Cuba

Cuba Travel Guide
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Flights to South America 
Cuba is one island that you don’t want to miss! The largest and least commercialised island in the Caribbean and one of the world’s last bastions of Communism, Cuba will entice you with its relaxed friendly atmosphere, beautiful beaches, great music and, of course, Cuban cigars. Step back into a bygone era where 1960’s Cadillacs meet Spanish colonial architecture.

Cuba’s charm can be partly attributed to its relative seclusion from the outside world, and is now really only opening up as a tourist destination. When the sun sets Cuba really comes to life, with live jazz music wafting from cafes while energetic cachuchas and salsas invade dance floors at clubs. Havana will be most travellers first taste of Cuba, you can easily spend a week exploring its many attractions, such as Old Havana, Revolution Square, Santa Maria del Mar beach and the Havana Cathedral, Havana’s finest example of ‘Cuban baroque’ architecture.

The nearby Pinar del Rio region is easily accessed from Havana. Here you can visit tobacco farms where the finest cigars in the world are produced. 

Cuba Fast Facts
Country name: Republic of Cuba
Population: 11 million
Capital: Havana
Languages: Spanish
People: 60% Spanish descent, 22% Mulatto, 11% African descent, 7% other
Religion: Catholic, Protestant, Santería
Currency: Cuban Peso
Time Zone: 7 hours behind New Zealand (8 hours with daylight saving)
Electricity: Current is 110/220V, 60HZ, Plug can be a 2 point round or rectangle pin adaptor

Cuba Hot Spots
Havana
Despite its turbulent history, Havana suffered little damage in the country’s wars and revolutions and stands today much as it was built 100 years ago or more. There’s an air of faded glory about the city as big 60’s American cars still dominate the streets.

The city has an array of glorious Spanish colonial buildings, most of which are under restoration. Havana has a swinging nightlife, with cinemas, historic theatres, nightclubs and music venues. There’s less commercialisation than in the average Latin American city and the friendliness of the locals will stay with you.
Varadero
Varadero is the most popular resort area in Cuba, and has one of the most stunning beaches found in the Caribbean. The peninsula of sparkling white sand and turquoise waters extends out over 20kms, and is Cuba’s northernmost point. Here you will find a good selection of hotels ranging in size and standard.

There are plenty of activities to keep you entertained including diving, snorkelling, swimming with dolphins, and golf. For some local sightseeing there are many caves, cliffs, lakes and cayes to explore!
Trinidad
Trinidad boomed until the Wars of Independence devastated the region’s sugar plantations and the town fell into obscurity. The legacy of this short-lived sugarboom wealth can be seen in the town’s baroque church towers, Carrara marble floors, wrought-iron grills and run-down mansions.

The most impressive of all Trinidad’s many museums is the Museo Histórico Municipal. A visit to the Taller Alfarero, a large ceramics workshop where traditional techniques are still used, is also worthwhile. Some of Cuba’s finest beaches are also just outside Trinidad.
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is Havana’s rival in literature, music and politics. It’s the second biggest city in Cuba and, unlike other Cuban towns, has a noticeable Caribbean flavour due to the influence of the French planters and Haitians who settled there in the last century.

The city’s distinctive character is also due to its isolation from Havana and houses Cuba’s oldest palaces and museums. It overlooks the Bahía de Santiago de Cuba and many houses feature lacy ironwork balconies, pointed windows and narrow external staircases.

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