CUBA

Must See Time Capsule

4 Weeks West to East

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Marker Map

All recommended sites & everything else can be located & checked out with a few clicks - most have 10 photos showing views, food, beds, scenery, facilities, goods - everything you need to make an informed decision & links to all of them.

Just click on any marker, then on the traffic arrow and a 2nd location for instant detailed public & private travel information including routes, distances, times, frequency, transfers & stop locations.

Your holiday - Your way

Country Guide

Che Guevara in the colours of the Cuban Flag

COUNTRY GUIDE

Romeo and Juliet Cuban Cigars world's best iconic expensive famous

Photo by Joris Visser on Unsplash

BEST TIME TO GO - November to April for sunny weather.

Wet season is June to November.
Hurricane season is August to October.
Like most places in the tropics rain doesn't last that long and then the sun comes out again.

STAY - Not all the booking sites have listings in Cuba. Booking.com doesn't. You can book directly with the hotel or use some of the other sites like Hotels.com. Click on the hotel on Google and you may get the website. The advantage of using airbnb and staying local in a Casa Particular is that you get to meet the locals and they will help you with your bookings and sightseeing.

VISAS - Click here for information

TIPS -

Cuba has ATM's now but they don't take cards issued by US banks
Credit cards are accepted in resorts and big hotels
Euros, Pounds or Canadian Dollars are the best cash to take - don't take US dollars
Have a look at this currency guide
Carry a photocopy of your passport at all times
Download Maps.me app and Cuba maps onto your phone before you go
Beware of fake cigars
The Cohiba was Castro's cigar of choice in his early years
Carry toilet paper, hand sanitiser and wet wipes with you

FLIGHTS -

Havana Jose Marti International Airport (HAV) - has direct flights to 42 destinations in 22 countries. These include Toronto, Moscow, Lima, Mexico, Buenos Airies and the main European hubs. These would be the best airports to link up with.

Santiago de Cuba Antonio Maceo International Airport (SCU) - has direct flights to Havana, Cancun, Jamaica, Haiti and Madrid which is a good place to connect with other flights.

Baracoa Aeropuerta Gustavo Rizo (BCA) - 2 airlines Air Canada and Cubana have flights to Havana.

Once you've bought your tickets get some travel insurance to cover yourself.

BUDGET -

Most things are reasonably priced and if you are travelling as a couple or a pair you should be able to get by on about $100 each. Compared to central American countries it is expensive.

POPULATION - 11,466,540

CAPITAL - Havana

RELIGION - Roman Catholic

ETHNICITY - White 64%, Mulatto 26%, Black 9%

LANGUAGE - Spanish

NATIONAL DRINK - Cuba libre (Rum cola and lime)

NATIONAL DISH - Ropa Vieja (shredded beef and veg)

GOVERNMENT - Socialist Democracy / Communist

BORN - 29th May 1902

CURRENCY - Cuban Peso CUP $1 = 26 CUP, Cuban Convertible Peso CUP 1 CUP = $1

BIG MAC IN $US - N/A only in Guantanamo Bay which is 7CUC for a meal deal

LITERACY - 99.75%

MINIMUM WAGE ANNUAL IN $US - $102 supplemented

LIFE EXPECTANCY - 79

TOURISTS PER YEAR - 4.5 million

NO.1 TOURIST SITE - Old Havana

CHEERS - Salud

Flights

HP Cuba

Cuba Discovery

Havana

APRIL SUN IN CUBA 26N

APR

HIGHLIGHTS - cigars, rum & pink flamingos

Havana 5N

Varadero 4N

Cienfuegos 3N

Trinidad 4N

Santa Clara 1N

Overnight train 1N

Santiago de Cuba 4N

Baracoa 4N = 26N

Fidel's Tomb
Cheap Lobster
Cuban Coffee
Cuban Cigar factory
The April Sun in Cuba
Museo del Chocolate
Ride the Hershey train
Go to a Chocolate Farm
Havana Club Rum Museum
Che Guevara's Mausoleum
Three UNESCO listed Old Towns
The original Bacardi Rum factory
Seven UNESCO listed sites altogether
One of the best beaches in the Caribbean
Stroll the Malecón - 8 km of seafront promenade
Varadero - one of the world's most beautiful beach resorts
Drink Hemmingway's favourite drinks in his favourite bars
Cruise around in Yank Tanks - wonderful restored old cars from the USA
Catch a show at the Tropicana - the most famous of Cuba’s pre-revolutionary clubs
Sunday nights (Cuban night) at the Hotel Nacional De Cuba or a swim in the pool
Visit the Bay of Pigs - site of the botched USA invasion

1 - 5 Havana - 5N

Christopher Columbus was the first European to set foot on Cuba. After the Spanish-American War it was dominated by the USA. In 1959 Fidel Castro led a revolution that kicked out the US backed dictator Batista. In 1962 we had the Cuban missile crisis of which not many people are aware the US had missiles in Turkey pointed at the USSR and Cuba was a retaliation. In 1980 Castro let anyone who wanted to leave Cuba including released prisoners and the mentally ill who fled to Miami. He died in 2016 at the age of 90. Numerous attempts by the CIA to assassinate him over the years were as successful as their Bay of Pigs invasion.

Check this timetable to see when you can catch the train from Santa Clara to Santiago de Cuba and plan your starting date around it. There could be a train everyday and you won't need to worry.

Fly into Havana and get into the spirit of things with an Old Havana Car transfer into the city. They also do tours. There are plenty of things you will want to see and do. Pre-revolution, post revolution and even non revolution. Cuban Rum Museum, cigars, street music, culture, shopping and most of all the friendly and honest people. Walk around and soak it all in.

attractive suburb in Havana leafy trees shady clean

Photo by Dorothea OLDANI on Unsplash

Downtown Havana

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Walking tour of old Havana famous bars malecon La Bodeguita del Medio Hotel Nacional de Cuba

STAY

In Vedado which is less of a tourist trap and more authentic than the Old Town. You can stay in Casa Particulares where owners rent out rooms in there private houses and provide meals for a small additional charge. You can find these on airbnb. You will also find hotels on Google maps which will give you there web sites if you click on them. Hotels.com is another good option. Down the bay end of 23rd street known as La Rampa is where all of the action is. If you want to stay in the Old Town try Hostal Leonel 1 which is close to everything.

See the Hotel Nacional de Cuba which was declared a National Monument. A large number of famous people have stayed here since 1930 including Errol Flynn, Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardener.

Tour a cigar factory and pick up a few while you are there

Take a free walking tour of Old Havana - one of the main places for street life here is Calle Mercaderes

Visit the secret cigar shop in the Hotel Nacional

Do a guided taxi tour in a restored USA classic / or a Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

See Finca Vigia - Hemmingway lived in Havana for two decades and this is his house

Stroll along the Malecon the 8km seafront promenade

For a change of scenery, hop on the ferry and see another side of Havana

Visit the La Plaza de la Revolucion - one of the largest squares in the world with various points of ineterest and the Museo de la Revolucion

Visit the Museo del Chocolate and see how chocolate is made while sampling some.

See the cannon blast and ceremony every night at 9.00 pm at the El Morro Fortress

DAY TRIPS

Get some beach time at Playas del Este

Take a daytrip out to the UNESCO Vinales region and visit a Tobacco Farm.

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Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash

Stunning Vinales

EAT

For great coffee and breakfast try the Cafe Arcangel - for afternoon coffee and cake head to Cafe El Escorial

Try some of these restaurants

Paladares are restaurants traditionally set up in peoples homes but these days more are being set up in more purpose built spaces. You'll want to try the food and ambiance at La Guarida

For a meal / drink with spectacular views go to La Torre

You'll find street food vendors across the city with tasty treats

Lobster - buy one get one free, sometimes

Coppelia Park Ice Cream Parlour - the world's largest cathedral of ice cream

DRINK

The Tropicana Show, the most famous cabaret in Havana.

La Rampa - the bay end of 23rd Street has lots of cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs.

A Daiquiri at El Floridita and a Mojito at La Bodeguita del Medio just like Papa Hemmingway

7 great bars - try these rooftop bars for sundowners

10 hotspots for a night out

6 - 9 Varadero - 4N

Time to head to the beach and what better way than on the Hershey Train. Even though it's a lot slower. Varadero is a strip of some of the world's best beaches that stick out 20 kilometers into the Straits of Florida. Chill out here for a few days enjoying the beach culture and local countryside. If for some reason the train is not running it's a simple matter to take the bus.

STAY

In the hotel zone at the near end of the Hicacos Peninsula where you can easily walk around to the restaurants and nightlife. Click here for airbnb rentals - hotels and resorts - and some other choices.

Go shopping at the Varadero Street Market to pick up souvenirs and presents for people back home

Go for a swim or a dive at Saturno Cave 30 kms south.

Visit the Slave Museum in Matanzas - in a castle

Do a cooking class

Play the spectacular Varadero Golf Club. Have sundowners at dinner at the wonderful Xanadu Mansion with it's breath taking views of the course and the water. It used to belong to the Du Pont family and is now a hotel as well as the course's Club House.

The usual water sports and diving that you find at beach resorts.

DAY TRIP

If you've developed a liking for the Cuban flavours you might want to do a Sugar, Rum and Tobacco tour

EAT

Start with this list of 5 featuring seafood and local cuisine. You will find many places to eat and drink just walking around in the hotel zone. Some of the resorts are all inclusive if that is the way you like to go.

DRINK

Try these places for live music and cabarets. Just stroll around and you will find plenty of places.

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Yank Tank cuba still running maintained highlight special cars look fantastic

10 - 13 Cienfuegos - 3N

Then it's off to the Pearl of the South, Cienfuegos the pretty little UNESCO Heritage Listed city on the bay. It is one of the highlights of Cuba and you will enjoy seeing Pink Flamingos and sunset cruises. To get here organise a customised private Bay of Pigs tour in a classic old US classic car and get dropped off at your hotel in Cienfuegos at the end of it. Don't forget to drop in to the Museo Playa Giron on the way through.

STAY

Near the Malecon in the Punta Gorda neighbourhood within walking distance of the restaurants and bars. Click here for airbnb places. There are a couple of famous hotels as well - the Hotel La Union and the Hotel Jagua

Take a "Train Trip" around the city

Have a boat trip on to Laguna Guanaroca to see the Pink Flamingos. After the lake you could get some beach time at Playa Ranch Luna.

Visit Jugua Castle at the entrance to the bay of Cienfuegos. It was built to keep the pirates at bay. You can take the ferry across the bay to get there.

EAT

The Palacio del Valle - a palace built in 1917 which features a museum and a rooftop bar and restaurant - visit the museum, have some sundowners then enjoy a meal.

Cheap self catering in the Mercardo Municipal

Brisas del Mar, for seafood and sea views - Dona Nora, good value and good views - Villa Lagarto, al fresco on the bay - Finca del Mar, upmarket seafood featuring lobster and octopus

Restaurant and bar map for Ciefuegos cuba clubs night life waterfront dinner theatre sundowners sunsets cocktails

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DRINK

Sundowners at Club Cienfuegos - then stick around for dinner

Tour the Teatro Tomas Terry and then see a show in the evening

Here's a comprehensive list of the local nightlife.

14 - 16 Trinidad - 4N

Not far down the road is another Colonial treasure - Trinidad (de Cuba). They are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There is a gorgeous beach nearby, waterfalls to swim in and a unique place to spend the evenings. You can take the bus which takes just over an hour, or you can go via the invigorating El Nicho Falls. Said to be the most beautiful waterfall in all of Cuba. You could either hire a private taxi or take the cheaper colectivo (shared taxi).

STAY

If you want to splash out you could stay in the iconic Iberostar Heritage Grand Trinidad ***** starting from around US$200 a night. For something a little cheaper have a look here. Somewhere near the Plaza Mayor is a good area, just click on the map to see what's available. For airbnb click here and click on DO below to save $55.

Take a Salsa lesson

Visit Museo Romantico to see what it was like to be a Sugar Baron back in the day

Check out the views from the bell tower at the Museo de Historia Municipal

DAY TRIPS

Take the steam train to UNESCO Heritage Listed Valle de los Ingenios once the sugar capital of the world.

Salto de Caburni - scenic hike through a coffee plantation up to a 62 meter waterfall with a great swimming hole

Boat trip out to Cayo Blanco for a day at the beach snorkelling the coral reef that surrounds the Cayo. This tour has a lobster lunch and open bar.

It's a great area to go horse riding

EAT

The Jazz Cafe Restaurant - with live music and all ingredients sourced from within 30 kms

Try this Top 10 of local restaurants

DRINK

Disco Ayala - a disco in an underground cave with a dark past. Every night they have a show with fire dancers and acrobats etc.

La Casa de la Musica - 7pm start for sunset then the music starts

La Taberna de la Canchanchara - where the famous Canchanchara drink was invented during the independence war against Spain.

You will find live music on many street corners, action around the Plaza Mayor and here are a few more places to head out to

17 + 18 Santa Clara - 1N + Train - 1N

Off to Santa Clara for a night. It is a short one hour trip on the bus. This town is a bit edgier and has Che's Mausoleum and a transvestite show. Which is unusual for these parts. In fact it is the only official one in the whole country. It is also the place to catch the train down to Santiago de Chile. You will need to work out dates and times from this timetable and plan your trip accordingly. The timetable is subject to changes and it may affect the day you start your trip. Thankfully there will be more, not less trains running in the future.

STAY

Near the Parque Leoncio Vidal. Try the Hotel Central - Santa Clara Libre Hotel - or the Hostal Vista Park. Here are the airbnb rentals.

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Che Guevarra statue Santa Clara icon castro mausoleum

Che in Santa Clara

Visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum where he is interred. Another attraction here is a military train which Che and his men derailed during the Cuban Revolution.

Santa Clara's tobacco factory is one of Cuba's best and they let you look around at a relaxed pace. The Fabrica de Tobacos Constantino Perez Carrodegua is considered by some to have the best tobacco in the world. You can buy some at the gift shop and enjoy them onsite with an excellent coffee. It is the quintessential Cuban experience and a must do in Santa Clara.

There's always something happening at the Parque Leoncio Vidal. It is the heart of the city and a great place to do a little people watching.

EAT

The Top 10 food guide

DRINK

At the transvestite show at El Mejunje, it's open to all and is about inclusion, not exclusion.

And the rest of the bars and clubs .

19 - 22 Santiago de Cuba - 4N

The original capital of Cuba, Santiago de Cuba is the town where Facundo Bacardi Masso started experimenting with rum making and set up his first factory. It is still there today, making a different brand now though. Ricky Arnaz's father was the mayor here for a while and it was also the breeding ground for revolutionaries over the years. There is a rich mix of culture here and it is known as the most Caribbean of Cuban cities. There is a UNESCO rated castle here and many colonial buildings to see.

STAY

Near the Parque Cespedes a lively Plaza where there are numerous hotels, cafes, restaurants and bars. You could try the Hotel Imperial - Hotel Casa Grande (where Graham Greene stayed) - or the Gran Hotel San Felix. For a cheaper option there is the Casa Particular - Hostal Raul Y Kathy. For airbnb click here.

Pay your respects to Fidel at his tomb

Visit the original Bacardi Rum Factory. The government makes another brand here now but you can go to the tourist bar for tastings and sales.

See the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Castle of San Pedro de la Roca aka El Morro with it's interesting Pirate Museum

Head out for a Sunset Cruise

DAY TRIPS

El Salton - for walking - horse riding - jeep tour - thermal baths

Biran - birthplace of Fidel Castro with a fascinating museum on his parents farm

Go to Baconao Park - a strange mix of attractions including a valley full of life sized dinasaurs - Climb Gran Piedro and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Coffee Plantation Ruins - at Museo La Isabelica

EAT

Try the Street Food and make a booking for Roy's Terrace Inn Roof Garden Restaurant

DRINK

Santiago de Cuba is famous for it's nightlife

23 - 26 BARACOA - 4N

A 5 hour bus trip will land you at your next stop Baracoa, Cuba's oldest town. This is where Columbus supposedly first set foot in Cuba. He was so impressed that he said it was "the most beautiful land that human eyes had ever seen". Known as Cuba's best kept secret it is a very fertile area blessed with a high rainfall and 29 rivers.

Before the Cuban revolution it was only accessible by sea. There are good beaches and waterfalls. The wildlife includes the world's smallest bird, bat and frog. Best of all though is what is growing in the hills - Coffee, Coconut, Bananas and CHOCOLATE. There are Plantations for tastings and good desert menus around town.

Many people fall in love with this remote town so if you have a few spare days up your sleeve this would be a good place to spend them in.

You can fly back to Havana from here or go back to Santiago de Cuba where you have more options. Have a look at FLIGHTS in the Country Guide.

STAY

At the historical Hotel El Castillo which was built as a Spanish fort in the 1700's. Be aware it involves a bit of a climb to get up to but then you are rewarded with the view. If you struggle climbing hills you might want to try an airbnb which will should be cheaper too. The nightlife is on Calle Antonio Maceo.