Cuba is an ideal place to be, whether it be a beach holiday, city break or road trip. Because it is on many travel bucket lists, you would hear things like 'You should go now, because it's changing fast!' about Cuba. All full of old-timers, colorful streets, and sleeping in casas particulares, with enough diversity to please all types of travelers. Quick background: The island of Cuba was one of the earliest places to witness Hispanic exploration. History buffs will feel as though time has stood still in Cuba's charming towns. Nature lovers and adventure seekers will enjoy hiking.
You can choose to book with a travel organization or you can choose to organize your trip individually. Either it is more security or more flexiblity. Because it is relatively busy in Cuba at the moment, your transportation might end up being fully booked and you'll be forced to search for an alternative.
It is never easier to get a Visa for anywhere on earth than Cuba, but there are plenty of perfectly legitimate sites that will send you a Visa. You need this plus a valid health insurance (not issued by a U.S. insurance company) and a return ticket. The cost of the Visa is around $15. You can obtain your tourist card from the airline or travel agency which you bought your trip from, or a Cuban consulate/embassy.
The perfect way to stay overnight in Cuba is in a casa particular, which is a Cuban version of a bed & breakfast. The experience is unique and you get to stay with Cubans. Check out mycasaparticular.com for a casa particular.
You can get access to the internet by buying a scratch card at an Etecsa office. Just bring your identification. It costs 2 CUC for one hour of use.
While the official language is Spanish, English is fairly widely spoken in Havana and in the large hotels and resorts. Find a lively atmosphere in Havana, Cuba's capital city. Have a little R&R at Cuba's sandy beaches and azure waters.
Havana is all Spanish colonial bedrock, 50s soda pop-coloured cars, flirtation with Russia, and 60-year-old communist revolution. Make sure you are in Havana on January 6 for the Havana Carnival on Three Kings' Day which tours the historical center of Havana with conga music.
Dive coral reefs in the Gardens of the Queen, or snorkel rare coral off the Bay of Pigs.
Trinidad is a gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can find Museo Histrico Municipal here, from whose tower a wonderful view of the city can be admired.
Santiago has the hottest climate and is very musical. In Parque CŽspedes, the heart of the town, you can visit Calle Eredia and the Casa de la Trova, where you can listen traditional music that hosts famous artists such as Eliades Ochoa.
Avail horse riding tours that cost 5 CUC per hour at Viñales, home to tobacco plantations of Cuba's famous cigars.
Make sure to know Cuba inside and out.
