Cuba is an (is) country located in the Caribbean Sea, south of the state of Florida in the United States. The communist regime and the trade embargo imposed by the United States have made Cuba different from the surrounding islands. The population is relatively poor, with the exception of people who work in tourism and receive sufficient tips in Western currency. Music and dance are two important ingredients in the Cuban lifestyle. Furthermore, the old American cars are a well-known trademark for Cuba. Not out of nostalgia, but out of sheer necessity, the old cars are kept running for as long as possible.. Check topmbadirectory for how to get to Cuba.
A vacation to Cuba means that you will take an unforgettable journey through a unique country. Don’t forget to arrange your Cuba visa (Tarjeta del Turista) before you travel to Cuba. You must also bring proof that you have travel insurance that covers medical costs.
Cuba ‘s Top 10 Things to Do
#1. Havana
The capital of Cuba is Havana. This city has a world famous, kilometers long boulevard: Malecón. This Malecón boulevard runs from Castillo de la Punta to Miramar. When there are storms, the meters high waves beat over the balustrade of this boulevard. In Havana’s old quarter, Havana Vieja, there are many ancient monuments with historical backgrounds and beautiful villas. Many different architectural styles can be seen in Centro Havana dating from 1890 to 1940. The third district is Vedado with its skyscrapers. There is much to experience here due to the range of shops, cinemas and offices. You will also see large old houses with beautiful and large gardens.In the Plaza de la Revolucion, former President Fidel Castro delivered his hours of fiery speeches. There is a tall tower with the statue of Jose Martí, Cuba’s national hero. You will also find the library and a number of ministries here. On the other side of the square is a large image of Ché Guevara on the building of the Ministry of the Interior. Check simplyyellowpages for mass media and culture of Cuba.
La Bodeguita is also seen as the birthplace of the famous cocktail ‘Mojito’. This restaurant/bar has been home to many famous and lesser known writers and artists such as Salvador Allende, Pablo Neruda, Ernest Hemingway and Josignacio. Here you will find the typical atmosphere and dishes of Cuba. A typical dish is rice with black beans and meat or chicken. Many tourists have left some words on the walls of La Bodeguita del Medio. Floridita bar/restaurant is well known for its ‘Daiquiri’ cocktail and was Ernest Hemingway’s favorite bar. It is also an excellent fish restaurant.
If you want to know the history of Cuba, you should definitely visit the former palace of the Cuban presidents in Old Havana. Today it houses the Museo de la Revolución. There are, among other things, documents and photos about the Cuban wars of independence. Behind this museum you can still see some surface-to-air missiles, spy plane and other vehicles. This museum is located in Calle Refugio.
The Museo de la Ciudad houses collections about the city, Cuban wars, porcelain art, paintings and historical furniture. The museum is located in the beautiful palace ‘Palacio de los Kapitains Generales’. The property itself is worth it. The Baroque style and size of the monument are a real beauty. You can find this museum on the Plaza de Armas in Old Havana.
#2. Trinidad
The Cuban city of Trinidad has been registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988. This specialized organization ensures that this special piece of cultural heritage, which is considered by many to be the most beautiful city in Cuba, is preserved as it is. The old center of Trinidad is therefore rightly a sight that should not be missing from this list. During the day, the stairs next to the church on Plaza Mayor are a benevolent spot where you can watch Cuban life pass you by, whether or not while enjoying a cool drink. In the evening there is an entrance fee and you can enjoy live performances, salsa dancing couples and the delicious Cuban rum. A walk through the center of Trinidad can yield very interesting pictures. The colours, smells and music sounding everywhere take you into a pleasant atmosphere like that only found in Cuba. And pay attention, because several places in Trinidad are hiding delicious restaurants, some with a beautiful patio. Culture buffs can visit museums about the fight against counter-revolutionaries ‘Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra Bandidos’, the ‘Museo de Arquitectura Colonial’ or ‘Museo Romántico’. If you have seen the city you can still visit the ‘Playa Ancón’ beach.
#3. Valle de Viñales
These special mountains are also called ‘elephant ridges’ because of their appearance. This valley with an area of 132 km² is located in the Parque Nacional, where you can enjoy hiking and climbing. A lot of tobacco is also grown in this valley. A visit to a tobacco plantation should therefore certainly not be missed. In tobacco factory, you get a clear explanation about the whole process. The caves Cueva del Indio, Cueva de Santo Tomás and Cueva de Jose Miguel are definitely worth a visit.
#4. Cienfuegos
The city of Cienfuegos is named after General Jose Cienfuegos Jovellanos, who ordered the laying of the foundation stone in the city’s construction in 1819. It blossomed into an important port area in Cuba. A walk through the center shows that this period brought great prosperity at the time. The French settlers left a legacy of beautiful colonial, art nouveau and neoclassical buildings that can still be admired today. Among the most interesting sights of Cienfuegos are the beautiful park ‘Parque José Martí, Teatro Tomas Terry, Palacio del Valle in the Punta Gorda district and Cementerio La Reina.
#5. Topes de Collantes
The beautiful nature reserve known as ‘Parque Natural Topes de Collantes’ has a lot to offer. Visitors can take exceptionally scenic hikes here that take you past several waterfalls, rock formations, underground rivers, and small communities. Some preparation starts in the visitor center ‘Complejo Turístico Topes de Collantes’. This is located next to a large spa hotel where people used to be treated against tuberculosis. The mountainous area known as Sierra del Escambray often offers spectacular views and challenges that may require different disciplines. But novice and recreational hikers can also take wonderful walks here. Don’t forget to take a dip in the wonderfully clear water at Cueva La Batata and at Salto de Caburní. Topes de Collantes is located about eighteen kilometers north of Trinidad.
#6. Pinar del Río
This area in Cuba is best known for its tobacco plantations. Many plantations can be visited with or without a guided tour. At the tobacco plantation Francisco Donatien in Pinar del Rio you are even introduced to the employees who sometimes work with a thick cigar in their mouth. This is where the famous Cuban cigar brands such as Romeo y Juliet, Cohiba and Montechristo come from. The area in Pinar del Río is also a feast for the eyes. The green valleys with their rock formations are very impressive.
#7. Varadero
Varadero is the seaside resort of Cuba. Many resorts and hotels, clubs and bars can be found here. It is located on the Hicacos peninsula and is about 140 km from Havana. In the north-east is a natural park ‘Hicacos Point’, where the ruins of the La Calavera are located. Varadero has about 20 km of white sandy beaches where many tourists still enjoy the wonderful climate.
#8. Vintage
cars Nowhere in the world do you see so many classic American cars as in Cuba. Especially in cities such as Havana and Trinidad you see large numbers of old-timers that mainly date from the fifties of the last century. They are a legacy of a period when Americans still visited Cuba and traded with Cuba. After the trade embargo was imposed, it became virtually impossible to import new cars from America or Europe. They have therefore been forced to keep the old cars, mainly American-made, running. Now these cool containers are one of the most important sights of Cuba.
#9. Camagüey
The cityscape of Camagüey, formerly founded as Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe’, is made up of many squares, hidden patios, narrow streets, colorful historic buildings and churches such as the ‘Iglesia de la Merced’. You can easily spend a whole day in Camagüey and even then you probably haven’t seen everything. Must-see places include the colonial old town, Plaza de San Juan de Dios, Plaza de Armas, Museo Ignacio Agramonte, Parque Ignacio Agramonte, Plaza de la Recolución, Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria and the Cementario Santo Cemetery Cristo del Buen Viaje Camaguey.
#10. Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway was a writer and journalist who lived in Cuba during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1954 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Many of his works were written in Cuba, to which his name is still attached. There is also a real Hemingway route to follow from Havana, where he always stayed in the same hotel, followed by a visit to his favorite bar where the first bar stool was reserved. His favorite drink was of course the Mojito. The route ends in Cojimar. The small fishing village of Cojimar is something of a pilgrimage site for Ernest Hemingway enthusiasts. There is also a Hemingway memorial.
