Cuba

Welcome to Cuba

Cuba is an enchanting tropical island in the middle of the Caribbean, which with its turbulent history, rich culture and amazing natural scenery makes for an unforgettable travel destination. And although Cuba is primarily associated with its political climate at the hand of Fidel Castro, you will remember the country after your visit as warm, welcoming, musical and, above all, relaxing. After Fidel Castro’s death, Cuba began to open up more to the outside world and travel became generally more accepted. Among other things, it has led to the establishment of more tour agencies to cater to foreign visitors and more local restaurants opening up that serve excellent traditional Cuban food. Nowadays, you’ll also find many small-scale, attractive boutique hotels on the island.

Rum, cigars and colonial cities

A trip around Cuba swings and the island will capture your heart. You can explore colonial cities and drink the best rum in the world while enjoying some of the finest cigars, if that’s your fancy. In the bustling capital Havana, you can stroll between colorful colonial buildings while cheerful Cuban music fills the air and stimulates your senses. Everywhere you’ll go, salsa music plays an important role, especially in the many music cafés where enthusiastic Cubans like to show how loose they are in the hips. And if you want to escape the city, the green valley of Vinales is a perfect place to escape to. This beautiful area is located around the village of Vinales, the center of Cuba’s world-famous cigar industry. During your tour of Cuba you will also get to know the history of Fidel Castro and socialism in Cuba.

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Havana

In short, the vibrant capital of Cuba, Havana is a feast for the senses. This city is located in the north of the island and due to its colorful colonial buildings, American vintage cars and beautiful sights it has a brilliant cultural vibe. In the old Havana Vieja district, for example, you can easily get lost for an afternoon in the narrow alleyways with its colonial Spanish buildings and overhanging balconies. Typical Cuban old-timers hoot the streets and the heavy smell of tobacco hangs in the air and uplifting Cuban music that plays from the street cafés will plunge you directly into an Caribbean vibe. Don’t forget to explore the good-looking town squares lined by coconut palms and cozy terraces and order a delicious mojito in one of the many chill bars. The Plaza de la Catedral is one such bustling square where the beautiful buildings certainly attract attention. There are plenty of cultural sights in Old Havana to discover.

Live Cuban music

Cuba is the ultimate journey for music lovers. Music is very important to Cuban culture. Strolling through the streets of one of the many beautiful cities of Cuba you will hear music coming from somewhere everywhere you go. Cubans spend much of their time on the street and that is where a lot of music can be found. It is difficult to discover a Cuban who lacks a sense of rhythm. Cuba and music just seem to belong together. And during your trip through the island you will experience many different music and dancing styles. From classic styles such as the Danzon, Son, Rumba and Salsa to the more modern styles such as Hiphop and Reggaeton.

Cuba's casas particulares

Staying with Cubans at home is becoming increasingly popular. Many visitors to Cuba choose to stay in casas particulares during a tour instead of a standard hotel. You can compare a stay here with an overnight stay in a local or traditional bed & breakfast. It gives an extra element to your trip because you get a better picture of everyday life and culture of the Cuban people. An additional advantage is that the locals benefit from your stay. In the casas you sleep in a room in a Cuban house with your own private shower and toilet. Often you also have a private veranda or roof terrace in your room where you can sit outside. In some casas you sit and dine together with the local family on the kitchen table. In other casas you might have more privacy, it depends. Some Cubans have also built extra rooms on their property specifically for guests.

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Paradise beaches

From white sand beaches to hidden coves and laid-back coastal towns, Cuba's beaches are a dream come true. They are among the most beautiful in the world and will bring you the relaxation you are looking for. You come here to enjoy the beach, the sea, the sun and the peace. There are many beaches to explore during your Cuba trip. Cayo Levisa, for example, is only a few hours away from the Havana. You will find only a few hotels here and long stretches of fine beach. Stroll along the surf looking for shells, go snorkeling or diving and plunge down on a bar stool in the evening for a tasty cocktail. Varadero is Cuba's most popular beach destination and is a two-hour drive from Havana. Playa Larga is a good option for travelers looking for a hidden, quiet spot. The place is small and there is a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. You can look for hidden caves, where you jump into the clear water with your snorkel. Here you will also find the largest salt water cave in Cuba.

Camagüey

Camagüey is one of the island’s oldest cities and a perfect town to explore. Get lost in the colorful and winding alleyways, dead-end streets and discover hidden town squares. Camaguey is located in the center of the island and was the hometown of local resistance hero Ignacio Agramonte. As a general, he fought against the Spaniards during the Ten Years' War. Since 2008, the historic city center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city owes that award to its unique urban layout and beautiful architecture. Her mix of winding and dead-end streets make the center a true maze that you can easily get lost in. In addition to its historical sites, there are also many religious buildings to see: the 19th century Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria at the Parque Ignacio Agramonte and the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Merced.

Bird-watching

Vibrant Cuba is home to no fewer than 22 endemic bird species. The diversity and exuberance of the birds, together with the beautiful landscape and relaxed lifestyle, make it an birding destination not to be missed. Cuba is a fantastic place for bird-watching. Although it is not the most obvious place to go into nature, there are still plenty of areas where you can encounter all kinds of beautiful birds. La Guira National Park is a popular birding destination, as is the Topes de Collantes nature reserve where you go birding and visit some beautiful waterfalls as well.

Vinales

After visiting bustling Havana many visitors find some relaxation in the green valleys and tobacco plantations of Vinales in the west of the island. This beautiful natural area is located around the village of Vinales, the center of Cuba's world-famous cigar industry. Nowhere else in the world will you encounter this unique landscape with its rust-red soil, steep karst mountains, mogotes (limestone hills) and extensive tobacco plantations. On horseback, you can trudge along the red sand trails with a guide to explore the valley. Along the way you will spot many tobacco fields, 'casas de tabaco', and also drying sheds where the tobacco leaves hang to dry for later use. This is the area where the best tobacco in all of Cuba is grown. It is the ideal place to try a real Cuban cigar or just to learn more about the process and history of these cigars.

Cienfuegos

In 1819, Cienfuegos was founded by French settlers, making the city just over 200 years old. Cienfuegos used to be a trading port for sugar cane, tobacco and coffee. The city is located on the southern side of Cuba on the Caribbean coast. The city of Cienfuegos is also known as "la Perla del Sur", the Pearl of the South. The old historic city center is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List because of its beauty. Traditional French architecture dominates in the city and the beautiful bays in the area are also worth seeing. This gives Cienfuegos a charm of its own, making it well worth a visit. Where the rest of Cuba has mainly Spanish influences, Cienfuegos is French oriented.

See you in Cuba!

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