Cuba. The Island of the Revolution and the Pearl of the Antilles.
The country is renowned for its stagnation over the last six decades, since the 1959 Revolution stopped the clocks and turned everything upside down. The first impressions can seem a little confusing, but once you get to know it better you will fall in love with it. This is a country where you can wave goodbye to everyday assumptions and expect the unexpected.
Cuba is a Caribbean island, and the beaches and bays are pristine and a holiday must. But don’t make the mistake of thinking this is all there is; there’s a whole world beyond the resorts. Get off the beaten path and seek them out.
Explore the vibrant and colourful streets of Havana, Trinidad and Cienfuegos, hike the rugged mountains and wildlife rich nationals parks and discover majestic waterfalls. The country’s captivating history, friendly residents, lively neighbourhoods, swinging salsa rhythms, a nostalgic world of classic cars, refreshing cocktails, original cigars and wonderful nature are all going to fascinate you.
The country may not be traditionally known for its food, but the restaurant scene is heating up with new restaurant openings since the lift of restrictions by Raul Castro. The pace of modernization on the island is increasing exponentially and a new level of luxury is introduced but it has not yet compromised this magical country. Hence, there’s rarely been a better time to visit Cuba.
Cuba can rightfully claim to be one of the most unique destinations on the planet. Get ready to explore it.
Cuba Highlights
Cities
Havana
Trinidad
Cienfuegos
Camaguey
Santiago
Varadero
Santa Clara
Baracoa
Experiences
Ride in a Classic Car
Drink a Mojito at Hotel Nacional
Dance at a Salsa Bar
Visit a Tobacco Farm and Fields
Enjoy Cuban Cigars
Swim in a Waterfall Lake
Stroll at the Malecon
Scuba Diving at Jardines de la Reina
Nature
Topes de Collantes National Park
Valle de Viñales
Playa Paraiso | Cayo Largo
El Nicho Waterfall
Playa Los Flamencos | Cayo Coco
Peninsula de Zapata
Varadero Beach
Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
Landmarks
Che Guevara Mausoleum | Santa Clara
Plaza de la Revolución | Havana
Castillo del Morro | Santiago
San Francisco de Asis | Trinidad
Teatro Tomas Terry | Cienfuegos
El Morro | Havana
Casa de Don Diego Velázquez | Santiago
Finca Vigía | Havana
Viñales Valley
El Nicho
Cayo Largo
El Malecon
Che Guevara Mausoleum
Cuba Map
Experience Cuba
Our Suggested Tours
Quick Facts
Capital: Havana
Population: 11.3 million
Language: Cuban Spanish, the variety of the Spanish language as it is spoken in Cuba
Time Zone: Cuba Standard Time (CST) | UTC−5 in Winter & UTC−4 in Summer
Currency: Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC); locals use the Cuban Peso (CUP)
Plugs: The plugs are type A, B, C and L. The standard voltages are 110V and 220V and frequency is 60Hz.
✩ Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in the world with almost all of the population (99.8%) being literate.
✩ It is the largest Caribbean island both in terms of size and population. It is also the 17th largest island in the world.
✩ Vintage American cars from the 50s and 60s are still driving on Cuban roads.
✩ Cuba is the only country in the world that has a double currency system.
✩ The country’s coastline stretches more than 5,700 km.
✩ Cuba has 70,000 qualified doctors. The whole of Africa has only 50,000.
✩ It has nine UNESCO World Heritage sites; two of them natural and the other seven cultural.
✩ Ernest Hemingway lived in Cuba for twenty years and wrote two of his most famous novels there; The Old Man and the Sea and For Whom the Bell Tolls.
✩ Cuba is home to the largest flamingo colonies in the western hemisphere.
✩ Cuban people earn approximately $29.60 a month on average.
✩ Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba in 1492, and claimed it for Spain.
✩ The only time in history that it snowed in Cuba was on 12th March 1857.
✩ The United States pays Cuba $4,085 each month for rent of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Cuba has never cashed the checks. It is rumoured Fidel Castro kept them in his top desk drawer.
✩ The world’s smallest frog and smallest hummingbird are found in Cuba.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Cuba is from December to May, during the dry season, when you can expect dry, sunny days and plenty of blue skies, particularly in Havana and on the coast.
March to mid-April are probably the best and most pleasant months, when the days are longer and sunnier, it is not too hot and humid, and the rainfall is minimum.
Even during Cuba’s wet season (May to September), there are plenty of sunny days and the heat and humidity rarely become unbearable. Usually, rainfall happens quickly and comes down hard, but it soon clears.
Even if it is within the wet season, July is the most festive time of the year with Carnival being held in many cities. Santiago hosts the biggest one in the Caribbean. The National Day of Rebellion holiday which lasts 3 days, the Fiesta del Caribe and the Cuban film festival also take place in July.