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Cuba
It is located in the extreme northwest of the Antilles, bordering to the north with the US state of Florida , with the Bahamas , to the west with Mexico and to the south with the Cayman Islands and Jamaican . To the southeast of Cuba, is the island of The Spanish . The territory is organized in fifteen provinces and a special municipality with Havana as the capital and most populous city. They complete the archipelago Isle of Youth and more than a thousand keys or small islands that surround them: Cayo Coco , Gaius William , South Key Largo and Cayo Jutías , among others. Its capital is Havana, the main tourist destination on the island, a beautiful city with restaurants, beaches, water sports, historic architecture, cultural values, and activities for all tastes and budgets. Was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
How to get to Havana
Airplane: José Martí International Airport is located just over 20 kilometers from the city center. International flights arrive at Terminal 3, domestic flights at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 has been reserved exclusively for flights from United States . The taxi is the transport that will take you from the José Martí Airport to the center of Havana. Another option is to contract in advance the service of transfer from the airport to the hotel .
Ship: the cruises that are contracted for the Caribbean usually make a brief stopover in the country of about 48 hours, That would be enough to go through the main points of interest .
How to get around the island
Plane: The fastest and most comfortable way to cover long distances is with any of the Cuban airlines, Cubana de Aviación or Aerogaviota.
Boat: There are two main groups of islands to explore along the southern coast of Cuba. Its navigation area from the two main bases, Cienfuegos or Trinidad, incorporates the Canarreos archipelago and the Juventud Islands or the Jardines de la Reina archipelago.
Cab: several agencies manage these services separately except for one that combines all these services and others such as car rental, caravans, minivan, etc.
Bus: it is the most popular way to get around the island. There are two long-distance bus lines, Viazul, which is generally for tourists, and Astro, which is generally for locals. Shorter distances are served by local provincial buses.
Train: the main train line in the country runs between Havana and Santiago de Cuba , with important stops in Saint Clare and Camaguey . Trains also run to other cities like Cienfuegos , Manzanillo, Moron, Sancti Spiritus and Pinar del Rio .
. What to see in Havana
It is the oldest area of the Cuban capital . As a whole, it has an urban layout of about 5 km², where there are still remains of the ramparts that for two centuries protected it with a stone fence as a defensive military compound. Due to the cosmopolitan nature of its inhabitants throughout history, Old Havana is the reflection of a mixture of architectural styles and the testimony of different eras: Spanish crown , British, French and Americans . It has traditional restaurants, the Plaza de la Catedral and the Plaza de las Armas. The City Museum, the Capitol, and the Paseo del Prado.
Located in the center of the capital, it is the kilometric origin of the Cuban road network and after the triumph of the Revolution , when the Congress was dissolved, it was transformed into the seat of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and of the Cuban Academy of Sciences . Open to the public, it is one of the most visited tourist centers in the city, having become one of the icons architecture of Havana and is usually considered the most imposing building in the city. Likewise, it is named by some experts as one of the six most important palaces worldwide.
The Holy and Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Havana , consecrated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, is a Catholic temple, located in the heart of Old Havana , in the oldest area of the city, declared by the UNESCO on 1982 World Heritage Site . It is the Episcopal See of the Archdiocese of San Cristóbal de La Habana , dominated by two unequal towers and with a Baroque façade. It is currently considered one of the most beautiful and sober religious buildings of the American Baroque
Former Presidential Palace, it was built between 1909 and 1920 to be the seat of the provincial government of Havana, but was designated to be the seat of the Executive. In 1974 it became the Museum of the Revolution and in 2010 it was declared a National Monument. The value of its collections, as well as the constant cultural, historical and political work it carries out, make this history museum the most important in the country. the bust of José Martí , the Lone Star flag and bullet holes from the events of March 13, 1957, welcome this center, which treasures part of Cuban memory.
It is a typical restaurant Havana and one of the great tourist places of the city, where many visitors have passed, from writers to politicians. Many of them have left their mark on the premises through souvenirs, photos, objects or graffiti on its walls. In them you can find copies of signatures as unusual as that of Errol Flynn and some originals like Salvador Allende . In its rooms you can enjoy the typical Cuban atmosphere, with its gastronomy , its tobacco and his music; that gather all the essence of the tradition.
Located in the Avenue of the Port , in the Old Havana , its main attraction consists of the explanation that visitors receive about the historical trajectory of Cuban rum Havana Club , emerged in 1878 and considered one of the hundred best in the world. The tour of the museum begins in the cooperage workshop where the white oak barrels are assembled. The visit includes an explanation that goes from the planting of sugar cane to the aging of the drink, going through the history of the mill, the factories, the steam train and the fermentation, distillation and filtration processes.
It comprises a wide six-lane avenue and a very long wall that extends over the entire north coast of the Cuban capital for eight kilometers. The beginning of its construction dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, in 1901 , during the US provisional government on the island. Can find some important buildings and monuments that border the entire length of the malecón avenue as the Castle of the Royal Force of Havana , the Castle of San Salvador de la Punta , the Torreón de San Lázaro , the entrance to the Havana Tunnel , the National Hotel of Cuba , the Tower of the Chorrera and the old Union Club,
This ostentatious hotel has hosted numerous diplomats and celebrities throughout its long history, and you're sure to feel at ease strolling through its extravagant lounges, with a excellent view of the sea.
Perhaps most interesting of all, the hotel houses a kind of museum of bunkers that were intended to protect against possible military attacks.
is a small statue located in the upper part of a tower of the Castillo de la Real Fuerza. It is one of the symbols of the city of Havana and has a beautiful legend of love inspired by Isabel del Bobadilla, who, according to legend, is still waiting for her beloved Hernando de Soto from her watchtower. The sculpture can be seen from the Plaza de Armas , Avenida del Puerto and much of the Historical center of the city and arouses the curiosity of all Havanans and visitors.
The castle of the Three Kings, also known as Morro castle, is a symbol of Havana along with the Capitol and the Giraldilla. Its strategic position on a hill was recognized almost as soon as the port of Havana began to acquire strategic importance. It maintains an active life, its halls function as a gallery and in its spaces a lively cultural life does not stop. It also has two restaurants (Los Doce Apóstoles and La Divina Pastora) and a bar that allow you to enjoy extraordinary views of the Havana coastline.
It is one of the best places to have a coffee during the day (in any of its cafes) or have a few beers.
In much of Havana there is a European atmosphere, and the Plaza Vieja is the pinnacle of that feeling. In fact, it is one of the busiest squares in all of Cuba, and with the arches and terraces of the surrounding buildings, you are sure to find an idyllic setting.
It's a neighborhood from the city of Havana whose construction began at the end of the XIX century and reached its maximum splendor in the first half of the 20th century . It is currently part of the municipality Revolution Square . It is the political and administrative center of the capital of Cuba , in its vicinity are the headquarters of numerous state ministries and offices of foreign companies that have relations with the country.
In terms of cultural activities, it is only comparable with Old Havana , with numerous art galleries and museums.
Some beaches of Cuba
Eastern Beaches
If you only have a few days in Cuba and you don't plan to leave Havana , the Eastern Beaches are a perfect getaway to at least take a look at the Caribbean Sea. About 20 kilometers from the capital, Playas del Este is a kind of Cuban Riviera, where fishing villages like Guanabo mix with semi-resorts like Bacuranao.
In the summer months, Playas del Este receives almost half of Havana en masse
Located on the Hicacos peninsula, in the Matanzas province, 130 kilometers east of Havana, its turquoise waters that stretch to the horizon will amaze you. At low tide, you can walk until you submerge and check how clear the water is where you will see among others the starfish. It has 20 km of beaches of excellent quality for tourists. It is the second most important tourist destination in Cuba. It has all the hotel infrastructure, restaurants, and nightclubs for all tastes.
emerald beach
This beautiful beach is located at the easternmost point and is reputed to be one of the best beaches in Cuba.
They say that this place was the cradle of the first inhabitants of the island. With so many beaches to stay in Cuban territory, if they stayed here, it would be for a reason. Probably for the same reason that today continues to encourage many travelers to lie down on its white sand and enjoy its turquoise waters.
mermaid beach
It is located in Cayo Largo, a small island located south of Cuba and is one of the best Cuban keys.
The turquoise waters of this beach are so transparent that they look like something out of a catalogue.
A paradise of blue colors, fine white sand like flour and enormous perfect palm trees that invite you to drink rich fruit juices in the shade and with seabed full of corals
It is a small island off the north coast of Cuba. It has beaches with calm turquoise waters, lush vegetation, accommodation options for all tastes and even a Cayo Santa María Dolphinarium Aquarium. The other Keys are linked through a 48-kilometer causeway, known as the best Ibero-American Civil Works.
The drink that you should not miss is the CANCHANCHARA (honey, lemon, brandy, water and ice) it is delicious!
Cuban gastronomy
It is a fusion of Taíno customs , Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisine. Cuban recipes share the combination of spices and techniques inherited or by the Taino natives, and later combined from Spanish and African cuisine, with certain Caribbean influences.
Old Clothes: it is the most representative typical Cuban dish; is a shredded beef flank steak on a tomato sauce base with, among others, olive oil, onion, garlic and spices.
Chicken rice: It is one of the favorite dishes in Cuba. The rice for this dish is Valencian-style short-grain rice, the same one used for paella. Unlike this one, the traditional saffron is not used, but instead they use Achiote Petroleum, to give the yellow color.
Cuban Black Beans: They are served with fluffy white rice . Some Cubans serve rice with beans separately, and others mix it together. You can order it both ways.
Habanera mincemeat: It consists of small recurring dishes in Cuban cuisine, such as white rice, black beans, pork rinds, plantains and fried eggs.
Fried cow: typical Cuban dish, due to its crispy texture. It is very similar to the Old Clothes, but without tomatoes. It has onion, garlic, lemon, salt and beef.
Lobster: one of the most common options of typical dishes for tourists offered by Cuban private houses, Cooked in different ways and very well presented.
Congrí : mixture of rice and black beans. It has some variations, it depends on the region you order it and the cook. Its origin appears to be African.
Ajiaco : in its preparation it contains dry meat, pork, ears of corn, green plantains, yucca, pumpkin, limes, salt and pepper.
Rabo Enlightenment: typical spicy Cuban dish is a delicious stew prepared with oxtail. Served hot over rice.
Yuca con Mojo: made, as its name suggests, with yuca and a special sauce called mojo.
Desserts: you can eat a Cocada, a sweet made from coconut and sugar, some cassava fritters or a Diplomatic Pudding, a kind of gypsy arm prepared with bread, eggs, sugar and lemon peel.
To finish you can order a strong and traditional Cuban coffee.
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