Cuba

What to see

Havana

A shabby chic city that is the hub of all things Cuban and the island’s beating heart. Faded glamour pervades the Spanish colonial city as American cars from the 1950s cruise its boulevards and its inhabitants collect on the Malecón. Check out Habana Vieja, Havana’s UNESCO-recognised old quarter, the largest and best-preserved in the Caribbean.

Santiago de Cuba

The Ciudad Heroe or Hero City was Cuba’s first capital. A focal point for revolutionary activity due to the proximity to Castro’s mountainous battleground, it is now a sophisticated place that boasts a brilliant carnival.

Trinidad

A perfectly preserved colonial city dating from mid-19th century whose architecture and treasures remain intact, which is also home to some outstanding museums and galleries as well as music houses full of traditional sounds.

Camaguey

A peculiarly labyrinthine colonial city once plagued by pirates that’s now home to some great eateries and lively bars.

Santa Clara

Home to a buzzing cultural scene that’s almost swamped by its associations with Che Guevara. Head here to visit the monuments, museums and great guerrilla leader’s hallowed remains.

Baracoa

Cuba’s most unusual settlement subsisted in isolation for years but is now accessible to visitors and offers a tropical wilderness and haunting legends to explore.

Top experiences / sites of particular interest

Isla de la Juventud

A former hideout for pirates, this island in the Archipelago de los Cannarreos was the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe.

Viñales

Scene for some spectacular limestone cliffs pocked with an extensive network of caves to explore as well as a number of verdant green tobacco fields.

Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra

A quiet park where you can trek through lush cloud forest to reach Castro’s revolutionary headquarters at La Plata.

Archipelago de Camayuey

Head to Cayo Coco or Cayo Guillermo for deep-sea fishing, diving and other watersports in typically tropical surroundings.

Coast

Cuba has some superb beaches and calm waters that are ideal for snorkelling and diving. Try the smart resorts at Varadero or the vast beach at Palya Santa Lucia flanked by the world’s second largest coral reef.

When to go

Weather & Seasons: Cuba benefits from a hot, sub-tropical climate year round. The majority of rainfall occurs from May to October, with hurricanes sometimes battering the island from August to November. The least rain falls from January to April, which are also cooler months to visit. Ideally visit between December and April to take advantage of the best conditions.

Important Dates and Festivals: For maximum colour and drama attend the Havana Carnival in late July and early August or visit Santiago de Cuba in July for the stunning Fiesta del Fuego.

Getting there / around

Flights: There is an international airport just outside Havana (HAV) as well as close to Santiago (SCU) and Camaguey (CMW). There are a number of internal flights available.

Rail: There is a rudimentary rail network.

Road: The roads are of mixed quality and invariably the public buses and coaches are crowded.

Car hire: is possible, especially in the larger cities but beware roads are often pitted and signage is poor.

Potential itineraries

Short Trips: You can cover much of the country in two to three weeks given its size and network of roads. To take in Cuba’s highlights start in Havana and head east to Viñales before returning to the capital and heading east to Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Trinidad and on to Camaguey. Push on to Holguín for a glimpse of the real Cuba then head to the revolutionary areas of Bayamo and Santiago de Cuba before finishing on the tropical idyll that is Baracoa.

Guides

Overall Country Guides: There are comprehensive guidebooks to Cuba available from Footprint and a more heavily illustrated book from Insight and Eyewitness Top 10.

Street Maps: Rough Guides publishes a dedicated book to Havana whilst Time Out offers Havana and the Best of Cuba.

Nature Guides: Birdwatchers should pack a copy of Helm’s Birdwatchers’ Guide to Cuba.

Maps

Country Maps: Good country maps of Cuba are available fromBorch. Gizimap also produce a decent country map of Cuba that is available flat or folded.

City Maps: ITMB offer a map of Western Cuba and Havana, whilst Freytag & Berndt publish a street plan of Havana.

Read More

Overview of Cuba: For an introduction to the country pick up Cuba, A History by Hugh Thomas or Cuba, A New History by Richard Gott. The Cuba Reader from Duke University Press also provides some interesting insights and information.

History: In his highly personalised account, Stephen Smith travelled extensively around the island in Land of Miracles, in search of the real Cuba and Fidel Castro.

Classics: Ernest Hemmingway’s short story The Old Man and the Sea is set in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Havana and tells the tale of a man and a fish but also paints vivid portraits of the region.

Sight & Sound

Music: A unique synthesis of African, Spanish, French, indigenous and Caribbean influences have given rise to Cuba’s vibrant music scene. Keep an ear out for Salsa, Nueva Trova, Rumba, Son-Chanui and Reggaeton beats.

Film: Films to watch for a flavour of the country include the hit comedy Fresa y Chocolate, Memorias de Subdessarrollo, Soy Cuba and the road movie Viva Cuba.

Language

Spanish

Language Books:Pick up Lonely Planet’s Spanish Phrasebook to help you get by.

Currency

Cuban peso (CUP) made up of 100 centavos.

Visas

UK and US citizens require a visa before entry to the country.

Health issues

Hep A, Hep B, Rabies and Typhoid vaccinations are recommended.

Safety, FO travel advice

Cuba is generally safe and stable, with some instances of opportunistic bag snatching and petty theft.

Useful Telephone Numbers

Cuban country representatives can be found

in the UK at

and in the US at

There is a tourist board

in the UK at

and non in the US.

For more information visit www.cubaldn.com, www.cubanet.org or www.cubatravel.cu.http://.