Reasons To Visit Cuba
It’s surprisingly easy to forget Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and has by far the most beaches. The powder white sand and blue waters of a Cuban beach on a sunny day feels like walking through a postcard.
The Cuban cigar is one of the countries most famous exports. They are renowned for their flavour and quality as well as the precision and skill which goes into rolling that perfect Cohiba. Visiting a cigar factory is a classic Cuban experience and taking in the plantations in the beautiful countryside around Vinales is a real highlight.
If you want to see the real Cuba, head out of the bustling towns and into the surrounding countryside. There are huge sugar cane plantations and cattle ranches, towering royal palms, impressive mountain ranges covered in thick tropical vegetation and rich, fertile fields still ploughed by oxen. You'll also see local Cubans selling their produce or going about the serious business of playing dominoes with the ever-present bottle of rum!
Cuba has a truly fascinating past. Reading about Spanish colonialism, revolution, dictatorships and more revolution unveils the country’s story and how it fits into the modern world today in its own unique way. Taking the time to learn about its past and then talking about it with the locals when you arrive is an extremely rewarding experience.
The soul of Cuba is in its music and dance. Any visitor will find the vibrant rhythms of Cuban music providing a permanent background beat to their travels. ‘Son’ is perhaps the country’s most well known music and is a passionate and sultry mix of Spanish guitar and African drum, made famous by Ry Cooder and the Buena Vista Social Club.
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Havana’s streets are filled with countless vintage cars and there are no advertisements, apart from political exhortations, giving Cuba’s capital a wonderful air of nostalgia.
Tucked away on one of the quieter street corners in old Havana the Conde de Villanueva Hotel is the former mansion of Claudio Martínez de Pinillos, Count of Villanueva who was the leader of...
The Hotel Florida is a fine example of Havana's numerous charming colonial hotels. As with many of its sister properties the hotel is part of a long list of 19th century buildings which have...
A member of the Habaguanex group, the Hostal Valencia is a small and simple hotel located in the heart of Havana Vieja just 200 metres from the Plaza de Armas.
Hotel San Miguel is located just on the edge of the old town overlooking Habana's Morro (castle). The fully restored late 19th Century neoclassical home has 10 small and simple air...
This hotel was built as a mansion for the Santovenia Counts and became, through the 1800s, the favourite hotel for ship owners, artists, traders and distinguished travellers. The...
The hotel's full name is the Hotel Palacio del Marques de San Felipe y Santiago de Bejucal, and it has a superb location on Plaza San Francisco in the heart of Old Havana.
The Parque Central has recently been taken over by the Iberostar chain. It is one of Havana's best modern hotels and boasts one of the best locations in the city right on the leafy main square it is named after.
The Saratoga is one of Havana's very best hotels and is perfectly located for exploring many parts of the city. The hotel has been rebuilt behind its original façade and offers a mixture of...
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Further reading:CubaWhen to GoHighlightsItinerary IdeasPlaces to GoThings to DoAccommodationAbout CubaCountry Guides
Other countries in Central America, Mexico & Cuba:BelizeCosta RicaGuatemalaHondurasMexicoNicaraguaPanama