from the Riviera, south west of the hotel on Calzada and 8th.

The Jazz Café is about two blocks away from the Riviera, on Paseo and 1st. Club Imagines, located on Calzada and C, is seven blocks away, east of the hotel.

In addition to lodging in the Riviera, we also offer the Hotel Habana Libre, a 4 star hotel. This constitutes the second pole.

The other jazz clubs are closer to these hotels in the eastern part of the Vedado district. However, one has to keep in mind that the daily transport to the main concerts are included in the VCC package, so people opting for any of these hotels will be well-served in any case. One of the most famous of all Havana jazz clubs, the Zorro y Cuervo is located two blocks from the Habana Libre and one block from the Vedado Hotel.

Old Havana is always a favourite as a choice location for a hotel. In fact some of our clients are coming back this year and want to return to an Old Havana hotel. If one wants to break away from the collective transport and do your own thing, then a taxi from one end of Vedado to the other or to the new Irakere Jazz Club, it is only about 3.00 CUC per taxi; from Old Havana about 3.50 CUC. If you leave the jam sessions late at night and prefer not to walk back to the hotel, then you are located only at a maximum of about a 3.00 CUC taxi drive away from your hotel room. The price of the taxi will be shared between its occupants.

There are many other things to see and do in terms of the cultural and musical heritage of Havana, as well as interesting family and state restaurants. These are found both in Vedado, in Old Havana and Habana Centro. Old Havana is about 2-3 CUC from the Vedado district. Let us leave the information on these optional activities for later. We will be in touch with all our clients to provide further information, as we get closer to the departure time. For those prolonging their stay or taking a day off from the jazz festival, there are lots of interesting places to visit such as Pinar del Rio, the neighbouring province in order to get a feel of the Cuban countryside. The Havana east beaches are only about twenty minutes by taxi from Havana.

If you have any further questions, please inquire.

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